Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva, principal sponsor and author of the Trabaho para sa Bayan Act, pushes for more quality jobs for the Filipinos, saying seasonal employment should not be a benchmark for the country’s lower unemployment rate.

“Expectations of increased hiring due to the holidays is a positive development.  But this should not detract us from the fact that these are seasonal jobs and cyclical – you are employed for a few months and then unemployed in the next,” he said.

During the deliberations of the 2024 budget of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), Villanueva reiterated President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s call for immediate drafting of the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 11964 or the Trabaho Para sa Bayan (TPB) Act to set in motion crucial reforms to put decent employment at the heart of the country’s industrial policy. 

“We will closely monitor NEDA’s commitments on the timeline, plans and consultations on the Trabaho Para sa Bayan Act’s IRR. Every single day for our people in dire need of livelihood or job counts,” the Majority Leader said.

Villanueva has proposed a P5 million initial budget for the implementation of the TPB Act in the 2024 appropriations to be placed under the NEDA to start the rollout of the law’s programs.

As of September 2023, the country’s unemployment rate stood at 4.5 percent, up from 4.4 percent the previous month. On the other hand, the underemployment rate is at 10.7%, lower than the 11.7% reported rate in August 2023.

The PSA described underemployed persons as “those who expressed the desire to have additional hours of work in their present job or to have an additional job or to have a new job with longer hours of work.”

“The holidays will create additional jobs but with the implementation of the TPB Plan, there will be more stable and regular jobs in manufacturing, infrastructure, agri-fishing, and not dependent on seasonal spending. These should be add-ons rather than the main source of jobs,” he said.

Signed into law on September 27, 2023, Villanueva said the TPB Act presents a critical solution in providing Filipinos decent and sustainable jobs.

Under the law, the government shall establish a national employment generation and recovery masterplan with a three, six and 10-year development timeline. The master plan includes initiatives for supporting micro, small and medium enterprises, worker upskilling, employer incentives, youth employment, as well as for the reintegration of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), among others.

“Magandang aginaldo po ang trabaho para sa ating mga kababayan. Ngunit hindi po ito dapat ibinibigay tuwing Pasko lamang. Tuloy-tuloy dapat ang trabaho at pangmatagalan, sa lahat ng panahon at okasyon, upang matiyak ang pag-unlad sa buhay ng bawat Pilipino,” Villanueva ended.

NLEX Corporation, in collaboration with the local government unit of Meycauayan, has started the widening of the Meycauayan northbound exit from two to three lanes.  The tollway company will also construct new northbound exit at F. Raymundo in Barangay Pandayan as part of the Meycauayan decongestion project.

Set to be completed before Christmas, the two works aim to ease the recurrent traffic build up in NLEX Meycauayan due to high volume of vehicles queuing at exit. The widening of the Meycauayan exit ramp, once completed, will expand its capacity and ease traffic especially for those bound to Iba/Camalig road. To complement the expansion, NLEX also started the construction of the new F. Raymundo Exit which will serve as an alternate and additional route that is aimed at “bypassing” the Meycauayan Interchange and the busy Iba/Camalig road.

While NLEX Corporation is working aggressively to provide solutions to the increasing volume of vehicles inside their expressway, the LGU of Meycauayan also committed to improving the receiving local roads of those exiting the expressway.

“We are glad that we have NLEX as our partner in alleviating the traffic caused by the increasing volume of vehicles coming to and from our city. We assure the public that the City of Meycauayan and NLEX Corporation will continuously work together in exploring long-term infrastructure solutions to help solve the traffic demand of the city,” said City of Meycauayan Mayor Henry Villarica.

In a traffic mobility and decongestion study commissioned by NLEX in July 2023, it showed that the rapid economic growth in the city brings high demand for traffic.  The expansion of the northbound exit ramp and construction of the new F. Raymundo exit were some of the traffic solutions that can help provide immediate relief in the congestion in NLEX Meycauayan.

“During the construction period, minimal lane closures will be implemented at the latter stage of the project. We would like to assure our motorists that traffic management and safety measures will be in place to ensure motorists’ safety and minimize travel delays. Road signs and other warning devices will also be installed to guide motorists,” said NLEX Corporation President J. Luigi L. Bautista.

“We are optimistic that once these additional infrastructure solutions are in place, our motorists will experience smoother traffic flow in the area especially during peak hours,” Bautista added.

It will be recalled that NLEX, in partnership with the LGU, Department of Public Works and Highways, and Department of Transportation, have already done various projects to help decongest the traffic inside and outside the expressway in the Meycauayan area. In 2017, NLEX opened the Libtong and Pandayan Exits and expanded the southbound toll plaza to address traffic buildup at the interchange. While in 2021, a portion of NLEX right-of-way was used to open the two-lane Meycauayan East Service Road connecting Libtong in Meycauayan City and Lawang Bato in Valenzuela City which was then extended to Marilao in 2022, providing alternative routes going in and out of Valenzuela, Meycauayan and Marilao and helped ease traffic in the said areas.

NLEX Corporation is a subsidiary of the Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC), the toll road arm of the Metro Pacific Investments Corporation (MPIC).

The Social Security System (SSS) earned recognition from the Civil Service Commission (CSC) for achieving a 100% complaints resolution rate among government agencies in 2022.

SSS President and Chief Executive Officer Rolando Ledesma Macasaet said SSS resolved all the complaints endorsed by CSC’s Contact Center ng Bayan (CSC-CCB) from January to December 2022.

“This recognition from the CSC underscores our commitment to address and resolve the concerns of our members and a reflection of our tagline, “masayang tumulong, serbisyong ramdam,” Macasaet said.  

SSS received 556 referrals from CSC-CCB, broken down into 448 requests for assistance, 67 complaints, 25 status verifications, 13 commendations, and three queries. SSS successfully resolved all the referrals with an average response time of 1.7 days.

Macasaet explained that once CSC-CCB referred a complaint or a request, SSS prioritized the concern and acted on it immediately for resolution.

A good example is a case of a female member concerning the crediting of her maternity benefit. “Our team verified her records and coordinated with the concerned bank. We discovered her maternity benefit was not credited because she provided an incorrect bank account. We informed the member and guided her on enrolling the correct bank account on the Disbursement Account Enrollment Module (DAEM) and Benefit Redisbursement Module (BRM) using her My.SSS account so she can finally receive her maternity benefit,” Macasaet said.

Data from the CSC showed that aside from SSS, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), the Home Development Mutual Fund (Pag-IBIG Fund), the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and the Philippine National Police (PNP) also got a resolution rate of 100% in 2022. Other government agencies included in the top ten are the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) with 98.08%, the Department of Education (DepEd) with 93.91%, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) with 92.16%, and the Land Registration Authority (LRA) with 84.62%.

The CSC established the CCB in 2012 to support the implementation of Republic Act No. 9485 or the Anti-Red Tape Act (ARTA) of 2007. It serves as a feedback mechanism designated as the government’s central helpdesk where citizens can request information and assistance on government frontline service procedures and report commendations, appreciation, complaints, and feedback.

14 November 2023

4pm Beirut | 3pm Geneva | 10pm Manila | 7.30pm Delhi | 11pm Tokyo | 8am Mexico | 9am New York | Check your timezone here

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HEAR FROM OUR PALESTINIAN SPEAKERS:

Leila Khaled

Long-time leader of the Palestinian national liberation movement

Razan Zuayter
Global Co-Chairperson, Peoples’ Coalition on Food Sovereignty
Founder, Arab Group for the Protection of Nature

Abdul Malek Sukkariyeh
Spokesperson, The Global Campaign to Return to Palestine

Rommel T. Juan

Binalot, a beloved Filipino fast-food chain recognized for its mouthwatering dishes and unwavering dedication to celebrating Filipino culture, has embarked on an exciting new chapter in its brand’s evolution. At the recently concluded Franchise Asia 2023, hosted at the SMX Convention Center in MOA, Binalot introduced its innovative new store design, the “Binalot Komiks Design.”

The Binalot Komiks Duotone Design draws inspiration from the vibrant world of Filipino comics, capturing the essence of a traditional Filipino dining room. This groundbreaking concept is designed to provide customers not only with a meal but also with an immersive cultural experience that evokes feelings of warmth and nostalgia through a visually striking duotone aesthetic.

Rommel Juan, President of Binalot, expressed his enthusiasm for this new venture, stating, “My love for Pinoy comics dates back to my childhood. I’ve always wanted to infuse this beloved aspect of our culture into the Binalot experience. With the Binalot Komiks Duotone Design, we have artfully intertwined tradition, modernity, and our deep affection for Filipino comics to create a truly unique dining atmosphere.”

Binalot’s booth at Franchise Asia 2023 was nothing short of a showstopper. The captivating Komiks Design drew in a diverse array of visitors and diners, making it the focal point of the expo. Furthermore, Binalot played host to the highest number of dine-in customers, underscoring the brand’s enduring acceptance and relevance in the market.

This novel store design promises to captivate both loyal patrons and newcomers alike, offering a delightful environment to relish Binalot’s cherished dishes while immersing themselves in the ambiance of a traditional Filipino dining room. The incorporation of Filipino comics adds an extra layer of nostalgia and charm to the dining experience, ensuring that every visit to Binalot becomes a celebration of Filipino culture.

Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa made an appeal to the education department to guard minors against the recruitment of leftist groups regardless of the absence of confidential funds.

Dela Rosa manifested his support to the Department of Education, led by Secretary and Vice President Sara Duterte, on Thursday, November 9, 2023, during the Senate deliberation on its 2024 proposed budget sponsored by Finance Vice Chairperson Pia Cayetano.

“Number one, I would like to manifest my support for the approval of the budget of DepEd. And number two, ako po ay nagpapasalamat, from the bottom of my heart, to our DepEd Secretary for forgetting about the confidential funds and it spared the Senate from debates regarding this issue,” Dela Rosa said.

The Mindanaoan senator, however, encouraged the agency to push through and even boost its anti-insurgency efforts to free students from any influence of leftist groups particularly the Communist People of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF). 

“Ang appeal ko sa kanila is that even without the confidential funds, sana siguruhin natin na wala nang mga bata na ma-recruit ng CPP-NPA doon sa kabundukan na makipaglaban sa ating gobyerno at mamatay. ‘Yun lang ang appeal ko. Dahil nga, noong 18th Congress, we were together with the Good Sponsor noong nagkaroon tayo ng hearing about those missing minors, lumalabas talaga sa investigation natin na ang mga bata na nawawala at napupunta sa CPP-NPA ay nanggagaling diyan sa senior high school, Grades 11 and 12 which is under the care of DepEd.”

Dela Rosa also made mention of the 55 shut-down Salugpungan schools which the CPP-NPA used to operate and advised the officials of DepEd to remind teachers about the doctrine of loco parentis, a legal term referring to a school or an organization’s responsibility to take on the role and responsibilities of a parent.

“Itong Salugpungan schools ng CPP-NPA-NDF ay ito ‘yung nag-sprout dahil sa kawalan ng DepEd sa kanilang area. So sana lahat ng barangays, mabigyan na natin ng proper educational institution, particularly sa Basic Education, dahil susulpot nanaman itong Salugpungan schools at kawawa ang ating mga bata,” Dela Rosa appealed.

As per DepEd, 12.3% of the rebels who surrendered in 2016 to 2020 were minors aged 12 to 17 years old.

Higher. Further. Faster! Carol Danvers – the prodigal child of the Milky Way, has returned. She’s teaming up with the Night Light Kamala Khan and S.W.O.R.D.’s Monica Rambeau on a crucial mission to protect all planets from the vengeful schemes of Dar-Benn, a Kree warrior and an Accuser of the Kree Empire. Don’t miss the comeback of the Avenger Captain Marvel, and the debut of Park Seo-joon as Prince Yan in the Marvel Cinematic Universe with The Marvels, showing at SM Cinema Marilao and SM Cinema Baliwag.

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LUNGSOD NG MALOLOS – Inihayag ni Gobernador Daniel R. Fernando ang kaniyang pag-apruba at suporta sa pagkakahirang ni dating Angat Mayor Angelito S. Vergel De Dios bilang bagong Commissioner ng Department of Justice – Presidential Commission on Good Government na itinalaga ni Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.

Bilang bagong commissioner, ipinagkakatiwala kay Commissioner Vergel De Dios ang awtoridad na gampanan ang kaniyang mga tungkulin at gumawa ng mga desisyon sa loob ng PCGG at ang kanilang pangunahing responsibilidad ay ang pagbawi ng mga ninakaw na yaman, imbestigahan ang ibang kaso ng graft at corruption, at magbalangkas ng mga corruption prevention measures.

Nakamit ni Vergel De Dios ang kanyang pagkakatalaga sa pamamagitan ng mga karanasan niya mula sa mga nakaraang serbisyo sa gobyerno kabilang ang panunungkulan bilang Traffic and Transport Management Office (TTMO) Executive Director ng Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) mula taong 2003-2014 kung saan nagdisenyo siya ng mga bagong istratehiya para sa traffic engineering education and enforcement, na nag-ambag sa patuloy na pagpapabuti ng kasalukuyang sistema.

Ipinanganak at lumaki sa Lalawigan ng Bulacan, isa rin siya sa mga kilalang Bulakenyong lingkod bayan na naglingkod bilang Punong Bayan ng Angat mula taong 1998-2001 kung saan naipatupad niya ang Traffic Management System sa kanilang munisipalidad, bumuo ng Ecotourism Project para i-rehabilitate ang Angat River at pinangunahan ang inisyatiba na magtayo ng karagdagang mga silid-aralan para sa mga pampublikong paaralan sa Angat.

Maliban dito, itinatag niya ang kanyang maagang propesyonal na karera bilang Direktor II (Barangay Operation Center) ng MMDA mula 1994-1998; MMDA Community Development Officer V (Barangay Operation Center) mula 1983-1994 at Field Officer (Barangay National Executive Secretariat) ng Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) noong taong 1974-1982.

Sa kanyang mensahe, pinuri ni Fernando ang mahusay na serbisyo ni Vergel De Dios at sinabing karapat-dapat siyang umunlad sa kanyang karera.

“Your professional journey is marked by the experiences you accumulate and the achievements you attain along the way. Ipinagmamalaki ka ng buong lalawigan, lalo na ng Pamahalaang Panlalawigan ng Bulacan,” ani Fernando.