PhilHealth Region III officials (from left) Ms. Monifer S. Bansil, Head, Public Affairs Unit, Arlan M. Granil, Branch Manager for III-B (Malolos), Rowena Zabat-San Mateo, Branch Manager for III-A and Mariza Paez, IT Unit Head Social Health entertain questions from the media during their “PhilHealth at Media, Forever Partners sa Kalusugan” Central Luzon Media Social Insurance Education Series (SHInES) Kapihan and Pasasalamat held on Oct. 26 at Queen Pia’s Place, City of San Fernando, Pampanga.
As of July this year, PhilHealth already registers a 12.2 million members or 95% from a projected 12.89 million population in the whole of the region.
It has paid a total of P12. 49 billion to all its Partner Health Care Providers for Branch A-Pampanga, Bataan, Tarlac and Zambales and Branch B-Bulacan, Nueva Ecija and Aurora. Photo by Carmela Reyes-Estrope
Quezon City, Philippines – [Date] – In a momentous event, Binalot, the beloved Filipino fast-food chain, has officially opened its first branch with Shell at the Shell Mobility EDSA Balintawak. The grand opening was marked with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by esteemed guests, including Mayor Joy Belmonte, the branch owners Engr. Cres Fernandez and his family members, Ms. Joy, Jon, and JV Fernandez, and several other esteemed partners of Shell EDSA Balintawak, among them Chatime.
This inaugural collaboration between Binalot and Shell Mobility EDSA Balintawak reflects a strong commitment to offering a diverse range of quality dining experiences to the people of Quezon City and beyond. This partnership also underscores the importance of promoting local businesses within the community.
During the ceremony, Mayor Joy Belmonte delivered an inspiring speech, emphasizing the vital role of resilient and innovative businesses in the thriving city of Quezon. She commended the collaboration between Binalot and Shell as a prime example of how local enterprises can contribute to the economic growth and overall development of the area.
One of the highlights of the Shell Mobility EDSA Balintawak is the introduction of the largest Shell Cafe in the country. This spacious and inviting café offers a welcoming atmosphere for patrons to enjoy quality coffee, snacks, and meals, further enhancing the overall experience at this Shell location.
Binalot and Shell Mobility EDSA Balintawak look forward to serving the community and providing an exceptional dining and refueling experience for all customers. This partnership is set to usher in a new era of convenience and satisfaction for those visiting the area.
Ipinroklama ang negosyanteng si Rey Baylon bilang bagong halal na kapitan ng Barangay Vizal San Pablo, Candaba, Pampanga sa katatapos lamang na Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) noong Oktubre 30 . Larawan ni Anton Luis Catindig
CANDABA, Pampanga—Wagi bilang bagong kapitan ng Barangay Vizal, San Pablo, Candaba, Pampanga ang negosyanteng si Rey Baylon.
Ipinroklama siya ng 1:30 ng umaga noong Martes sa elementary school ng nasabing barangay matapos ang Barangay at Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE).
Kabilang sa mga inpinroklama ang kanyang mga kagawad na sina Severnip Sagum bilang Number 1 Kagawad, pangalawa si Kagawad Antonio Buco sa lamang na isang boto at sumunod na sina Rommel Liwag, Yolly Bustamante at Julian Enrile.
Si Kap. Rey, 52, ang bunsong kapatid ni dating Candaba Mayor Engr. Danilo Baylon.
Si Kap. Rey ang ikatlong Baylon sa kanilang pamilya na sumabak sa pulitika sa Candaba. Ang kanyang anak ay kasalukuyang konsehal ng bayan ng Candaba.
Kasamang ipinroklama sina Kagawad Antonio Buco, Severino Sagum, Julian Enrile, Rommel Liwag, Yolly Bustamante at iba pang mga kasamang hala na gaawad ng Vizal San Pablo. Larawan ni Anton Luis Catindig
Si dating Mayor Baylon ay isang malakas na naging katunggali ni Pampanga Gov. Dennis Pineda sa pagka-gobernador ng lalawigan noong May 2022 election.
Ayon Kap Rey, paiigtingin niya ang peace and order at tututukan niya ang ptotection sa environment, pagpapalakas ng suporta sa edukasyon ng mga kabataan, mga proyektong pang-imprastratura, suporta sa senior citizens at marami pang iba.
Hindi rin umano siya tatanggap ng kanyang buwanang suweldo upang ilaan amg pondong ito para sa higit na pagtulong at suporta sa 400 mga senior citizens ng Vizal San Pablo.
Unapela rin siya sa kanyang nakatunggali na magsama-sama na sila ngayong tapos na ang halalan dahil iaang araw lamang ang pulitika at wala na dapat kukay-kulay bagkus ay dapat ng magkasama-sama para sa maayos at mahusay na paglilingkod sa kanilang barangay.
“Sana wala ng personalan, wala ng kulay-kukay,” pahayag nito.
Ayon pa sa kanya, hinding hindi siya maaaring lumiko o limihis ng daan sa kanyang paglilingkod- bayan dahil susundan niya ang yapak ng kanyang kuya.
“Pag lumihis ako ng daan, magaggalit ang Diyos at ang kuya ko sa akin,” pahayag ng kapitan.
CITY OF MALOLOS—With a nearly 200,000 and a more than 5,000 marginal winning “no”votes from 820,385-620,707 and 97,954-92,714 votes, respectively in the province of Bulacan and the City of San Jose del Monte, Bulakenyos junk the move to convert the component city into a Highly-Urbanized City (HUC) in a plebiscite to ratify it during the Monday’s Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Election (BSKE).
Provincial Election Supervisor and chairman of the Board of Canvassers Mona Ann Aldana-Campos led the past 1:00 a.m. proclamation of the rejection of the 19 out of 20 towns and one out of four component cities of Bulacan province in the HUC bid of San Jose del Monte with a 199,678 marginal winning votes from 820,385-620,707 “no” and “yes” votes respectively.
Commission on Election (Comelec) Chairman Erwin Garcia who was present earlier before the past 1:00 a.m. proclamation held at the canvassing area inside the Hiyas Pavilion of the Hiyas ng Bulacan Convention was also briefed of the result of the plebiscite.
The house of City of San Jose del Monte District 2 Councilor Rommel Agapito with the “No to HUC” signs. Photo by Anton Luis Reyes Catindig
“Lost in its own”
Even the people of San Jose del Monte dropped the bid for their place to become an HUC with 5,240 marginal winning “no” votes from 97,954-92,714 votes.
“On the basis of the foregoing, we hereby proclaim that the Conversion of the City of San Jose del Monte, Bulacan into a Highly-urbanized City Pursuant to Proclamation No. 1057 dated December 4, 2020 was rejected and disapproved by the majority of the votes cast in the plebiscite held in the Province of Bulacan on October 30, 2023,” the official result released and signed by Campos and other members of the canvassing board.
Meycauayan and Marilao voted “yes”
“Yes” votes won only in San Jose del Monte’s adjacent town of Marilao with an 8,052 marginal winning “yes” votes through 41,631-33,579 votes and the similar component City of Meycauayan with 34,660 marginal winning “yes” votes through 61,214-26,554 votes.
From the 2,092,248 registered voters in the whole 20 towns and four cities in the province of Bulacan, there was a 1,608,004, or 76. 85 % turn-in of votes.
The no votes constitutes 51% of the 1,608, 004 who casted their votes and the yes votes constitutes 38.6%.
“No” swept the winning votes in Bulakan town with a 13,265 marginal winning votes from 25,113-11,848 votes; Pulilan with a 10,287 marginal winning votes from 28,231-19,944 votes; Guiguinto 7,979 marginal winning votes from 29,029-21,050 votes; San Ildefonso with 10,075 marginal winning votes from 34,447-24,372 votes; Angat with 10,852 marginal winning votes from 21,211-10,359 votes; Bustos with 1,945 marginal winning votes from 18,449-16,504 votes; City of Malolos with 24,079 marginal winning votes from 57,712-33,633 votes; Hagonoy with 23,352 marginal winning votes from 39,773-16,421 votes; San Rafael with 15,467 marginal winning votes from 31,862-16,394 votes; Bocaue with 1,152 marginal winning votes; Pandi with 2,658 marginal winning votes from 34,188-31,530 votes; Sta. Maria town with 18,192 marginal winning votes from 61,285-43,093 votes; Balagtas with 10,270 marginal winning votes from 23,280-13,010 votes; San Miguel with 9,916 marginal winning votes from 41,769-31,853 votes; Calumpit with 14,561 marginal winning votes from 33,025-18,464 votes; Baliwag with 7,480 marginal winning votes from 42,969-35,489 votes; Obando with 1,770 marginal winning votes from 12,190-10,420 votes; Donya Remedios Trinidad (DRT) with 4,284 from 10,337-6,053 votes; Norzagaray with 28,988 marginal winning votes from 42,892-13,904 votes and Plaridel with 10,919 marginal winning votes from 28,658-17,739 votes.
City of San Jose del Monte District 2 Councilor Romeo Agapito who is the sole opposition to the conversion of their city into an HUC thanked his staff and the volunteer residents of San Jose del Monte who all worked hard to explain to the people why they should reject the move.
“We are thankful to God and to all of the San Josensyos and thE whole people of Bulacan for not allowing us to be separated on our own from our mother Bulacan province. We are really not yet ready to become a fully independent city,” the councilor told NEWS CORE in a text message reply on Wednesday morning.
A tarpaulin against the conversion of the City of San Jose del Monte into a Highly-Urbanized City (HUC) posted in the corner of a street in Tabang, Guiguinto during the Oct. 19-28 campaign period for the Oct. 30 plebiscite. Photo by Carmela Reyes-Estrope
Agapito said more than 70% of the 651,813 people of San Jose del Monte who are just ordinary workers in nearby towns of Bulacan and Metro Manila could not afford the high taxes to be collected when they become and HUC.
He said they also would not want to lose their cultural identity as Bulakenyo. According to Agapito, the only more than 20% old tenants or native Bulakenyos in San Jose del Monte may lose their cultural identity if they separate from Bulacan province. He said, it might also be a precedent to other towns and cities in the province.
According to Agapito, San Jose del Monte will also be economically dislocated from Bulacan when the now ongoing construction New Manila International Airport in Bulakan town opens a few years from now including the nearing operation of the North South Commuter Railways (NSCR).
A “no” to HUC group also expressed frustration that job opportunities for fresh graduates from San Jose del Monte to be brought by the said macro development projects will be put in vain if the city is converted into an HUC.
San Jose del Monte branded today as the Rising City is also known as the “Relocation Capital” of the country as relocation of Informal Settlers (IFS) from Metro Manila started in 1968 in Barangay Sapang Palay. Today, San Jose del Monte hosts more than ten huge national government housing projects which bloats its population to more than 650,000 based on the recent 2020 census.
Gov. Daniel Fernando has earlier expressed sadness that one of the cities of the province would want to separate and go on its own. “There is no father who will be happy if one of his children drifts apart. This is painful to me. I always pray for one and united Bulacan,” he said.
Former Governors Wilhelmino Sy-Alvarado and Roberto Pagdanganan also campaigned for “no” as they want to keep Bulacan intact, united and as “One”.
Provincial Election Supervisor Atty. Mona Aldana-Campos (center) leads the canvassing of the turned in election returns of the plebiscite to ratify the coversion of the City of San Jose del Monte into a Highly Urbanized City from towns and cities in Bulacan on Tuesday at the Hiyas Pavilion. Campos expects a full turn-in of the returns from all the 20 towns and four cities to finish the canvassing. Photo by Carmela Reyes-Estrope
CITY OF MALOLOS–Bulakenyos junked the conversion of the City of San Jose del Monte (CSJDM) into a highly urbanized city (HUC) as the plebiscite to ratify the move during the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (BSKE) on Monday resulted to an overwhelming “no” votes against the “yes” votes.
At the canvassing of the turn-in of the election returns from all the 20 tows and four cities in the province by Bulacan Provincial Board of Canvassers led by Provincial Elections Supervisor Atty. Mona Aldana Campos at the Hiyas Pavilion on Tuesday, the “no” votes continue to get a chunk of lead against the “yes” votes from an earlier partial and unofficial result from the camp of one of the pro “no” groups in CSJDM.
A copy of the said partial and unofficial count tally circulating in social media and was sent to NEWS CORE on Tuesday morning said the “no” votes had a more than 100,000 marginal winning votes through 294,755 — 195,954 votes.
Yes votes only won in CSJDM by 146 votes from 35,530 against 35,374; in Meycauayan by 740 votes from 1,200-520 votes and IN Marilao with 4,661-4,500 votes.
Photo by Carmela Reyes-Estrope
In Bocaue, no votes won through 1,243-1,032; in Bulakan, 1,360-532; in Bustos town 18,443-16,503; in Calumpit 15-911-8957; in Donya Remedios Trinidad (DRT) 2,273-3,763; in Guiguinto 29, 029-21,050; in Hagonoy 2,930-1,306; in City of Malolos 10,276-5,490; in Norzagaray 15,977-4,403; in Obando 4,712-2,799; in Pandi 6,866-4,131; in Paombong 3,528-1,638; in Plaridel 13,259-8,293; in Pulilan 719-345; in San Ildefonso, 7, 694-6,631; in San Miguel 29,631-21,735; in San Rafael 31,861-16,394 and Sta. Maria with 10,328-6,261 votes.
The total 490,719 from the 294,755 no votes and 195,964 yes votes is just more than 23% of Bulacan’s 2,099, 914 number of registered voters.
Partial unofficial results from the towns of Baliwag, Balagtas and Angat have yet to be included in the data from the source.
A social media campaign ads was earlier released with a merged photos and “No” positions and statements of Gov. Daniel Fernando and two former Bulacan Governors Wilhelmino Sy-Alvarado and Roberto Pagdanganan.
Last week, more Bulacan officials stood against the conversion as majority from the total 615 top positions in the Provincial Government of Bulacan (PGB), league of municipalities and cities and barangays expressed strong opposition and pushed for “One Bulacan” compared with 144 who favored the move.
More than 470 from these 615 top officials composed of 20 from PGB led by Gov. Daniel Fernando, Vice Gov. Alex Castro and 18 board members; 450 out of Bulacan”s total 572 barangay captains and at least one out of the 24 Bulacan mayors support no.
The 144 yes come from around 120 barangay officials from the towns of Plaridel, Paombong, Norzagaray and Cities of Baliwag and Meycauayan and the other 23 mayor members of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines and League of Cities of the Philippines Bulacan chapters.
Fernando early during the week made known his stand on the issue. In an official statement in his social media page, he said that he wants the people to decide under the principle of democracy but he is unhappy and disappointed over the move of CSJDM to fully separate from the province.
“There is no father who will be happy if his son will drift apart. This is painful to me. My prayer and desire is for Bulacan to always be united as one”.
“Mula Noon Pa Man ay Aking Sinabi. Let the people decide. Sapagkat ito ang diwa ng demokrasya. Know the issues, then vie wisely. “patungkol sa mga katanungan kung ano ang aking panig sa mungkahing paghiwalay ng CSJDM sa lalawigan ng Bulacan, ito ang aking masasabi” Walang ama na magiging masaya kapag nawalay amg anak. Ito ay masakit para sa akin. Dalangin ko sa tuwina ay Isang Sambayanang Bulakenyong Buo at Nagkakaisa”.
He encouraged every Bulakenyo to know the issues and vote wisely.
Board Member Ramil Capistrano, president of the federation of Association of Barangay Captains (ABC) in 20 towns and four component cities in Bulacan said that some 450 from 572 village chairs in 17 out of 20 towns—Sta. Maria, Hagonoy, Pulilan, Angat, Balagtas, Marilao, San Miguel, Bocaue, Guiguinto, Calumpit, Donya Remedios Trinidad (DRT), Bustos, San Rafael, Bulakan, San Ildefonso, Pandi, Obando and one from three other component cities–City of Malolos all expressed “No” to the bid.
Capistrano led other officials and members in stressing their “NO” stand during a recent series of meetings as they supported the “One Bulacan” thrust of Fernando.
Capistrano said, the village officials who support “no” are far more in numbers compared with the whole 23 other Bulacan mayors who support “yes”.
The 20 member League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) Bulacan chapter headed by Bocaue Mayor Eduardo Villanueva Jr. including Mayors Ferdie Estrella of City of Baliwag, Henry Villarica of City of Meycauayan and City of Malolos Mayor Christian Natividad, the three other component cities other than the CSJDM earlier signed a manifesto of support to the HUC bid of the CSJDM.
But, a mayor in the third district who earlier signed the manifesto had shifted against the HUC bid and strongly campaigned for no among his constituents.
The mayor said that he was earlier pro yes but now that Fernando has already expressed his sentiments of losing the CSJDM, he need to be where the governor is.
“Before I will become a good leader, I have first to be a good follower,” he told NEWS CORE at his office on Friday.
Reports have reached the Capitol that many from other mayors who signed the said manifesto have already switched to support no in favor of the governor.
A salvo of rockets is fired by Palestinian militants from Gaza as an Israeli missile launched from the Iron Dome defence missile system attempts to intercept the rockets, fired from the Gaza Strip, over the city of Netivot in southern Israel on October 8, 2023. Israel, reeling from the deadliest attack on its territory in half a century, formally declared war on Hamas Sunday as the conflict's death toll surged close to 1,000 after the Hamas launched a massive surprise assault from Gaza. (Photo by MAHMUD HAMS / AFP)
Doctors Without Borders / Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) calls for an immediate ceasefire to prevent more deaths in Gaza and allow desperately needed humanitarian supplies in. Since Friday 27 October, the bombing by the Israeli forces has intensified to a degree not seen until now: northern Gaza is being razed to the ground, while the whole Strip is being hit and civilians have no place to take shelter.
The actions of world leaders are too weak, too slow, as a non-binding UN resolution for a ceasefire has done nothing to rein in the indiscriminate violence unleashed on a helpless people. The international community must take stronger action to urge Israel to stop the bloodshed. People are being killed and forcibly displaced from their homes, and water and fuel are running low. The atrocity is on a scale never seen before in Gaza.
Hospitals are running out of medical supplies. Earlier this week, Dr Mohammed Obeid, our surgeon in Gaza described the following, “Hospitals are flooded with patients, amputations and surgeries are being carried out without proper anesthesia, and morgues are flooded with dead bodies”. Without proper burials and clearance of dead bodies from the rubble, outbreaks of disease will pose an additional threat to the people of the Gaza Strip.
The total communications blackout on 27 October further limits the ability to coordinate and provide humanitarian and medical assistance. People under the rubble, pregnant women who are about to deliver, and the elderly are not able to seek help when they need it the most. Because of the blackout, Doctors Without Borders has lost contact with most of its Palestinian staff.
Across Gaza, the number of injured in need of urgent medical assistance far exceeds the capacity of the health system, which currently has around 3,500 beds. So many victims in such a short space of time is unheard of, even compared with previous large-scale Israeli offensives.
Hospitals such as Al Shifa in Gaza City, where Doctors Without Borders Palestinian colleagues continue to work, are overwhelmed with patients. Israeli military orders to evacuate the hospital are impossible and dangerous. The hospital is currently at full capacity with patients seeking medical treatment, and tens of thousands of others seeking safe shelter. Under international humanitarian law, patients, health workers and facilities must be protected at all times.
“Helpless people are being subjected to horrific bombing. Families have nowhere to run or to hide, as hell is unleashed on them. We need a ceasefire now,” says Dr Christos Christou, Doctors Without Borders International President. “Water, food, fuel, medical supplies and humanitarian aid in Gaza need to be urgently restored.”
Millions of men, women and children are facing an inhuman siege; a collective punishment that is prohibited under international humanitarian law.
Israeli authorities continue to prevent the entry of fuel into Gaza, which is essential for powering hospitals as well as the desalination plants that produce clean drinking water. On Friday evening, the death toll already stood at over 7,300 according to the local health authorities, with approximately 19,000 injured, and it may have become a lot worse after the most intense night of bombing since the start of the war. The siege will compound the deaths caused by the strikes, as medics will be forced to decide who to treat or not, and people are left without food, water or medicines.
Prior to 7 October, between 300 and 500 supply trucks crossed into Gaza every day, where most people were dependent on humanitarian aid. Today, despite the Rafah border crossing being open, only 84 trucks have entered since 20 October, a vastly inadequate response to the constant and growing needs in Gaza.
Those who want to seek safety across the border should be allowed to do so without prejudice to their right to return to Gaza. Our international staff who worked in Gaza before the war are now in the south and are no longer able to coordinate humanitarian activities. They must also be allowed to leave to Egypt.
Some of Doctors Without Borders’s 300 Palestinian staff have also moved to south Gaza to find shelter from the bombing for their families. Many other Palestinian colleagues continue to work and provide lifesaving care in hospitals and across the Gaza Strip, while the most basic protections for hospitals and medical personnel are not guaranteed. “We are ready to increase our aid capacity in Gaza. We have teams on standby ready to send medical supplies and to enter Gaza to support the emergency medical response, as soon as the situation allows it,” says Dr. Christou. “But as long as the bombing continues with the current intensity, any effort to increase medical aid will inevitably fall short.”
Vote buying in elections is a persistent and pervasive issue that has an impact on the level of democracy and governance in the nation. Vote buying, in the opinion of some academics, dates back to the colonial era, when the American and Spanish monarchies utilized coercion and patronage to win the support of the populace’s elites and masses. However, after democracy was restored in 1986 and political parties and candidates began to compete for votes in a widely dispersed and individualized electoral system, vote buying increased in frequency and became more organized.
Some of the historical factors that have contributed to the persistence of vote buying in the Philippines are:
Lack of voter education: Many Filipino voters are not well-informed or aware of their rights and responsibilities as citizens, or of the consequences of vote buying for their welfare and development. They also lack access to alternative sources of information or platforms for participation, which would enable them to make informed and independent choices.
These factors have created a culture of vote buying that is deeply entrenched and difficult to eradicate. However, there have been some efforts and initiatives to combat vote buying in the Philippines, such as:
Anti-vote buying campaign: The Comelec has launched a Committee on Kontra Bigay, an inter-agency task force that aims to prevent and reduce vote buying incidents through information dissemination, complaint handling, investigation, and prosecution.
Civil society advocacy: Various civil society organizations have been active in promoting voter education, empowerment, and vigilance, as well as monitoring and reporting vote buying activities. Some examples are Namfrel, PPCRV, Lente, Kontra Daya, and Bantay Balota.
Social media mobilization: Social media platforms have been used by some citizens and groups to expose and denounce vote buying schemes, as well as to encourage others to reject or resist them. Some examples are #NoToVoteBuying, #IwasanAngBotohan, and #NotForSale.
These efforts have shown some positive results in raising awareness and reducing tolerance for vote buying in the Philippines. However, they also face some challenges and limitations, such as:
Lack of coordination and cooperation: The different actors involved in combating vote buying have different agendas, strategies, and capacities, which may lead to duplication, inconsistency, or conflict. There is a need for more collaboration and integration among them to achieve greater impact.
Resistance and backlash: The political actors who benefit from vote buying have various means to counter or undermine the anti-vote buying campaign, such as intimidation, harassment, bribery, or manipulation. They also have a strong hold on their supporters and communities, which makes it hard to change their behavior or attitude.
Sustainability and scalability: The anti-vote buying campaign requires a lot of resources, commitment, and participation from various stakeholders, which may not be available or sustained over time. It also needs to reach a critical mass of voters who are willing and able to reject vote buying, which may not be feasible or realistic given the social and political context.
In conclusion, vote buying in Philippine elections is a complex and persistent problem that has historical roots and contemporary manifestations. It poses a serious threat to the integrity and quality of democracy and governance in the country. However, there are also some efforts and initiatives that aim to prevent or reduce vote buying through various means. These efforts need to be supported and strengthened by all concerned parties, especially the voters themselves. Only then can the Philippines achieve a truly free and fair electoral system that reflects the genuine will of the people.
So have we perfected the art of vote buying in the Philippines? The answer is yes!
Social Security System (SSS) Binondo Branch Head Lazaro D. Canlas (third from left) and Tondo Branch Account Officer John Deniel A. Wong (fourth from left) serve a notice of violation to a trucking company for not remitting its workers’ contribution during a recent Run After Contribution Evaders (RACE) campaign in Tondo, Manila.
Six delinquent employers, including the trucking company, received written notices from the SSS Tondo Branch for violating the Social Security Act of 2018. Four business establishments failed to remit P2.71 million in unpaid contributions with penalties for their 79 employees, while the two employers did not report their business and seven employees to the SSS.
SSS Tondo Acting Branch Head Eudora G. Racuyal urged the erring employers to settle their delinquencies within 15 days after receiving the written notices to avoid filing criminal cases against them.
The Social Security System (SSS) announces that its branch offices nationwide will remain open on October 31, 2023, to accommodate its members and claimants.
SSS branches are ready to serve employers, members, pensioners, and their beneficiaries who may opt to conduct their transactions on the said date.
All branch offices will be open from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. and accept various SSS transactions, including tellering services in SSS branch offices with tellering facility.
SSS members and claimants may also transact 24/7 online using the My.SSS portal and the SSS Mobile App.
There also SSS-accredited bank and non-bank collecting partners where members may pay over-the-counter and online.
Earlier, Malacañang issued Memorandum Circular No. 38, which implemented a work from home arrangement in government offices on October 31, 2023, to allow government employees to travel to and from the different regions in the country to properly observe All Saints’ Day on 1 November 2023.
China Banking Corporation (Chinabank) was named as the 2023 Employer of the Year in the Philippines by the People Management Association of the Philippines (PMAP).
The prestigious Employer of the Year (EOY) award represents a standard for excellence in people management. Chinabank, the only bank to win this coveted award in the last 30 years, was recognized during the 60th PMAP Annual Conference Awards Night on October 26, 2023 at the Waterfront Hotel in Cebu.
“Our legacy is not just about banking, it’s about people. This achievement reflects our commitment to the wellbeing and happiness of Chinabankers and to creating an empowered and inclusive workplace,” President & CEO Romy Uyan said.
PMAP received a total of 77 nominations from all over the country for the three Award categories—Employer of the Year, People Manager of the Year, and People Program of the Year. There were 33 nominations for the EOY category, which were evaluated based on the following criteria: strategic business management and HR partnership, performance focus, HR competence and credibility, leadership focus and approaches, people engagement, and risk management and sustainability.
The rigorous evaluation process narrowed down the list to seven Regional Exemplars, including four Exemplar Employers that vied for the EOY award—Chinabank, Manila Water Company, Inc., Murata Philippines, and Rizal Commercial Banking Corp.
PMAP is the premier group of companies and professional management executives engaged or interested in Human Resource Management and Industrial Relations work in the Philippines. Now on its 47th year, the PMAP Awards program continues the tradition of recognizing the best practices in the people management profession for others to emulate.
