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House OK’s 100-day maternity leave

By Charmaine A. Tadalan
THE HOUSE BILL increasing from 60 to 100 days the paid maternity leave was approved on third and final reading on Tuesday, Sept. 4.
With 191 affirmatives, zero negatives and no abstention, House Bill (HB) 4113, “The 100-day Maternity Leave Law,” is a step closer to enactment. Its counterpart bill, Senate Bill 1305, which grants a 120-day maternity leave, had earlier hurdled that chamber on third and final reading.
Under both measures, all covered female workers will also be granted an optional 30-day extension without pay, in addition to the initial maternity period.
Further, in the House version, women in government offices on maternity leave shall receive full pay based on their average weekly or regular wages. Meanwhile, women in the private sector will be paid a daily maternity benefit, based on the average monthly salary credit.
The benefits shall apply to all covered female workers, regardless of civil status and birth procedure. The bill, if enacted, will also include workers in the informal economy as well as female workers facing administrative cases.
The Associated Labor Union-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (ALU-TUCP) welcomed the development and considered it as “a sweet victory for Filipino women workers.”
“The Expanded Maternity Leave measure is the country’s non-cash investment in producing a healthy, intelligent and well-developed future breed of Filipino workers without losing the wages and benefits of nursing moms during maternity period and without sacrificing their health and well-being,” ALU-TUCP Vice President and Women’s Committee head Eva B. Arcos said in a statement, Tuesday.
The Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP), for its part, said while it does not object to the proposed measure, it has reservations about its implementation.
“ECOP did not object to that, okay lang kasi (it’s okay because) it’s not so far from what the international standard ng ILO (Internal Labor Organization). But we reiterated dapat ang arrangement niyan pareho ng SSS na nagbabayad (ng) daily credit, ina-advance lang ng employer, nire-reimburse lang ng SSS,” ECOP honorary chair Sergio R. Ortiz-Luis, Jr. told BusinessWorld in a phone interview. (But we reiterated that the arrangement should be the same as with the Social Security System, which reimburses the employer’s advance.)

House panel: Impeachment complaints vs SC justices ‘sufficient in form’

WITH 21 affirmative votes and zero negative, the House Committee on Justice found “sufficient in form” the consolidated impeachment complaints filed against seven Supreme Court justices who granted the quo warranto case that ousted Maria Lourdes P.A. Sereno as chief justice.
“We have 21 members voting in the affirmative, zero against, so the motion is approved,” Committee chair, Oriental Mindoro Rep. Salvador C. Leachon, said during the panel meeting on Tuesday.
Mr. Leachon was acting on the motion of Misamis Occidental Rep. Henry S. Oaminal to vote on the complaints’ sufficiency in form.
The complaints were filed by Albay Rep. Edcel C. Lagman, Magdalo Rep. Gary C. Alejano, Ifugao Rep. Teddy B. Baguilat Jr., and Akbayan Rep. Tomasito S. Villarin.
The panel, however, suspended until Sept. 11 consideration of the complaints’ sufficiency in substance.
The impeachment complaints were filed by Mr. Lagman, Magdalo Rep. Gary C. Alejano, Ifugao Rep. Teddy B. Baguilat Jr., and Akbayan Rep. Tomasito S. Villarin, who however the committee did not recognize because he was not a signatory in the complaints.
“As you all know I was not able to make it to the filing because of an emergency in Davao, where I live,” Mr. Villarin said, as he appealed to the Committee that he be allowed to amend the complaints and affix his signature.
“If the committee will allow, having the jurisdiction, (to) amend the complaint, may I take an oath that I do have personal knowledge of the contents of the impeachment complaint?” Mr. Villarin said. But the committee denied his appeal. — Charmaine A. Tadalan

PLDT supervisors’ union file notice of strike

THE SUPERVISORS’ union of PLDT, Inc. (PLDT) yesterday filed a notice of strike against the telecommunication firm’s alleged unfair labor practices as they held a protest outside the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) main office in Manila.
The group, the Gabay ng Unyon sa Telekomunikasyon ng mga Superbisor (GUTS), is protesting the alleged dismissal of 12,000 workers as of June 31, 2018, which they said has affected both the tenured workers and the company’s services.
Charlito Arevalo, GUTS president, also blasted the reported plan of DoLE to work out a “compromise agreement” with PLDT.
“Even if such information is fake or true, PLDT and DoLE must not enter into any compromise deals in behalf of the regularization of all the terminated 12,000 workers of PLDT due to DoLE’s cease and desist order,” Mr. Arevalo said in a statement.
PLDT issued a statement on Monday saying there is no factual basis to Labor Secretary Silvestre H. Bello’s comments that they were planning a “compromise agreement” on the regularization of the contractual workers.
Mr. Arevalo, who has been a supervisor for the company for almost 25 years, said they, the regular workers, “were the ones who (picked up the burden).”
He noted that the added workload has affected health conditions and some workers were also not allowed to file for leaves.
“Na-deprive ang basic rights ng manggagawa (Our basic rights as workers were deprived),” he told reporters.
Mr. Arevalo also clarified that the 12,000 workers they are referring to includes those who are “unlisted” as opposed to the 7,329 in the DoLE list.
DoLE Undersecretary Joel B. Maglunsod, meanwhile, confirmed that there was no meeting yet between Mr. Bello and PLDT.
“Walang nangyaring meeting,” he said to reporters in a briefing on Tuesday.
He added, “Bukas ang pinto namin sa pag-uusap but never compromise ang order namin (Our doors are always open for dialogue but [they] should never compromise our [regularization] order).”
PLDT, in a statement yesterday, said it has yet to get an official copy of the notice of strike.
“PLDT has been made aware of news reports describing the filing today of a Notice of Strike (NoS) by PLDT’s supervisory union… PLDT has not received a copy of any such Notice today, and reserves comment if or until after it is summoned by the National Conciliation and Mediation Board (NCMB),” the company said.
“In any event, the factual or legal basis for such a filing is not clear. There does not appear to be any ‘industrial or labor dispute’ between the Company and GUTS; the existence of such a dispute is an essential legal requirement to file an NoS,” it added.
PLDT also said claims of “alleged terminations by PLDT of ‘12,000’ workers is absolutely baseless, untrue and malicious.”
It explained, “At the end of June 2018, PLDT contractors affected by Secretary Bello’s regularization orders complied with the Secretary’s cease-and-desist orders against them, and ceased deploying workers to PLDT. Following the Court of Appeals Decision enjoining the Secretary’s orders, however, the contractors have since undertaken remediation efforts to normalize their deployments and services.”
Hastings Holdings, Inc., a unit of PLDT Beneficial Trust Fund subsidiary MediaQuest Holdings, Inc., has a majority stake in BusinessWorld through the Philippine Star Group, which it controls. — Gillian M. Cortez

On the web

PHL, Israel forge agreements on labor, science, and trade

THE PHILIPPINES and the State of Israel on Monday, Sept. 3, signed bilateral agreements on labor, science, and trade, Malacañang said.
>> See full story on <https://goo.gl/WDii43>

Intellectual property agency opens satellite office in Naga

THE INTELLECTUAL Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) opened another satellite office in Naga City yesterday, Sept. 4, the second in the Bicol Region and 14th outside Metro Manila. The new branch is located at the Department of Trade and Industry’s Camarines Sur office. “The swift expansion this year is in line with our goal to build a groundswell in IP awareness, especially outside of Metro Manila. We’re expanding our reach to these new territories to advance the use of IP to businesses, inventors, and any IP creator for their competitive advantage and spur innovation,” IPOPHL Director General Josephine R. Santiago said in a statement. “At the same time, we’re striving to push this ‘first-mover’ filing mindset in trademarks. We are encouraging businesses to apply for registration of trademarks prior to registering as a business or even prior to commercialisation,” she added. Naga is the 3rd satellite office launched by IPOPHL this year after Dumaguete City in May, and Zamboanga City in August.

Resort owner calls for tourism carrying capacity cap for Bohol

A RESORT owner in Bohol has called for a study that will determine the province’s carrying capacity for tourists, particularly the island of Panglao. Dr. Doloreich A. Dumaluan, owner of Dumaluan Beach Resort and a former mayor of Panglao, said setting a cap would ensure sustainability so as “not to kill the hen that lays the golden eggs.” Mr. Dumaluan said all concerned government agencies and stakeholders should work together on the study “to determine the extent of which the benefits from tourism can be maintained, while sustaining the quality of the island’s social, economic and environmental aspects.” A carrying capacity will be set by the government for Boracay Island, which has been closed for six months for rehabilitation. Panglao is expected to see an increase in tourist arrivals with the opening of the new Bohol international airport on the island. The Department of Transportation said about two million tourists annually are expected to use the airport, which is expected to begin operations by October. — The Freeman

NPAs kill 2 former comrades who have joined amnesty program

NPA
AFP

MEMBERS OF the communist New People’s Army (NPA) executed late Wednesday a couple who surrendered early this year and entered an amnesty program for former rebels, police said. According to the provincial police, Felix Abaniel, 50, and his wife Teresita, 51, were killed on the spot when NPAs barged into their house in Makilala and opened fire with assault rifles. Superintendent Bernard Tayong, spokesman of the Cotabato provincial police, said Thursday that residents of Barangay Singkatulan have confirmed that the two were killed by NPAs. There is strong NPA presence in Makilala town in North Cotabato from whose residents rebels periodically collect food and protection money. The NPA in Cotabato has executed at least 20 former comrades in the past 12 months. — PhilStar

New CDO passenger seaport ready by Dec.

THE NEW passenger terminal building at the Port of Cagayan de Oro (CDO) is expected to be operational by December this year, the Department of Transportation (DoTr) announced. As of August, construction work is almost 80% done for the building, which DoTr said would be the biggest in the country. The terminal, seen to accommodate 3,000 passengers daily, will have check-in areas equipped with x-ray scanning machines, walk-thru metal detectors, restrooms, charging stations, pay parking, ticketing offices, and field offices for port and tourist police.

Coast Guard heightens alert vs bomb threats

THE PHILIPPINE Coast Guard-Western Visayas (PCG-6) is on heightened alert following Monday’s blast in Masbate that damaged PCG boats as well as the two bombing incidents in Isulan, Sultan Kudarat. Lieutenant Commander Ramil A. Palabrica, PCG-6 spokesperson, said they have deployed K9 dogs in all ports in the region since two weeks ago and are closely coordinating with the police and the military. “We are very alert not only in Western Visayas but in the entire country,” Palabrica said. Mr. Palabrica said stricter inspection of baggages will also be enforced at all ports. Meanwhile, Iloilo City Mayor Jose S. Espinosa III said he already instructed the police and the coast guard to secure vessels and passengers. “We need to secure the possible convergence areas of the culprits,” Mr. Espinosa said. He also appealed to the public to be vigilant and immediately report suspicious items, particularly abandoned bags. Last Aug. 28, components of an improvised explosive device were found in the girl’s toilet at the Lambunao National High School in Lambunao, Iloilo. The Iloilo provincial police’s Explosives and Ordinance Division confirmed the bomb components, but said these could not explode without a blast cap or detonator. — Louine Hope U. Conserva

Nation at a Glance — (09/05/18)

News stories from across the nation. Visit www.bworldonline.com (section: The Nation) to read more national and regional news from the Philippines.

Costs, weak currencies weigh on ASEAN PMI

manufacturing plant
AFP

PURCHASING activity, a proxy for the robustness of the manufacturing sector, exceeded the regional average in the Philippines but placed the country in the second tier among Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), according to an IHS Markit survey conducted for Nikkei released on Tuesday.
The Philippine Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) was 51.9 in August, level with Indonesia, but well below the outlier reading of 53.7 posted by Vietnam.
A PMI reading above 50 points indicates expansion in purchasing and represents a leading indicator for upcoming manufacturing activity, as it reflects to a large extent the acquisition of raw materials for processing.
The regional average was 51, up from 50.4 in July, a change that signaled “marginal improvement.” Three of seven countries surveyed saw contractions.
Malaysia was fourth at 51.2, followed by Thailand at 49.9, Singapore at 48.5, and Myanmar at 46.4.
ASEAN manufacturing purchasing managers’ index, August (2018)
The Manufacturing PMI measure incorporates five subindices, with new orders weighted at 30%, followed by output (25%), employment (20%), suppliers’ delivery times (15%) and stocks of purchases (10%).
The report said August was marked by acceleration in new orders and output, as well as jobs growth and positive business confidence, but the overall improvement in manufacturing conditions across the region “was not as broad-based as those seen in previous months,” being weighed down by countries that saw conditions deteriorate.
It said that all countries reported higher costs in August, but Myanmar saw the steepest increase.
It noted that the Philippines, along with Indonesia, “also reported strong input cost inflation amid a weak exchange rate.”
“The Philippines registered the quickest pace of output charge inflation,” it added.
In the country-specific report released on Monday, it said that the Philippines saw stronger new-order growth, but production slowed due to elevated inflation pressures, especially on input costs such metals, sugar, rice, a weaker exchange rate, and tax hikes under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion law (TRAIN).
The law, which became effective in January, raised tax rates for automobiles, minerals, tobacco, fuel and documentary stamps, among others; imposed new excise levies on sugar-sweetened drinks and removed some value-added tax exemptions, even as it reduced personal income tax rates as well as estate and donor tax rates.
“Manufacturing conditions across ASEAN improved at a faster pace in August, with growth in output and new orders both gaining momentum. Employment growth was also stronger,” Bernard Aw, Principal Economist of IHS Markit, was quoted in the report as saying.
He said that the improvement in the ASEAN region was driven by “a faster expansion in Indonesia, and Malaysia’s return to growth.
“At the same time, ASEAN manufacturers continued to struggle with increased cost burdens, particularly countries with a weaker exchange rate against the dollar, such as Myanmar, Indonesia and the Philippines,” he added.
“All these challenges raise questions over whether the growth pickup in August is sustainable in coming months,” Mr. Aw said. — Elijah Joseph C. Tubayan

PHL hopes to sign Palawan oil exploration deal in Israel

THE Philippines expects to sign a Palawan oil exploration agreement with Israel’s Ratio Petroleum Energy Ltd during President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s visit, Malacañang said.
“We are hoping to sign an exploration agreement… with Ratio Petroleum Ltd and this is in connection with round number five,” Presidential Spokesperson Herminio L. Roque, Jr. said at a briefing in Israel on Tuesday, referring to the Philippine Energy Contracting Round-5 (PECR-5).
Mr. Roque said the proposed exploration area is east of Palawan.
Reuters reported that the company in 2015 was one of a number of foreign firms to be awarded an exploration deal. Ratio won the so-called East Palawan block, a 416,000-hectare oil and gas prospect off Palawan.
It said the award was delayed due to legal issues involving a previous exploration contract covering that block.
Mr. Duterte was set to meet with the private sector at the King David Hotel in Jerusalem on Tuesday, where he was expected to witness the signing of the agreements between Israeli companies and the Philippine Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
One of the prospective attendees, NUFiltration Ltd, told the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a letter that is “not willing to participate” in the event, citing Mr. Duterte’s unacceptable behavior, CEO Mino Negrin said.
Mr. Negrin said in his letter that Mr. Duterte “compared himself to Hitler” in a way that “cannot be accepted by the Jewish people.”
Sought for comment, Mr. Roque said: “That’s truly regrettable, because we think the Philippines is one of the best investment destinations. But we will see later, it will be standing room only for the business forum. We will miss those who will not attend but I’m sure interest amongst investors to invest in the Philippines remains at an all-time high.”
As for the signing of arms deals, Mr. Roque said: “I cannot confirm until it actually happens, because it’s not in the schedule.” — Arjay L. Balinbin

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