DoLE releases guidelines on certificate for SSS unemployment insurance
THE DEPARTMENT of Labor and Employment (DoLE) has released the guidelines on the issuance of a required document for retrenched employees who want to avail of unemployment insurance from the Social Security System. In a statement on Tuesday, DoLE said Labor Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III signed Department Circular No. 01-19, which “spells out the guidelines on the issuance of DoLE certification as a requirement for availment by eligible SSS-member employees, including kasambahay and overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), who were involuntarily separated from work.” The circular notes that applying for the certification is “mandatory” as stated under SSS Circular No. 2009-011. Local workers who were involuntary removed from their jobs may apply for their certification at any DoLE field or provisional office within the area of their previous employment. OFWs, on the other hand, may apply at any Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO). Those who will be applying will need at least one valid ID and a copy of their termination notice, or an Affidavit of Termination of Employment. — Gillian M. Cortez
Police to look into 8chan message board allegedly used by El Paso shooter
THE PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) will look into the possible investigation of the online message board 8chan, which was allegedly used by the gunman in the shooting incident at El Paso, Texas before the incident. The messaging board is reportedly a go-to site of violent extremists and is being operated in the Philippines. “I asked the ACG (Anti-Cybercrime Group) to verify it already and monitor,” said PNP chief Gen. Oscar D. Albayalde in a press briefing at Camp Crame on Tuesday. Mr. Albayalde added that they have to asses the content of the site. “Depende kung anong makikita natin (It depends on what we will see there). Of course, kung sino ang mga (who are the) connections. Kung ano ma-dig natin, lalo na kung local ‘yan (Whatever we dig up there, especially if it involves locals), we have to conduct verification and intelligence build up,” Mr. Albayalde said. The PNP chief also dismissed the possibility of similar shooting sprees in the country, citing strict implementation of gun ownership rules. “‘Yung sa atin (Here), we have a very strict firearms law. We undergo neuropsychiatric test, background investigation…. Hopefully, ‘di naman mangyari kasi ang (it won’t happen here because their) reason nila ay (is) mental illness,” he said. — Vince Angelo C. Ferreras
Proposals on counter-terrorism, higher LGUs revenue share presented to Congress
MEASURES STRENGTHENING the country’s efforts to counter terrorism are among the proposals submitted by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) to the 18th Congress, Secretary Eduardo M. Año said, Tuesday. The League of Provinces of the Philippines (LPP), for their part, asked the current Congress to amend the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997 to increase the revenue share of local government units (LGUs) from taxes collected from business operators to 90-10, in favor of LGUs. Under the current law, the sharing is 70-30 in favor of LGUs. “We seek for the enactment for the transformation of the DILG to the Department of Local Government and Homeland Security and amendment to the Human Security Act, and the creation of the Anti-Terrorism Commission,” Mr. Año told the Senate committee on local government Tuesday. Mr. Año also proposed measures that will streamline operations of local jails, by placing provincial jails under the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP). At present, provincial jails are managed by the provincial government. “To streamline and harmonize the operation of local jails, and considering that many provincial governments do not have the competency to manage provincial jails, we propose the transfer of the latter to the BJMP.” Moreover, Mr. Año seeks to institutionalize the government’s campaign against the illegal drug trade by establishing the Anti-Drug Abuse Council; and to revive the mandatory Reserve Officers’ Training Corps. (ROTC). — Charmaine A. Tadalan
