Day: May 1, 2024

Yoon Yoon-soo, the chairman of FILA Holdings Corp. and Acushnet Holdings Corp., has been chosen as this year’s Van Fleet Award honoree for his contributions to the relationship between South Korea and the United States, a nonprofit organization said Tuesday.

The Korea Society, a U.S-based organization dedicated to promoting Korea-U.S. ties, announced the winner of the highly acclaimed award named after Gen. James A. Van Fleet, commander of the U.S. Eighth Army at the height of the Korean War in 1951.

It said that the award will be formally presented to Yoon during an annual dinner event at a hotel in New York on Sept. 30.

Since 1992, the Korea Society has annually presented the award. Former honorees include former South Korean President Kim Dae-jung, Korean War hero Gen. Paik Sun-yup, former U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and former U.S. Presidents George H.W. Bush and Jimmy Carter.

Source: Yonhap News Agency

MANILA: The National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) on Tuesday condemned the latest incident of Chinese harassment which involved China Coast Guard (CCG) ships water cannoning Philippine vessels on their way to provide humanitarian assistance to Filipino fishermen in Panatag Shoal (also known as Bajo De Masinloc and Scarborough Shoal).

“Earlier today CCG and Chinese Maritime Militia (CMM) vessels harassed, blocked, water cannoned, rammed vessels of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) en route to Panatag Shoal to conduct a regular humanitarian and assistance mission to Filipino fishing boats in and around the area,” it said in a statement.

These Filipino ships are the PCG BRP Bagacay (MMRV-4410) and BFAR’s BRP Bankaw (MMOV-3004). The incident also demonstrated China’s willingness to obstruct a Philippine humanitarian mission, the task force said.

These illegal actions were witnessed by members of the local and foreign press, who are rou
tinely invited to embed in these regular BFAR humanitarian and assistance missions for fisherfolk throughout the WPS and other maritime areas.

“Today, the embedded press on the PCG and BFAR vessels have not only witnessed but also experienced first-hand, alongside the determined PCG and BFAR personnel, the illegal, coercive, aggressive, and dangerous actions of the agents of the Chinese Communist Party and their CCG and CMM,” NTF-WPS said.

At this time, both PCG and BFAR vessels have regrouped approximately 20 nautical miles from Panatag Shoal.

Crew members of the two ships are now conducting damage, assessments and are reorganizing following the severe water cannoning by CCG vessels.

“Initial reports from PCG and BFAR personnel onboard, as reflected by live media reports, indicate that the PCG vessel suffered some damage to a part of its superstructure from targeted high-pressure water cannoning by CCG vessels,” the task force said.

Meanwhile, the BRP Bankaw sustained damage to heating,ventilation, and
air conditioning systems; electrical, navigation, and radio systems; and superficial hull damage.

The BFAR ship was subjected to at least eight instances of targeted high-pressure water cannoning from Chinese vessels and was rammed a total of three times by both CCG and CMM craft.

“These latest demonstrations of China’s illegal and irresponsible behavior highlight their egregious disregard for the Philippines’ lawful exercise of its rights and entitlements in our own EEZ. Clearly, China has no regard for the welfare of our fishermen who only want to make a decent living in the WPS. China’s act of obstructing civilian ships carrying only supplies for our fishermen calls into question the sincerity of their call for dialogue and peaceful approaches to de-escalate the situation in the WPS,” NTF-WPS added.

It also said the Philippines will continue to act peacefully and responsibly, consistent with rules-based international law, based on United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the valid an
d binding 2016 Arbitral Award.

Peace and stability in the region cannot be achieved if countries, big or small, do not exercise due regard for the well-established and legally-settled rights of others.

“The Philippines will not be deterred from pursuing legitimate and lawful activities in our maritime zones, including in BDM which is a vital source of livelihood for our fisherfolk,” NTF-WPS said.

Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: As the country pays tribute to the toil and sacrifices of workers on Labor Day, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. vowed to continue supporting the working class in their pursuit of improved working conditions and better life quality.

In his message released by the Office of the President on social media Wednesday, Marcos paid tribute to the noble and diligent Filipino workers, highlighting their contributions to the country’s development thrust.

‘From the bustling cities to the remote fields in the countryside, it is the labor of the Filipino that propels us forward, fueling our economy and sustaining the very fabric of our society,’ Marcos said.

‘On this special day, we recognize the invaluable contributions of our hardworking men and women whose grit and resilience have paved the way for our national development. We also pay homage to all the people who raised their voices in the pursuit of social justice, championing the rights of workers and ensuring that their efforts are duly valued and compe
nsated,’ he added.

The President noted that the government ‘continues to support the working class and uphold the principles of fairness, dignity, and equity across all workspaces.’

‘Indeed, under the banner of a Bagong Pilipinas, we will usher in an era of greater prosperity where opportunities abound, creating a society where every worker is cherished, respected, and empowered to thrive,’ he said.

Marcos will lead the Labor Day celebration in Malacañang where he is expected to award outstanding workers in the country and unveil the Department of Labor and Employment’s masterplan for the soon-to-be built Workers’ Rehabilitation Center Complex.

Meanwhile, Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said the agency joins the nation in recognizing the valuable role of all Filipino workers in the country’s development.

“Today, the Philippines joins other nations in the global celebration of Labor Day. On behalf of the men and women of the DND, I convey our solidarity with the Filipin
o people in recognizing the immense sacrifices and contributions of Filipino workers both here and abroad,” he said in a message forwarded to reporters.

Teodoro also reminded the public of the importance of supporting peace and security efforts.

“A stable and secure environment is essential for economic progress, ensuring that prosperity is within reach of every Filipino,” he said.

Source: Philippines News Agency

ATHENS: More than 50,000 unaccompanied child migrants went missing after arriving in Europe, a survey by a European journalism project revealed Tuesday.

‘Italy has the highest number of registered missing unaccompanied minors, with 22,899, followed by Austria (20,077), Belgium (2,241), Germany (2,005), and Switzerland (1,226),’ according to the Lost in Europe project, which gathered data from 13 European countries from 2021 – 2023.

The survey said the number of missing children may be even higher because data is often unreliable and incomplete, and many European countries do not collect data on missing unaccompanied minors.

‘These shocking findings underscore the seriousness of the issue, with thousands of children missing and their whereabouts unknown,’ it said.

‘The increased number of reports on missing unaccompanied minors serves as a sharp reminder of the giant iceberg that looms beneath the surface,’ Aagje Ieven, head of Missing Children Europe, said.

Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Z. Duterte on Wednesday, Labor Day, lauded the dedication and hard work of so-called modern-day heroes.

“Saludo kami sa hindi matatawarang sipag at dedikasyon ninyo. Ang bawat araw ninyong pagsusumikap ay aming gabay tungo sa landas ng pag-unlad ng ating bayan (We salute your unwavering diligence and dedication. Each day of your hard work serves as our guide towards the prosperity of our nation),” she said in a statement.

Duterte also highlighted the contributions of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), medical and security frontliners, community workers, teachers, and all other workers both in public service and private sectors in nation-building.

“Kayo ang itinuturing na tunay na bayani sa makabagong panahon. Nawa’y ipagpatuloy natin ang pagtahak sa isang maunlad na kinabukasan (You’re the true heroes of the new age. We hope to continue to move forward to a brighter future),” she added.

In the education sector, meanwhile, Duterte approved the rationalizat
ion of the workloads and specifications of ancillary tasks of all public school teachers, two days before Labor Day, through Department Order No. 5, series of 2024.

Under DO 5, teachers are allowed to spend longer time, equivalent to six hours, on classroom-based teaching, with the remaining two hours for ancillary tasks which may be done within and outside school premises.

Before the issuance of the order, Duterte earlier directed the removal of administrative tasks from teachers to promote their welfare; as well as improve the quality of teaching processes and outcomes.

Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has been urged to certify as urgent a proposed bill that seeks to provide civil service eligibility and permanent appointment to all government casual and contractual employees who have rendered at least three years of outstanding government service.

“Amin ding inabot kanina kay Pangulong Marcos, sa pamamagitan ng kanyang aide-de-camp, iyong House Bill 1514 na may kinalaman doon sa equivalency bill na kung saan iyong mga manggagawa doon sa gobyerno na nakapaglingkod na ng tatlong taon at pumasa naman doon sa mga assessments and evaluation ay baka dapat na ring bigyan ng pagkakataong ma-regular. (We also gave President Marcos earlier, through his aide-de-camp, House Bill 1514 that has to do with the equivalency bill where workers in government who have served for three years and passed the assessments and evaluations may also be given the opportunity to be regularized),” National Anti-Poverty Commission Formal Labor and Migrant Workers Sector Sectoral Representative E
dwin Bustillos said during the Bagong Pilipinas briefing on Wednesday.

House Bill 1514 aims to provide civil service eligibility and permanent appointment to all government casual and contractual employees under job orders, contract of service, and similar contracts who have rendered at least three years of outstanding government service.

“Ito ay subject pa doon sa deliberasyon ng Kongreso, kaya ang aming hiling kay Pangulong Marcos Jr. ay i-certify itong batas na ito (This is still subject to deliberation by Congress, so our request to President Marcos Jr. is to certify this act [as urgent]),” Bustillos said.

Aside from the initiative, he said, the Workers Rehabilitation Center Complex was also presented during the Labor Day meeting with labor leaders and other government agencies.

“So, iyong mga, halimbawa mga wounded soldiers natin, iyong mga nagkaroon ng aksidente at naging PWDs ay may pagkakataon muling makahanap ng trabaho sa pamamagitan ng Workers Rehabilitation Center Complex. (For example, our wo
unded soldiers, those who had an accident and became PWDs will have the opportunity to find work again through the Workers Rehabilitation Center Complex),” Bustillos said.

A joint memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed by the local government of Tanay, and the departments of labor, human settlements, public works, environment, and the interior for the construction of the rehabilitation center.

The soon-to-be-built rehabilitation center in Barangay Cuyambay, Tanay, Rizal will provide comprehensive management and treatment for injured workers, with a specific emphasis on a biopsychosocial approach to recovery for their successful reintegration into the workforce.

During the briefing, Bustillos also cited the importance of increasing the purchasing power of workers, ensuring the protection of overseas workers, and freedom of association.

“And lastly, tingin ko, dahil sa tumitinding init at global crisis, particularly sa klima, kailangang bantayan iyong mga implementasyon natin ng ating mga policies, pa
rticularly sa occupational health and safety, lalo na iyong mga nagta-trabaho sa construction work (And lastly, I think that due to the intensifying heat and global crisis, we need to watch the implementation of our policies, particularly in occupational health and safety, especially those who do construction work),” he added.

Source: Philippines News Agency