Author: ASEAN Tribune

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in Negros Oriental has allocated about PHP5 million in livelihood assistance this year for over 200 parents of child laborers in the province.Rubie Cempron, Labor and Employment Officer 2 of the DOLE-Negros Oriental field officer, told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) on Friday that 210 parents were already profiled since last year to determine their individual needs and requirements.On Wednesday, the department released the first livelihood assistance for vegetable production to three parents-beneficiaries in Barangay Alangilanan, Manjuyod town, Cempron said.Seeds, fertilizers, insecticides, and backpack sprayer were distributed to them to support their vegetable production.Others will receive their aid soon as procurement of their respective desired livelihood based on their profile and evaluation are completed, she added.The amount of assistance for each parent varies, the official said.Some of them have preferred to improve their existing sources of income
, such as running as sari-sari store, while others even underwent training on baking and cooking, the DOLE official said.Cempron said the program to provide livelihood aid to the parents of child laborers aims to remove these young workers from the sugarcane fields, business establishments, and other workplaces.In a related development, the DOLE-Negros Oriental field office on Thursday handed over a glass-bottomed fiberglass fishing boat and peripherals to the Andulay Fishermen Association in Barangay Siit, Siaton.The project is in cooperation with the Dumaguete Cathedral Credit Cooperative (DCCCO) and will benefit 36 fisherfolk members of the said association, Cempron said.The assistance worth PHP500,000 includes fishing boats, life vests, snorkel and mask sets.

Source: Philippines News Agency

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has urged the ten winners of the 2023 Galing Pook Awards to share their outstanding local governance programs with other local government units (LGUs) to benefit more communities across the country.In his message during the awarding ceremony in Pasay City on Thursday afternoon, Interior Secretary Benjamin ‘Benhur’ Abalos Jr., who represented President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., urged the winners to collaborate with the DILG and Galing Pook Foundation in helping other LGUs emulate their transformative projects’This October marks the anniversary of the Local Government Code of the Philippines. It speaks of autonomy, it speaks of devolution. And these winners, who exhibited beautiful projects, these are the epitome of true devolution, excellence, innovation, and resourcefulness,’ the DILG chief said.’Kaya ang hihilingin ko sa inyo (That’s why I’m asking you), work with us in DILG, Galing Pook, and let’s replicate these programs to other LGUs. It’s not
just about winning, it’s not just about the awards. It’s also about sharing these beautiful practices to others,’ said Abalos, who himself was a recipient of multiple Galing Pook awards during his term as mayor of Mandaluyong City.President Marcos, in his message read by Abalos, also lauded the winners for their innovative and excellent programs that address various local challenges, and improved the lives of their constituents.’Your unwavering dedication and innovative spirit are a testament to the resilience and determination of the Filipino people.’ Marcos said.The President also thanked the Galing Pook Foundation for empowering LGUs and civil society organizations (CSOs) to develop programs and social innovations for improved public service delivery.Winners of the 2023 Galing Pook Awards and their respective innovative programs are Del Carmen, Surigao del Norte, Seal of Health Governance; Davao Oriental Province, Happy Home; General Santos City, Shari’a Atas Bitiara; Makati City, Virtual Queuing Managemen
t System for Health Centers; Iloilo Province, Mobilizing Communities through People-Centered Zero Open Defecation Movement Towards Sustainable Sanitation; Pasig City, Prehospital Care and Emergency Medical Services Medical Control Program; Bayawan City, Negros Oriental, Fish From The Mountains: Bayawan Inland Aquaculture; Bataan Province, 1Bataan Seal of Healthy Barangay; Barangay Taloot, Argao, Cebu, Barangay Taloot Community-Based Integrated Approach; and Quezon City: iRISE UP (Intelligent, Resilient, and Integrated Systems for the Urban Population).Meanwhile, the 2023 Galing Pook Citizenship Awards winners were the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc.; Lamac Multi-Purpose Cooperative; Negrense Volunteers for Change (NVC) Foundation; Health Futures Foundation, Inc.; and Espoir School of Life.The awardees were chosen from 166 applications from different local governments in the country. The applicants were trimmed down to 17 finalists, who then made panel presentations and underwent probing questions by a board of
judges led by the DILG secretary.Launched on October 21, 1993, the Galing Pook Awards has already recognized over 330 LGU programs from at least 200 LGUs in the country that have been promoted for replication to benefit more communities.

Source: Philippines News Agency

The Police Regional Office-Central Luzon (PRO3) has arrested 18 violators and confiscated 31 firearms as a result of weeklong operations against loose firearms in the region.Brig. Gen. Jose Hidalgo Jr., PRO3 chief, said on Friday that the operations are in line with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) gun ban in connection with the Oct. 30 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE).Hidalgo said the firearms of various types and calibers were seized from various checkpoint operations, anti-drug operations and implementation of search warrants in the region from Oct. 6-12.He said these accomplishments were results of the extensive information campaign on loose firearms that led to the surrender and deposit of 24 assorted firearms by their owners to authorities for safekeeping.Hidalgo said PRO3 has been continuously beefing up its aggressive drive to recover and seize loose and unregistered firearms especially since the election is fast approaching.’May this serve as a stern warning to all, especia
lly those who have not yet renewed their licenses or turned over their undocumented firearms to the nearest police stations for safekeeping,’ he said in his report.Meanwhile, Hidalgo asked police personnel to remain apolitical and refrain from campaigning for or against any political aspirant in the coming BSKE.

Source: Philippines News Agency

The declaration of three non-working holidays on Oct. 30 and Nov. 1 and 2 will boost local tourism as it will enable Filipinos to enjoy a long weekend, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary and National Economic and Development Authority director general Arsenio Balisacan said Friday.In a Palace briefing, Balisacan said the long holidays will yield a positive impact on the Philippine economy, considering that it will propel growth in the tourism sector.’When the business sector plans, when we plan in government, we have already taken those (holidays) into account. Of course, may mga (there would be) effects,’ he said.’Ngayon (Now that) our economy is fully open, mobility is no longer restricted, and those long holidays should be good for tourism, local tourism. So, it’s okay,’ Balisacan added.President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. declared Oct. 30 (Monday) as a special non-working day to allow Filipinos to cast their votes in the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections.The two other dates that were previously d
eclared holiday by Marcos are Nov. 1 (Wednesday) and 2 (Thursday), for the observance of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day, respectively.Balisacan said the extended suspension of work would have a ‘mixed’ impact on Filipino employees, especially if Oct. 31 and Nov. 3 would also be declared holidays.But he acknowledged that some workers would be affected by the ‘no work, no pay’ policy.’There are so many of those, especially in the private sector. So, I think we have to take that into account, marami ‘yung talagang gustong magtrabaho dahil kinakailangan nilang magtrabaho (many people really want to work because they need to work) to make both ends meet,’ Balisacan said. ‘I mean the long holiday is not for many of them. it is not what they want. They want work.’Based on the rules promulgated by the Department of Labor and Employment, special non-working holidays are covered by the ‘no work, no pay’ policy, unless company policy or a collective bargaining agreement says otherwise.Employees who report to work du
ring special non-working holidays will be paid an additional 30 percent of their daily rate for the first eight hours of work.Overtime is paid an additional 30 percent of the workers’ hourly rate on that day.

Source: Philippines News Agency

The government is anticipating that more visitors will explore the tourist destinations in Eastern Visayas through the efforts of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) participating in the ‘Bisita, Be My Guest (BBMG)’ program.During the regional launch of BBMG at the Summit Hotel here Friday, Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco said the program will bring more attention to Eastern Visayas which offers natural wonders, pilgrimage sites, and historic destinations.Through the help of OFWs and other stakeholders, the less popular but emerging destinations would have their chance to be promoted, she said.’The intention of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. is to promote less popular and emerging destinations. Get all destinations the chance to be promoted with the help of our overseas Filipinos and our stakeholders,’ Frasco said.The program represents a significant step forward in showcasing the beauty of the Philippines and Eastern Visayas.’We have already taken this program all over the world in international launche
s and various cities in the world, as well as in regional launches all over the country. We found it appropriate to launch the program here in Eastern Visayas, knowing that the region is home to one of the most mega biodiverse provinces, as well as a wealth of history, heritage, gastronomic delights, and witness to the many important events that have shaped our nation’s history,’ she added.Under this program, participants who will invite foreign tourists to visit the country are entitled to a raffle ticket and have a chance to win special prizes.Registered participants will have the opportunity to avail discounts, special rates, incentives from the DOT accredited enterprises, and packages during the campaign period using the BBMG Travel Passport and BBMG Privilege card.Sponsors, invitees, and tourists may avail of this card in identified vacation destinations and main gateways in the country.From January to September 2023, the region has already welcomed 500,000 visitors.Eastern Visayas, monikered as the “Gat
eway to the Golden East”, boasts of its signature tourist attractions such as the MacArthur Landing Memorial National Park in Leyte, Kalanggaman Islands, San Juanico Bridge, Sohoton Caves in Samar, as well as an array of heritage sites and farm tourism sites in the region, among others.

Source: Philippines News Agency