Bello wants P6,000 minimum wage for all kasambahays
Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III floated Thursday a proposal to hike the minimum wage of kasambahays or household workers nationwide to P6,000 a month......»»
CV wage board sets public hearing for kasambahay pay
CV wage board sets public hearing for kasambahay pay.....»»
Angat’s water to hit below minimum level in June
The water elevation in Angat Dam dropped to 200.05 meters yesterday and may go down below its minimum operating level of 180 meters in June due to the El Niño phenomenon, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration......»»
Workers hold pro-wage hike rally today
Workers will mount a protest action today to push for the immediate granting of salary increases whether through legislation or wage order......»»
Workers seek Church help on wage hike
The Federation of Free Workers (FFW) is seeking the intervention of the Catholic Church for immediate passage of the pending P150 legislated nationwide wage hike......»»
DOT advises public to ‘travel wisely’ this Holy Week
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Tourism (DOT) is advising the public to “travel wisely” to ensure safety during the Holy Week celebrations. “Travelers needing accommodation, tours, transportation, and other tourism-related services are strongly advised to patronize DOT-accredited tourism enterprises. Accreditation by the DOT recognizes establishments as having complied with the department’s minimum standards set.....»»
Bello’s camp hopeful court to junk cyberlibel charges
THE camp of former vice presidential candidate Professor Walden Bello is hopeful that the court would junk the cyberlibel complaints filed by the aide of Vice President Sara Duterte......»»
Bello confident of Dabawenyos’ support in his cyber libel trial
DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 27 February)—Defeated vice-presidential candidate Professor Walden Bello said that the people of Davao are for the “rule of law” and will support him as his trial for the two counts of cyber libel began on Monday at the Regional Trial Court Branch 10 here. Bello told reporters in a press conference […].....»»
Bello’s cyber libel trial set on Feb. 26
DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 22 February)—The trial of defeated vice presidential candidate Walden Bello for the two counts of cyber libel charges has been scheduled for Feb. 26 at the Regional Trial Court Branch 10 in Davao City. The hearing was originally set for Feb. 1 but it was postponed following the work and classes […].....»»
Taiwan to donate 2,000 mt of rice to the Philippines for the poor and disaster relief
On 4th January 2024, Representative Wallace M.G. Chow of Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in the Philippines, on behalf of the government of the Republic of China (Taiwan), handed over the first batch of 1,000 metric tons of milled rice to the Philippines, which was received by Chairman and Resident Representative Silvestre H. Bello III […].....»»
Over 123,000 Filipinos benefit from Taiwan wage hike — Meco chief
MANILA, Philippines — Over 123,000 Filipino factory workers in Taiwan are expected to benefit from the country’s landmark minimum wage law starting January 1, 2024, Manila Economic and Cultural Office (Meco) chairman Silvestre Bello III said on Sunday. Bello said out of the 151,562 OFWs in Taiwan, the new wage law is expected to benefit.....»»
Walden Bello asks SC to decriminalize libel
In a 26-page filed before the SC on Tuesday, Bello asked to void Articles 353 to 355 of the Revised Penal Code (RPC) on libel and section 4(c)(4) of Republic Act 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act on cyber libel......»»
Austrian pair rules world beach volley
Austria's Robin Seidl and Moritz Pristauz dominated the men's division of the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Challenge, defeating Australia's Thomas Hodges and Zachery Schubert with a score of 21-18, 21-16. The Austrian pair, ranked 27th in the world, had an impressive run, only dropping a single set in six games. They will now head to the grand finals in Doha, Qatar. Pristauz contributed 15 points, while Seidl scored 13 points, leading the Austrians to their third medal in the Pro Tour. In the quarterfinals, they suffered their only set defeat against Portugal's Joao Pedrosa and Hugo Campos. However, they bounced back and easily defeated England's Javier and Joaquin Bello in the semifinals. Hodges and Schubert finished in second place, while Lithuania's Patrikas Stankevicius and Audrius Knasas took third. In the women's tournament, Latvia's Anastasija Samoilova and Tina Graudina emerged as champions, defeating Spain's Daniela Alvarez Mendoza and Tania Moreno Matveeva. Brazil's Taina Silvi Bigi and Victoria Lopes Pereira Tosta.....»»
Walden Bello files a ‘decriminalize libel’ case in Supreme Court
It is high time to decriminalize it, says the activist Walden Bello, in a world where 160 countries still treat libel as a crime.....»»
Filipinos in Taiwan farms
Thirty-one Taiwanese farms are hosting 49 young Filipino farmer-interns, who are now about to learn Taiwan’s agricultural technologies and skills to be able contribute to the Philippines’ national food security and agricultural progress. The farms are specializing in rice, vegetables, fruits, mushroom, poultry, swine, dairy and aquaculture production. Taiwan has been widely recognized as one of the leading countries in the field of tropical agriculture; think tropical crops and seedling, soil and pest management, agribusiness, food processing. Starting 2024, the Taiwan government will increase the number of Filipino interns from 50 per year to 100 in this capacity-development program. Chairman and resident representative of the Manila Economic and Cultural Office Silvestre Bello III witnessed how big strawberries and lapu-lapus can grow through agricultural technologies in Taiwan, where the capacity of rice production is three times that of the Philippines’. “There is a very big difference. That is why it’s very important to send our young farmers to Taiwan where they can learn new agricultural technologies,” Mr. Bello said. Mr. Bello told the farmers that he found out that an overwhelming percentage of Taiwan scholarship recipients from the Philippines stay in Taiwan after they graduate rather than coming back to contribute to the Philippines: “Those who graduate from this intensive program should be given the means to be able to introduce and practice that technology.” Thus, he is going to write President Marcos, advising the government to give the interns five hectares each after they come back so that the young farmers will be able to develop and apply whatever knowledge they learned “because the Philippines needs you.” While recent projections have shown a significant decline in the working-age population in Taiwan (with labor shortages predicted to reach 400,000 by 2030), many scholarship recipients from other countries chose to stay in Taiwan after they graduate. The main reason is that Taiwan provides scholarship programs, not to attract talent but to develop their knowledge and skills so that the graduates can go back to contribute to their respective countries. To be a friendly and welcoming host city, Taipei City, the capital of Taiwan, is holding Taipei MassKara Festival on 10 September in Little Manila to celebrate diversity and multiculturalism. Little Manila is a community in Taipei along the east side of Zhongshan North Road Section 3 between Minzu East Road and Nong’an Street, and along Nong’an Street and Dehui Street where you can find St. Christopher’s Church, King Wan Wan Shopping Mall in which numerous Filipino shops are located, and EEC Grocery and RJ Supermart where Filipino and Asian goods are sold. As a result, Filipinos in Taiwan love to visit Little Manila on Sunday to go to the church, eat Filipino food and buy groceries, and they can meet hundreds and thousands of kababayans there. According to the Department of Civil Affairs of the Taipei City government, the Taipei MassKara Festival was initiated in 2020, given the increasing number of new immigrants, foreign students and migrant workers. This year, the Taipei City government will subsidize NT$10,000, equals to P17,700, to each group comprising 20 people participating in the event. The groups will create their own costume and mask theme, showcasing the rich elements and exotic features of the Philippines’ MassKara Festival during the parade. The post Filipinos in Taiwan farms appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Security Bank pays it forward
Education serves as a lasting legacy for many. Living proof is the story of Rhona Alma Bello, a customer advisor from Security Bank’s Santiago Branch, who witnessed Security Bank Foundation Inc.’s turnover of a school building to her and her daughter’s alma mater, Santiago South Central School. “Having our bank’s foundation donate classrooms to the public school where I graduated made me even prouder. It is an honor to be part of an institution that invests in the construction of much-needed classrooms for our public schools,” Bello said. With over 37 years of dedicated service to the bank, Santiago branch business manager Agnes Alcid looks at the 12 classrooms donated to Santiago as one of her most memorable legacies upon retirement. “I hope the community will always remember the bank and its endeavors for improving the quality of education,” Alcid said. Security Bank’s branch business managers coordinate with community stakeholders to help SBFI implement its classroom construction projects. Recently, SBFI turned over 12 classrooms to Santiago City, Isabela consisting of a two-story, four-classroom building for Santiago North Central School SPED Center and a two-story, eight-classroom building for Santiago South Central School, among the most populated public schools in the city. After turning over 675 classrooms and benefiting 120 schools across 69 cities and municipalities in the country, SBFI Chairman Rafael F. Simpao Jr. said he hopes “the legacy that Security Bank shall leave behind, through our Classrooms Project, is that we have been instrumental in the improvement of the learning conditions in the country’s public schools and in the academic performance of students nationwide.” Santiago City Mayor Atty. Alyssa Sheena Tan also believes that education is an important legacy to leave for the people of her city. “It is imperative to invest in our people, especially the youth, for their education so they can succeed in the 21st-century economy,” Mayor Tan said. “Security Bank Foundation has bestowed to the Department of Education an invaluable asset that will help shape the lives of generations to come,” added Dr. Flordeliza Gecobe, Department of Education Division of Santiago City Schools Division Superintendent. The post Security Bank pays it forward appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Crowdfunding eyed as growth support
The Securities and Exchange Commission is pushing capital market players to collaboratively fill the country’s $220 billion estimated credit gap to help fund the growth of local startups and small businesses. Aligned with the national government’s agenda, the SEC, through a Roadshow on Capital Market Formation held on Friday, targets to harness the potential of micro, small, and medium enterprises or MSMEs as major economic growth drivers. The Commission, thus, presented crowdfunding, among others, as an accessible and convenient means for such businesses to secure funds for expansion. Crowdfunding is a fundraising activity typically conducted by startups and small and medium enterprises or SMEs, where the public can support or fund a business idea through an online platform. “Most of small businesses rely on internal resources for their capital needs. While those who apply for traditional bank loans face tedious documentation, high-interest rates, and mandatory collateral requirements,” SEC Commissioner Karlo S. Bello said in his opening remarks during the event. “Further, the recent economic slowdown due to the COVID-19 crisis has exacerbated our MSMEs’ poor financial position. Hence, in our continuous bid for financial inclusion, we recognize that there is a need to broaden the financing instruments available for MSMEs,” he added. Among the MSMEs that have raised capital through crowdfunding is Crymton Comtech Sales & Services, which testified on the “transformative impact” of its partnership with Investee. As of December 2022, over 200 businesses have successfully raised capital through the platforms of Investree and Seedin Technology, from a total of more than 1,000 registered issuers. SeedIn Technology’s platform alone has seen a total of P1.42 billion raised funds for 296 projects during the same period. The post Crowdfunding eyed as growth support appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
More Pinoys complete Taiwan-funded schooling
A total of 201 Filipinos studying in a university in Hsinchu, Taiwan could complete their engineering programs under the territory’s work-study program, the Manila Economic and Cultural Office announced on Sunday. MECO Chair Silvestre Bello III said that two batches of Filipino students have already completed their Industrial Engineering, Major in Management programs, with 73 and 53 Filipinos graduating in February and last week, respectively. The agency said that they have graduated from the Minghsin University of Science and Technology. The students were beneficiaries of the Taiwanese government’s Academe-Industry Collaboration Program. Aside from a four-year baccalaureate degree and lessons on the Mandarin language, they would undergo internships in the industrial and semiconductor industries for possible future employment in Taiwan According to MECO, 201 Filipinos had signed up for the program since 2019. It added that two of the beneficiaries decided not to proceed with employment in Taiwan, with one pursuing further education in Australia, and the other venturing into business in the Philippines. “I express our gratitude to the Minghsin University management and teachers for your dedication and hard work, especially as you orient, accompany and oversee the students’ academic progress, as well as their social, cultural and spiritual journey in Taiwan,” the MECO chief said. The post More Pinoys complete Taiwan-funded schooling appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Taiwan assures Philippines of protection in case tensions with China worsen
Manila Economic and Cultural Office Chairman Silvestre Bello III said the National Police Agency of Taiwan that the self-governing island had already prepared 89,000 shelters in case of Beijing’s attack......»»
3 Filipinos dead in Taiwan fire – Bello
Three Filipinos died and five others were injured after a fire struck a food factory in Taiwan, Manila Economic and Cultural Office chairman Silvestre Bello III confirmed yesterday......»»
Solons seek contingency plan for Taiwan OFWs
Senators on Monday urged the government to provide a contingency plan for overseas Filipino workers in Taiwan as a precautionary measure in case the geopolitical tension between Beijing and Taipei further worsens. Senator Francis Tolentino suggested that a simulation of the evacuation of more than 150,000 OFWs in Taiwan should be part of the country’s Balikatan Exercises. “I advise the head of the Balikatan Gaming Exercise — Philippine side — to include in their practice next year how we evacuate [OFWs] using ships from Taiwan to Cagayan or Batanes in case —for contingency,” Tolentino said in an ambush interview. He pointed out that sea evacuation is the most feasible type of evacuation plan to quickly repatriate OFWs working in Taiwan following a report from The Washington Post that the self-ruled island is “highly vulnerable” to air attack from China’s People’s Liberation Army-Air Force and “is unlikely to thwart Chinese military air superiority in a cross-strait conflict.” The vice-chairperson of the Senate Committee on National Defense also said that the participation of commercial vessels in the evacuation simulation should be also considered to hasten the repatriation of affected OFWs in case a full-scale conflict between Beijing and Taipei escalates along the Taiwan Strait. Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero echoed the same sentiments, adding that the government should have contingency plans for every country that hosts Filipinos. “That should be given for every country where we have OFWs. Being prepared for any contingency is part of the readiness that our embassies and consulates should always be ready to do,” Escudero said in a statement. ‘Proactive’ Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva underscored that the national government’s policies must remain proactive, particularly when dealing with OFWs’ safety and security. “We expect the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Department of National Defense (DND) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to act now and come up with a contingency or a safety and security plan which include repatriation, relocation and reintegration to prepare our OFWs in case of any eventuality, natural or otherwise,” Villanueva said. “We have included repatriation and reintegration programs in the DMW act, which we principally authored and sponsored, to ensure readiness and quick response to such contingencies,” he added. He also said the safety of OFWs should be the country’s top priority not only in Taiwan but to every Filipino abroad. “The government needs to assure that all concerned agencies are doing everything they can to ensure that the rights of all OFWs, not only those in Taiwan but all our kababayans abroad, are well protected and their welfare is on their top priority,” he said. Senator Jinggoy Estrada also said at the government must exhaust all means to ensure the safety of OFWs in Taiwan. “It would be prudent on the part of the government to always have contingency plans for Filipinos living and working not only in Taiwan but anywhere in the world if evacuation is needed,” Estrada said in a statement. “I do not see anything wrong if we will prepare for unwanted scenarios while we are hoping that diplomacy and dialogue between Taiwan and China will prevail,” he added. China considers Taiwan, an ally of the United States, as part of its territory, to be retaken one day -- by force, if necessary. Last week, Beijing conducted a three-day live-fire drills near Taiwan, in response to Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen’s recent trip to the United States. Earlier this day, Manila Economic and Cultural Office Chair Silvestre Bello III said the 158,410 Filipinos in Taiwan are “well protected” on the island nation. The post Solons seek contingency plan for Taiwan OFWs appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»