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Xinhua world news summary at 0630 GMT, March 18
MOSCOW -- Russia's incumbent President and presidential candidate Vladimir Putin, who is set to win reelection, said he would do his utmost to achieve national development goals on Monday morning. Putin has won 87.32 percent of the vote after 95.04 percent of all ballots were counted, according to data from the Russian Central Election Commission as of Monday morning. (Russia-Presidential Election) - - -.....»»
Jihadists
For his own purposes, Vladimir Putin has been trying to link the deadly terrorist attack on a concert hall in Moscow to Ukraine. The casualty figure for that attack has now risen t.....»»
Russian Spy Chief Makes Bizarre Claim of US, UK, and Ukraine Involvement in Moscow Attack
In a recent development, the director of Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) has made startling accusations against Ukraine, the US, and the UK, claiming they.....»»
Kyiv, Lviv under Russian air attack; missile violates Polish airspace
'The object entered Polish space near the town of Oserdow and stayed there for 39 seconds,' Poland's armed forces says on the social media platform X.....»»
Cebu City Hall new bonuses uncertain
Cebu City Hall new bonuses uncertain.....»»
5 Smart Ways to Use Your Christmas Money
Christmas in the Philippines is a time of joy and sharing, often accompanied by extra money received as gifts or bonuses. Deciding how to use this money wisely can make a big difference in your life and the community. Here are five simple and smart ways to make the most of your Christmas money. Pay.....»»
Gov’t workers’ year-end bonuses grew to over P4 billion in 2022
In 2022, it took the government a total of P84.551 billion to pay the bonuses of all government officials and employees. This is P4.239 billion or 5.28% higher compared to P80.312 in 2021......»»
POC grants Hangzhou Asiad medalists cash bonuses
The Philippine Olympic Committee awarded a total of P10.6 million to medal winners in the Hangzhou 19th Asian Games during yesterday’s General Assembly at the East Ocean Palace Restaurant in Parañaque......»»
Para merry ang lahat : GCash guides Filipinos toward financial success this Christmas
To help Filipinos navigate the potential financial challenges that Christmas planning brings, GCash introduces the 3Ps: three budgeting priorities that the everyday Filipino can keep in mind as soon as their year-end bonuses roll in:.....»»
DOLE-Davao affirms even contractual workers entitled to 13th-month pay
Contrary to common belief, the Department of Labor and Employment-Davao Region (Dole-Davao Region) has clarified that even contractual employees in both the public and private sectors are entitled to receive the mandatory 13th-month pay. However, the inclusion of work bonuses is at the discretion of the management or employers. Rojell Cruz, head of the Dole-Davao Region Labor Standards Unit, emphasized that the 13th-month pay is a legal requirement that all employees must adhere to. He stated that contractual employees, including those in job contracting or working for a contractor, are still entitled to the 13th-month pay, especially if they are paid daily. Cruz further explained that while employers are obligated to pay their employees the 13th month, providing additional bonuses is the management's prerogative. Noriza Mabanding, a full-time medical student and virtual assistant, confirmed that she receives the 13th-month pay despite working for foreign-based accounts. She expressed gratitude that her employers adhere to the constitutional provisions. According to Presidential Decree No. 851, all employees are mandated to provide this benefit to rank-and-file employees by the end of each year. The compensation for the 13th month must be at least one-twelfth.....»»
DBM releases P70 billion bonus, cash gifts for state workers
The Department of Budget and Management has started releasing nearly P70 billion in bonuses and cash gifts for government workers......»»
Year-end bonuses, cash gifts for eligible gov t employees start November 15
Qualified government employees will receive their year-end bonuses and cash gifts beginning on Wednesday, the Department of Budget and Management said......»»
Come hell, high water,Christmas comes
Despite challenges from inflation and other difficulties because of the geopolitical shifts, Filipinos still look forward to celebrating Christmas on expectations of bonuses and the observance of family traditions. Based on historical data, Kantar, the world’s leading marketing data and analytics company, expects households to increase their spendings on food and beverage during the holidays compared to ordinary months. “The Christmas spirit is felt as early as September. Spending in the fast-moving consumer goods typically starts in December when Filipinos receive additional disposable income through their 13th month pay and other incentives,” Nino Nierva, account director, Worldpanel Division, Kantar Philippines, said. “What we’ve observed, based on our analyses of the spending habits of over 5,000 households’ year-on-year, is that Filipinos spend mostly on food and beverage items from December to January versus the rest of the year.” There is a spending uplift of 7 percent in the total FMCG segment during the height of the Christmas season last year, or from December 2022 to January 2023, compared to other months, or from February to November. This translates to approximately P6 billion more spent every month within the holiday period. Specifically, Filipinos spent 11 percent more on food and 9 percent more on beverage categories during the holidays. This trend also extends to dairy products (6 percent higher), which include all-purpose cream and condensed milk that are key ingredients of fruit salad, a staple Christmas dessert in the country. In contrast, the health and beauty category takes a back seat during this same period based on a 4 percent decline in growth last year, according to Kantar’s study. Season of eating, shopping Data from Kantar further showed that holiday feasts must-haves will continue to take-over the shopping baskets of Filipinos in the remaining months of the year. These items, which registered significant growth in December 2022, are expected to remain a priority for households. These are spreads (up 34 percent), canned fruits (up 25 percent), alcoholic beverages (up 24 percent), noodles and pasta sauces (up 21 percent), lechon sauce (up 17 percent), condensed milk (up 9 percent), mayonnaise (up 8 percent), and all-purpose cream (up 6 percent). However, Kantar notes that inflation continues to impact FMCG in terms of pack size and brand choices. In particular, households, strapped for cash, may buy less holiday meal staples like pasta sauces or cheese, and may choose to purchase more affordable brands of canned fruits, all-purpose cream and noodles. Tight budget not a problem While Filipinos continue to patronize sari-sari stores, they will still visit hypermarkets, supermarkets and groceries to check their options during the holiday season. According to Kantar, Filipinos still buy from sari-sari stores and they spend an average of P1,309 per month during the holidays. This is followed by hyper and supermarkets where 7 out of 10 homes visit the channel with an average monthly spend of P1,559. Aside from their own purchases, households will likewise make extra room in their pantry for FMCG products that they receive as gifts. The post Come hell, high water,Christmas comes appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
FACT CHECK: No Marcos order to sue Hontiveros over 2014 PhilHealth anomalies
There is no legal basis to sue Senator Risa Hontiveros over PhilHealth’s unauthorized bonuses. Auditors did not name the senator among those involved in the 2014 scandal......»»
P11.6 billion released for teachers’ bonuses
The Department of Budget and Management has released P11.6 billion as part of the performance-based bonuses of over 900,000 education personnel for 2021......»»
DepEd teachers 2021 bonus out — DBM
In a statement, the DBM said it has released P11.6 billion for the release of the teachers’ performance-based bonuses (PBB)......»»
Speaker has spoken
Deliberations on the 2024 national budget — proposed at P5.768 trillion — reveal what appear to be pork barrel funds embedded in the National Expenditure Program submitted to Congress. The House leadership, however, has guaranteed that the discretionary funds, which are the nature of pork barrel, will be pared off. Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez said the House of Representatives will “scrutinize and deliberate” on the budget items before the NEP is passed before the end of the year. “We will make sure in Congress that every centavo Filipinos pay in taxes is spent wisely and returned to the nation through relevant programs and projects. Every peso that goes to the treasury will go back to benefit the people,” Romualdez vowed. The early submission of the NEP gives both the House and the Senate enough time to review its many items. Much of the suspected pork is conveniently tucked into bigger items while the rest are distributed among regional offices to make them less conspicuous. Among the lump sums in the budget are the P733.2-billion Special Purpose Funds which are considered the “Executive’s” pork barrel for responding to sudden spending requirements. The NEP defines it as an appropriation to cover expenditures for specific purposes for which recipient agencies have not yet been identified. The proposed SPF budget represents a P219.8-billion increase from the current P513.6-billion allocation. The Miscellaneous Personnel Benefits Fund, or MPBF, will increase by more than 400 percent or to P135.7 billion next year from P26.6 billion in the 2023 budget. Under the NEP, the special provisions on the use of the MPBF state that the fund can be used for “deficiencies in authorized salaries, bonuses, allowances, associated premiums and other similar personnel benefits of national government personnel, including the requirements for the filling of and the creation of positions, and compensation adjustments, as may be authorized by law, the President of the Philippines, or the DBM.” Another provision allows the government to hire contractual employees. Romualdez gave his word that none of the amounts in the record-setting General Appropriations Act would be allocated for buying political patronage. In several past budget deliberations, it was always the House that was under scrutiny for pork, particularly its top rungs. Now that the House has received the budget early, it and the Senate have started looking into the details “to make sure that the funds that came from taxpayers will be spent wisely. We have to scrutinize every peso and every centavo that government agencies are seeking,” Romualdez emphasized. “We want to give our people their money’s worth through the quality education of their children, the building of infrastructure to create jobs, and programs that will lower the cost of products in the market,” Romualdez added. His assurance to the people provides a safeguard to attempts to reintroduce the system that the Supreme Court had rejected as unconstitutional. At the moment, Congress is running through every agency’s proposal with a fine-tooth comb, looking for suspicious items that could fall under the definition of pork barrel. The gauge for the invalid pork barrel is funds that are left to the discretion of those who will spend it, including legislators whose mandate it is to craft laws and not to implement projects. The post Speaker has spoken appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
13th month pay
Dear Atty. Kathy, I checked the compensation and benefits policy of our new company, X, and I noticed that X does not have any provision for 13th Month Pay for its rank-and-file employees. X only has a provision for a Christmas Bonus equivalent to one and a half (1.5) months basic salary for all employees, not just rank-and-file employees, which is scheduled to be released on the last working day of November every year. When I clarified with HR, I was told that the Christmas Bonus is already the 13th Month Pay. However, shouldn’t X be required to pay the 13th Month Pay, which is a mandatory benefit? Jesse **** Dear Jesse, Presidential Decree No. 851 — REQUIRING ALL EMPLOYERS TO PAY THEIR EMPLOYEES A 13TH-MONTH PAY, provides that employers already paying their employees a 13th-month pay or its equivalent are not covered by the Decree (Section 2). Further, the Rules and Regulations Implementing PD No. 851 provides that the Decree shall apply to all employers except to employers already paying their employees 13-month pay or more in a calendar year or its equivalent at the time of said issuance (where the term “its equivalent” shall include Christmas bonus, mid-year bonus, profit-sharing payments and other cash bonuses amounting to not less than 1/12th of the basic salary) (Section 3). In accordance with the above provisions, and based solely on your narration, your Company does not have to pay employees any additional 13th Month Pay, since your Company has already complied with the required 13th Month Pay, by way of the Christmas Bonus, which is even more than the required amount of the 13th Month Pay, and is given well in advance of the last day of payment of the 13th Month Pay on December 24, which is more favorable to the employee. However, while no longer required under the circumstances, X still has an option to provide employees the 13th Month Pay, in addition to the Christmas Bonus being given. Atty. Kathy Larios The post 13th month pay appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Tender, loving care
Our daughter, who is about to attend review classes for the nursing board exams, doesn’t know whether to be glad or sad about the state of the healthcare system in the country. With only the licensure exams standing in the way of her becoming a full-fledged nurse, she knows fully well that the career she has chosen is very much in demand in both Europe and the United States. We had always told her when she was younger that given the opportunity, she should opt to work abroad not only for the better pay but also because of the better working conditions. At the same time, she’s quite sad and disappointed that the country is losing its best assets to foreign employment, leaving the healthcare system bereft of quality professionals. The situation is so bad that newly designated Health Secretary Ted Herbosa fears the country could totally lose its nurses in five to six years. Such is the severity of the situation that Herbosa had gone to the extent of suggesting the hiring of board flunkers who would be given temporary licenses to augment the hospital workforce. For a while, it sounded like the best solution to the brain drain until the Professional Regulations Commission got in the way, reminding the Health Secretary that it would be illegal to do so. Other solutions have been offered but it seems the brain drain phenomenon, characterized by the emigration of highly skilled professionals, remains a critical challenge. This shortage has severe implications for the delivery of healthcare services and poses a threat to the overall well-being of the population. It is a well-known fact that one of the primary reasons nurses leave the country is the lack of adequate compensation and the unfavorable working conditions. To address this, experts are one in saying that the government should collaborate with healthcare institutions and policymakers to establish fair and competitive wages that align with global standards. Additionally, efforts must be made to improve working conditions, including providing a supportive work environment, reasonable workload, and access to continuing education and professional development opportunities. Enhanced working conditions and compensation packages, we believe, will incentivize nurses to stay in the country and attract back those who migrated. A supportive professional environment is vital for retaining healthcare professionals. Measures such as establishing mentoring programs, providing emotional and psychological support, and promoting a culture of recognition and appreciation can significantly contribute to job satisfaction and retention. Add to these strategies that may include sign-on bonuses, housing or relocation assistance, flexible work schedules, and career advancement opportunities and you have a gamut of come-ons that may be hard to resist for those torn between going or staying. Additionally, establishing professional networks and platforms that connect Filipino nurses working abroad to their homeland can help maintain a sense of connection and encourage them to contribute to the local healthcare system. Indeed, the brain drain in the Philippines’ healthcare system is a complex challenge that requires multi-faceted solutions. By improving working conditions, enhancing education and training opportunities, implementing supportive policies, strengthening the healthcare system, fostering a supportive professional environment, and adopting strategic recruitment and retention strategies, the Philippines can begin to address the brain drain issue and build a sustainable healthcare workforce. The government, healthcare institutions, and relevant stakeholders must work together to ensure that the healthcare needs of the Filipino population are met and that the country retains its skilled healthcare professionals. Whatever solutions our government comes up with to make our healthcare professionals stay, it will always pay to bear in mind that nurses, too, deserve tender, loving care. e-mail: mannyangeles27@gmail.com The post Tender, loving care appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Filipino SEA Games medalists start receiving bonuses
Filipino medalists in the Phnom Penh Southeast Asian Games last month will get the reward they deserved as Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham Tolentino started to release their incentives Friday......»»