iskup news-on-line daily

LTFRB to cancel franchise of transport strikers

By J.Lo

โ€œWe have people on ground as well as other agencies…if our people will forward to us information, we can investigate motu proprio and will issue show cause ordersย against those who joinedย ย transport strike and rally,โ€ Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Technical Working Group chief Joel Bolano said โ€œfranchise holders should not remove their vehicles onย ย streets and they haveย ย obligation to provide services to passengers.โ€

Those who joined  transport strike may face suspension or outright revocation of their franchises,  ranking official of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) said .

Bolano said agency will initiate  investigation of public utility jeepney (PUJ) operators who participated in  transport strike.

Bolano said  show-cause order would be issued to  jeepney drivers to explain their side.

At the same time, he said  necessary measures were put in place to minimize  impact of  transport strike. Bolano maintained  PUJ drivers and operators can express their sentiments without resorting to transport strikes. โ€œNobody is preventing them from expressing their sentiments, thatโ€™s their right. ..what is important is it does not affect their routes and  commuters,โ€ he noted.

Members of Manibela led  transport strike as  deadline for them to comply with modernization program of  government was set on Dec. 31, 2023.

Manibela president Mar Valbuena said  strike of PUJs successfully paralyzed Metro Manila, contradicting  claim of Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) effect was minimal.

โ€œI am confident that here in  National Capital Region, 80 percent of transport was paralyzed as we also went out, unlike MMDA acting Chairman Romando Artes who was only inside his office,โ€ Valbuena said in interview with media.

Valbuena noted  Metro Manila became  โ€œghost townโ€ as many residents chose to stay inside their homes to avoid being affected by  transport strike.

He said many local government units (LGUs) decided to suspend classes ahead of transport strike, adding it was understandable that officials downplayed  impact of  strike.

He claimed that aside from Metro Manila, many jeepney drivers also joined  transport strike in  provinces. He noted  he is no longer interested in  dialogue being organized by Malacaรฑang after  scheduled meeting did not push through on Sunday.

Valbuena said suspended LTFRB chairman Teofilo Guadiz III should not be reinstated after FMJ ordered his suspension amid corruption allegations against him.

According to  Manila Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, fewer passenger jeepneys were observed on following routes: San Juan-Divisoria; Nagtahan-Paco; Balic-balic-Quiapo; San Andres-Padre Faura and Zobel Roxas-Paco.

Local  government sent vehicles like trucks to carry stranded passengers on  routes, as well Blumentritt-Novaliches, Divisoria-Cubao and Morayta-Divisoria.

Among those who joined  protest and did not drive their passenger jeepneys were 286 members of  San Andres Bukid Jeepney Drivers and Operators Association,  affiliated with Manibela.

Despite  issues, Artes downplayed Manibelaโ€™s transport strike, maintaining it succeeded in getting attention instead of paralyzing public transport.

Despite numerous declarations of class suspensions and shift to remote classes, Artes also asserted  government was not threatened by Manibelaโ€™s jeepney strike and even offered free rides.

He also appealed for understanding from motorists after  agency did not suspend  number coding scheme .

 Quezon City government deployed additional buses to provide free rides to those affected by  transport strike..

Aside from additional buses operating on eight routes of Q City Bus service, several local offices also deployed various vehicles to provide free transport. These included e-trikes from  QC Department of Public Order and Safety, as well as vehicles from  Quezon City Police District (QCPD) and different barangays.

Local  government did not impose  city-wide suspension of classes, citing recommendation from relevant offices, including  Schools Division Office and  QCPD. It allowed private schools and colleges to decide on whether to impose class suspensions due to  transport strike.

National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) deployed on Monday its patrol vehicles to offer free transportation services to commuters affected by  nationwide public transport strike.

 Total  of 88 patrol vehicles from several police districts had been deployed. Meanwhile, around 17 vehicles, including two trucks and two buses from  NCRPO, were mobilized to assist affected commuters.

Aside from patrol vehicles,  total of 2,245 NCRPO personnel were deployed at different pickup and drop-off points to respond to adverse situations.

Several LGUs in southern Metro Manila were prompted to suspend classes due to nationwide public transport strike.

LGUs of Pasay and Paraรฑaque suspended face-to-face classes at all levels in public and private schools. All classes were instructed to shift to online or modular learning.

In Las Piรฑas, both onsite and online classes at all levels were suspended in public and private schools.

Meanwhile,  Muntinlupa City government provided free transportation services to commuters affected by nationwide public transport strike.

Free transportation services were provided from 5 in the morning to 9 in the evening. on major thoroughfares in the city, which did not announce class or work suspension.

Similarly,  LGU of Taguig also did not implement  city-wide suspension of work and classes after several transport groups in  city confirmed they will not be joining  strike.

In Makati,  city government did not suspend work and classes.

Philippines needs to modernize  countryโ€™s public transportation to lessen its dependence on imported fuel, reduce pollution and fight climate change, FMJ said .

FMJโ€™ remark came as transport group Manibela pushed through with its strike to oppose  governmentโ€™s Public Utility Vehicle (PUV) Modernization Program.

โ€œConsidering our continued dependence on imported fuels and  volatility of oil products in  world market, it is only sensible  we encourage  shift to electric vehicles,โ€  President said at the launch of Dongfeng Motors Philippinesโ€™ hybrid and electric vehicles in Ortigas, Pasig City.

โ€œWe not only get savings in fuel and gas, but also significantly lessen our greenhouse gas emissions and champion sustainability in our day-to-day activities,โ€ he said.

LTFRB maintains  Dec. 31 deadline in connection with  PUV Modernization Program, where jeepney drivers and operators are required to join cooperatives or corporations, with  ultimate goal of replacing traditional jeepneys with environment-friendly vehicles. 

iskup news-on-line daily

iskup news-on-line daily is creation of Godino’s Advertising Agency, Trece Martires City, Caviteย 

18 Oktubre 2023, Miyerkules

supports evangelical Pastors’ Month

underboard nurses, be health care associates, inquire to DOH

Pilipinas, may pinakamahabang pasko sa daigdig, Maligayang Pasko!!!

12 days to BSKE

Klinpix Janitorialย and Pest Control Services is hiring riders with units of college or equivalent in non-formal training, pretty account executives (college graduates), drivers, graphic artistย  09916444376

HEADLINES

Fils from Israel, Gaza begin arriving

By Nidz Godino

โ€œTheyโ€™re still working on border arrangementsโ€ฆbut letโ€™s see because according toย ย Israel ambassador it could be any day now,โ€ Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs Eduardo de Vega said seventeen Filipinos in Israel who have opted for repatriation are expected to arrive in Manila this afternoon, as hopes brighten forย ย others wishing to leaveย ย devastated Gaza withย ย possible opening โ€œany day nowโ€ of Rafah border crossing into Egypt.

In  statement, Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said  Etihad Airlines plane carrying  17 Filipinos is expected to arrive at 3:55 in the afternoon. today.

โ€œThey will be met and assisted by various government agencies,โ€  DMW said.

They were from southern Israel where militant group Hamas launched unprecedented surprise terror attacks on Oct. 7,2023.

De  Vega said in  interview with media both Israeli and Egyptian authorities were working on letting Filipinos pass through Rafah border, only way out of Gaza after Israel closed its crossings in preparation for  ground invasion of  besieged territory.

At  meeting with Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo , Israel Ambassador Ilan Fluss assured  Philippine official of Tel Avivโ€™s help in repatriating  remains of  Filipinos killed in  violence.

โ€œIsrael will help in bringing home  remains of  Filipinos killed and will extend assistance to  bereaved families,โ€  embassy said in  Facebook post.

Earlier  De Vega said  Philippines got in touch with Egyptian authorities to work out  arrangement  would allow Filipinos to cross into Egypt if and when it opens its Rafah border.

Rafah, borders Egyptโ€™s Sinai Peninsula with Hamas-controlled Gaza, is  only border crossing in Gaza not controlled by Israel.  Jewish state has been enforcing a blockade on strip since 2002.

โ€œWeโ€™re talking to them ,Egyptian authorities  not only to open  border but also to give permission to Filipinos,โ€ he said.

Names  of Filipinos in Gaza, including  78 waiting to be allowed into Egypt through  Rafah border, have been submitted to Egyptian authorities for processing of their request.

Also submitted were  names of Palestinian spouses of  Filipinos, although Egypt has not made  commitment to let them through.

DFA assured Filipinos in Gaza who would be able to make it to Egypt would be repatriated to  Philippines.

According to De Vega, all  135 Filipinos in Gaza were safe, with 78 of them at  Rafah border.

Meanwhile,  senior administration legislator has joined calls for  opening of humanitarian corridors in Gaza to allow innocent civilians, especially overseas Filipino workers, to escape  bombardment of Gaza by Israel forces.

โ€œI am one with those calling for opening of humanitarian corridor in southern Gaza as spearheaded by  UN or other international institutions  to get all innocent civilians, most especially our OFWs, out of harmโ€™s way, opening of  safe exit via  Rafah crossing will also enable DFA to make good on President Marcosโ€™ assurance of  repatriation of  three Filipino casualties at soonest time possible,โ€ Camarines Sur Rep. LRay Villafuerte said.

Humanitarian  corridor is  physical entry or exit point where warring camps agree to  ceasefire for  limited period to allow people to pass through.

DFA plans to repatriate OFWs, as well as  remains of  three Filipino caregivers killed in  violence.

One of  missing Filipinos 42-year-old Grace Prodigo Cabrera of Maasin in Iloilo  may have been abducted by Hamas militants, Maasin Mayor Francis Amboy said.

Mayor  said Cabreraโ€™s sister showed up at his office to ask for help in reaching her.

She told  mayor  Grace was able to send message to their cousin on the day of  attack on Oct. 7 claiming she saw several heavily armed men arriving in Beโ€™eri Kibbutz,  โ€œground zeroโ€ of  Hamas attacks.

It was believed Cabrera, along with stroke survivor patient and employees, was taken from their home.

Cabreraโ€™s younger sister Mary who was working nearby was able to escape attackers by hiding. She has since been rescued.

Their mother Paterna Prodigo said they were coordinating with  Philippine embassy and with  Overseas Workers Welfare Administration in locating Cabrera.

โ€œWhatโ€™s important to me is her safety,โ€ Paterna told media.

Department of Social Welfare and Development, meanwhile, has expressed its condolences to family of Loreta Villarin Alacre and offered initial cash aid amounting to P40,000.

โ€œDSWD Field Office social workers continue to monitor and assess situation of family in order to extend other appropriate interventions  they may need as they go through this difficult period,โ€ DSWD Western Visayas Regional Director Carmelo Nochete said in  report to DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian. 

Opening  of humanitarian corridor that would allow Filipinos to slip out of Gaza and into Egypt could be “any day now,” a Department of Foreign Affairs official said.

Around 131 Filipinos are currently in the Gaza Strip, all of whom are residents there and not overseas workers, according to Arnell Ignacio, administrator of Overseas Workers Welfare Administration in  interview with media.

Of this number, 78 are in the Rafah border crossing, 30 are still in  southern part of Gaza and remaining already left northern Gaza or Gaza City.

There are at least three Filipinos who are unaccounted for in Gaza, Ignacio said, but based on  monitoring of  OWWA and  DFA, โ€œnone of them are confirmed to have been taken hostage.โ€

“Based on our information, there is really no one taken hostageโ€ฆmonitoring activities of  OWWA and DFA have been non-stop, and we are in constant communication with  Filipino community,โ€ Ignacio said.

De Vega said  due to Israeli government’s blockade on Gaza, Philippine embassy personnel have been barred from entering  area to provide aid to Filipinos there.

Israeli authorities have not permitted any humanitarian aid to enter Gaza to block  possible transport of weaponry or contraband.

Israel initiated  series of airstrikes on Gaza after Hamas gunmen stormed into  country on October 7 and killed more than  thousand people. 

In Gaza, where about 2.3 million people live, over 2,800 have died from Israeli airstrikes, and over 10,000 have been hurt. 

Since October 9, Israel has cut off water and electricity and blocked food, medicine and fuel from coming in, prompting international rights groups to call for humanitarian aid amid concerns that  Israeli government is imposing collective punishment on Palestinians.

iskup news-on-line daily

Accessing UN climate financing hard 

By  Nidz Godino

โ€œWe are already in the middle of effects of climate changeโ€ฆ time to get it doneโ€ฆbut Iโ€™m gladย ย youโ€™re hereโ€ฆas you can see immediately… this is very high on our priority… it is somethingย ย we really have to come to grips withโ€ฆand I knowย ย UN certainly is providing some financing in terms of green and blue bonds,โ€ President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.was quoted inย ย statementย ย telling United Nations Office for Disaster Risk head Reduction Mami Mizutori developing countries are having difficulty accessing climate financing, FMJ emphasizedย ย need to act on climate change being felt in the Philippines through frequent and intense disasters.

Mizutori told FMJ in  meeting at Malacaรฑang international body is ready to assist  country in climate financing as it cited  efforts of the President to mitigate  effects of climate change in the country.

Although FMJ hailed offer of Mizutori and  UN office, Chief Executive also โ€œraised difficulty of developing countries in accessing  financing for climate change, so, and then there are many, many other requirements that we have to fulfillโ€ฆand sometimes it seems  very difficult to actually qualify for some of these,โ€  Presidential Communications Office said in statement.

Mizutori said  UN Secretary General wants reform in  international financial institutes and system. She mentioned  plight of middle-income countries like  Philippines that are constantly affected by climate-related disasters. This is an area where  UN system is working with governments like France, governments like Barbados,โ€ said Mizutori, also special representative of  UN Secretary General for Disaster Risk Reduction.

โ€œSo, we will work as  United Nations system on how to better access climate financing,โ€ she added.

FMJ once called climate change โ€œ most pressing existential challenge of our time,โ€ said there are issues  vulnerable countries like  Philippines are wrestling with.

He said  country has just gone through  difficult time because of  โ€œvery rapidโ€ increase in price of rice because all Asian countries are bracing for El Niรฑo in  first quarter of 2024.

โ€œSo, everybody is buying that to build up their reserves, which drives  price up,โ€ Chief Executive said.

Regions that were not experiencing typhoons and other calamities are now prone to floods and other climate-related disruptions and changes, he added.

โ€œWe are always expected to be one of the most vulnerable when it comes to effects of climate change and we certainly are very concernedโ€ฆas Iโ€™ve said, right now, we are already feeling it because of  frequency and  intensity of these disasters that fall into  country,โ€ the President told  UN official.

During 18th East Asia Summit in Jakarta last month, FMJ pushed for  loss and damage fund to support measures designed to mitigate  effects of climate change. He added  climate financing, complemented by viable and effective technology transfer and country specific capacity-building, is needed โ€œto expedite  just transition to  climate-resilient economy.โ€

iskup news-on-line daily

Courtย acquits Palparan on kidnapping, illegal detention charges

By J.Lo

โ€œIt would be tremendously difficult to explain toย ย Manalo brothers,ย ย parents of still missing Karen and Sherryl and countless others he had red-tagged and victimized how they cannot seek legal redress despiteย ย ‘credible, categorical and convincing’ย accounts that evenย ย appellate courts have priorly established,โ€ Edre Olalia, chairman ofย ย National Union of Peopleโ€™s Lawyers said inย ย statement Retired Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan has been acquitted byย ย Malolos Regional Trial Court Branch 19 on charges of kidnapping, serious illegal detention, and serious physical injuries.

Charges  had been brought against him  decade ago by farmers Raymond and Reynaldo Manalo.

Accompanied by their legal representatives from  National Union of Peopleโ€™s Lawyers (NUPL) and  parents of Sherlyn Cadapan and Karen Empeรฑo,  Manalo brothers were shocked by  unexpected verdict.

NUPL, who have been advocating for  Manalo brothers, expressed their disbelief at  court’s decision, calling it “unbelievable.” 

 โ€œIt is even  huge challenge to make sense of how he can be earlier convicted mainly on  basis of  testimony of  same witness survivor by one court and years later would be acquitted on  same testimony in  separate case brought by  same said witness survivor in another court,โ€ the statement stressed.

Legal dispute centers on Raymond Manalo’s testimony during  kidnapping case of Cadapan and Empeรฑo, which initially led to Palparan’s conviction. 

Rights group KARAPATAN condemned  decision of Malolos RTC, saying  court disregarded  accounts of  Manalo brothers  higher courts have affirmed.

In  statement  rights group expressed its disappointment with  court’s ruling, calling it an “unspeakable act” discredited  traumatic experiences of  Manalo brothers, including abduction, torture and suffering.

“This court’s unspeakable, dastardly act invalidated  abduction, enforced disappearance, torture, and sufferings endured by  Manalo brothersโ€ฆis this part of grand scheme that will enable Palparan et.al.’s pardon in  near future?”  group said in  statement.

“We continue to support  Manalo brothers and all survivors of abduction and torture for standing strong against these challengesโ€ฆwe encourage  victims, their loved ones and  public to uphold and defend  rights of those who were wronged by  State and to stand resolute amid pervasive impunity and continuing rights violations, as we reaffirm our commitment to help in pursuing full accountability of all violators of human rights and international humanitarian law,” the statement added.

RTC said  there have been inconsistencies between  affidavits filed by Manalo and his testimonies in court.

Court  first cited  previous case with  same testimony of  Manalo brothers (The Secretary of National Defense, Et al. .v Raymond Manalo and Reynaldo Manalo, G.R. No. 180906, October 7, 2008.)

“Circumstances surrounding these cases militate against  application of  afore-cited principle as said inconsistencies pertain not only to  elements of  crimes charged but also to identification of  perpetratorsโ€ฆ inconsistencies of lone witness cannot be taken lightly as it will cast doubt as to  true identity of  assailants and credibility of  lone witness,”  decision read.

First,  court pointed out  difference in Raymond’s testimony, where he mentioned being “dragged to Reynaldo’s house,” unlike case where he was said to be taken in  white L300 van.

Court  also noted  disparity in  place of their detention, citing  same case.

Third , fourth and eighth reasons showed inconsistencies in Raymond’s encounters with Palparan, including  inconsistent 2007 affidavit describing their first meeting at  basketball court.

In interview after  verdict, Raymond expressed disbelief, as higher courts had previously supported their case using  same testimonies.

“Hindi ako susuko hangga’t hindi ko nakakamit ang tunay na hustisya para sa akin at para sa ibang kasamahan kong nalabag ang karapatang pantao ,” he said.

Palparan, who served under former President Gloria Arroyo, has long been controversial for his involvement in anti-insurgency efforts that were criticized for alleged abuses and killings.

iskup news-on-line daily

Localย hackers in Hse website breach

By J.Lo

โ€œCERT-PH Philippine National Computer Emergency Response Team is conducting investigation to determine if sensitive data has been exfiltrated byย ย local threat actors,โ€ Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) said inย ย statemenย ย cybersecurity breach on web portal of House of Representatives may have been carried out by local hackers.

Departmentt said  breach could be  handiwork of local hackers, noting  wording used in  defacement of  House website was in Filipino.

Hackers who identified themselves as  โ€œ3musketeerzโ€ uploaded over the weekend image of  โ€œTrollfaceโ€ meme on congress.gov.phโ€™s Photo Journals section, bearing  warning that site had been hacked.

Hackers posted  message โ€œHappy APRIL FULLZ KAHIT OCTOBER PALANG! FIX YOUR WEBSITE.โ€

DICT refused to identify persons involved in  hacking while investigation is ongoing.

โ€œ next stages of probe,  include threat actor attribution and case build-up, will be pursued by Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center, in coordination with our law enforcement agencies,โ€  DICT said.

House of Representatives is bracing for  worse attack on its data system, saying  cybersecurity breach could be  test of its โ€œvulnerability.โ€

House secretary general Reginald Velasco said  chamberโ€™s IT team was expecting  website to be restored  with  โ€œmore secured system.โ€

โ€œImmediate steps have been taken to address  issueโ€ฆbut this could not last long given  fast phase technology used by  hackers, sometimes within 24 hours, hackers can come up with more sophisticated technologyโ€ฆ only takes  click to link and  entire system gets contaminated,โ€ Velasco said.

Velasco said  Houseโ€™s anti-virus software is updated, but  DICT informed  chamber system has โ€œmany vulnerabilities,โ€ making it susceptible to hacking.

House of Representatives is also coordinating with  National Bureau of Investigation to look into  breach, according to Velasco.

โ€œIT team has been instructed to prepare for  worst-case scenario wherein entire system will be immobilized, just like what happened in some government offices in  United States in the past,โ€ he said.

Velasco said  House is looking at hiring  โ€œthird partyโ€ to help fortify its cybersecurity and to rectify  vulnerabilities discovered by  DICT.

DICT has yet to finish its probe on Medusa ransomware attack on Philippine Health Insurance Corp., wherein 600 gigabytes of data were reportedly accessed by cyberhackers and uploaded on  dark web.

Philippine Statistics Authority also suffered  data breach last week.

iskup news-on-line daily

BSKE bet collared for drugs

By J.Lo

Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) is looking into Alex Balteo,ย ย running for village chief in Barangay Alab Bontoc, Mountain Province onย ย alleged possession of illegal drugs.

Reports said  PDEA agents raided Balteoโ€™s house and recovered shabu with an estimated street value of P390,626.

PDEA-Cordillera director Julius Paderes said  aside from shabu, raiding team seized drug paraphernalia,  pistol and ammunition from  suspectโ€™s house.

Anti-narcotics agents also destroyed 17,000 marijuana plants worth P3.4 million in  remote plantation in nearby Sadanga town.

No one was arrested during  anti-narcotics operation in Barangay Saclit.

PDEA agents overran six marijuana plantations in Kibungan, Benguet, where they destroyed at least 13,200 fully grown marijuana plants and seedlings.


iskup news-on-line daily

Komedya o Komida

Ni Derek Jorge

Komedyang welga

BALE-WALA naman daw ang welga ng mga tsuper ng pamasaherong jeepney laban sa pagbasura ng kanilang bulok nang ipinamamasada.

Shout out muna kay Ptr. Ernie Merdoza, nasa walong manggagawa ang nabiyayaan ng maagang aginaldo sa isang salo-salo. Para sa gobyerno at pulisya, walang epekto ang kakarampot na welga, sa mga welgista naman, tagumpay ang mga ito. Alinman ang totoo, mananakay ang apektado. Naghihimutok kasambahay angย ย Malayang Alyansa ng Bus Employees at Laborers (MANIBELA) dahil hindi raw yata nakarating sa presidente ang kanilang hinaing, tila may humarang, o ibinasura ang liham. Kiwal,bulati kong kikiwal-kiwal samahan mo itong ating mga kasambahay sa Civil Service Commission, tanggapan ng pangulo sa palasyo o sa Anti Red Tape Administration at pormal na magreklamo taglay ang received copy ng reklamo. Syempre magreklamo para maimbestigahan, baka naman wala talagang alam ang president, mahirap naming sisihin agad. Kahit pa marami naman talaga sa gobyerno ang naroon lang para sumuweldo, wala namang ginagawa. Mismong boss nila, hindi pinagmamalasakitan. Kayo namang mga operator, noong araw, gustong palitan ngย ย ย air-conditioned jeepney ang bulok ninyong sasakyan basta lang may prangkisa pero binale-wala ninyo, ngayon papalag-palag kayong phase out na jeepney nyo. Bukas kasambahay ay may pre-trial conference sa korte ang nasakoteng pyramid scammer, antabayanan nyoโ€™t baka biktima rin kayo, maghabol din kayo.ย Pastor Saturnino Abraham, agarin mo naman ang dokumento ng lupa para sa pabahay ng mga Badjao sa Tacurong City, ย Jonathan Fernandez, muzta na, nagkakalimutan na tayo a. Problem aba, pag-usapan natin, ndgodino@yahoo.com.

iskup news-on-line daily

DOLE collaborates with Megaworld for job fairs

By Nidz Godino

โ€œWe are optimisticย ย DOLE-Megaworld partnership will serve asย ย valuable mechanism in expanding our existing network, where private partners extend their resources toward employment facilitation services to achieveย ย administrationโ€™s agenda underย ย leadership of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.,โ€ Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma said to find employment, jobseekers nationwide may just need to go toย ย mall.

Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) recently forged  partnership with Megaworld for job fairs.

Laguesma said  collaboration is expected to have  substantial impact, particularly among first-time job applicants, who can access other employment services such as counseling and pre-employment documentation during  job fairs.

Megaworld Lifestyle malls are official venues for job fairs as well as other DOLE-initiated activities under  rent-free arrangement.

Megaworld assistant vice president Michael Lao said  collaboration with DOLE aligns with companyโ€™s commitment in supporting  government.

Lao said Megaworld has committed to waive rent and utility charges during  job fairs and to assist in marketing  events through  free use of standees, billboards, online announcements and traditional media.

ln using  premises provided exclusively for  job fairs,  DOLE should abide by  mallโ€™s safety and security regulations.

Among Megaworld Lifestyle Malls are Central Plaza in Eastwood City; Lucky Chinatown in Binondo, Manila; Arcovia City in Pasig; Venice Piazza in McKinley Hill, Taguig;  Village Square in Alabang, Muntinlupa; Clark Cityfront in Clark, Pampanga; Southwoods Mall in Biรฑan, Laguna; Iloilo Festive Walk in Mandurriao, Iloilo City, and  Mactan Newtown in Mactan, Cebu.

iskup news-on-line daily

Benefits OKโ€™d for sugar workers

By Nidz Godino

Additional  funds for maternity and death benefits of workers in sugar industry nationwide has approved  by Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

This developed after Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma signed  order authorizing  DOLEโ€™s bureau of workers with special concerns to release additional reserve funds amounting to P6.8 million and P11.76 million for  maternity and death benefits of sugar workers, respectively.

Funds  will be allocated in DOLEโ€™s offices in Bicol, Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon), Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Central Visayas, Davao Region, Eastern Visayas, Northern Mindanao and Soccsksargen (South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and General Santos) as well as in Iloilo and Negros Occidental.Earlier,  labor department increased  maternity and death benefits of sugar workers from P5,000 to P8,000, and from P10,000 to P14,000, respectively