Category: General

MANILA: A total of 18,354 students got temporary employment in the first half of the year, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said Wednesday.

In a news release, Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma said the agency’s Special Program for Employment of Students (SPES) gives students practical exposure to the necessary knowledge and skills for the current job market.

‘Through the training and internship that the company offers, beneficiaries gain hands-on experience in real-world environments, industry-specific skills, professional development, and mentorship. When we invest in our youth, especially those in the marginalized and vulnerable sectors, we provide them with the tools and the support they need to reach their full potential,’ he added.

Laguesma noted that the number is expected to increase as the DOLE recently signed an agreement with fast-food giant Jollibee Foods Corp. (JFC) Philippines to hire more students under the SPES.

Under the Memorandum of Agreement on the program’s enhanced impl
ementation signed at the DOLE Central Office in Intramuros, Manila on July 4, the fast-food company will hire about 900 disadvantaged youth aiming to pursue their studies.

Laguesma said the partnership is aligned with the government’s job generation agenda under the Philippine Labor and Employment Plan 2023-2028 and the outcomes of the recently concluded 2024 National Employment Summit.

He likewise underscored the importance of promoting youth employability through education and training aligned with industry requirements through the support of private sector employers.

Meanwhile, JFC Philippines chief human resources officer Ruth Angeles said their company is committed to contributing to nation-building by providing meaningful employment, especially for less privileged students.

The SPES is a youth employment-bridging program that provides short-term employment to poor students, out-of-school youths, and dependents of displaced or would-be displaced workers during school breaks to augment the family’s in
come and ensure that beneficiaries can pursue their education.

At the same time, the DOLE also reported that the top front-line services availed of by clients in 2023 were related to occupational safety and health permits, employment of foreign nationals, and livelihood assistance applications.

Based on the DOLE Client Satisfaction Measurement Report for 2023, the top five key front-line services based on the number of clients served are:

issuance of a letter of approval/ disapproval of the Construction Safety and Health Program application;

application for Alien Employment Permit (new/renewal);

registration of establishment under Rule 1020 of the Occupational Safety and Health Standards;

application for livelihood project assistance; and

conduct of Technical Safety Inspection for the Issuance of a Permit to Operate Mechanical Installation/Certificate of Electrical Inspection.

Overall, the department’s delivery of front-line services received an “outstanding” rating or a 99.72 percent client sati
sfaction rating from 166,667 clients who responded to the survey last year.

The majority of the responses, or 97.23 percent, were from the DOLE’s regional offices.

Source: Philippines News Agency

LEGAZPI CITY: When Desiree Valencia was two years old, her mother, Celerina, noticed that something was not quite right.

Unlike kids her age, Desiree seemed to tire more easily. She was also prone to frequent respiratory infections. After a series of tests and doctor consultations, Celerina was told what every mother dreads to hear: Desiree has a hole in the heart, a congenital heart problem known as a ventricular septal defect (VSD).

As the hole occurs in the wall that separates the heart’s two lower chambers, the best option is to perform surgery.

“For three years, we went back and forth to Manila to line up at the Philippine Heart Center for my daughter’s surgery until the lockdown due to the pandemic forced us to come home to Caramoan, Camarines Sur in 2020,” the 41-year-old single mother said in the vernacular.

Not one to easily give up, Celerina turned to social media.

“I posted on my Facebook account asking for recommendations for a pediatric cardiologist. Out of the many referrals, the name of Dr
. Eloisa Claveria-Barrion stood out, so I tried everything to get in touch with her,” Celerina said.

After two years of regular check-ups and close monitoring, Desiree finally had the life-changing VSD patch closure open-heart surgery on March 29, 2023, at the Cardiac Center of the Bicol Medical Center (BMC) in Naga City.

“I am just very grateful to Dr. Claveria-Barrion and to BMC for all their help. Desiree had her operation without us paying a single cent,” the devoted mother said.

“Now, she (Desiree) is able to do the things that she once found exhausting. She can now live a normal life,” she added.

Making a difference

As the head of BMC’s Cardiac Center, which was established in October 2021 during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, Claveria-Barrion said giving children with heart defects the opportunity to reach their full potential has become her mission in life.

“Unlike adults, kids have difficulty expressing pain, so it is really important that doctors recognize their pain to be able to give a
ppropriate medical interventions,” Claveria-Barrion said in a mix of English and Filipino.

As the only pediatric interventional cardiologist in the Bicol region, a medical doctor who treats heart conditions using minimally invasive procedures, she disclosed that the hefty cost of the treatment remains a major deterrent for kids with cardiovascular problems from accessing treatment.

“In some cases, it only takes a 30-minute procedure using medical closure devices to repair the hole in the heart. The biggest problem, however, is money,” the doctor said.

“I realized that I cannot simply sit comfortably and do nothing while they continue to suffer because they do not have the means,” she added.

In 2022, Claveria-Barrion initiated a dialogue with the San Diego Medical Association in California, particularly the Filipino-American Association of Doctors and Nurses, to secure funding for a cardiovascular surgical mission.

With the initial PHP200,000 grant provided to the BMC, this 52-year-old doctor was able to
perform medical treatments on 23 kids, with some requiring surgical closures and others only catheter-based closures in March 2023.

“We need to ensure that these kids are able to return to society and lead normal lives. Who knows, one of them might be the next president of the country,” she said with a glimmer in her eyes.

Accessible cardiovascular care

With the establishment of the BMC Cardiac Center, Bicolanos no longer need to travel to Metro Manila for their cardiovascular treatment.

Manned by competent staff and equipped with state-of-the-art medical apparatus and hospital equipment, the center remains committed to being at the forefront of cardiovascular care in the region.

While the center has achieved incredible feats in such a short span of time since its establishment, Claveria-Barrion knows that she cannot simply sit on her laurels.

Right now, this La Salle-educated doctor, who was trained as a pediatrician and cardiologist at the BMC and Philippine Heart Center, respectively, is conducting a
series of training for doctors in 22 rural health units and nine hospitals to empower them to provide the best possible care to their patients.

The center will also hold another cardiovascular surgical mission this July.

“As doctors, we want to be instruments of God to help kids with heart defects live their full lives,” she said.

Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: The Land Transportation Office (LTO) on Wednesday began its campaign for community involvement in road safety through a seminar in Marikina City.

In a statement, LTO chief, Assistant Secretary Vigor Mendoza II said 150 mothers and 20 leaders of tricycle operators and drivers associations (TODA) joined the program called “LTO sa Barangayan.”

The seminar focused on the importance of the guidance of family to its members who drive and a whole-of-community approach towards road safety.

‘Naniniwala kami sa LTO na malaki ang maitutulong ng bawat isa upang matiyak ang kaligtasan ng lahat ng road users, kasama na ang disiplina at pagsunod sa mga batas trapiko (We at LTO believe that every individual has a lot to offer in ensuring the safety of all road users, including having discipline and following traffic laws),’ Mendoza said.

Mothers were invited to the seminar, he said, as they serve as ‘a guiding light’ to every member of the family.

‘On the part of the tricycle drivers, we maintain that despite co
mplaints on some of them, they are our strong allies in setting examples in obeying traffic rules,’ he said.

During the event, he led the signing of a pledge of commitment to road safety and facilitated the release of plastic-printed driver’s licenses to six tricycle drivers.

He also instructed LTO regional directors and district heads to replicate the seminar on road safety.

Source: Philippines News Agency

The Party Central Committee’s Inspection Commission on July 10 announced that it will continue to direct Party Committees and Organisations at all levels to thoroughly complete inspections and disciplinary actions against Party organisations and members who committed wrongdoings related to the case of the Advanced International Joint Stock Company (AIC).

Source: Vietnam News Agency

MANILA: Vito Sarines and Aerin Chan ruled their respective divisions in the ICTSI Junior Philippine Golf Tour Luzon Series 4 at the Riviera Golf and Country – Club’s Couples Course in Silang, Cavite on Wednesday.

Sarines carded a 74 for a 144 total to beat Jacob Casuga by 15 strokes in the boys’ 10-12 category.

Casuga tallied 159 after a 79, while Nathaniel Yeung registered a 91 to finish with 178 for third place.

‘I will compete in the rest of the Luzon series and aim for another victory,’ said Sarines, who topped the Splendido Taal and Pinewoods legs and was second at Pradera Verde.

In the girls division, Chan had an 86 for a 159 total to finally claim victory after placing fifth in previous tournaments.

Quincy Pilac placed second with 85-164, followed by Pradera Verde leg winner Georgina Handog (84-175) and Splendido Taal leg champion Maurysse Abalos (97-191).

“It’s really exciting to win, and I hope to continue this success in future tournaments,’ Chan said. ‘My goal is to significantly improve my s
hort game, especially my putting.”

Meanwhile, Kvan Alburo and Athena Serapio dominated the 8-9 category.

Alburo, who already earned a spot in the national finals after ruling the Visayas series, shot a 90 for a 180 total in the boys division.

Jesus Yambao had a 104 while Michael Ray Hortel II carded a 105 to finish tied for second with 203s, but the former took runner-up honors via countback.

Serapio topped the girls division with a 91 for a 184 total. Tyra Garingalao was second (100-195) followed by Andrea Dee (103-202).

‘I just focused on each hole. I needed to make a good score because my first-round performance was poor,’ Serapio said.

Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Wednesday called on dam operators across the country to maximize their facilities not only to provide water but also to generate renewable energy.

Marcos appealed during the impounding process ceremony at the Upper Wawa Dam in Montalban, Rizal, urging dam operators to partner with the government for a more sustainable and energy-efficient country.

‘I also call on our stakeholders, particularly those operating other dams nationwide, to maximize the use of your facilities by integrating other uses for the captured water, such as for the generation of renewable energy,’ Marcos said.

‘Let us work together in this endeavor to create a more sustainable and energy-efficient future for our nation,’ he added.

Marcos also stressed the need for more multi-purpose dams to address the increasing water demand.

‘We need to build more multi-purpose dams to ensure water supply not only for drinking but also for irrigation, power generation, flood control, aquaculture, and hope
fully other technologies that we may engage in the future,’ he said.

Upper Wawa Dam

The Upper Wawa Dam is expected to increase water supply in Metro Manila and nearby areas from 80 million to 438 million liters per day by the end of 2025, benefitting 2.2 to 3.5 million Filipinos.

The PHP26.5-billion Public-Private Partnership (PPP) project, according to the President, is expected to provide a reliable water supply of 700 million liters per day to over 700,000 households, serving 2.2 to 3.5 million Filipinos within the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) service area once it becomes operational.

The project will also help mitigate the perennial flooding problem in downstream areas and localities of the Marikina River.

The construction of the 85-meter-high and 438.5-meter-long roller-compacted concrete Upper Wawa Dam is a major component of the Wawa Bulk Water Supply Project (WBWSP) Phase 2.

It is also the largest water supply dam to be built in over 50 years, next to the Angat Dam.

Marcos
said the Upper Wawa Dam will foster climate resilience among Filipinos by protecting communities downstream from flooding and by mitigating the detrimental effects of drought.

‘Having been accomplished a year ahead of schedule, this monumental development has set a new standard for infrastructure projects of similar magnitude in terms of scale and impact,’ he said.

The President also extended his gratitude to the Prime Infrastructure Capital, joint venture partner WawaJVCo, and the MWSS for their commitment to building critical infrastructure systems that address the needs of the Filipinos and the country.

He said Phase 1 of the project, or the Tayabasan Weir, has improved the water supply situation in Rizal by providing a substantial water source, benefiting both the residents and businesses.

He then called on Prime Infra and WawaJVCo to continue collaborating with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to prioritize watershed protection in the dam and the reforestation and biodiversi
ty preservation in the Upper Marikina River Basin Protected Landscape.

Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: Environment Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo Loyzaga on Wednesday welcomed the election of the Philippines as the host nation of the Loss and Damage Fund (LDF) board, the global finance mechanism that assists vulnerable states dealing with the effects of climate change.

In a press release, Loyzaga believed that the country would be a formidable voice in promoting and advancing global climate action since the Philippines is one of the countries most vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change.

The election is a recognition of the country’s unwavering support and commitment to multilateralism and the mission of the LDF as a critical pillar in global climate action.

‘The Loss and Damage Fund is a long-fought struggle to directly assist those with the greatest impact of climate-induced losses and damage to recover and build. We take on this responsibility in solidarity with all countries vulnerable to the impacts of climate change,’ Loyzaga said.

She said that as the host of the Board of the Fund,
the Philippines will continue to concretely contribute to the fast and seamless operationalization of the LDF, particularly by ensuring that the meetings of the Board are successfully held and supported.

On Tuesday, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. announced that the Philippines beat seven other contenders -Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, the Bahamas, Barbados, Eswatini, Kenya and Togo- to host the board out.

The Philippines was selected during the LDF board meeting on Tuesday in Incheon, South Korea.

The LDF is mandated to assist developing countries that are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change in responding to economic and non-economic loss and damage associated with the adverse effects of climate change, including extreme weather events and slow onset events.

The board is composed of 26 members from Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and its Paris Agreement, with 12 members from developed country Parties and 14 members from developi
ng country Parties.

The Philippines is a member of the Board, occupying one of three seats for Asia-Pacific States.

Source: Philippines News Agency

The 35th session of the National Assembly (NA) Standing Committee commenced in Hanoi on July 10 morning under the chair of NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man. The session focuses on reviewing the outcomes of the 7th session of the 15th NA, which took place from May 20 to June 29, and discussing preparations for the 8th sitting.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

MANILA: Flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) has partnered with the current operator of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA), in providing a transit lounge at the Terminal 1.

PAL president Stanley Ng said the lounge, which was opened Wednesday at the pre-departure area, aims to provide convenience to passengers with connecting flights.

While PAL owns a Mabuhay Lounge inside the terminal for its business class passengers, it helped the MIAA to establish the transit lounge that could accommodate around 138 passengers.

The airline donated gang chairs, reclining chairs, tables, television sets, and exhaust fans to the MIAA for the project.

Non-PAL transit passengers at Terminal 1 are all welcome to use the new lounge equipped with shower facilities and charging stations.

“PAL seeks to collaborate with the MIAA to ensure the successful implementation, and maintenance of the proposed NAIA T1 Transit Lounge,” a part of the deed of donation read.

MIA
A, for its part, will be responsible for the maintenance, upkeep and security of the transit lounge, ensuring cleanliness, functionality, as well as the safety of transit passengers.

Last March, several news outlets reported that passengers have been sleeping on the floor of NAIA Terminal 1. They, however, were said to be ‘excluded passengers’ or those who were denied entry into the country.

MIAA acting General Manager Eric Ines has met with the Airline Operators Council and PAL to address the issue.

Source: Philippines News Agency