Author: malaysiang

MANILA: The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said PHP510 million worth of coins have been deposited through its coin deposit machines (CoDMs).

The BSP said the amount is equivalent to 145.5 million pieces of coins from over 134,000 transactions.

BSP Deputy Governor Bernadette Romulo-Puyat disclosed this at the CoDM Project Milestone and Retail Appreciation ceremony at the Robinsons Metro East, Pasig City on Friday.

Since June 2023, the BSP has installed 25 CoDMs in the Greater Manila Area.

CoDMs allow customers to conveniently deposit their legal tender coins to be credited to their GCash or Maya electronic wallet accounts, or converted into shopping vouchers.

The coin deposit machines support the BSP’s Coin Recirculation Program that aims to put idle coins back in circulation to serve the currency needs of the country.

In cooperation with partner retailers and electronic money issuers, the CoDMs also promote a cash-lite economy with the adoption of payments digitalization.

CoDMs are currently deploye
d at Robinsons Place Metro East, Pasig City; Robinsons Place Novaliches, Quezon City (QC); Robinsons Place Antipolo, Rizal; Robinsons Place Magnolia, QC; Robinsons Place Ermita, Manila; Robinsons Place Galleria, Ortigas; Festival Mall, Muntinlupa City; SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City; SM City Grand Central, Caloocan; SM City Marilao, Bulacan; SM City Taytay, Rizal; SM Hypermarket FTI, Taguig City; SM Southmall, Las Piñas City; SM City Sucat, Parañaque; SM City Calamba; SM City Marikina; SM City San Mateo, Rizal; SM City Valenzuela; SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City; SM City North EDSA, QC; SM City Fairview, QC; SM City San Lazaro, Manila; SM City Bicutan, Parañaque; and SM City Bacoor, Cavite. (PNA)

Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: The implementation of the increase in the premium contributions of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) is still under review, Malacañang said Friday.

In a statement, Communications Secretary Cheloy Garafil said President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. wants to make sure that any increase in PhilHealth’s premium rates will be advantageous to the members.

‘The review is still ongoing. The President wants to ensure that any increase in premium will substantially be much more in value in terms of benefits and coverage to Philhealth members,’ Garafil said.

Garafil’s statement came the same day when PhilHealth president and chief executive officer Emmanuel Ledesma Jr. said the Office of the President ‘pose[s] no objection’ to the 5-percent increase in premium contributions implemented in January this year.

Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa in January asked Marcos to delay the implementation of PhilHealth’s 5-percent premium rate increase as the state insurer has ‘enough money’ to continue giving
benefits.

Also last month, Marcos said he is still studying the adjustment in PhilHealth’s premium rates, adding that he wants to see an increase in benefits offered to the members.

Republic Act 1123 or the Universal Healthcare Law mandates the increase in the PhilHealth contribution rate to increments of 0.5 percent every year starting in 2021 until it reaches 5 percent from 2024 to 2025.

Marcos previously suspended the implementation of PhilHealth’s increase in premium rate and income ceiling for the calendar year 2023. (PNA)

Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: The Employers’ Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP) on Friday appealed to the House of Representatives to be prudent when deliberating on its own version of the legislated wage hike bill.

In an interview, ECOP president Sergio Ortiz-Luis Jr. urged lawmakers to heed economic managers’ warnings on how arbitrary and uncalled for wage increases can trigger another round of spikes in inflation.

He cited a National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) study that every five-percent increase in salaries causes a corresponding 1.2 percent increase in inflation.

‘They (the Senate) approved a PHP100 per day across-the-board salary increase. That is well above 5 percent. I wonder how much that will impact inflation. It’s not just NEDA warning against it (legislated wage hike), even (Finance) Secretary (Ralph) Recto is not in favor of it,’ he told the Philippine News Agency.

Ortiz-Luis also called on the Lower House to be more inclusive of the employers’ sector when deliberating upon wage issues, sayin
g they were left out of the most crucial portion of the Senate’s recent wage hearings.

‘In any case, wage hikes should not be decided by Congress. It is for that reason that Congress created the wage boards (Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Boards) in the first place. The employer, labor and government sectors in each region are represented in the wage boards… putting them in a better position to decide on those things,’ he added.

Additionally, Ortiz-Luis said only a small portion of the country’s labor force stand to benefit from the PHP100 per day wage increase.

He is referring to the 16 percent of workers in the ‘formal sector’ or those employed by corporations and other registered businesses.

Ortiz-Luis explained that the estimated 84 percent of workers belonging to the informal sector, such as farmers, fisherfolk, vendors, and jeepney and tricycle drivers, among other jobs, will not receive a pay hike but will contend with its inflationary fallout.

He said it is highly unlikely that the co
untry’s thousands of micro and small-scale enterprises can afford to pay another PHP100 per employee daily, opening the possibility of business closures or employee reduction. (PNA)

Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Friday emphasized the importance of forging more tie-ups with local and international partners to strengthen the Philippine creative and design industries.

Marcos made the call during the launch of the ‘Art X Design’ exhibition at the National Museum of Fine Arts in the City of Manila, as he acknowledged the local creative industries’ contributions to the country’s economic growth and job generation.

‘So, I call on all stakeholders, agencies, and partners in the Philippine creative industries to come together to strengthen our design community and to cultivate collaborations with both local and international allies,’ he said.

‘Because together, we can enhance the global competitiveness of Filipino products and services, broaden trade horizons, and nurture a vibrant and sustainable economy that embodies the pinnacle of Filipino artistry and creativity,’ Marcos added.

Marcos also stressed the need to embrace the principles of innovation, of collaboration, and det
ermination, as the nation embarks on a journey ‘towards a future where Philippine design leads the way to economic prosperity, environmental stewardship, social equity and unity.’

Citing a pioneering research by the Design Center of the Philippines and the British Council entitled ‘Making Design Count,’ Marcos noted that the Philippine design economy generated nearly PHP3 trillion in revenues and contributed PHP1.2 trillion in gross value to the economy in 2020.

He added that the design industry has also generated over 700,000 jobs, accounting for nearly 2 percent of the country’s total employment.

‘And that is why the government remains committed to strengthening the Design and Creative Industries. We are implementing forward-thinking legislation such as the Philippine Design Competitiveness Act, Philippine Creative Industries Development Act of 2022, and other policies to promote innovation, to support entrepreneurship, and to protect intellectual property,’ Marcos said.

He said such initiatives would a
mplify the economic and cultural significance of the creative sector, empowering Filipino designers to ‘flourish, further hone their craft, and to shine internationally.’

He also lauded the launch of the ‘Art X Design’ exhibition, saying it would inspire future Filipino designers and creatives and help elevate the country’s reputation on a global scale.

‘Indeed, through collaboration, ingenuity, and innovation, we can cultivate a vibrant creative industry that embodies our heritage, our values, our unique identity, our traditions, and our history,’ Marcos said.

Marcos said the event is also ‘extra special to him,’ given that his mother, former First Lady Imelda Romualdez-Marcos, envisioned in the 1970s ‘a future where design would shine brightly, guiding the path of our nation.’

He said the former First Lady’s vision came to fruition in 1973 with the establishment of the Design Center, laying the groundwork for Filipino creativity to steal the global stage.

Led by the Design Center of the Philippines, th
e ‘Art X Design’ exhibition offers a comprehensive survey of design developments over the past half century, showcasing pivotal pieces that have left an indelible mark on both local and global design landscapes.

The exhibition is open to the public until March 3, 2024 to give them the opportunity to witness the evolution of Philippine design. (PNA)
DA lauds FAO’s support to boost PH aquaculture
Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KJC) founder and televangelist Apollo Quiboloy should heed the congressional subpoena and realize that no one is above the law.

In a statement Friday, House Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio Gonzales Jr. urged Quiboloy to attend the March 12 hearing of the Committee on Legislative Franchises regarding the alleged violations of Swara Sug Media Corporation, which runs and operates Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI).

“Magkita-kita po tayo Pastor Quiboloy sa March 12,’ Gonzales said. “We remind Pastor Quiboloy that he must comply with the subpoena, or we will have no choice but to hold him in contempt and proceed with his arrest.”

SMNI legal counsel Mark Tolentino clarified in a previous hearing that Quiboloy holds the title of “honorary chairman” at the network and is not actively involved in its daily operations.

However, lawmakers maintained that Quiboloy is the actual “beneficial owner” of both Swara Sug and SMNI, which regularly airs his sermons.

The House issued a
subpoena to Quiboloy following his absence from the committee hearings held on Dec. 5 to 11, 2023, and Feb. 7, 2024, despite receiving multiple invitations.

In an audio recording, Quiboloy admitted he is in hiding out of fear for his life, accusing the US and Philippine governments of working together to eliminate him through rendition.

Gonzales said Quiboloy’s actions indicate a desperate attempt to deflect from the issue and set the stage for potential defiance of the subpoena.

‘No one is above the law. Pastor Quiboloy is not exempt from the law,’ Gonzales said.

House Deputy Majority Leader Jude Acidre, meanwhile, assured the public that the House of Representatives would deal with Quiboloy accordingly.

“On the House, we will implement the law. If he does not appear then we will be constrained to execute the subpoena and make sure that he is here to answer the questions and issues raised against him,” Acidre said.

“He knows what he is doing. He knows that he is clearly defying the law. He knows he is
injuring the political system that we have in place. He is disrespecting the authorities and I think he will be made accountable on that at the right time,” he added.

According to the subpoena signed by Speaker Martin Romualdez, defying the congressional summons would result in a contempt citation and arrest.

The committee is currently addressing House Bill No. 9710, filed by 1-Rider Party-list Rep. Ramon Rodrigo Gutierrez, which outlines various infractions by SMNI.

Gutierrez said SMNI’s franchise violations include its failure to deliver truthful and balanced reporting to its audience and transferring its shares without prior approval by Congress.

Gutierrez called for the revocation of SMNI’s franchise under House Bill 9710, arguing that the acts of the network should not be “countenanced.” (PNA)

Source: Philippines News Agency

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. made the statement following the bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the High-level Ministerial Session of the 37th FAO Regional Conference for Asia and the Pacific in Colombo:evel Ministerial Session of the 37th FAO Regional Conference for Asia and the Pacific in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Tiu Laurel met with FAO Director-General Quo Dongyu, who noted that aquaculture is a “promising industry” in the country, on Feb. 20.

Dongyu said boosting the industry may help the administration achieve its food security and economic targets.

Tiu Laurel, on the other hand, commended the FAO’s programs and assistance in the Philippines.

‘We value a strong FAO Country Office in the Philippines with the FAO headquarters’ continued full support, including technical cooperation programs,” he said.

Besides aquaculture, the two leaders also talked about increasing rice yield through the use of improved rice varieties, as well as the modernization of mechanisms to strengthen the coun
try’s agrifood systems.

Earlier, the DA signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) to fortify research collaboration and sustainable practices in terms of rice productivity.

Tiu Laurel also met with Canada’s Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Lawrence McAulay on Thursday to discuss a possible partnership on agri-fishery.

The DA said the two leaders discussed ways to boost livestock production through genetics, modernization, and aid to farmers and fishers. (PNA)

MANILA:

Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: Authorities on Friday arrested an alleged illegal recruiter promising “fruit picker” jobs in Japan in an entrapment at the compound of the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) in Mandaluyong City.

Members of the DMW-Migrant Workers Protection Bureau (MWPB) and the local police nabbed the suspect identified as Majorie Almarez, 33, a resident of Novaliches, Quezon City, after she accepted “boodle money” from the complainant whose name was withheld by the DMW.

In a news release, DMW officer-in-charge Undersecretary Hans Leo Cacdac said the complainant was offered a job as a fruit picker in Japan with a monthly salary of PHP77,000.

Cacdac said the complainant was lured by the suspect after witnessing her receive payment from another victim.

However, the complainant confirmed that the suspect has no license from the DMW to offer jobs abroad.

Based on the complaint, the suspect promised to facilitate and process the victims’ certificate of employment, e-Registration account, Pre-Employment Orientation S
eminar (PEOS) certificate, medical examination, and Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar (PDOS) certificate.

In exchange, the victim was asked to give an initial payment of PHP13,500 as ‘marketer’s fee’ and ‘processing fee’.

The suspect, who is now under the custody of the Mandaluyong City Police Station, will face charges of illegal recruitment and estafa.

Cacdac vowed to provide legal assistance to the victims and assured them that the DMW would pursue the case.

He also called on other victims to come forward and coordinate with the MWPB. (PNA)

Source: Philippines News Agency