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US Senator Hill to honor man who inspired ‘Vote-By-Mail’ ballot confirm law

News

Oct 112013

US Senator Hill to honor man who inspired ‘Vote-By-Mail’ ballot confirm law

6:40 am | Saturday, October 12th, 2013 MENLO PARK, California—State Senator Jerry Hill (D-San Mateo County/Santa Clara County), will honor a longtime Menlo Park resident as the winner of Hill’s annual “Oughta Be a Law…Or Not” contest and the inspiration behind Hill’s legislation, Senate Bill 589, which enables voters who cast their ballots by mail to confirm that their votes were counted. Until now, the contest winner has chosen to be anonymous, but has agreed to be recognized publicly by Hill on Friday, 8 to 9 a.m., Friday, October 11, 2013 at Where: Café Zoë, 1929 Menalto Avenue, Menlo Park,during the senator’s “Java with Jerry” community coffee meeting in Menlo Park. Governor Jerry Brown signed the legislation on September 9. It takes effect January 1, 2014. Hill will present a copy of the legislation and a certificate of recognition to the winner of the “Oughta Be a Law…Or Not” contest. The public is invited to “Java with Jerry” on Friday to celebrate the “Oughta Be a Law…Or Not” contest winner. Hill also will provide a legislative update. The event is free. No RSVPs necessary. Senate Bill 589 requires county election officials to establish a system allowing individuals who vote by mail to learn if their ballot was counted and, if it was not, why it wasn’t. It also provides county registrars with flexibility to determine how they want to comply with the legislation by notifying voters on a walk-in basis, over the phone, or online. The legislation—co-sponsored by Assemblyman Kevin Mullin, D-South Read More …

1-day SSS on-site service and briefing at SF consulate on Oct. 12

News

Oct 032013

1-day SSS on-site service and briefing at SF consulate on Oct. 12

INQUIRER.net US Bureau 7:30 am | Friday, October 4th, 2013 SAN FRANCISCO—Representatives of the Social Security System (SSS) of the Philippines will be coming to San Francisco to conduct on-site services and a briefing for all SSS members on Saturday, Oct. 12, at the Philippine Consulate General, at 447 Sutter Street, 6th Floor, San Francisco. The on-site services will start at 2 p.m., while the briefing will be at 4 p.m. The following are the on-site services that will be conducted by the SSS: § Registration of new members § Reactivation of SSS membership for existing members § Enrollment in the Flexi-fund Program § Member date amendment § Assistance in MySSS § Annual confirmation of pensioners; and § Pensioner data amendment Those who are interested to avail themselves of these services are encouraged to review the flyer for the list of requirements for each service and download the forms at www.philippinessanfrancisco.org. To facilitate the verification of records during the on-site service, SSS members are encouraged to e-mail their full names, birthday and Philippine SSS numbers in advance to roldanrv@sss.gov.ph (Subject Line: SAN FRANCISCO ONSITE) so that their records may be pre-downloaded and reviewed before the team arrives in San Francisco. Queries regarding the upcoming SSS briefing may be directed to Dianne Sarmago by phone at (415) 433 6666 ext. 313, or via e-mail to cultural@philippinessanfrancisco.org or info@philippinessanfrancisco.org. Follow Us Recent Stories: Complete stories on our Digital Edition newsstand for tablets, netbooks and mobile phones; 14-issue free trial. About to step Read More …

Laid-off PAL workers ask Francis for help

News

Sep 302013

Laid-off PAL workers ask Francis for help

Philippine Daily Inquirer 5:03 am | Tuesday, October 1st, 2013 Pope Francis: Help sought. AP FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines—Apparently inspired by Pope Francis’ call for decent work and social justice, workers laid off by Philippine Airlines (PAL) has sought papal intervention in the labor dispute and in their campaign to be reinstated in their jobs. In a one-page letter to Pope Francis, Gerardo Rivera, president of the PAL Employees Association (Palea), brought to the Holy Father’s attention the plight of the airline workers who were laid off in 2011 as a result of the flag carrier’s decision to implement an outsourcing scheme. “As the only majority Christian nation in Asia, we deem an appeal from Your Holiness to the stakeholders involved—our employer [PAL] and the government—will (persuade them to) exercise moral suasion (that) may prove decisive in a settlement fair to the workers,” wrote Rivera. “We were fired with the intention of being rehired as contract workers doing the same jobs without security of tenure, lower wages, longer hours of work but without benefits,” he said. Such a scheme, the union official said, was “in contravention” of the social teachings of the Catholic Church, which has been advocating the primacy of labor over capital. Rivera said the union members were inspired and overjoyed after hearing the Holy Father call for decent work and social justice on World Labor Day five months ago. In his remarks on the occasion, Pope Francis encouraged governments and those in public service to make an Read More …

DOLE probes reports of 3,000 Chinese illegals

News

Sep 302013

DOLE probes reports of 3,000 Chinese illegals

By Tina G. SantosPhilippine Daily Inquirer 5:02 am | Tuesday, October 1st, 2013 Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz: Strict enforcement. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines—The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has ordered an investigation into reports that some 3,000 Chinese nationals were illegally working at construction sites in the country. Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz, citing a report by DOLE Region IV-A Director Zenaida Angara-Campita, said that at least 13 Chinese nationals had been found working for a big construction company in Batangas without alien employment permits (AEPs). Baldoz said Campita had ordered the company to obtain AEPs for the Chinese nationals. “This is about strictly enforcing the revised rules for the issuance of AEPs over which our regional offices have direct responsibility,” Baldoz said in a statement. She said she had instructed the DOLE regional directors to look into the matter and, if found to have basis, act to strictly enforce the rules. “They need to submit to me a report on the results of their investigation. I will not tolerate lax enforcement of the rules on the issuance of the AEP,” Baldoz said. She added that the Department of Justice would be given a copy of the report through the Bureau of Immigration for appropriate action. Baldoz’s order to the regional directors included an inventory of the databases on foreign nationals who were issued AEPs and crosschecking this with the companies that applied for the AEPs in their areas of jurisdiction. “They have to check the contracts of employment Read More …

Unfazed, US to fund local NGOs

News

Sep 302013

US Ambassador Harry Thomas Jr.: Advancing shared vision. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines—Amid the pork barrel scam that may well have tainted the image of the country’s thriving nongovernment organization community, the United States on Monday announced a P984-million ($24 million) grant-giving facility that aims to fund over the next five years deserving Philippine NGOs in pursuing “innovative solutions [to] the country’s development challenges.” The US Embassy in Manila said the Philippine-American (Phil-Am) Fund, initiated by the US Agency for International Development (USAID), is a component of the continuing implementation of the American Partnership for Growth Program (PFG), a wide-ranging program that seeks to help the Philippines steer itself toward inclusive growth. Reflecting its continuing faith in the country’s NGO community, the US Embassy announced the grant facility just as the Philippines continues to investigate the misappropriation of state funds for bogus programs through fake NGOs allegedly perpetrated by the now jailed Janet Lim-Napoles. “I am very pleased to be a part of this exciting and innovative project that will help advance our shared vision of broad-based and inclusive growth under the Partnership for Growth Initiative. Under the PFG, our governments are committed to work together to achieve inclusive economic growth in the Philippines,” said US Ambassador Harry Thomas Jr. The Philippines is one of only four countries where the United States is implementing the White House-led PFG program, which seeks to improve the country’s education, governance, justice and financial systems through collaborative engagements between the US and Philippine officials Read More …

Asean parks meet slated

News

Sep 292013

Philippine Daily Inquirer 4:28 am | Monday, September 30th, 2013 Environment Secretary Ramon Paje: Philippine delegation head. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines—The Philippines is hosting the 4th Association of Southeast Asian Nations Heritage Parks Conference (AHP), which will see 300 delegates, biodiversity experts and scientists tackle ecosystem degradation and the preservation of the Asean region’s natural heritage. Environment Secretary Ramon Paje will lead the Philippine delegation to the conference spearheaded by the Asean Center for Biodiversity (ACB) in Tagaytay City on Oct. 1-4. The conference stakeholders come from Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines. ACB executive director Roberto Oliva said there were currently 33 AHPs in Southeast Asia, five of them in the Philippines—Mt. Apo Natural Park, Mt. Kitanglad Range Natural Park and Mt. Malindang Range Natural Park, all in Mindanao; and Mt. Iglit-Baco and the newest, Mt. Makiling Forest Reserve, both Luzon. The Asean Declaration on Heritage Parks was signed by the environment ministers of the 10 Asean member states in December 2003 in Yangon establishing the AHP Program to promote greater collaboration in the region in the management of the parks.—Jeannette I. Andrade Follow Us Recent Stories: Complete stories on our Digital Edition newsstand for tablets, netbooks and mobile phones; 14-issue free trial. About to step out? Get breaking alerts on your mobile.phone. Text ON INQ BREAKING to 4467, for Globe, Smart and Sun subscribers in the Philippines. Tags: ASEAN , Asean Center for Biodiversity , Environment , heritage parks , heritage Read More …

No escaping China for Aquino, Obama

News

Sep 292013

US President Barack Obama (right) and President Aquino: China on the agenda. MALACAÑANG PHOTO MANILA, Philippines—Defense cooperation, including China’s incursions into Philippine territory, will top the agenda of President Aquino’s meeting with US President Barack Obama during the latter’s two-day visit to the country next month. In a radio interview, Ricky Carandang, head of the Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Group, said Aquino and Obama will talk at length on defense cooperation, specifically the “rotational presence” of US troops in the country. The meeting will be held on either Oct. 11 or 12. “Whether or not we will sign something during the Obama visit is not something I can answer at this point. What I can assure our countrymen is that these discussions with the US will lead to enhanced security for the Philippines and that’s why we’re entering into these discussions,” Carandang said. With the pivot of the United States toward East Asia, “our ties will continue to grow stronger,” he added. Carandang said the talks would likely touch on China’s undiplomatic efforts to expand its maritime borders in the South China Sea, including into portions of the West Philippine Sea. “I think we cannot avoid talking about this (territorial dispute with China) because that is part of the context of our action to enhance our maritime security. This is one of the biggest issues concerning not only the Philippines, but also Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei and Japan,” Carandang said. The Philippines and the United States are currently Read More …

Toyota expects strong growth in US market

General

Sep 052013

Toyota expects strong growth in US market

Agence France-Presse 8:28 am | Friday, September 6th, 2013 AP FILE PHOTO DETROIT – Toyota’s US turnaround is picking up momentum and the Japanese automaker expects strong growth in what promises to be a stable and prosperous market, a top company executive said Thursday. “We’re back on a very good growth curve,” Toyota Motor Sales executive vice president Bob Carter told Detroit’s Automotive Press Association. “We’re very positive about our future.” Toyota expects to sell more than 2.2 million vehicles in the United States this year, up from 2.1 million in 2012 and 1.6 million in 2011 when the industry was still mired in a deep downturn. “We were in a three-year slump but we started growing last year,” said Carter, who credited a strong dealer network and hot new products for helping Toyota to take advantage of growing consumer demand. Key economic indicators such as home sales, job creation and consumer confidence all suggest continuing economic recovery, he said. “We think it will be a nice, stable market for the next three to five years,” Carter said. Carter noted that analysts expect total US auto sales to rise to about 15.5 million vehicles this year and could “flirt” with 17 million as soon as 2018. Last year they rose to 14.5 million from 12.7 million in 2011. Tom Libby, an analyst with R.L. Polk, said Toyota’s sales performance in August — when it overtook Ford for the number-two spot in the US market — underscores the Japanese automaker’s underlying Read More …

RM awardees shine

News

Sep 012013

By Tarra QuismundoPhilippine Daily Inquirer 3:27 am | Monday, September 2nd, 2013 MANILA, Philippines—At a time problems and challenges leave many disheartened, they are shining examples that give the world hope. The Ramon Magsaysay Award, Asia’s premier prize named after a Philippine president known for his tranformative leadership, on Sunday handed out this year’s citations to five awardees for selfless and inspirational service in their home countries. “Your lives are now shining far brightly even more than the stars of Hollywood. Greatness lies really not in one’s official position, but in how you lead, how you lay down your lives for others,” the Philippines’ Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno said in congratulating this year’s winners. The awardees were three individuals and two organizations cited for sparking change in pursuit of their advocacies, from universal health and combating violence to fighting corruption and human trafficking. The individual awardees were Filipino doctor Ernesto Domingo, who was cited for his “health for all” advocacy, Myanmar’s Lahpai Seng Raw for her grassroots-based leadership against conflict, and Afghan Habiba Sarabi, Afghanistan’s only female governor who built up her local government despite challenging circumstances. Conviction rate Indonesia’s Komisi Pemberantasan Korupsi (KPK or the Corruption Eradication Commission) won the award for its decisive action against deeply entrenched corruption in the Indonesian government. Its staggering 100-percent conviction rate of corrupt government officials garnered loud applause from the Philippine audience, who clearly could only wish this could happen in their country. “I was afraid of saying something about your Read More …

HK-based recruiters may lose permits

News

Aug 302013

Philippine Daily Inquirer 6:47 am | Saturday, August 31st, 2013 POEA Administrator Hans Leo Cacdac photo from his official Twitter account. MANILA, Philippines—The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (Poea) on Friday threatened to strip Hong Kong-based recruitment agencies of their accreditation for collecting placement fees from Filipino household service workers (HSWs). In a Facebook post, Poea chief Hans Cacdac said the agency has received information that some Philippine-accredited agencies in Hong Kong collect placement fees through an “imaginary loan” or an ATM deposit scheme. The Philippine Consulate in Hong Kong has already issued a memorandum to all accredited Hong Kong agencies with the warning that the Philippine government will not tolerate these malpractices, Cacdac said. “Any violation committed by the Hong Kong agency will be dealt with seriously and this office (Consulate General of the Philippines) will apply the full force of Philippine laws,” said Labor Attaché Manuel Roldan of the Philippine Overseas Labor Office in Hong Kong. Tina G. Santos Follow Us Recent Stories: Complete stories on our Digital Edition newsstand for tablets, netbooks and mobile phones; 14-issue free trial. About to step out? Get breaking alerts on your mobile.phone. Text ON INQ BREAKING to 4467, for Globe, Smart and Sun subscribers in the Philippines. Tags: Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) Factual errors? Contact the Philippine Daily Inquirer’s day desk. Believe this article violates journalistic ethics? Contact the Inquirer’s Reader’s Advocate. Or write The Readers’ Advocate:

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