HSW recruiters warned on fees

 News
Jun 162013
 
HSW recruiters warned on fees

Philippine Daily Inquirer 3:48 am | Monday, June 17th, 2013 MANILA, Philippines—Recruitment agencies collecting placement fees from household service worker (HSW) applicants are at risk of losing their licenses to operate, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) has warned. Administrator Hans Leo Cacdac said POEA Governing Board Resolution No. 6 prohibits the charging of placement fees from Filipino HSWs prior to their departure or on site through salary deductions. Violation of the prohibition on placement fee collection is a grave offense that carries a penalty of cancellation of license. Cacdac said consistent with most host country regulations, employers pay the service fee and shoulder all the costs of hiring and deploying HSWs. “Very clearly, licensed agencies can still collect placement fees or service fees, provided they are not shouldered by the worker but by the foreign principal,” he said. Recently, 52 members of the Society of Hong Kong Accredited Recruiters of the Philippines, a group of licensed recruitment agencies deploying HSWs to Hong Kong, decided to scrap the collection of placement fees from applicants.—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: household service workers , Overseas Filipino workers , recruiters , replacement fees Factual errors? Contact the Philippine Daily Inquirer’s day desk. Believe this article violates journalistic ethics? Contact Read More …

VP Binay eyes Germany's dual vocational system vs unemployment

 News
Jun 152013
 
VP Binay eyes Germany's dual vocational system vs unemployment

The Philippines could learn from Germany’s  use of a dual vocational system to help address the problem of unemployment, Vice President Jejomar Binay said. Binay, who recently returned from a working visit in Germany, said the dual vocational system is reason for the relatively low unemployment among German youths. “We hope we can apply a similar scheme in the Philippines especially with the implementation of the K-12 program and we look forward to a possible cooperation with Germany on this in the future,” he said. Binay, the presidential adviser on overseas Filipino worker concerns, discussed the matter with German Labor Minister Dr. Ursula von der Leyen during his recent working visit to Germany. He said von der Leyen, who talked about the dual education system with the chief executive officer of Ayala Corp., “expressed her interest to return to the Philippines to speak more about the dual vocational system of training.” Also, he said Germany is offering to help the Philippines integrate the K-12 basic education system to the dual vocational system. Under the German dual vocational system, students take apprenticeships in a company and vocational education at a vocational school. The training at the firm lasts two to three-and-a-half years, with the trainees getting a certificate at the end of the training. Binay also noted those taking the vocational courses are treated like professionals. “Isa ‘yan sa ipinagmamalaki nila. That is giving dignity doon sa mga vocational courses,” he added. Equivalency of academic degrees Meanwhile, Binay said he and Read More …

PNoy decision awaited on May 9 report on death of Taiwanese fisherman

 News
Jun 152013
 
PNoy decision awaited on May 9 report on death of Taiwanese fisherman

President Benigno Aquino III has yet to issue any instructions on the report he received earlier this week about the incident wherein a Taiwanese fisherman died on May 9 during an encounter involving the Philippine Coast Guard. “Let’s just wait. Everyone is anticipating what the results will be. At this point we have not received any instructions apart from confirming that the report has been submitted to the Office of the President,” Deputy presidential spokespersons Abigail Valte  said on government-run dzRB radio. Earlier this week, the National Bureau of Investigation’s final report on the May 9 incident was submitted to Malacañang, more than a month after the encounter between a Philippine fisheries surveillance ship and a Taiwanese fishing vessel. A Taiwanese fisherman was shot dead in the incident, prompting Taiwan to demand an apology from the Philippine government. Taiwan has frozen the hiring of new labor from the Philippines, and issued a travel alert discouraging travel to the Philippines. The tension has since eased somewhat after a parallel investigation of the incident by both sides.  — ELR, GMA News

China's 'behavior' needs even larger PHL defense spending – NSC

 News
Jun 132013
 
China's 'behavior' needs even larger PHL defense spending - NSC

A ranking official of the National Security Council on Thursday detailed China’s “aggressive behavior” in the West Philippine Sea, as he called for additional defense spending to uphold the Philippines’ interests in the region. Retired Navy Rear Admiral Vicente Agdamag, now Deputy Director General of the NSC Secretariat, said China’s actions confirmed its “clear intention to consolidate its control” over the disputed areas in line with the Chinese government’s nine-dash line claim. “It started, actually, in March 2011 when a Chinese patrol ship challenged MV Veritas Voyager conducting a survey for Forum Energy, 85 nautical miles off Palawan,” he said, referring to an incident at the Reed Bank in the Spratly Islands. Defense and military officials said two Chinese ships harassed the Department of Energy-commissioned survey ship. The Chinese ships told the crew of the Filipino ship to cease their activities because that was part of Chinese territory. The Chinese vessels left when the AFP Western Command, based in Puerto Princesa City, promptly dispatched a Navy BN-2 Islander maritime patrol aircraft and an Air Force OV-10 light attack/reconnaissance aircraft. No armed confrontation was reported. Agdamag also cited how Chinese ships prevented a Philippine Navy vessel, the BRP Gregorio del Pilar, from arresting Chinese fishermen caught illegally fishing at the Scarborough Shoal, locally known as the Bajo de Masiloc, in April last year. The incident triggered a standoff between the China and Philippines, though China now is in virtual control of the shoal. The Philippine government withdrew its two ships from Read More …

Tales from the deep: Fil-Am steers US submarine home

 News
Jun 132013
 
Tales from the deep: Fil-Am steers US submarine home

By Tarra QuismundoPhilippine Daily Inquirer 12:27 am | Friday, June 14th, 2013 Cmdr. Douglas Bradley shows some of the torpedoes of the US Navy’s attack submarine USS Asheville, which is docked at the Subic Bay Freeport. MARIANNE BERMUDEZ SUBIC BAY FREEPORT—Coming home to the land of his mother was a longtime dream of Lt. Vincent Mejia. When he finally did so, it was doubly joyful for the Filipino-American sailor who was tasked to steer to port one of the US Navy’s most advanced attack submarines after it had surfaced. “The most exciting was being able to drive the sub back to my homeland. It’s been a dream my entire life to come home,” said Mejia, 24, born and raised in the United States but whose mother hails from Pangasinan. “I would have never thought I would come back here and drive the ship to port,” said Mejia, who spends most of his days doing paperwork but also gets to serve as the sub’s helmsman, steering the vessel from time to time. Mejia is among a handful of Filipino-American sailors on their first Navy deployment aboard the USS Asheville, a submarine that docked here last weekend on a routine port call as part of its six-month Western Pacific deployment. Nicknamed “The Ghost of the Coast,” the 110-meter fast-attack submarine has been in service since 1991 and is the fourth Navy ship to be named after the North Carolina city, known to have a long maritime history. ‘Ghost of the Coast’ The Read More …

Sun Life retains top spot in life insurance sector

 Economy
Jun 132013
 
Sun Life retains top spot in life insurance sector

MANILA, Philippines – Sun Life of Canada (Philippines), Inc. has once again claimed the top spot in the local insurance industry based on premium income in 2012. In the official rankings released by the Insurance Commission on premium income, Sun Life capped 2012 with net premium income of P20.1 billion, up 44 percent from a year ago. The year-end result has again made Sun Life the country’s number one life insurance company. Sun Life topped the industry in 2011 with its net premium income of P13.9 billion. Sun Life also led the industry in new business, with P3.2 billion in weighted first year premiums, 36 percent higher than the previous year’s level. Combining these results with that of our joint venture company with the Yuchengco Group, Sun Life Grepa Financial, Inc., which posted P5.8 billion in premiums in 2012, the Sun Life group in the Philippines made P26 billion in premium income, 86 percent more than 2011. In a statement, Sun Life Philippines president and CEO Riza Mantaring said: “2012 was again another stellar year for Sun Life. Not only did we break records in our life business, we posted robust gains in mutual funds where our balanced and equity funds were among the best performing funds in the industry. Assets under management of our mutual funds business stood at P28.7 billion as of year-end 2012.” The Sun Life chief attributed the company’s robust 2012 growth to new products, aggressive expansion programs, effective branding campaigns, intensive agency recruitment and heightened Read More …

Moody’s to evaluate Phl economy in Q3

 Economy
Jun 132013
 
Moody’s to evaluate Phl economy in Q3

MANILA, Philippines – Moody’s Investors Service is due to evaluate the Philippines next quarter, but an upgrade to investment grade status is not hinged on that, officials said yesterday. “The schedule is still being fixed but most likely, it would take place in the third quarter,” Claro Fernandez, central bank investor relations chief, said in a phone interview. The New York-based debt watcher has refrained from raising the country’s credit rating to investment grade despite similar actions from rivals, Fitch Ratings and Standard & Poor’s (S&P) Ratings Services this year. Moody’s currently places the Philippines at Ba1, with a “stable” outlook, which indicates no possible rating movements in the near future since the last action was in October of last year. Fitch and S&P, meanwhile, rank the country at BBB-, the lowest investment grade, months after they had their diligence visits to the Philippines.  Fitch made its visit in March and S&P in April. Christian de Guzman, vice-president for Sovereign Ratings Group at Moody’s, said in an e-mail that yearly visits are “surveillance activities and are not a pre-requisite for a rating change.” Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 Fernandez agreed, saying the government is consistently in touch with the rating agencies, sending them reports on Philippine economic developments. “We have been in constant communication with them. We send them reports so that even if they do not come here, they know what is happening,” Fernandez pointed out. “An upgrade is not dependent on the visit. It Read More …

US immigration office halts Filipina’s deportation after public outcry

 News
Jun 122013
 
US immigration office halts Filipina’s deportation after public outcry

INQUIRER.net US Bureau 9:13 am | Thursday, June 13th, 2013 Karla Gaerlan, baby Christopher, U.S. Army Specialist Thad Schmierer. Photo by rciriacruz U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) cancelled the deportation order for Karla Gaerlan, an undocumented immigrant from the Philippines, following hundreds of emails and phone calls from community members and a protest/press conference this morning. ICE had scheduled Karla’s deportation this Sunday – Father’s Day. Thad Schmierer, Karla’s husband, is a member of the U.S. Army.  Karla and Thad have a nine-month-old baby boy. Also, earlier today, eight members of the House of Representatives joined immigrant rights organizations calling for a halt to deportations while immigration reform moves through Congress. 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: ICE , Immigration , immigration reform , Secure Communities , voluntary departure process 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:

Phl market still vulnerable to selling pressure

 Economy
Jun 122013
 
Phl market still vulnerable to selling pressure

MANILA, Philippines – Selling pressures are not yet over in the already volatile local market given continuous decline in regional and global bourses. Fund managers are still realigning funds, worried that central banks are planning to unwind stimulus programs, analysts said. “It seems like the bears are still present. Hopefully, there will be a reversal in Dow Jones otherwise we will see some more downside given the negative sentiments overseas like in Asia Pacific,” Astro C. del Castillo, managing director of First Grade Finance Inc., said in a phone interview. “Given what happened (on Tuesday), it seems selling is not yet over,” Del Castillo said. The next few days will be characterized by wide range of trades, Justino Calaycay Jr., analyst at Accord Capital Securities, said. “Investors are still very cautious of the risks presented by external factors,” Calaycay added. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 On Tuesday, the Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) plunged 4.64 percent or 318.95 points to 6,556.65, the largest single day loss since slumping 5.13 percent on Sept. 23, 2011. It is also the largest one-day decline in terms of points, eclipsing the 275.22-point drop on May 30. Foreign funds are flowing out of the Philippines amid stronger peso and potential pullout of the US Federal Reserve’s $85-billion monthly bond buying program that has been jacking up liquidity. Locally, Philippines’ robust economic growth failed to perk up employment, with joblessness rising to 7.5 percent in April from last year’s 6.9 percent. Calaycay Read More …

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