JPEPA hearings on today
The Senate Committee on Foreign Relations starts today at the Senate in Pasay City public hearings on the controversial Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA).
The committee will discuss trade and investments on opening day. Other provisions of the treaty will be discussed in the next hearings scheduled on Thursdays. A total of five JPEPA hearings will be held.
Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago said the first JPEPA hearing was supposed to be held early this week but was moved to today to accommodate Trade and Industry Secretary Peter B. Favila and Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto G. Romulo, who attended the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Sydney, Australia.
Miriam said she will advise Cabinet officials and civil society members invited to participate in the hearings to stick to the topics for each session for proceedings to start methodically.
"During each hearing, the government panel will be matched by a civil society panel so that on each topic, both will always be heard," Miriam said. (Hannah L. Torregoza)
915 firms violated core labor standards — BWC
A total of 915 companies nationwide were found by the Bureau of Working Conditions (BWC) violating core labor standards.
BWC Director Ma. Brenda Villafuerte, in a report to the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE), said 587 of them did pay the minimum daily wage to their workers while 250 of them did not remit their Social Security System (SSS) contributions, adding that 600 of them were remiss in their Pag-IBIG and PhilHealth obligations.
Villafuerte said that Northern Mindanao had the most violators with 192, followed by Eastern Visayas with 99, Region 4A (Calabarzon) and Davao region with 84 each, and Western Mindanao with 81.
Regions with high compliance rates were Region 5 (Bicol) with 83.2 percent, Region 7 (Central Visayas) with 73.54 percent, Metro Manila with 73.23 percent, and Region 12 (Central Mindanao) with 73 percent.
DoLE deployed 170 inspectors from its regional offices to check on the compliance of employers nationwide on wage orders and labor standards since the implementation of the "Inspection Blitz" project last July. (Raymund F. Antonio)
Pagcor backs Travel Mart
The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) once again showed its unwavering support to the local tourism industry by co-presenting the 18th Philippine Travel Mart that opened last Sept. 7 at the SM Megamall Megatrade Hall in Mandaluyong City.
With the theme, "Everything’s Here for You," the 18th Philippine Travel Mart showcased the grandeur and diverse culture of the various tourist destinations in the Philippines. The event was organized by the Philippine Tour Operators’ Association (Philtoa).
According to Pagcor Chairman Efraim C. Genuino, supporting the local tourism industry is one of the mandates of the corporation.
In its plan to build the massive entertainment and tourism complex, known as the Bagong Nayong Pilipino Manila Bay Integrated City, Genuino hopes to attract more tourists by providing the widest range of world-class entertainment facilities that will fuel the country’s economy.
"We will give foreigners more reasons to visit and even invest in the Philippines," Genuino said.
Church celebrates feast of Triumph of Holy Cross
The Catholic Church marks today the feast of the Triumph of the Holy Cross to commemorate the finding of the "true cross" (on which Christ was crucified) by St. Helena during a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, Israel in 326.
In the country, pilgrims will gather at the Monasterio de Tarlac where the reliquary containing a part of the Holy Cross will be open for public viewing. Festivities will also be held in Carigara, Leyte. At the Holy Cross Parish in Caloocan City, eucharistic celebrations will be held at 6 a.m. and 6 p.m.
Also known as the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross, red vestments will be worn in Church services today.
The faithful is encouraged to offer prayers before the image of the crucified Christ and meditate on the Stations of the Cross. (Christina I. Hermoso)