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ANG KABAYANIHAN NI TATA BENJIE ABAD  NG      BUMISITA ANG SANTO PAPA SA PILIPINAS                   “ANG PAGBABAGO” sa Barangay 308                    May akda: Ver Garcia (News Editor) at Teddy Cho (Photojournalist)

TATA BENJIE P. ABAD

Citation and Awards as Best Special Operation Unit received by SPO4 Benjamin P. Abad with a dedication " Let us fight crime and make difference" - Gen. Rosales

 

        Bago pa man lumawak ang salitang  cyber terrorism ay meron ng mga bayani at martir na naglingkod bilang taga-pagbantay sa pandaigdigang terorismo, subalit ngayon ito’y lumala na at dumagsa, bunga ng kapabayaan. Ang naging resulta ay ang mapanirang pagbabago ng ating klima, pagkawasak ng mga tahanan, pagkawatak-watak ng pamilya.at pagkalugi sa kabuhayan.

      Ang mabuting pamunuan ay palaging tinutuligsa subalit  ang mahalaga’y mananatiling itong nasa kaisipan ng bawat isa. Bagama’t may banta ng pang-daigdigang labanan, korapsyon, pang-aagaw ng imbensyon at ari-ariang intelektuwal, at artificial intelligence (AI). Na nagdudulot ng pagkasira ng kaisipan at katinuan ng pag-iisip at upang mapanatili ang katinuan ng kaisipan, kailangang manalig tayo sa Diyos na may lalang.

     Ayon sa salaysay ng manager Edith Guerrera ng Dona Josefa apartment at ng mga kapitbahay may naamoy silang masangsang na kemikal matapos na may pumutok at mula sa usok na nakita nila na nanggaling sa Room 603 at ang insidente ay nakarating sa kaalaman ng mga magigiting na pulis Maynila na nakatalaga sa Precinct Station no.9  (Intel Unit).

    Sa isang panayam noong ika-6 ng Enero 1995. Tumawag ang Manager na si Edith Guerrera ng Dona Josefa apartment sa Police Station No. 9, malapit sa Manila Zoo. Naalarma ang mga kapit-bahay dahil sa masangsang na amoy at usok na nanggaling sa Room 603 ng Dona Josefa Apartment. Si Major Aida Fariscal ang nakatanggap ng tawag galing sa nababahalang Manager na si Mrs. Edith. Kaya dali-daling dinispatsa ang limang (5) pulis na sina: SPO2 Benjamin P. Abad, Senior Inspector Pedro S. Arsenio Jr., PO1 Edgardo Alvarez, PO3 Armando Arce at kasama ang kanilang Chief Intel leader na si  Major Aida Fariscal. Ang sunog ay naganap bandang alas-onse ng gabi sa Doña Josefa apartment sa silid numero 603. Si Major Aida D. Fariscal kilala sa tawag na “Wonder Woman” at isang eksperto sa mga kemikal ang sumugod kasama si SPO2 Benjamin P Abad, ang siyang umaresto kay Abdul Hakim Murad (Ahmeed Saeed) ng makasalubong sa elevator ay agad nitong tinutukan ng baril upang mapigilan ang tangkang pagtakas,

     Isang  posas ang ginamit ni P/Lt. Benjamin P. Abad matapos ang sagupaan. Ang nasabing posas ay nag mula sa isang pares na sintas ng sapatos na itinali sa kamay at paa ni Abdul Hakim Murad na naganap ng 2:30 am. ng ika-7 ng Enero 1995. Kasamang  natuklasan din ang mga kemikal, at mga likidong ginagamit sa paggawa ng mga bomba, mga relos na gamit sa pampasabog, tatlong (3) abito na may kasamang mga supistikadong mga maskara at laptop ni Ramzi Yousef na naglalaman ng mga impormasyon na siyang naging dahilan upang maaresto sila Mohammed Jamal Khalifa, Wali Khan Amin Shah, at si Ramzi Yousef, taga-gawa ng bomba.

      Ang araw ng ika-7 ng Enero 1995 ay may limang araw lamang ang pagitan sa pagdalaw ng Santo Papa Pope John Paul II  sa ika-12 ng Enero 1995. Ang room 603 Doña Josefa apartment ay tinatayang may 200 metro lamang ang layo at napaka lapit sa Apostolic Nunciature ng Banal na Residensya ng diplomatikong misyonaryo sa Pilipinas, at ito ay abot-tanaw ng isang sniper mula sa ruta ng motorcade ng Santo Papa.

       Si Pope John Paul II (Karol Jozef Wojtyla) ay dating sundalo sa Poland noong ikalawang pandaigdigang labanan (World War II) ay nakatulong sa pagbagsak ng komunismo sa Alemanya at siya rin ang naging dahilan kung kaya’t nag-karoon ng pagkakakanya-kanya ng mga Estado sa Unyong Soviet ng Russia.

      Sa pamamagitang ng mga magiting at matatapang na mga pulis na umaresto sa internasyunal na terorista ay nabigyan ng pag kilala sina SPO2 Benjamin P. Abad, Senior Inspector Pedro S. Arsenio Jr., PO1 Edgardo Alvarez, PO3 Armando T, Arce at ang nakaka-bilib na babaeng pulis na si Major Aida D. Fariscal na sumakabilang buhay na. Silang mga matatapang at magigiting na nag lingkod sa bayan ay pinarangalan mismo ng pamahalaan ng Estados Unidos sa pamamagitan ni Counsellor John V. Edinger Embassy of USA noong March 1995.

    Ayon sa katuruan ng katoliko… Ang terorismo ay di-makataong gawain. Ito’y laban sa tamang hustisya, walang awa sa sinoman.

    Ayon naman kay Epictatus, isang pilosopo. “Ang paglilingkod sa sariling bansa ay di nakasalalay sa posisyong taglay, ito’y may kinalaman sa paggamit ng mga abilidad at mga katangian pang spiritual”. Ang tunay na sukatan at karakter ng isang lingkod ng bayan ay kung paano nila pagmalasakitan ang mga kapus-palad. Huwag hayaang ang katanyagan ay magpabago sa ating karakter at ito ay iilan lamang sa mga nais iparating sa kabanata ng buhay ni P/LT Benjamin P. Abad.

   Daig ng katapangan, kagitingan ang hadlang sa kabila ng mga pag durusa, pagkabahala/pagkabagabag. Nanagumpay pa rin sa misyong nakaatang, salamat sa misteryosong kamay ng Diyos. Ang paninilbihan  ng isang tunay na lingkod bayan ay patuloy pa rin habang nabubuhay.

    Sinumang lingkod bayan ay nararapat tumalima sa tawag ng tungkulin, kahit saan na may malasakit, may dedikasyon at buong pusong pagtangkilik sa kalooban ng Diyos. Iyan po ang mga kadahilanan ni Ginoong P/Lt. Benjamin P. Abad isang retiradong pulis Maynila kayat sinisikap niyang hilingin sa taong bayan ang mandato ng Barangay 308 Zone 30 Distrito III Quiapo, Manila. Ang pag susumikap ay di mawawalan ng saysay kapag ang mamamayan ay nagkaisa, nagtutulungan, nagsasama-sama, nag-uugnayan para sa isang adhikain, kapayapaan at kaunlaran sa ating puso, kaisipan at kaluluwa. Nagtutulungan upang itaguyod ang kapakanan, kabutihan ng Barangay 308. Magtulungan ng naayon sa batas, ayon sa konsensya para ipalaganap at tangkilikin ang sariling atin, pahalagahan ang sariling industriya upang maproteksyonan ang kinabukasan ng  susunod na mga salin-lahi. THINK GLOBALLY AND UNITE AS ONE! (VerGarciaBlogs)

Photo Gallery: Great exploits of Tata Benjie Abad

KILABOT NG RECTO. Nasukol ni SPO4 Benjamin P. Abad ng WPD ang kilabot ng Recto na si Emeliano Verzosa na responsable sa serye ng patayan at isang drug user.

A notorious illegal gun dealer and supplier of assorted  high powered firearms and ammos, of the Abu Sayaf group in Basilan was arrested during the raid at his hideout condo unit 3 and 4 at West Avenue 3rd Street Barangay Crame, Quezon City. Arrested were Unding Kenneth Isa Y Azan also known as Kenneth, a former candidate for Vice-Governor in Indangan. Jolo, Sulu and other persons. The raid was conducted and headed by CIDG (ATCU). PCI Baltazar Beran and Deputy Chief ATCU and Police Inspector Benjamin P. Abad, Operative Consultant ATCU and members, manage and Supervise by Police Supt Atty. Roque A. Merdegia Jr., Chief ATCU.

Blogger Association of the Philippines News

RET. P/LT. TATA BENJIE ABAD

Qualifications and Expertise

 Chief Security and Consultant of  :

 Former Supreme Court Justice Bernardo P. Pardo, 2^nd. Division

 Former Executive Judge of Manila

 Court of Appeal, 2^nd. Division

 Former COMELEC Chairman for 12yrs,

 Intelligence officer / Chief of Security COMELEC Chairman

  Adviser, Consultant and Operatives of ATCU ( Anti-Transnational Crime Unit, PNP-CIDG )

 Chief of Reaction and Intelligence

 Finished 2 yrs. Course in Ballistic Firearms Identification.

Surveillance and Intelligence Expert.

B.S. Criminology Graduate (PCCR)

With License to  practice.

Received Several Citations and Awards as Best Special Operation unit

 

Plataporma (Programa)

 

1.    Peace and Order Maintenance

2.    Anti-Drug policy implementor/Rehabilitation ( Para sa mga Boluntaryong Sumusuko).

3.    Create a database of fixers and influence peddlers

4.    Implementation of barangay balance justice system

5.    Create an educational trust fund for the youth, widows, unwed and abandon mothers, orphaned children and senior citizens.

6.    Creation of a body that will help and assist single mothers, street children informal settlers and displaced senior citizens.

7.    Barangay good governance council for Barangay 308

8.    Educational Trust of the Young (pre-school, kinder)

For Effective and Good Performance, Vehicles and Communications for the Barangay Tanod  a 12 Hrs.,2 shifts of Barangay Tanod.

 

                  Isang maliit na paningit o paalala sa madla:

 

Piliin po ninyo ang may takot sa Diyos o maka-Diyos, maka-tao, maka-kalikasan at may kaalaman at responsibilidad upang gampanan ang mga tungkulin ng isang lingkod ng Diyos at tumatangkilik ng bayan, may respeto sa kapwa at sa batas.

       There is no conflict in serving God and the country and preserving Mother Nature. Through the help of the inherent modern technologies and God-given abilities, talents inherent in the next generation. Urging all to participate in the 2023 BKS (Barangay Kabataang Sangunian) election to exercise the God-given mandate to choose wisely with a conscience.

Bloggers Association of the Philippines News

KAPELONGGO CAFE & RESTAURANT IN ANTIPOLO, PHILIPPINES NOW OFFICIALLY OPENS by Lifestyle Editor Ver M. Garcia

The owner of KapeLonggo Cafe & Restaurant Chef Jurry Nabaja and his lovely wife Businesswoman Laarni Nabaja with their cute children lead the Ribbon-Cutting ceremony. (Photo credited to Aileen De Leon)

The best way to a man's heart is through his stomach and the maxim still holds true at the KapeLonggo Cafe & Restaurant core values & visions: Smile, from the City of Smiles Bacolod to a World of Smiles. To Show the World the quality & Diversity of Ilonggo cuisine to international food connoisseurs. It not only begins in Bacolod and Iloilo but also at the heart of Antipolo, a tourist destination of foreign jet setters who immerses themselves in Filipino culture. Amazing people who like good food, great coffee, meet people, and interact with the locals.

In this photo, cheerful and smiling were invited from left KapeLonggo Food, Travel & Lifestyle Bloggers Ver Garcia, Aileen De Leon, and Ann Neri with the mother-in-law of the CEO of KapeLonggo Cafe & Restaurant Chef Jurry Nabaja. Not in the photo are Mark Namoro and Teddy Cho. (Photo credited to Teddy Cho)

The Lifestyle and foodie bloggers/vloggers who were invited were Ann Neri of Nheng's Wonderland, Aileen De Leon of On the Spotlight, Mark Namoro of Viral International Magazine, Teddy Cho of TravelScope NewsMag Online and Ver M. Garcia, Lifestyle Editor, Admin. and Founder of Bloggers Association of the Philippines to witness the Launching & Ribbon cutting ceremony at the A-Sun Centre and found themselves in an array or an impressive display of Mask, Drummers & Ilonggo dishes. With the impressive performance of the Drummers, guests were treated to the tasty and mouth-watering dishes of Iloilo.

The KapeLonggo Drummer entertains the crowd with their drums and beats. (Photo by VG)

As of now, there are at least 13 outstanding dishes Iloilo and Bacolod. The First & well-known is the Kansi with Bulalo, Sinigang sa Batuan. and (Batwan), Laswa is quite similar to Dinengdeng, and Chicken Binakol is similar to Chicken tinola the difference is coco juice was used instead of plain water.

Filipino Callos a dish made of beef stripe, sausage, smoke meat, and garbanzos. with green peas, bell pepper, and infused with tomato sauce. It's so yummy. (VG Photo)

The delicious Binakol inside the fresh Coconut fruit. (VG Photo)

Kansi is a famous food in Bacolod and Iloilo. It is compared to boiled meat with veggies but a little sour because of the miso or kamias. This dish is a comfort food for those who are far away from home. (VG Photo)

Plain rice served with a golden spoon. (VG Photos &Style)

Kapelonggo also serves cakes & pastries for those with a Sweet tooth and the Popular Chicken Inasal Bacolod Style. May we suggest that you try the Kansi with Bulalo and the Laswa really sumptuous, a quality meal for the young & young at heart and the young ones as well.

KapeLonggo's Cakes and Pastries. Photo by Ver Garcia

During the event, the Bloggers/Vloggers were able to interview /interact with the CEO and Owner of KapeLonggo none other than the owner Jurry Nabaja. He was a humble employee before but had a prayerful life and worked his way up and became a success story whose inspiration was Nanay Rosa whose diligence, integrity, establish, and sacrifices strengthened Jurry Nabaja's determination to establish his own Business-Kapelonggo. A testimony that Mrs. Laarni Nabaja revealed to the audience in the presence of several Pastors like, Jireh De Oca, Senior Vice-President of Nabaja Group of Companies, and Conrado Edpao, Administrator of Nabaja Group of Companies. Councilor Ian Masangkay a proxy of Mayor Ynares and Councilor Bobet Vidanes of Pililia Rizal.

Chef Jurry Nabaja together with their courteous staff manning the counter. (Photo credited to Aileen De Leon)

One of the Best Cuisine Cafe & Resto in our country launched the Mother's Day Promo on their Grand Opening day, with a Ribbon cutting ceremony to mark the occasion of our amazing, nurturing Mother, accompanied by a Mother's Day Promo for the Day free Tote bag. The responsible son remembered to commemorate the Mother's Day celebration and offered it to the public as a heartfelt, fitting tribute to a doting Mother Nanay Rosa whose humble life as an ordinary vendor was able to provide for and paved the way for the success story of Chef Jurry Nabaja the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of KapeLonggo Cafe & Restaurant, the guiding light of the Nabaja Group of Companies.

The humble woman Nanay Rosa in floral pink, nurtures and inspires her son Chef Jurry Nabaja for what he is today a successful entrepreneur. Happy Mother's Day to Nanay Rosa! Photo courtesy of Aileen De Leon.

Very seldom do we find people nowadays, who realized the sterling value of a hardworking Mom. Every responsible individual is indebted to his/her own mother's love, caring, and tenderness, and a lifetime commitment to give their children moral support.

In every success of a man... there's a woman behind and that is the wife of Chef Jurry Nabaja she's no other than Laarni Nabaja smiling and cheerful in green.

The grandiose event was also dedicated to his family, friends, and most especially to her understanding and loving wife Mam Laarni Nabaja who perseveres.

KapeLonggo Cafe & Restaurant Grand Opening with TV Director and Councilor Bobet Vidanes.

The newly opened Cafe and Restaurant are highly recommended for weddings, birthdays, Barkadahan or Group meetings, Corporate meetings, for students, Anniversaries, Baptisms, and inaugurations are occasions for joyful revelry among family and friends. The location is highly accessible via public and private transport.

KapeLonggo Cafe & Restaurant Grand Opening - Programme of Event and Speeches.

They served highly nutritious food and beverages to cater to their most valued customers. A traditional way of preparing chicken soup and bone broth for good health and bone broth now has a medical and nutritional basis and is no longer a myth. It has full of essential nutrients, including calcium, potassium, collagen, hyaluronic acid, and chondroitin sulfate. The latest findings support that it can be a natural source of stem cells. In order to be accustomed to organic chicken. It must be green grass and leafy vegetables, no artificial antibiotics and hormones, and naturally grown poultry and livestock.

KapeLonggo Cafe & Restaurant Launching, Speeches, and Event.

What are you waiting for... Visit and savor the delicious food and coffee at the KapeLonggo Cafe and Restaurant located on the Ground floor A-Sun Centre Bldg., 25 M. Santos Ext. corner L. Sumulong Memorial Circle, Antipolo, Rizal. You can find them also on the social media platform: www.facebook.com/kapelonggo. For inquiries contact or call +639173286880. (VerGarciaBlogs)

Bloggers Association of the Philippines Features

GREAT WISHES FOR BRINGING BACK UNITY ON LABOR DAY!

 

TIM DEJON, JR., NATIONAL PRESIDENT AWATU-TUCP

                                                                                                                

                                       MESSAGE

To all Members: AWATU-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP)

                                                  

On behalf of the All Workers Alliance Trade Union (AWATU-TUCP). 

To my fellow workers and members. We are confronted with so many challenges and the most difficult part of that, is we appeal to our lawmakers for the P150 legislated wage hike. Congress should act now and address workers' plight with a much-needed increase to make ends meet for our beloved workers.

With this in mind, through the invitation of DOLE, I will attend Labor Day with President Bongbong Marcos to bring to his attention several kinks confronting our labor sector. There were many equally important details lined up for this Labor Day event to be held in Malacañang Palace like the signing of the Joint Development Plan and establishment of the Workers Rehabilitation Complex (WRC) and the TOWER award for those Outstanding Workers of the Philippines and I am going to be a witness to represent labor on this significant day!

As we celebrate Labor Day in the Philippines, workers are in a quandary on issues that aggravate the challenges of the labor force due to extraordinary inflation and the high cost of living that weakens the minimum wage standards in the country, especially in the provinces. Filipinos are not earning enough to cover their basic needs and to support their daily cost of living. Seasonal workers are out of work or thrown into the informal sector. Those still classified as 'employed' are trapped in precarious work which is largely short-term contractual arrangements or ENDO jobs. 

In addition, a much-needed Healthy Workplace Toolkits should be placed on hand to address the  ILO's bringing back worker safety. Funded by the Government of Japan initiative.

Hopefully, as your designated officer to the National Tripartite Industrial Peace Council (NTIPC) to help us with a conduit to address those pressing problems of labor such as contractualization and immediate wage increases.

With this on hand, the AWATU-TUCP National President, Tim Dejon, Jr. is one with our visions and goals for our country with the Theme of this Labor Day - Empower the Labor Force with Decent Wages, More Jobs, and Healthy Environment!

We in the Labor Group, the AWATU-TUCP expressed our sincerest Congratulations to the new hero of the world - the labor sector. We will never forget what you have contributed to the development and progress of our country and to the workplace you are designated. With our great admiration and appreciation belongs to AWATU-TUCP and other labor sectors. Cheers to this very significant day!

Bloggers Association of the Philippines News

TEMISTOCLES S. DEJON JR. NEWLY APPOINTED CZAR OF NTIPC BY PRES. MARCOS JR. OF THE PHILIPPINES

The National Tripartite Industrial Peace Council of the Department of Labor in the Philippines Designated TUCP Vice-President Dejon Jr. As  A Newly Appointed Member

By Ver M. Garcia - News Editor

TUCP VICE-PRESIDENT TEMISTOCLES S. DEJON JR.

Meanwhile in another related news, at the Malacañang office, his Excellency President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. has appointed TUCP-Vice President Temistocles Santiago Dejon Jr., as a newly designated member of the National Tripartite Industrial Peace Council (NTIPC) under the office of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE). Among the great exploits of Dejon Jr. prior to his newly designated position. He was the President of the All Workers Alliance Trade Union (AWATU), a Council Member of the National Anti-Poverty Commission, a Formal Labor Migrant Worker Sector, Vice-President of the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP), Alternate Member, TEC Member-DOLE-BLR, Council Member, Maritime Industry Tripartite Council and Chief of Staff of former Congressman Temistocles Dejon, Sr. 

'The National Tripartite Industrial Peace Council (NTIPC) is the main consultative and advisory body mechanism lodged with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) functions primarily as a consultative body where the social partners – labor, employers, and government – are provided a venue to discuss relevant policy issuances on labor and employment. Representatives for the labor and employer sectors are appointed by the President, through the nomination of their respective sectors and the Secretary of Labor, while representatives from other government agencies are called depending on the issues at hand. Source provided by the DOLE'.

Significant to this was also the signing of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA)  and  Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the Del Monte Phils, Inc. by the officers and members of  AWATU and its affiliates DMBCLU-AWATU and DPMSEU-AWATU for another milestone in the history of the trade union movement. This will redound greatly to the long years of mutually productive and harmonious labor-management relations.

The recently concluded signing of CBA/MOA with the National Executive Vice-President Milbert M. Macarambon of AWATU with National President Temistocles Dejon, Jr. and Del Monte Phils., Inc. will greatly contribute to the advancement of responsible unionism in the Philippines. This will coincide with the announcement of the National Vice-President Temistocles M. Dejon III of AWATU their 45th Founding Anniversary and National Convention this coming June 2023 which will be held at the Bayview Park Hotel in Manila, Philippines. (VerGarciaBlogs)

Bloggers Association of the Philippines News

TUCP FOR REVITALIZED NATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM TO BENEFIT WORKERS in the Philippines

AN APPEAL OF TUCP TO THE  ECONOMIC MANAGERS: LET'S CREATE PERMANENT DECENT JOBS, NOT CONTRACTUAL JOBS!                                                                                                                 By Ver Garcia-News Editor                                                                                  

In this photo shown in the background are the ff: Pres. Ferdinand E. Marcos, Jr. in white in a huddle with TUCP Vice-President Temistocles in red beside TUCP Vice-President Louie Corral with members and other media personalities. (Photo Credited to TUCP Library)

The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) is gravely concerned about the continuing dismal job quality and impending hyperinflation. Unemployment increased to 4.8% in January from 4.3% in December. Dead-ended at double figures for far too long, underemployment further rose to 14.1% in January from 12.6% in December. The situation on the ground is grimmer as poor-quality jobs, eroded incomes, and surging inflation largely remain unabated.

Seasonal workers are out of work or thrown into the informal sector precarious work. Those still classified as ‘employed’ are trapped in precarious work which is largely either short-term contractual arrangements, ENDO jobs, low-end gig work, or worse,  job-sharing/rotation schemes. These are not decent jobs whose income can sustain the health and productivity of working families. Our minimum wage earners (MWEs) are becoming a class of the permanently poor, struggling every day to eke out their bare necessities, with household spending for food impacted by a minimum wage whose real value decreased by 88 pesos per day this month in NCR. The NOMINAL daily minimum wage value at ₱570 and the real daily minimum wage value is at ₱482. This situation will become increasingly untenable for low-income families surviving in subsistence conditions if high inflation persists.

TUCP Vice-President Temistocles Dejon, Jr. stresses a point with members at the TUCP Auditorium.

Meanwhile in another related news, at the Malacañang office, his Excellency President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. has appointed TUCP-Vice President Temistocles Santiago Dejon Jr., as a newly designated member of the National Tripartite Industrial Peace Council (NTIPC) under the office of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE). Among the great exploits of Dejon Jr. prior to his newly designated position. He was the President of the All Workers Alliance Trade Union (AWATU), a Council Member of the National Anti-Poverty Commission, a Formal Labor Migrant Worker Sector, Vice-President of the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP), Alternate Member, TEC Member-DOLE-BLR, Council Member, Maritime Industry Tripartite Council and Chief of Staff of former Congressman Temistocles Dejon, Sr. 

'The National Tripartite Industrial Peace Council (NTIPC) is the main consultative and advisory body mechanism lodged with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) functions primarily as a consultative body where the social partners – labor, employers, and government – are provided a venue to discuss relevant policy issuances on labor and employment. Representatives for the labor and employer sectors are appointed by the President, through the nomination of their respective sectors and the Secretary of Labor, while representatives from other government agencies are called depending on the issues at hand. Source provided by the DOLE'.

Significant to this was also the signing of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA)  and  Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the Del Monte Phils, Inc. by the officers and members of  AWATU and its affiliates DMBCLU-AWATU and DPMSEU-AWATU for another milestone in the history of the trade union movement. This will redound greatly to the long years of mutually productive and harmonious labor-management relations.

The recently concluded signing of CBA/MOA with the National Executive Vice-President Milbert M. Macarambon of AWATU with National President Temistocles Dejon, Jr. and Del Monte Phils., Inc. will greatly contribute to the advancement of responsible unionism in the Philippines. This will coincide with the announcement of the National Vice-President Temistocles M. Dejon III of AWATU their 45th Founding Anniversary and National Convention this coming June 2023 which will be held at the Bayview Park Hotel in Manila, Philippines.

TUCP President and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Raymond Democrito Mendoza.

Millions of unemployed and underemployed Filipinos and their families can barely satisfy their most basic needs as they make hard choices on expenditures for food, rent, and utilities. The 0.1% decrease in inflation to the still-high 8.6% in February hardly makes a dent as food inflation remains elevated at 11.1%, driven by vegetable inflation at an astoundingly high 33.1%. Further, electricity inflation at 19.5% has a domino effect in bringing up the prices of all other goods and services filtering down to the final consumer.

Unless our Economic Managers address poor job quality and the inflationary environment, new entrants to the labor force will be joining the queue of millions of job-sharing workers who can never bring nutritious food to their family's tables. Resultant malnutrition means sick workers and productivity dropping like a rock. Meanwhile, our children's mental and physical growth is stunted, resulting in a new generation of "ENDO" workers.

The worsening plight of workers with poor-quality jobs exacerbated by the stubbornly high inflation should serve as a wake-up call to the Economic Team. Their policy measures have yet to cushion the impact of surging inflation. Untempered inflation incessantly erodes the purchasing power of the wages of workers. Households are desperately looking for additional income, even swallowing their pride to rely on better-off relatives in the face of inadequate social safety nets.

TUCP urgently calls on our Economic Managers to adopt the TUCP jobs agenda as the roadmap to inclusive growth and toward building a fair and more decent society:

The modern Jeepney proposed by the Labor Sector in the Automotive Industry will help generate livelihood and employment for millions of Filipinos and will preserve our culture. The rich culture of the Filipinos is of primordial importance to preserve the heritage and culture of the Philippines. To erase our culture will put us into abysmal failure. Let us support our local labor sector and empower them! 


REVITALIZED NATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM. We welcome the approval of the ₱9 trillion worth of infrastructure flagship projects by NEDA. But it should be centered more on building a national railway system connecting regional and provincial agri-industrial hubs for sustainable long-term economic development. Countering cyclical unemployment and employment seasonality, will massively create new jobs, ensure food security, decongest NCR and Region 4A, and democratize wealth creation. Permanent decent jobs generation through ‘Build, Better, More’ is made more urgent by persistently high inflation.

SUSTAINABLE INDUSTRIAL POLICY. Formulate an industry promotion strategy anchored on identifying the priority sectors for each region and matching them with available skills based on their respective comparative advantage. Pinpointing and upscaling these identified products and industries will generate new jobs, bolstered by fiscal incentives and tax breaks.

PROVIDE FINANCIAL AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO MSMEs. Provide more grant facilities, capitalization support, low-interest lending programs, loan-forgiveness programs, and temporary tax deferrals for MSMEs. Such assistance should be conditioned on MSMEs retaining their current employees and/or hiring more workers.

In the meantime, TUCP reiterates its concrete immediate suggestions to cushion the impact of surging price spikes on workers, especially minimum wage earners:

As shown in this photo were the ff: President Bongbong Marcos, Jr. (center) besides House of Representatives Deputy Speaker Raymond Democrito Mendoza, and TUCP Vice-President Tem Dejon Jr. at the TUCP Compound in Quezon City. During the launching of Kadiwa ng Pangulo Para sa Manggagawang Pilipino. (Photo credited to TUCP Library)


BBM AYUDA PARA SA MANGGAGAWANG PILIPINO (BAMP)- One-time big-time ₱5,000 government financial assistance to around four million minimum wage earners. This is to help both workers and businesses amid high inflation towards pump-priming the economy through consumption spending as we build back better. Potential funding sources are the Presidential social fund, the billions of additional collection from value-added tax (VAT) due to higher prices, or underutilized funds of the GAA or savings.

EMERGENCY COST OF LIVING ALLOWANCE (ECOLA)- to approximate the lost purchasing power of current nominal wages due to inflation. In turn, employers should be provided with tax credit mechanisms as incentives to cushion its impact.

BRING DOWN FOOD INFLATION- by massively expanding Kadiwa and Diskwento Caravans. The TUCP partnered with the Marcos Administration for the “Kadiwa ng Pangulo para sa Manggagawang Pilipino” launched in the TUCP labor center last March 8. More “Kadiwa para sa Manggagawa” will be eventually rolled out in all Associated Labor Unions (ALU)-TUCP offices across the country. The full force of the law should be also used against the economic saboteurs—unscrupulous middlemen, cartels, and smugglers—who are “gaming” the market to make quick profit taking.

BRING DOWN THE COST OF ELECTRICITY TO CONTROL INFLATION- the Department of Energy (DOE) and Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) actually doing their job and fulfilling their regulatory functions through executive measures. Bring down the Weighted Average Cost of Capital (WACC) from 15% to 7%. Revert the tariff-setting formula from the current “sky-is-the-limit” performance-based ratemaking (PBR) to original return-on-rate-base (RORB) tariffs. Also, ensure that systems loss due to theft is borne by the utilities as their cost of doing business and not passed-thru to residential and industrial customers.

Emergency allowances, financial assistance, and wage hike petition cannot always be our default response. The TUCP urges going to the root of our surging inflation, namely food and electricity inflation. Unless we do that, workers and employers will be endlessly haggling and clashing over wages, while unscrupulous economic saboteurs in agriculture and rapacious players in the power sector laugh all the way to the bank. Failing this, we will continue to suffer the double whammy of poor job quality and high inflation—resulting in a less inclusive society and an uncompetitive economy. 

(VerGarciaBlogs)

Bloggers Association of the Philippines News

MORE KADIWA CENTERS FOR TUCP...

Shown in this photo were the TUCP stalwarts: From Left, House of Representatives Deputy Speaker Raymond Democrito Mendoza and Temistocles Dejon, Jr., Vice-President of TUCP, and members. (Photo by V. Garcia)

PBBM LAUNCHES KADIWA NG PANGULO PARA SA MANGGAGAWA TO COMBAT INFLATION 

By Ver M. Garcia - News Editor   

House of Representatives Deputy Speaker Raymond Mendoza and TUCP Vice-Pres. Temistocles, Jr. Laud President Bongbong Marcos For Spearheading the ''Kadiwa Ng Pangulo Para Sa Manggagawang Pilipino'' at the TUCP Compound.

President Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos, Jr.

In this much-awaited event, his Excellency President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. made mentioned in his speech that we can not allow our workers to be left behind as part of our massive labor force. ''Many will suffer if we will not look after the welfare of our workers. Thus, we created the 'Kadiwa ng Pangulo Para sa Manggagawa' to help the workers to carry on with their lives due to the high cost of living and unabated spiraling cost of basic commodities and inflation,'' the President remarked.

The Chief Executive vowed to continue implementing programs that will promote the well-being of all Filipinos. With more than 500 Kadiwa store outlets nationwide. He encourages all concerned government agencies and local government units (LGUs) to work together to accomplish these goals.

The Kadiwa ng Pangulo Para sa Manggagawang Pilipino brought around 33 sellers to the TUCP Compound to sell their produce from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), and the Quezon City local government, and the Department of Agriculture (DA).

The Chief Executive extended his appreciation to the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP), for hosting said ''Kadiwa ng Pangulo Para sa Manggagawang Pilipino'' at the TUCP Compound. TUCP is the country’s biggest confederation of labor federations; and is composed of 23 labor federations with a membership of almost half a million. 

The TUCP is headed by its President and  Deputy Speaker Raymond Mendoza and Vice-President Temistocles Dejon, Jr. 

As the largest labor center in the country representing workers across different sectors nationwide, the TUCP has long called for the massive expansion of the Department of Agriculture (DA) Kadiwa and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Diskwento Caravan across the country as badly needed intervention to address the stubbornly high inflation driven by surging food inflation and electricity inflation. The TUCP is very grateful to host the first-ever “Kadiwa para sa Manggagawa” which is the realization of the calls of TUCP since last year—bilang tugon ng Pangulo sa hiling ng Manggagawang Pilipino! “It demonstrates the openness of President Bongbong Marcos in responding to the clamor of our workers,” said Deputy Speaker Mendoza and seconded by TUCP Vice-President Temistocles Dejon, Jr.

KADIWA Centers

Moreover, the more Kadiwa centers put up and the closer they are to the most populated and poorest communities where mainly workers and their families live, the more effective they will be combating in high inflation. Thus, all the offices of the Associated Labor Unions (ALU)-TUCP headed by its National President Michael Mendoza, across the archipelago, such as in Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Davao del Norte, Pangasinan, Leyte, and Bukidnon, are opening their doors to serve as venues for more “Kadiwa Centers Para sa Manggagawa” which will now be rolled out in partnership with the Marcos Administration.

KADIWA stores were established in 1980 to bring down the prices of goods and services and to make them available in all households nationwide. KADIWA stores were selling fresh vegetables, fish, and meat bought straight from the farmers without the intervention of a middleman. Same with other essential commodities retailed at an affordable price. 

TUCP Vice-President Dejon, Jr. enthused and ended, 'that with this objective on hand, the workers' difficulties to make both ends meet will be alleviated.' (VerGarciaBlogs)

Bloggers Association of the Philippines News

BDO AND SM SUPERMALLS CELEBRATING CHRISTMAS WITH OFWs

SM, BDO Fete Families of OFWs with Pamaskong Handog 2022               

A full-service universal bank BDO and SM Supermalls are once again bringing a one-of-its-kind, fun Christmas celebration to overseas Filipinos and their families with Pamaskong Handog events happening in SM City Santa Rosa on December 3, SM City Iloilo on December 10, and SM CDO Downtown. Premiere on December 17 at 2 P.M.

Massive prizes, entertainment, and bonding moments await the OFWs and their beneficiaries at the Pamaskong Handog 2022 with the theme Kita-Kits Muli sa SM". Never miss out on the special performance of BDO Remit endorser Piolo Pascual and comedians MC & Lassy who will be hosting all three events. For added fun and humor, comedians Ate Gay and Regina will be performing in SM City Sta. Rosa and SM City Iloilo, while Divine Tetay and Tonton Soriano will be at the SM CDO Downtown Premiere.

Aside from celebrity shows, SM affiliates will give away exclusive deals and discounts for Kabayan Savings account holders. Discounts are available every day at SM throughout December. Avail Miniso’s Php300 discount on Mondays; Php500 off at the SM Stores on Tuesdays; 10% off at Surplus Shop on Wednesdays; and on Thursdays, SM Supermarket, SM Hypermarket, and SM Savemore will be giving cheese balls for free! There is also a Php500 off discount from the Baby Company which started last November 15 and will run until December 31.

As a special holiday gift, BDO is offering a special promo for overseas Filipinos and their beneficiaries. They can get up to PHP20,000 waived fees on Home Loan and PHP30,000 waived fees for Auto loans. Also, participants in the events get a chance to win PHP1M worth of insurance coverage from BDO Life, cash prizes, and freebies from BDO Cash, as well as special gifts from BDO Network Bank.

BDO and partner sponsors, Western Union and WorldRemit; will also have bingo, games, and a raffle for the participants.  Plus, BDO will provide financial tips on savings and investments to help overseas Filipinos plan their futures as part of this year’s Pamaskong Handog. To join the Pamaskong Handog event, BDO Kabayan Savings account holders plus one (1) companion each just need to present their ATM card or passbook.

Overseas Filipinos may join the fun by watching the live streaming of the Pamaskong Handog events on the BDO Kabayan Facebook page with a special viewing inside BDO Remit and BDO Unibank offices in Hong Kong, Japan, Macau, France, and the United Arab Emirates.

There’s going to be a ton of fun as balikbayans and their families get to celebrate the holidays again at SM. Since 2012, Pamaskong Handog provided entertainment and gifts for overseas Filipino and their beneficiaries. And although the celebration has gone virtual due to the pandemic, BDO, and SM didn’t stop spreading happiness during the most wonderful time of the year.

For more details on Pamaskong Handog events or #SparklingSMallidays activities, visit www.smsupermalls.com/, www.bdo.com.ph, or BDO Kabayan Facebook page. (VerGarciaBlogs)

Bloggers Association of the Philippines News