Thursday, May 28, 2020

Balik Probinsya Program

REP. RON P. SALO
KABAYAN Party-list
Committee Vice-Chair, Public Accountability, Public Information,
Human Rights, Government Reorganization, and Constitutional Reforms
One of House Authors, (RA 11429) Bayanihan to Heal As One Act
0917-729-2437  |  Twitter: @Kabayan_Ron

Para sa Manggagawa sa Araw ng Manggagawa - https://directory.mikeligalig.com

NEW MINIMUM WAGE POLICY IN HB 0668 TO COMPLEMENT BALIK PROBINSYA PROGRAM

In order for the Balik Probinsya strategy to effectively work, the Metro Manila-biased minimum wage policy needs to be replaced with a common minimum wage rate of P600 across all regions, both within and outside the National Capital Region.

The current minimum wage law has fueled and perpetuated the massive migration of our citizens from the provinces to Metro Manila. It runs counter to the espoused priority of creating economic growth in the countryside.

It is a policy based on the cost of living and token increases done by mere gradual  transfer of the cost of living allowance to the basic wage.

The current minimum wage policy is unfair to private sector workers because their counterparts in government are given wages based on a different set of policies.

What makes the difference in the pay among our government employees is the degree of responsibility and functions assigned to the employee, and not the place of assignment. And yet, for our workers in the private sector, their minimum wages are simply determined by the place or area where they work.

One thing the COVID-19 crisis has clearly exposed is how unfair this policy of different minimum wages - the health risks faced by frontline workers in Metro Manila are the same with those faced by frontline workers in the provinces, and yet they are paid differently.

It is time to DISCARD the current minimum wage policy and replace it with what I have proposed in House Bill 0668.

HB 0668 seeks to set a national minimum wage of P600. On top of this national minimum wage, the existing National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC) and the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Boards (RTWPBs) shall determine incentives and other productivity improvements to the wage earners within a region when still necessary.

This measure will help our fellow Filipinos keep up with inflation or the increase in the general price level of goods and bring them closer to a humane standard living for all, especially to the lowliest and unprotected members of the workforce, by providing them real wage gains. (END)

NTC stops ABS-CBN operations

REP. LAWRENCE "LAW" H. FORTUN
Agusan del Norte 1st District
Member for the Minority
Co-Author, HR 639 supporting the renewal of ABS-CBN Franchise
A lawyer by profession | Mobile number 09177292437

HOUSE RESOLUTION CONDEMNING THE NTC's CDO vs ABS-CBN

LAWMAKER SUPPORTING ABS-CBN FRANCHISE APPEALS TO HOUSE PANEL TO MOVE FRANCHISE BILLS FORWARD

Agusan del Norte (1st District) Rep. Lawrence Fortun has formalized his condemnation of the action of the National Telecommunications Commission by filing the still unnumbered House Resolution. 

A RESOLUTION CONDEMNING THE ISSUANCE BY THE NATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION OF A CEASE AND DESIST ORDER AGAINST ABS-CBN IN WANTON DISREGARD OF ITS COMMITMENT TO BOTH HOUSES OF CONGRESS TO GRANT THE BROADCASTING NETWORK A PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY TO OPERATE PENDING RENEWAL OF ITS FRANCHISE

Fortun said he filed the resolution because he strongly believes the House of Representatives has to officially express its sentiment on the contemptuous act of the NTC that is effectively a brazen mockery of both houses of Congress.

Fortun also said, "This is lesson learned for the House of Representatives. Had the House acted on the franchise renewal bills early on and passed the necessary legislation, this would not have reached this point where the decision to allow the continued operation of the network had been placed in the hands of a disingenuous Commission.

We have been misled by an agency led by people that have no qualms about wantonly disregarding a commitment made under oath in official proceedings of both the Senate and the House of Representatives.

Now that the NTC blatantly reneged on its commitment, the Committee on Legislative Franchises, consistent with its expressed intent to allow the continued and unhampered operation of ABS-CBN, has to act expeditiously, consolidate the franchise bills and approve a substitute bill.

As to the quo warranto petition filed by the Solicitor General, the same may already be dismissed by the Supreme Court for being moot and academic. The petition seeks to revoke ABS-CBN's franchise, and technically, there is no franchise to revoke anymore, the same having expired already.

The argument, however, that new bills will have to be filed because there is nothing to renew anymore does not hold water.   The pending bills provide not for renewal of franchise, but simply, grant of franchise.

Please see attached copy of the resolution. (END) - https://pr.mikeligalig.com

Human vaccine trials for COVID-19 are underway

REP. BERNADETTE "BH" HERRERA                       
Bagong Henerasyon Party-list
Secretary-General, The Party-list Coalition Foundation, Inc.
Deputy Majority Leader | Governor, Rotary Philippines RID3780
One of House Authors, (RA 11429) Bayanihan to Heal As One Act
0917-729-2437 Twitter: @BHherrerady

FUNDS FOR COVID-19 VACCINES MUST BE READIED IN ADVANCE

·      Earmark gov't funds as early as now
·      Get ready to purchase vaccines once developed
·      Human vaccine trials for COVID-19 are now underway

National and local governments ought to be ready with the funds needed to procure ample supplies of the vaccines against COVID-19 as soon as the vaccines become widely available.

Dapat ngayon pa lang mag-earmark na ang ating gobyerno ng pondo para sa bakuna, para as soon as  ma-develop ang bakuna may pambili agad. Every moment counts. Any delay would cost lives.

Human vaccine trials for COVID-19 are underway. With global efforts poured in, vaccines will be developed soon.

Vaccines administered by government health personnel and hospitals shall be given free of charge, fully subsidized by the government.

However, the vaccines bought by private hospitals and private doctors would likely be at a cost although with partial PhilHealth cover.

This is the prudent course of action toward ensuring that residents and visitors are protected against the coronavirus.

We must ensure the vaccines are given to every person who must be vaccinated.

We leave the scientific details and vaccine protocols to the experts on vaccines, but funding and procurement for public use are the purview of government. (END) - https://news.mikeligalig.com