MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte (PIA) — “The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) here will campaign for local business firms’ compliance with Philippine labor standards after the Technical Assistance Visit (TAV) orientation scheduled on May 25, 2012 in Maasin City is conducted,” DOLE provincial head Fe Norma Valuis said, stressing that every local business establishment whether employing one or less than 10 workers must meet such standards. A R535-daily wage rate has been officially set in Eastern Visayas by the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) in Region 8.
Paper Recycling
ILOILO CITY, Iloilo (PNA) — Out-of-school youths (OSY) of Barangay Buntatala, Leganes, Iloilo recently learned hands-on paper recycling accessories-making during a three-day training conducted by the Environment Management Bureau 6 (EMB-6)’s Solid Waste Management (SWM). Some 50 OSY beneficiaries availed of the free training program which taught them how to convert garbage into useful materials for livelihood and familiarized them with Republic Act 9003 or the 2000 Solid Waste Management Act. SK Chairman Jayson Pudadera said “We want to be a youth model in implementing recycling and recovery practices in the community as well as the pioneer among other villages in the town of Leganes.”
OWWA-7 Partners
CEBU CITY, Cebu (PNA) — The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA)-7 recently celebrated its 30th Founding Anniversary by recognizing four institutional partners in Cebu: Apostleship of the Sea-Cebu, Stella Maris Seafarers’ Center, Center for Overseas Women-Cebu, and ECMI-CBCP Visayas who were given tokens of appreciation for their help and cooperation with OWWA. Through said partners, some 120,000 active OFW members of OWWA-7 receive financial support and advice over the years.
Aklan’s Cpi
KALIBO, Aklan (PIA) — Aklan’s average 2011 Consumer Price Index (CPI) posted a 6 percent increase over 2010 figures, the National Statistics Office (NSO) said here. NSO-Aklan headed by Provincial Statistics Officer Blas M. Solidum said last year’s CPI registered at 178.6 index point versus 167.6 in 2010. Also, the NSO said in 2011 August registered a 175.0 index while January, 2011 had the lowest at 170.6 points. In 2010, December had the highest index at 169.5 and June the lowest at 166.5. Aklan posted a 3.6 percent average inflation rate in 2011 against 3.6 percent in 2010.
Loan Benefits
CATBALOGAN CITY, Samar (PIA) — The Social Security System (SSS) here has approved 10 educational loans applications in Samar. SSS Catbalogan head Necita Carretas said others are still undergoing regular processes. Covered beneficiaries include member, legal spouse, child of SSS member (legitimate and illegitimate) and sibling of unmarried SSS members including half-brother or half-sister). Loan amount is R15,000 per semester/trimester or actual tuition/miscellaneous fees, whichever is lower, rounded off to the next higher R100. It also covers vocational/technical courses where a maximum of R7,500 per semester/trimester may be availed of.