Labor group seeks minimum pay increase
By Rachelle M. Nessia
DUMAGUETE CITY, April 27 (PIA) -- The Associated Labor Unions-Trade Unions Congress of the Philippines (ALU-TUCP) in Negros Oriental is seeking a P90 daily minimum wage increase.
The petition was prompted by the wave of price increases of basic commodities and petroleum products in the country, said Felizardo Calimpong of ALU-TUCP here.
Calimpong said they already filed their petition for wage increase at the Regional Wage Board.
He said they were forced to submit a pay increase petition despite the one-year ban mandated by Republic Act 6727 due to the increase in prices of basic commodities and petroleum products.
RA 6727's Wage Order Year Rule states that no petition for wage increase may be entertained by the Wage Board within the one-year period from the last time a wage order has been implemented, provided that there are supervening conditions.
The last wage increase here, which was at P20 per day, took effect in September 2011.
Calimpong said the supervening conditions they cited in their petition are the increase of prices of petroleum products and prime commodities.
“I hope that the employers would consider our grounds for the petition which is based on the current situation of the workers, considering the increase of petroleum products and basic commodities,” said Calimpong in a recent Kapihan gathering held by the Philippine Information Agency here.
Local businessman Don Ramas-Uypitching, who sits in the Tripartite Industrial Peace Council (TIPC) representing the management sector, said the petition for wage increase should not be a problem for companies who can afford to do so.
“If they can afford to, why not? I know there are a lot of companies here who do not wait for the government to enforce what should be the minimum wage,” he said.
He, however, warned that if the pay increase is granted, this might affect smaller businesses who are not doing well financially, forcing them to either lay-off workers or shut down.
The Regional Tripartite Wage Board in Region 7 is expected to issue a decision in May this year. (RMN/PIA Negros Oriental)
============
Army encourages rebel returnees to use cash aid wisely
By Rachelle M. Nessia
DUMAGUETE CITY, April 27 (PIA) -- A Philippine Army colonel based in Negros Oriental urged rebel returnees who received their livelihood assistance from the government to use their money properly.
302nd Brigade Commander of the Philippine Army Col. Francisco Patrimonio said the former rebels should wisely utilize their cash aid for their livelihood undertakings.
The colonel issued the statement after five rebel returnees who recently surrendered to the 79th Infantry Battalion in Siaton, Negros Oriental, each received their livelihood aid of P50,000 under the government’s Social Integration Program (SIP).
Before receiving their livelihood package, the former rebels were made to attend a socio-economic training conducted by different government agencies like the Philippine National Police, Philippine Army, Provincial Veterniary Office and the Department of Agriculture, said Capt. Anacito Naz, information officer of the 302nd Infantry Brigade based in Tanjay City.
“The training aimed to prepare them psychologically and socio-economically as they make their way to the mainstream society,” said Naz in a statement.
This was followed by a series of dialogues, trainings and seminars for the former rebels conducted by the concerned local government agencies to further motivate them to work hard and improve their living condition, he added.
The rebel returnees will be monitored and assisted as they carry out their livelihood projects.
Naz said the SIP will also be disseminated to communities in the affected hinterland areas “to put a strong social pressure to the rebels to convince them to abandon the armed struggle.” (RMN/PIA Negros Oriental)
============
Expedition marks Earth Day on Mt. Kanlaon Summit
By Rachelle M. Nessia
DUMAGUETE CITY, April 27 (PIA) -- A team of government and non-government workers marked this year’s Earth Day celebration on the summit of Mt. Kanlaon in Canlaon City, the tallest peak in Central Visayas and among the tallest in the country at over 8,000 feet.
The party was composed of staff from the Provincial Tourism Office, Canlaon City Tourism Office, Mountain Tigers Rescue Team based in Canlaon City, and troopers from the Philippine Army’s 11th Infantry Battalion stationed in Guihulngan City.
The expedition was led by Provincial Tourism Officer Myla Abellana, Canlaon City Tourism Officer-Designate Dr. Marissa Cornelia, and 11th IB Commander Col. Willy Isaac.
Abellana, in a statement, said the expedition kicked-off from Sitio Mapot, Brgy. Malaiba in Canlaon City on April 20.
Three days later, the team wound up in Guintubdan, La Carlota in Negros Occidental, covering a total trek stretch of 18.5 kilometers.
“As planned, the party arrived at Mt. Kanlaon’s summit on Earth Day,” said Abellana.
The trek team also collected trash along the trails aside from familiarization and documentation, said Abellana.
“Our expedition was necessary due to a recent upsurge of interest in Negros Oriental’s ecotourism sites, including Mt. Kanlaon,” Abellana added.
The climb came on the heels of a seminar on Mt. Kanlaon visitors protocol conducted by the Mt. Kanlaon Natural Park office on March 1, at the Sidlakang Negros Village Conference Hall in Dumaguete City, which was attended by tourism officers, tour operators, and other stakeholders. (PIA)
============
Sibulan bolsters Okoy Riverbank periphery
By Rachelle M. Nessia
DUMAGUETE CITY, April 27 (PIA) -- Following the destruction left by Tropical Storm Sendong in its wake when it battered Negros Oriental with heavy rains in December last year, the Sibulan municipal government is now repairing its infrastructure facilities ravaged by the storm.
Sibulan is one of the worst-hit towns in Negros Oriental by the storm.
Part of the repair work undertaken by the municipal government is the bolstering of the periphery of Okoy Riverbank amounting to over P2 million.
Okoy River, according to Sibulan Information Officer Concepcion Rosales, is the town’s catch basin of water bodies from the hinterland village of Enrique Villanueva and mountain areas in Valencia town.
“When the heavy rains come, the water volume in Okoy River, as the collection basin, swells and causes the river water to spill over the sides,” said Rosales.
Other watersheds and rivers cited in Sibulan’s Forest Land Use Plan (FLUP) map that contribute to Okoy River’s water volume are: Marulay River Watershed in Valencia town; Dungcalang River in Brgy. Tubigon of Sibulan; and the Southern Negros Watershed comprising Sibulan, Valencia, and Sta. Catalina.
Romie Diputado, Sibulan’s FLUP in-charge, said the Southern Negros watershed is a vast body of water covering the watersheds of Hinotongan River, Valencia, and Amlan River.
“All the water from these watersheds run off to Okoy River,” said Diputado.
When Tropical storm Sendong struck on December 17, 2011, Okoy River’s water level rose, washing away houses and killing people due to the strong currents.
A total of 268 homes were eventually reported totally damaged and 349 partially damaged, said Rosales.
“The river lived up to its name because Okoy literally means ‘stalker’. It caught the nearby residents by surprise because without warning, the river rose and turned rapid and turbulent,” explained Rosales.
The provincial government of Negros Oriental also sets aside P20 million while Second District Rep. George Arnaiz gave P2 million to fortify the sides of Okoy River with the installation of boulder dikes. (RMN/PIA Negros Oriental)