“This 2013, we are on our way towards a brightened employment picture, leading to a more dynamic labor market, and contributing to the Philippines’s economic competitiveness and growth.” – DOLE Secretary Baldoz

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Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz set the bar higher in bringing job opportunities closer to more jobseekers as she reported that the number

of posted job vacancies at the government’s official job and skills matching and job search facility, the Phil-JobNet (PJN), has reached a new high, with 268,278 job vacancies posted as of 15 January 2013.

“This is the first time that the Phil-JobNet registered an all-time high of 268,278 job vacancies posted at the Phil-JobNet website, proof positive that our labor market information dissemination strategies are working,” she said.

“This is also the first time that job vacancies uploaded by different companies, both local and overseas, exceeded the number of registered applicants by over 100,000. This reflects the effectivity of the PJN as a hub of job and skills opportunities and an engine of labor market information in pursuit of the agenda of the Aquino III administration to reinvigorate labor and employment,” Baldoz added.

On the supply side, Baldoz reported that the number of registered worker-applicants as of 15 January 2013 has reached 116,795.

T h e l a b o r a n d employment chief emphasized the significance of the increased job vacancy postings at this time of the year, happening as it does at the expected influx of graduating students who shall be looking for jobs by April.

According to Baldoz, the number of job vacancies posted in the Phil-JobNet averaged only between 20,000-40,000 at the start of the Aquino III administration.

The Phil-JobNet was launched on 1 May 1998 during the time of President Fidel Ramos. On 6 November 1998, President

Joseph Ejercito Estrada launched the current version as part of his administration’s pro-poor program. Thereafter, regional launchings were done as part of the advocacy strategy to popularize an information technology-based employment service.

An online job board where jobseekers are matched with current available vacancies in the labor market, the PJN provides timely, relevant, and readily accessible information on job vacancies and job applicants at no cost to both jobseekers and employers registered in the system.

In mid-2010, only about 3,000 establishments were accredited with the PJN registering an average of 35,000 job vacancies. The deployment of Job Search kiosks and the DOLE’s relentless advocacy for its use by the Public Employment Service Offices (PESOs), other employment intermediaries, and industries have increased the number to 7,000 establishments with an average of 100,000 job vacancies posted.

This year, a more ‘user–friendly’ web-based job matching facility and labor market information portal will be made accessible to jobseekers for free as the Phil-JobNet is re-engineered to contain new features that will enable jobseekers to efficiently look for the right job on 24/7 basis.

Some of the new features are the integration of the skills registry system (SRS), development of which is ongoing; and the DOLE Data Warehouse subsystem which will integrate TESDA, PRC, POEA, and OWWA databases and allow verification of skills, professional certification, and/or licenses.

2013 Phil-JobNet ‘firsts’: all-time high of 268K vacancies, exceed by 100k jobseekers for the first time

DOLE Good News

The DOLE Good News is published by the Department of Labor and Employment, with editorial office at the Labor Communications Office, 6th Floor, DOLE Building, Intramuros, Manila. The views expressed herein are those of the writers and/or their sources and do not necessarily reflect those of the DOLE’s or the Philippine Government’s.

Readers’ queries, comments, and suggestions are welcome. Mail or fax them in, or call us at telephone numbers 527-3000 loc. 621. Our fax number is 527-3446. You may also visit our website: www.dole.gov.ph; or e-mail us at dole_lco@yahoo.com or laborcommunications@gmail.com.

EditorNICON F. FAMERONAG

Director, LCO

Associate EditorKAREN R. SERRANO

Staff WritersJOSE C. DE LEON

MARK JAIME L. CERDENIAMA. VERONICA R. ALMAZORA

CELESTE T. MARINGHAZEL JOY T. GALAMAY

REVELITA F. LAXINA

Editorial AssistantsGIRLIE MARLYN E. ARCEMADELYN D. DOMETITA

Graphic ArtistGREGORIO I. GALMAN

PhotographerJOMAR S. LAGMAY

Circulation ManagerGIRLIE MARLYN E. ARCE

Contributing Regional Writers

DIANA JOYZ ESGUERRA - NCR

ALDRIN L. APOLONIO - CAR

ARLY S. VALDEZ - Region 1

REGINALD B. ESTIOCO - Region 2

JEREMIAH M. BORJA - Region 3

FRANZ RAYMOND AQUINO - Region 4A

ANDREA JOY AGUTAYA - Region 4B

RAYMOND P. ESCALANTE - Region 5

AMALIA N. JUDICPA - Region 6

EMMANUEL Y. FERRER - Region 7

VIRGILIO A. DOROJA, JR. - Region 8

GAY IRIS TANGCALAGAN - Region 9

MILDRED E. DABLIO - Region 10

JOCELYN C. FLORDELIS - Region 11

CHARMAINE DAWN L. SONSONA - Region 12

FRANCIS Y. NAZARIO - Caraga

� January 2013

VERSEAS CORNER

The Philippine Overseas Labor Offices (POLOs) in Riyadh and Jeddah have started to accept applications

for the accreditation of Saudi recruitment agencies which have signified intention to recruit Filipino household service workers (HSWs).

The accreditation is meant to ensure that only licensed Saudi Arabian recruitment or placement agencies shall be allowed in the recruitment process.

“Only Saudi recruitment agencies duly licensed by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Labor and registered as a business enterprise by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry shall be allowed

POLOs in Riyadh and Jeddah starts accreditation of Saudi recruitment agencies; better welfare and protection of HSWs seen

to participate in the recruitment of HSWs,” Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz said.

Baldoz emphasized that because of the involvement of Saudi recruitment agencies (SRAs) in the recruitment and placement of HSWs, the POLO will simplify the processing of all HSWs documents. Under the new process, employers are no longer required to appear before the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh or the Philippine Consulate General in Jeddah to submit documents such as proof of salary and location of residence, and other requirements.

“The appearance of Saudi employers will no longer be necessary. At the same time, if a problem occurs between the employer and the worker, the Saudi recruitment agency will help in resolving the problem,” explained Baldoz who signed an agreement with Ambassador Abdullah Al-Hassan of the Royal Saudi Embassy in the Philippines on the accreditation process and resumption of deployment of HSWs to Saudi Arabia on 18 September 2012.

The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) has already adopted the rules and requirements for the accreditation of SRAs and the processing of the standard employment contract (SEC) for HSWs.

To apply for accreditation, the SRA has to partner with a duly-licensed Philippine recruitment agency (PRA) which will assist in the recruitment, selection, and deployment of the selected HSW.

To get POLO accreditation, the SRA will have to submit the following documents to the POLOs:

1. Application form;2. Copy of valid recruitment license

from the Ministry of Labor with certified English translation;

3. Copy of the valid certificate of commercial registration from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry with certified English translation;

4. Copy of national ID of the owner or licensee of the Saudi recruitment agency;

5. Copy of valid recruitment license between the SRA and PRA;

6. Copy of recruitment agreement between the SRA and PRA;

7. Job order or manpower request; and8. Sketch or Google map of the location

of the SRA.Once the POLO has verified the required

documents, it will issue a certificate of accreditation to the SRA which the latter will register with the POEA. The SRA, after registration of its certificate of accreditation, can already submit employment contracts for verification to the POLOs.

The standard employment contract provides for the payment of salaries of not less than $400 through a personal bank account to be opened by the employer; one day of rest each week; 30-day vacation leave for every two years of service with free round-trip economy class ticket; and bonus of one month’s salary upon renewal of the contract.

Upon expiration of the contract, the worker is entitled to free transportation to Saudi Arabia and back to the Philippines. In case of termination for reasons not attributable to the worker, the employer shall bear the cost of repatriation of the worker to the Philippines.

DOLE Good News

�January 2013

Labor and Employment Secretary Rosal inda Dimapil is -Baldoz reiterated her directive to all heads

of DOLE offices, bureaus, and attached agencies to pursue ISO-certification of their systems and processes this year, saying this will result to greater efficiency in service delivery and transparency.

“We must continue to aim for transforming our offices and the way we deliver our programs and services by aligning our systems and processes with international standards, always conscious of our commitment to deliver our programs and services efficiently, and with greater transparency and integrity,” said Baldoz as she reported that six DOLE offices with a total of 274 processes have been enrolled to be ISO-certified in 2012.

“Achieving ISO certification is making transparency and integrity in governance at the DOLE work; it means adhering to a quality management system in the DOLE that meets international standards in service and program delivery for our clients,” Baldoz explained.

Baldoz bared that towards the end of 2012, the Philippine Overseas

Employment Administration has regained its ISO 9001:2008 Quality Management System certification for 37 enrolled processes.

The certification of the new POEA quality management system, which is valid for three years from 8 October 2012 to 7 October 2015, has reduced and standardized the process cycle times (PCTs) of the agency’s frontline services, such as documentation of workers on leave; documentation of agency-hired land-based worker; registration of SRC applicants; etc.

Meanwhile, the DOLE Regional Office in Caraga also achieved ISO 9001:2008 certification for its quality management system in time for the DOLE’s 79th Foundation Anniversary.

The DOLE Caraga is the second regional office to achieve ISO certification under the tenure of Secretary Baldoz and the first and only regional office to do it in 2012. The DOLE Regional Office No. 12 got its ISO certification in 2011.

The two DOLE offices add to the roster of ISO-Certified National Maritime Polytechnic, with six enrolled processes; Technical

With six offices certified and 274 processes enrolled in 2012, DOLE upbeat for more ISO-certified offices in 2013

Education and Skills Development Authority, with two enrolled processes; and the Bureau of Labor and Employment Statistics, which has continued to sustain its ISO certification in 151 enrolled processes for nine years now.

“These six ISO-certified offices are expected to set themselves as exemplars of how they have improved their services delivery mechanisms, reduced process cycle times, and reduced, if not, eliminated, graft and corruption,” Baldoz said.

Baldoz’s reiteration of her directive to the DOLE remaining offices to align their systems and procedures with international standards is in pursuit of the 22-point labor and employment agenda of President Benigno S. Aquino III for continuous improvement in the delivery of DOLE programs and services.

“I know that it is not easy to achieve QMS, but it is possible. Hence, it is but right for the DOLE offices to be dynamic in keeping pace with local and international developments towards improved delivery of services to our clients,” Baldoz said.

POEA CERTIFIED ISO 9001:2008. Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz (2nd from left), Philippine Overseas Employment Administrator Hans Leo J. Cacdac, and Deputy Administrator Amuerfina Reyes display the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) Certificate of Registration to ISO 9001:2008 for its quality management systems in providing overseas employment services to OFWs. Also in photo are DOLE Undersecretary Danilo P. Cruz (left) and Certification Head Leonardo del Carmen of Certification International Phils., Inc. (CIPI).

DOLE Good News

� January 2013

‘Do your utmost in extending assistance to workers, especially the lowliest and most vulnerable.’

This was the emotional appeal of Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz to all

DOLE employees, especially those of the National Conciliation and Mediation Board (NCMB), on the occasion of the 2nd SEnA Awards held as part of the NCMB’s 25th Foundation Anniversary at the Ichikawa Hall of the Occupational Safety and Health Center in Quezon City on 14 January.

The Awards, bestowed based on performance of the DOLE’s Single Entry Approach Desk Officers (SEADOs) who handle requests for assistance under the Single Entry Approach (SEnA) Program of the Department, was last held in October 2011 and recognizes the contribution of the SEnA to industrial peace and harmony.

The SEADOs implement the SEnA, a program that offers speedy, impartial, non-litigious, free, accessible, and non-adversarial labor dispute resolution services. A reform measure introduced by Secretary Baldoz when she assumed

‘Do your utmost in extending assistance to workers, especially the lowliest,’ Baldoz urges DOLE, andNCMB employees at 2nd SEnA Awards

office in 2010, the SEnA aims to de-judicialize the labor dispute settlement system by instituting a 30-day mandatory conciliation-mediation of all labor-related complaints before they mature into formal labor cases.

The program became operational in the later part of 2010 through the issuance of Department Order 107-10. It is being implemented in all DOLE regional offices, regional branches of the NCMB, regional arbitration branches of the NLRC, regional extension units of the POEA, and regional wage boards of the NWPC.

Baldoz, who led Undersecretary for Labor Relations Rebecca Chato, NCMB Executive Director Reynaldo Ubaldo, and other DOLE regional officials and DOLE agency heads in the awarding ceremony, said all officials and employees of the DOLE’s family of agencies involved in settling labor disputes must regard the plight of the country’s micro and small business enterprises as they struggle to survive the world of business competition to survive.

Explaining that the core of the Single Entry Approach (SEnA) is plain and simple labor justice, Baldoz said:

“We should have in have in mind and in our hearts the plight of workers and the small employers. Ito ang puso ng labor justice--those who have in life, should have more in law.”

For this noble purpose, she said SEA-DOs have been tasked to assist workers and employers settle their differences through the SEnA which she proudly said is one of the most tangible and posi-tive reforms under the administration of President Benigno S. Aquino III.

She said the SEnA, which has been endorsed by the National Tripartite Industrial Peace Council, represents an evolution in alternative dispute settlement system, with the effect that conciliation-mediation services are no longer confined to the NCMB.

“What used to be known as the Free Legal Assistance and Voluntary Arbitration Services (FLAVAS) evolved into the SEnA now implemented vigorously not only by NCMB, but by the entire Department of Labor and Employment,” she said.

The labor chief rejoiced that the Congress of the Philippines, recognizing the efficacy of the SEnA, is already expected to pass a law to institutionalize

FIRST DOLE LABOR RELATIONS CLUSTER PRESS CONFERENCE. Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz (2nd from left) gives updates on the industrial relations front during a media briefing prior to the 2nd Single Entry Approach (SEnA) Program Awarding ceremonies held recently at the Occupational Safety and Health Center (OSHC) in Quezon City. With the Secretary are (L-R) DOLE Undersecretary Rebecca Chato, NCMB Executive Director Reynaldo Ubaldo, and NLRC Commissioner Isabel Ortiguerra.

DOLE Good News

�January 2013

2ND SEnA AWARDS. Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz warmly congratulates DOLE Region III Regional Director Raymundo Agravante for winning the Speedy Settlement Award category during the 2nd Single Entry Approach (SENA) Awards recently at the Occupational Safety and Health Center (OSHC) in Quezon City. Also in photo are (L-R) NCMB Deputy Executive Director Romeo Young, DOLE Undersecretary Rebecca Chato, and NCMB Executive Director Reynaldo Ubaldo.

conciliation and mediation services through the SEnA.

“The proposed measure is now at the bicameral level. This is unprecedented, since the SEnA is just over two years old since we implemented it in 2010,” Baldoz said, crediting the effort to Senator Franklin M. Drilon who, as labor secretary in 1988, is considered as the “father” of the NCMB.

“Sulit na sulit po talaga,” the labor chief enthused, citing that in 25 years since the NCMB’s founding, the country now enjoys stable industrial peace and “in just 26 months and a week of vigorous SEnA implementation, so much more have been accomplished”.

Her voice tinged with emotion, the labor chief recalled the halcyon days of

clogged case dockets of labor cases, and the long wait, inconvenience, and delay suffered by huge numbers of workers with grievances, many of which were small money claims, sometimes as low as P1,000, and termination or loss of job cases, including the 13th month pay.

“Oftentimes the cases involved mere misunderstanding or miscommunication, but because of the lack of avenue to reconcile their differences, they became long drawn-out cases,” she recalled.

Baldoz, who joined the DOLE through the NCMB, rose from the ranks to become the agency’s third executive director.

Today, the labor secretary said that SEnA has revolutionized things, saying the reform is here to stay to unceasingly assist the lowliest workers, address their differences with employers free or without charge, consistent with the overarching goal enunciated by President Benigno S. Aquino III, in his 22-point labor and employment agenda, to “invest in our country’s top resource, our human resource, to make us more competitive and employable while promoting industrial peace based on social justice by reforming the country’s labor justice system, streamlining procedures, removing red tape, and at the same time, restoring integrity and fairness in the system.”

DOLE records show that SEnA vastly reduced litigious, costly compulsory arbitration cases, and at the same time, benefited some 48,305 workers nationwide with close to P2-B in monetary restitutions or awards.

“We should have in mind and in our hearts the plight of workers and the small employers. Ito ang puso ng labor justice--those who have less in life, should have more in law.”

— DOLE Secretary Baldoz

A flexible matching system will also be installed to accommodate matching of job applicants to a vacancy, according to the general and specific requirements set by employers. This will also enable employers to join job fairs through advanced online registration, invite applicants for interview and, at the same time, allow applicants to respond or to request to reset interview schedules. With this system in place, an applicant can also pre-register for a scheduled job fair.

The Phil-JobNet will now also contain an interactive map where applicants can view available jobs, livelihood projects implemented, or training programs being conducted at the regional and provincial levels, including available overseas jobs; list of top hiring companies; and a PESO Performance Monitoring System (PPMS).

“These new features and enhancements of the Phil-JobNet will further result to better delivery of our employment facilitation services,” said Baldoz.

Baldoz credited the remarkable increase in the Phil-JobNet job postings to the active cooperation of labor, employers, local government units, other agencies, and civil society with the DOLE, through the Bureau of Local Employment, in advocating for the use of the Phil-JobNet.

She encouraged job seekers to apply through the system, saying employers posting in the facility are vetted by the DOLE, through the BLE, so applicants are assured that the vacancies posted are for real, not bogus, jobs.

“The shelf life of a vacancy in the Phil-JobNet is 30 days, after which it is removed,” Baldoz said.

Baldoz explained that the DOLE’s strengthened convergence with employers leads to the availability of more decent and productive job vacancies to applicants, including fresh graduates and new entrants to the labor force.

“This 2013, we are on our way towards a brightened employment picture, leading to a more dynamic labor market, and contributing to the Philippines’s economic competitiveness and growth,” she added.

“If our partners—LGUs, together with schools and other institutions, the private sector, the tripartite partners, and civil society—continue their strong support, I am confident that we can sustain the employment gains we have recorded in 2012 and look forward to higher employment levels through the rest of the year,” she finally said.

PhilJobNet vacancies . . .(from page 1)

DOLE Good News

� January 2013

Looking after the socio-economic condition of workers who suffered heavily from the onslaught of

floodwaters brought by Typhoon Pablo was a DOLE priority.

Hence, 220 workers from three organizations in the Davao region have benefitted from the Workers Income Augmentation Program (WINAP), the Department of Labor on Employment (DOLE) emergency employment intervention for workers victimized by crises or calamities.

Citing a report of DOLE Regional Office No. 11 Director Joffrey Suyao, Secretary

Baldoz said the regional office is already expediting the canvassing of raw materials and equipment upon the completion and approval of the project proposals of the Nagkahiusang Mamumuo sa Suyapa Farm-NAFLU-KMU; Freshmax Workers’ Union-FWU-NAFLU-KMU; and Nagkahiusang Mamumuo sa San Jose-NAMASAN-NAFLU-KMU.

These were the first three workers’ groups that the DOLE had earlier awarded Certificates of Entitlement worth P250,000 each, or a total of P750,000 which shall be used for the purchase of raw materials and equipment for the

The Department of Labor and Employment Regional Office No. 11 has already disbursed P2.3

million (P2,326,580) in allowances to 984 students in the provinces of Davao, Davao Oriental, and Compostela Valley, all in Region 11, under the DOLE intervention program dubbed “Sagip Mag-aaral or the Student Assistance through the Government Internship Program.

The Sagip Mag-aaral is an immediate and short-term intervention of the Department of Labor and Employment for the youth sector, especially the students, whose families have been displaced by Typhoon Pablo. This was meant to mitigate the possibility of these students themselves being displacement from school.

Under the Sagip Mag-aaral, most of the students were tasked to pack and repack DSWD relief goods at the DSWD Relief Center in Davao City and in the affected towns and to profile other victims of Typhoon Pablo in their respective communities.

DOLE pays P2.3-M in allowances to 984 students in Typhoon Pablo-hit areas

livelihood projects of the three groups whose members all work in the banana export industry in Compostela Valley and were gravely affected by Typhoon Pablo.

“We will release the raw materials and equipment to the workers’ organizations before the end of the month,” Baldoz said.

Suyao said the implementation of the DOLE’s WINAP is part of the regional office’s project intervention dubbed Sectoral Approach in the Generation of Income Projects or SAGIP Manggagawa to prevent, if not minimize, imminent job losses and work displacement that arose due to the adverse effects of the recent calamity in the hardest-hit municipalities in Davao region, which includes Davao Oriental and Compostela Valley.

“The livelihood grant shall be used by the workers for their businesses as a source of alternative income. This is our way of helping them cope with their displacement from work as a result of the typhoon’s onslaught in the banana industry,” Director Suyao had earlier said.

The WINAP, also dubbed “Dagdag-Kabuhayan para sa mga Manggagawa,” assists organized and unorganized workers in the formal sector who opted to venture into businesses to earn additional income and gain employment for their family members.

In Davao, worker groups start life anew with DOLE’s P750-K WINAP livelihood assistance

Regional Director Joffrey M. Suyao has reported to Baldoz that the amount of P2.3 million was used to pay for the allowances of the 984 students who were identified from Davao City (72 students); Boston (85 students), Cateel (79 students), Baganga (71 students), Caraga (92 students), all in Davao Oriental; and Montevista (52 students), Monkayo (117 students), New Bataan (175 students), Compostela (151 students), and Laak (90 students), all in Compostela Valley.

“We have given employment to the students for a period of 12 days maximum and provided them an allowance equivalent to 75 percent of the prevailing minimum

wage in Region XI, or P225.75 per day,” Suyao said.

The labor and employment chief said the allowance received by the participating students may not be substantial, but it was expected to provide them temporary relief from economic uncertainties to ease their sufferings and facilitate the continuity of their attendance in school.

“The relief is temporary, but the release--that is, their being able to continue their education which is an equalizer and will enable them to rise from the level where they are now--is permanent,” explained Baldoz.

DOLE Good News

�January 2013

Almost three years ago, 21 women sitio leaders of Brgy. Pajac, Lapu-Lapu City decided

to take a detour from their ordinary lives and found out that success lies in perseverance.

Led by Irene Coremo, 56, the 21 women, egged on by Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Paz Radaza, organized themselves into the Hugpong Kababayean sa Pajac Producers’ Cooperative with practically nothing but determination to succeed.

“In our first days, we held monthly meetings and contributed P25 each to a common fund. The P25 becomes double if one is absent,” said Mrs. Coremo in describing the coop’s modest start.

Over the next months, coop members took turns in attending free training on lumpia making, baking, and instant salabat production at the City Hall’s Cooperative and Livelihood Center.

On 21 December, the women officially registered the coop with the Cooperative Development Authority and in January 2011, decided to produce instant salabat.

“We sensed there is money from this favorite brew of the ordinary working Cebuano,” said Mrs. Coremo.

“After we were registered, I asked my brother’s permission to use his old warehouse as a production area. With our membership dues, we purchased five kilos of ginger, bought at the Carbon market at P45 a kilo. We initially designated two of our members, Helen Tobia and Susan Dano, as our marketing officers,” Mrs. Coremo related.

The instant salabat was, well, an instant hit. Soon, production grew from 50 kilos, then 75 kilos, then 100 kilos. All of the coop’s produce easily sold out due to a unique marketing scheme: each one of the 21 members was selling salabat with a P15 per kilo rebate as personal profit share.

“Word of mouth made us popular. This increased the demand, but which we could not satisfy due to limited capital,” said Alona Amistad, 35, the coop’s production head.

One day in March 2011, Mrs. Coremo was again attending a training at City Hall when the facilitator, Jaime Glomar, mentioned the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) providing grants to community-based enterprises. After the training, she narrated this to the coop members who agreed to write a proposal.

From instant salabat, Lapu-Lapu City women’s coop tastes a better future

“We at the HKPPC could not believe our coop will change the lives of many families in Brgy. Bajac after only two years of making and selling salabat, dishwashing liquid soap, detergent powder, and fabric conditioner...We are grateful to the DOLE for helping us to become a real community-based enterprise.” — Alona Amistad, 35, Hugpong Kababayean sa Pajac Producers’ Cooperative production head

To their disbelief, the DOLE had approved their proposed project and released them a grant of P144,500.40 on May 1, 2011.

“We were surprised at how fast the DOLE approved our request after it trained us on small business finance,” an ebullient Mrs. Coremo said.

“After the DOLE released the assistance, many women in Brgy. Pajac signified their interest to join the coop. Membership grew from 21 to 55, thanks to the DOLE grant,” she added.

With the money, the coop purchased not only sugar and ginger for its

instant salabat, but also raw materials for dishwashing liquid soap, a new product which turned out to be another bestseller.

Using the same marketing scheme for its instant salabat, the coop also chalked up robust sales of the dishwashing liquid soap. Soon, to this product was added detergent powder and fabric conditioner, now all being sold under a brand name, Wa’zz.

“We at the HKPPC could not believe our coop will change the lives of many families in Brgy. Bajac after only two years of making and selling salabat, dishwashing liquid soap, detergent powder, and fabric conditioner,” said Mrs. Amistad.

And changing the lives of many the coop continues to do in ways more than amazing. When it received another P300,000 grant from the DOLE early this year, it used part of the amount to finance a new venture involving the weaving of plastic handbags and purses.

Under an arrangement with the International Pharmaceutical, Inc., the Lapu-Lapu City-based maker of famous brand Efficascent Oil, the coop redeems in bulk the outer plastic covering of Efficascent Oil label stickers and uses this as raw material for its handbags and purses. This new business provides employment to more Brgy. Pajac women as craftswomen.

“We are grateful to the DOLE for helping us become a real community-based enterprise,” said Mrs. Amistad. She proudly says that she, like many HKPPC members, is able to send her three children to school from her earnings as the coop’s full time production head. Her eldest, Kent Neil, 15, is now a fourth year high school student, while Trisha, the second child, is in Grade 6. The youngest, Kay Alaiza, is in Grade 2.

Today, the HKPPC solidly stands on its own feet. In 2011, it distributed P37,650.82 in patronage refund and declared P35,950 in share capital to all its members, not bad for a group that started on a monthly membership due of P25 per. It has now 200 members, and still counting. The coop is eyeing to purchase a lot where it plans to set up a permanent production site.

“We hope to also buy modern tools and equipment to upgrade our production process,” Mrs. Coremo and Mrs. Amistad chorused.

Labor and Employment Secretary Rosal inda Dimapil is -Baldoz promulgated the implementing

guidelines for Proclamation No. 459, Series of 2012, Declaring the Regular Holidays, Special (Non-Working) Days, and Special Holiday (For All Schools) for the Year 2013.

It can be recalled that on 16 August 2012, President Benigno S. Aquino III issued Proclamation No. 459, consistent with the laws of the Philippines, governing the observance of holidays, to wit: Republic Act (RA) No. 9492, dated 24 July 2007, which amended Section 26, Chapter 7, Book I of Executive Order (EO) No. 292, also known as the Administrative Code of 1987, by declaring certain days, specific or movable, as special or regular holidays.

By virtue of Proclamation No. 459, there are 10 regular holidays, seven special non-working days, and one special holiday for all schools for the year 2013, as follows:

Regular Holidays: New Year’s Day, January 1 (Tuesday); Maundy Thursday, March 28; Good Friday, March 29; Araw ng Kagitingan, April 9 (Tuesday); Labor Day, May 1 (Wednesday); Independence Day, June 12 (Wednesday); National Heroes Day, August 26 (Last Monday of August); Bonifacio Day, November 30 (Saturday); Christmas Day, December 25 (Wednesday); and Rizal Day, December 30 (Monday).

Special (Non-Working Days): Black Saturday, March 30; Ninoy Aquino Day, August 21 (Wednesday); All Saints Day, November 1 (Friday); Additional special (non-working) days, November 2 (Saturday); December 24 (Tuesday); and Last Day of the Year, December 31 (Tuesday).

Special Holiday (for all schools): EDSA Revolution Anniversary, February 25 (Monday).

The labor and employment chief said President Aquino III affirmed Black Saturday, together with November 2, and December 24, 2013, as additional special non-working days nationwide, citing the need to enable the Filipino people to observe their most cherished traditions,

Holy Week, All Saints Day, and Christmas, “without prejudice to the public interest.”

In addition, Section 2 of Proclamation No. 459 provides that “the proclamations declaring national holidays for the observance of Eid’l Fitr and Eidul Adha shall hereafter be issued after the approximate dates of the Islamic Holidays have been determined in accordance with the Islamic calendar (Hijra) or the lunar calendar, or upon Islamic astronomical calculations, whichever is possible or convenient.”

“To this end, the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) shall inform the Office of the President on which day the holiday shall fall,” the Proclamation further provides.

Likewise, the Proclamation mandates the DOLE to promulgate the implementing guidelines of the same Proclamation.

Thus, Baldoz, has issued Labor Advisory No. 06, Series of 2012, on the Payment of Wages for the Regular Holidays, Special (Non-working) Days, and Special Holiday (For all Schools) for the Year 2013, specifically promulgating the rules that shall apply, as follows:

Regular Holidays• If the employee did not work, he/she

shall be paid 100 percent of his/her salary for that day. Computation: (Daily rate + Cost of Living Allowance) x 100%. The COLA is included in the computation of holiday pay.

• If the employee worked, he/she shall be paid 200 percent of his/her regular salary for that day for the first eight hours. Computation: (Daily rate + COLA) x 200%. The COLA is also included in computation of holiday pay.

• If the employee worked in excess of eight hours (overtime work), he/she

shall be paid an additional 30 percent of his/her hourly rate on said day. Computation: Hourly rate of the basic daily wage x 200% x 130% x number of hours worked.

• If the employee worked during a regular holiday that also falls on his/her rest day, he/she shall be paid an additional 30 percent of his/her daily rate of 200 percent. Computation: (Daily rate + COLA) x

200%] + (30% [Daily rate x 200%)].• If the employee worked in excess

of eight hours (overtime work) during a regular holiday that also falls on his/her rest day, he/she shall be paid an additional 30 percent of his/her hourly rate on said day. Computation: (Hourly rate of the basic daily wage x 200% x 130% x 130% x number of hours worked);

Special (Non-working) Days• If the employee did not work, the

“no work, no pay” principle shall apply, unless there is a favorable company policy, practice, or collective bargaining agreement (CBA) granting payment on a special day.

• If the employee worked, he/she shall be paid an additional 30 percent of his/her daily rate on the first eight hours of work. Computation: [(Daily rate x 130%) + COLA).

• If the employee worked in excess of eight hours (overtime work), he/she shall be paid an additional 30 percent of his/her hourly rate on said day. Computation: (Hourly rate of the basic daily wage x 130% x 130% x number of hours worked).

• If the employee worked during a special day that also falls on his/her rest day, he/she shall be paid an additional fifty percent of his/her daily rate on the first eight hours of work. Computation: [(Daily rate x 150%) + COLA].

• If the employee worked in excess of eight hours (overtime work) during a special day that also falls on his/her rest day, he/she shall be paid an additional 30 percent of his/her hourly rate on said day. Computation: (Hourly rate of the basic daily wage x 150% x 130% x number of hours worked).

Special Holiday for all schoolsFor private establishments, 25

February 2013 is an ordinary workday and no premium is required to be paid for work on said day.

On the other hand, employees in private schools, whether academic or administrative personnel, shall be paid in accordance with the rules for pay on special (nonworking) days as stated in Labor Advisory No. 06, Series of 2012.

DOLE promulgates pay rules for holidays in 2013