Slowest in ASEAN Faster internet speed pressed

MANILA-Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph G. Recto is urging government to also mandate internet service providers (ISPs) and telecom companies to increase the minimum speed of their internet service to 10 Mbps (megabits per second) from the current internet speed of 3.4 Mbps.

Recto said with 3.4 Mbps, the country has the slowest internet speed in South East Asia followed by Indonesia with 4.1 Mbps, Malaysia at 5.5 Mbps, with Singapore as being the fastest in the ASEAN region with a lightning internet speed of 61.0 Mbps.

The global internet speed to download information and pictures from the worldwide web is 18.4 Mpbs.

“Unfortunately, the Philippines ranks at the tail-end of world broadband speed rankings and is also tagged as one of the most expensive,” Recto said.

The Senate leader added: “The national march towards a broader internet or Wi-Fi access should be in cadence with a decent internet speed. Aanhin mo ang Wi-Fi kung puro ka naman antay?”

Recto said Filipino internet users are also paying more than their ASEAN counterparts with a monthly average of $24.92 or roughly P1,120 compared to the fraction spent by other nationalities.

                                                                                                       

He said his Senate Bill (SB) 2238 dubbed “Bilis Konek Act of 2014” would empower the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to require a minimum internet speed for all ISPs and telcos offering internet service of 10 Mbps for mobile broadband/internet access.

The speed should be faster at 20 Mbps when it comes to fixed and fixed wireless broadband/internet access or those installed at home. The transition to a faster internet speed would be two years after the enactment of the law.

“This bill recognizes the importance of high-speed internet connections in increasing productivity and the growing demands for connectivity,” he said, noting that faster internet has correlation to economic growth according to a foreign report.

Recto stressed mandating a minimum internet speed makes sense since the country aside from being the "Texting Capital of the World" was also named by the Global Web Index as having the Fastest Growing Internet Population with a 531% growth in the last five years.

“If the Human Rights Council of the United Nations General Assembly declares internet access as a basic human right, internet users should also have the right to faster internet -- call it internet on steroids,” he said.

Recto has also filed SB 2232, which seeks the roll out of free Wi-Fi access to all public places in the National Capital Region (NCR) as a companion measure to his "Bilis Konek Act."

Recto said an NCR-wide free internet access would provide equal opportunity to all, especially the marginalized members of society and promote efficiency and productivity in businesses.

“Providing free internet access to public buildings and facilities in the national capital will also ensure that our growing labor force will be updated with employment opportunities,” Recto said in filing SB 2232.

He said a free internet access to the public would “mean providing access to the underserved in our society, including getting low-income people online.”

A free Wi-Fi service, according to him, would also give access to vital information available online such as school information for students; traffic reports and alternative routes for motorists; latest weather bulletins, basic goods prices such as oil and gas; and, updates on government services.

Recto said his proposed bill, if enacted into law, would mandate free internet use to the following public areas in the entire NCR:

·        All national and local government offices

·        Public health services and hospitals

·        Public elementary and high schools, and state colleges and

universities

·        Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Terminals I, II, III and IV)

·        Public libraries

·        Tollways and expressways

·        Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA) and other national roads

·        Public transport terminals

·        Port of Manila; and

·        Rail transit stations (LRT Line 1, MRT Line 2, MRT Line 3, and PNR

south rail).

He assured that once seamlessly in place in Metro Manila, other major cities in the country should be also accorded with free Wi-Fi service.

The Recto bill mandates the Information and Communications Technology Office (ICTO) of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) as the lead agency. 

3 Army intel officers indicted for mauling carpenter in Aurora bar brawl

BALER, Aurora – Three rookie soldiers were charged with serious physical injuries by the Philippine National Police before the provincial prosecutor’s office Monday for the brutal mauling of a 37-year-old carpenter during a brawl in a restaurant here at dawn Friday.

          Charged in an information filed by the Baler PNP led by its station commander, Chief Inspector Reynante Pitpitan were privates first class Jesse Roque, 28, of Tarlac City; Jaypee Gutierrez, 27, of Camp Tinio, Cabanatuan City and Efren Montefalco Jr., 30, of New Abra, Matalam, North Cotabato.

          They were all assigned with the military intelligence branch (MIB) of the Army’s 7^th Infantry (Kaugnay) Division based at the Fort Magsaysay Military Reservation in Palayan City, Nueva Ecija.

          The case has been raffled off to prosecutor Julieta Isidro-Reyes.

The three soldiers were charged for mauling carpenter Antonio Macarayo of Barangay Suklayin following a confrontation inside the Freddie’s Resto Bar at Sitio Labasin, Barangay Sabang at around 3 am Friday.

          Named by the PNP as witnesses in the complaint were Macarayo’s wife Chona, Mark Gregory Babia, and PO2 Geoffrey Bolante and PO3 Guervin Atun, both of the Baler PNP.

          Police Inspector Desiree Buluag, Baler deputy chief of police, in an incident report released to newsmen, said that prior to the incident, Macarayo went to the bar to drink liquor with four of his young companions identified as Rienheart Jeff Virey, 21,; Marvin Virrey, 23; Arvin Santiago, 22; and Sherwin Pangalinan, 22.

          Later, Macarayo’s group figured in a heated argument with the soldiers, who were apparently drunk, including Montefalco who was armed with a caliber 45 revolver.

          The two groups were somehow pacified by the bar’s security guard on duty and they left shortly after.

          Unknown to Macarayo’s group, Montefalco’s group waited for them outside and when they spotted them, they assaulted the five.

Macarayo and his companions scampered in different directions but he slipped and fell on the pavement where the suspects caught up with him and took turns mauling him, knocking him unconscious.

          Responding lawmen arrested the three suspects and detained them at  the municipal police stockade.

          Macarayo was rushed to the Aurora Memorial Hospital for treatment of bruises and contusions in the face. He was later transferred to the hospital’s intensive care unit (ICU).

          Mrs. Macarayo said her husband was almost left for dead by the suspects who even pistol-whipped the victim in the head and face.

          Babia, another witness said that while the victim was being beaten to a pulp by the suspects, he overheard one of them yelled “tuluyan mo na pare (kill him buddy).”

          Brig. Gen. Glorioso Miranda, 7^th ID commanding general, said they will never tolerate such acts by the soldiers.

          “We will have the incident investigated and give the three soldiers due process. But we will never condone their actions if they are found guilty,” he said, adding they could be dismissed from the service depending on the gravity of the offense.   

Senate grants Philippine citizenship to Brooklyn Nets Center Andray Blatche

MANILA-The Senate today approved on third and final reading a bill granting Philippine Citizenship to American professional basketball player Andray Blatche, who is a member of the Brooklyn Nets, the National Baskekball Association (NBA).

Committee Report No. 27 on House Bill No. 4084, sponsored by Senator Sonny Angara was approved with 20 affirmative votes, zero negative votes and zero abstention.

“The recent modest ascent in the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) standings is indicative of the development of Philippine basketball in the international scene, which ought to be sustained,” Angara said.

“International tournaments allow countries to be represented by naturalized players subject to certain conditions like the number of naturalized players in a team. Other countries, while ranking higher than the Philippines, have opted to take advantage of this naturalized-player rule, meant to equalize the world basketball landscape historically ruled by American and European countries, with great benefit,” Angara added.

Blatche is not the first international player to become a naturalized Filipino citizen. In 1985, three naturalized players, namely Dennis Still, Jeff Moore and Chip Engelland helped the RP-North Consolidated Corporation win the William Jones Cup and the ABC Championships. Another naturalized player, Marcus Eugene Douthit, who became a naturalized Filipino in 2010, helped bring honor to the Philippines by helping the Philippine team win the 2010 Philippine Invitational Cup, 3^rd place in the 2010 William Jones Cup and 2012 William Jones Cup Championship.

Blatche is currently playing for the Brooklyn Nets alongside Kevin Garnett, Deron Williams and Paul Pierce. Blatche, who stands 6’11,” averages 11.2 points and 5.3 rebounds per game.

Fresh out of high school, Blatche was drafted to the National Basketball Association (NBA) in 2005 where he was chosen 49^th overall by the Washington Wizards. He was eventually released by the Wizards in 2012 and was signed up by the Nets.

“Andray Blatche has openly expressed his desire to play for the Philippines. He is in a position, at age 28, to make significant contributions to Philippine basketball and accordingly, eligible for the conferment of the honor of being a Philippine citizen,” Angara said.

Blatche will be part of the 24-man roster of the Smart Gilas Basketball where the final 12 players will be chosen to compete in the FIBA world championships this August in Spain. (Olive Caunan)

SENATE OKs BLATCHE'S NATURALIZATION BILL

MANILA-The Senate on Monday approved on third and final reading the bill introduced by Senator Juan Edgardo "Sonny" Angara that would confer Philippine citizenship on American professional basketball player Andray Blatche, in effect clearing the way for him to help the Philippine national basketball team that will compete in the FIBA World Championships in Spain this August.

 

"Blatche is possibly the best center from the NBA that we can get who is willing to shun more lucrative offers now and in the future just to be part of our national team," stressed Angara, who said that the Brooklyn Nets big man's documents will now be transmitted to the Office of the President for the chief executive's signing.

 

Angara expressed gratitude to his colleagues, particularly Senate Justice Committee Chair Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III and Majority Floor Leader Alan Peter Cayetano for the swift passage of Senate Bill 2108.

 

"This was indeed a total team effort on the part of the Senate. Credits are due to both the majority and minority blocs for supporting this measure, which to my mind, is the Senate's own way of contributing to the cause of our basketball team," he pointed out, mentioning also Senate President Franklin Drilon, and Senators Tito Sotto and Jinggoy Estrada.

 

Blatche, who averages 12 points and six rebounds, will also be allowed to backstop the country in other major international basketball tournaments, including the Asian Games that will be held in September this year in South Korea and in the 2016 Summer Olympics.

 

For accepting to be part of the Philippine basketball squad, Blatche will be forever prohibited to join any other foreign national team.

 

"Having naturalized players is the rule in international competitions rather than the exception. It's very accepted. We are just taking advantage of the rule," said the neophyte senator, who chairs the committee on games, amusement and sports.

 

The House of Representatives, through the efforts of Antipolo Rep. Robbie Puno, has approved the application of Blatche last month.

 

The 6-foot-11 American isn’t the first foreign player to be given Philippine citizenship.

 

Americans Arthur "Chip" Engelland, Jeff Moore and Dennis Still were naturalized in the 1980s to help the Philippine men’s basketball team to win the Asian Basketball Confederation (now FIBA Asia Championship) crown in 1985.

 

Also, another American, Marcus Douthit, who was naturalized in 2011, contributed a lot in bringing back the country to the international basketball map as it helped the squad to qualify for the World Championships by placing second in last year's FIBA Asia tournament, beating Asian powerhouse and RP's perennial nemesis South Korea in the semifinal game.

 

"We took a leap of faith when we naturalized Marcus Douthit, and that leap of faith paid dividends. We are hoping this would be a similar case with Andray Blatche," Angara said.

 

The lawmaker also dismissed concerns that having naturalized players would stunt our local players, saying that on the contrary, it would definitely help our local players.

 

"Since our local players will be playing against bona fide professional NBA players, they will be forced to improve. It's like we're putting them in a competitive atmosphere. Great players make other players even better," he argued.

 

"This is the first time in 40 years that the Philippine team will play once again in the world basketball tournament. We are number 34 in the world basketball ranking and yet, we made it to the FIBA World Championships, which is the top 24 teams in the world. Given this rare opportunity, we should do everything we can to give our national team the best representation and the best chance to win," Angara added. 

File Charges Against Employer of Abused OFW in Saudi, Legarda Tells PHL Gov’t

MANILA-Senator Loren Legarda today urged the Philippine government to pursue charges against those responsible for the abuse of overseas Filipino worker (OFW) Pahima Alagasi Palacasi.  

Through a Senate Resolution, Legarda urged the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) to exercise the Doctrine of Parens Patriae in pursuing the filing of the appropriate charges against the employer, recruitment agency and other individuals responsible for the abuse against Palacasi.

The Doctrine of Parens Patriae is defined as the inherent power and authority of the state to provide protection to every citizen especially to those persons who are incapable of defending themselves due to their limited capability.

Palacasi, a domestic helper in Riyadh, sustained second-degree burns from her back down to her legs after her employer scalded her with boiling water.

Photos of the maltreated OFW went viral on social networking sites, triggering uproar among netizens who are now calling for justice.

“The inhumane treatment inflicted on Ms. Palacasi is a clear case that deserves immediate action by the government through legal action. The individuals who are responsible for such cruel conduct deserve a distinct place in jail,” Legarda said.

The Senator said that such drastic action against Palacasi’s perpetrators will serve as a stern warning against abusive employers of OFWs and a deterrent to the rampant practice of maltreatment suffered by Filipinos especially those in the vulnerable household service sector.

“The government’s action on this case will send a strong message to the more than two million OFWs abroad that the Philippine government is absolutely serious in uplifting their rights even in a foreign jurisdiction,” Legarda concluded.

PNoy appoints Bulacan Governor as RDC Chair

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga-President Benigno Aquino III has appointed Bulacan Governor Wilhelmino Sy-Alvarado as chair of the Central Luzon Regional Development Council (RDC).

 

RDC Vice Chair and National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Regional Director Severino Santos made the announcement Friday.

 

RDC 3 is the highest policy-making body in Central Luzon and serves as the counterpart of the NEDA Board at the subnational level.

 

It is the primary institution that coordinates and sets the direction of all economic and social development efforts in the region and serves as a forum where local efforts can be related and integrated with national development activities.

 

Council members include all governors, city mayors, municipal mayors of capital towns, presidents of municipal mayors’ league, regional directors of national government agencies and representatives from the private sector. (Carlo Lorenzo J. Datu)

Senate backs bill extending prescriptive period for graft cases, says Drilon

MANILA-In another move to add more teeth to the Aquino administration’s campaign against corruption, Senate President Franklin M. Drilon underscored the need to double the prescriptive period for the prosecution of graft cases from 15 to 30 years.   

The Senate chief said Upper Chamber fully supports House Bill No. 4146 that would increase the prescriptive period giving judicial authorities more time to prosecute unresolved graft cases within 30 years. The bill was recently approved on third and final reading by the House of Representatives.

"Our justice system can only be a strong deterrent against possible malfeasance if we demonstrate that no matter the passing of years, a crime remains a crime and those who committed them must answer for them,” stressed Drilon.

The former Justice Secretary said the bill would empower and capacitate judicial authorities to commence prosecution of corrupt officials within 30 years from the commission of the crime.

Under the current system, a 15-year prescription is being observed in the filing of graft cases and after such period, the government may no longer prosecute graft cases.  

"We must not let time hinder our quest for justice. It is imperative then that we legislate the necessary reforms that will strengthen our justice and legal system,” said Drilon.

Drilon said that the bill, along with other anti-corruption measures, is “a manifestation of the determination of Congress to stamp-out corruption in the country, especially in light of the recent controversy regarding the pork barrel funds.”

Drilon also noted that the proposed measure will complement the amendments to the Sandiganbayan Law recently passed by Senate in third and final reading, saying that the enactment of the two bills into law are crucial in the fight against corruption.

Drilon said the Sandiganbayan Charter is seen “to hasten the disposition of cases in the anti-graft court, which now has a backlog of 3,000 cases which would take five or more years before they are promulgated.

The Senate leader said that the amendments will address the limitations encountered by the Sandiganbayan, “which is supposed to be the front-runner in the fight against corruption.”

“Despite the numerous advancements that have been incorporated in our judicial system through the years, justice continues to be as elusive as it has been during the infancy of our republic. As our judicial structure becomes more ingenious, so does graft and other malfeasance,” Drilon said.

He noted that the Sandiganbayan Law or Presidential Decree No. 1606 last underwent legislative scrutiny almost 20 years ago: “The result is that a case in the Sandiganbayan now takes about an average offive to eight years to litigate and resolve.”

  

“If we are to outrun graft and corruption, it is imperative that we resuscitate and recondition our existing prosecutorial and adjudicatory institutions against this opponent,” he concluded.

PNoy appoints NOLCOM head as new AFP Vice Chief of Staff

CAMP AQUINO, Tarlac City-President Benigno Aquino III has appointed Northern Luzon Command (NOLCOM) Commander Lieutenant General Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. as the new Vice Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

 

He replaced Lieutenant General Alan Luga who retired from service last week.

 

He is a member of the Philippine Military Academy “Dimalupig” Class of 1981.

 

Prior to NOLCOM, Catapang previously led the Army 703rd brigade, which is based in Arayat, Pampanga and Army 7^th Infantry Division in Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija. (Carlo Lorenzo J. Datu)

Guarantee safety and welfare of household service workers abroad – Jinggoy

MANILA-Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada stressed today the need to ensure safety and welfare of domestic workers, mostly Filipinas, abroad through stricter implementation of deployment and anti-trafficking laws and active utilization of diplomatic instruments.

 

This developed as Sen. Estrada learned of the case of a 23-year Filipina domestic worker in Saudi Arabia who was scalded with boiling water by the mother of her employer. The victim, Pahima Alagasi Palacasi, sustained severe injuries on her back and legs.

 

“The horrific case of Ms. Palacasi should never happen again. And the government must ensure that our workers don’t end up on the hands of abusive employers and suffer inhumane working conditions and maltreatment,” Sen. Estrada said.

 

According to the report to Congress by the Department of Foreign Affairs for 2013, there are at least 364,228 domestic workers in the Middle East region alone.

 

Moreover, data from the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) show that on 2012, 155,831 Filipinos have been deployed to be employed as household service workers. The same data set reveal that there is a steady increase in the number of workers deployed as domestic workers for the past years – 50,082 in 2008, 96,583 in 2010, and more than 155,000 in 2012.

 

Sen. Estrada, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Labor, Employment and Human Resources Development, pointed out that the government must also make use of all the available diplomatic channels and instruments in protecting thousands of Filipino household service workers scattered across the globe.

 

The lawmaker said that the country must negotiate for more bilateral labor agreements, especially between countries employing a huge number of Filipino workers. He also said that the country could mobilize support toward the ratification and implementation among member-states of the International Labor Organization (ILO) Convention 189 concerning decent work for domestic workers.

 

ILO Convention 189 came into force last September 2013 after the Philippines became the second country after Uruguay to ratify it. The said convention establishes minimum labor standards for domestic workers and offers among others protection from all forms of abuse, harassment and violence.

ANGARA WANTS TO EXPAND GOVT ASSISTANCE TO STUDENTS IN PRIVATE SCHOOLS

MANILA-As government buys more seats in private schools to accommodate the enrolment overflow in public schools, Senator Juan Edgardo "Sonny" Angara is batting for the expansion of the Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education (GASTPE) to include new benefits like transportation and book allowances for poor students.

Angara said the GASTPE program, which is the country's biggest scholarship program in private schoolsthat aims to decongest public schools, needs to be strengthened so that it can cover more students at higher subsidy rates.

In Senate Bill 199, Angara proposed a raft of reforms to the Republic Act 6728 or the GASTPE Law which include prioritizing students in fifth- and sixth-class municipalities.

He also wanted those coming from poor families identified in the government’s poverty maps, like the one prepared by the Department of Social Welfare and Development, be given “right of way” to GASTPE.

The Department of Education (DepEd) recently announced that for the coming school year, it would provide tuition subsidy to 352,328 students who will enroll in private schools through GASTPE’s education service contracting scheme.

Under the voucher system for the school year 2013-2014, the amount of subsidy was P6,500 for a Grade 7 student in schools outside Metro Manila.

Noting that the program only covers tuition subsidy, Angara said other schooling expenses, “the ones which are in fact higher than tuition,” become part of the assistance package.

Some of these, according to the senator, are transportation allowance and higher funds for textbooks.

“We just cannot dump the excess of the public school system to private schools without giving them the same amount of tools we give to public school students," he said.

In the case of textbooks, Angara said there should be “private school-public school parity” in which the amount of textbooks for GASTPE scholars shall not be less than the per student allocation in government-run schools.

He said a transportation subsidy should be considered in special cases when a student who was not accommodated in a school in his community has to spend for fare in commuting to a private school far from his home.

Angara’s proposed amendments to the GASTPE law also cover college students.

The neophyte senator is batting for the inclusion of qualified enrolling students in “priority courses” determined by the Commission on Higher Education and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.

He is also proposing that tuition subsidy to scholars living below the poverty line be increased by 10 percent a year, subject to availability of funds and screening by the appropriate government agency.

“Seventy percent of any increase, however, in the tuition subsidy shall be earmarked by the recipient school for the payment of the salaries of teachers while 20 percent shall be used to improve school facilities,” Angara said.

To fund all this expansion of programs, Angara proposed that DepEd be allowed to use its previous years’ savings to be augmented by other sources such as 20 percent of travel tax and airport departure tax collections, a portion of the income of other GOCCs, and lump-sum appropriations and other departure tax collections.

The number of enrollees in the Philippine public schools has been constantly increasing over the years because more and more Filipino families cannot afford the tuition in private schools.

In turn, the public school system has been unable to cope with the surge in student populations, resulting in many public schools becoming too congested and no longer conducive to student learning.

Manpower and equipment shortage in public schools is aggravated by the annual increase in the budgetary needs of public schools.

In 1998, Congress first approved the expansion of the GASTPE law to give many poor students the opportunity to avail of quality education in private schools by providing financial assistance to private schools through tuition fee supplements.

Over the years, however, the GASTPE financial assistance to students has fallen far below the government’s per capita cost in the public schools, Angara said.

Hence, there is an urgent need for an amendatory bill to increase the amount of financial assistance to poor students in order to reduce their burden of high education cost in the secondary and tertiary levels.

Angara further acknowledged that the public school system was getting the boost it finally needed from the Aquino administration's infusion of funds to answer the classroom and teacher gap.

In the meantime, however, he stressed that there is a need to ensure that the current generation of children from poor families receives all the help it can get whether in public or private schools.

Invest in Resilience, Legarda Tells WEF

MANILA-Senator Loren Legarda has encouraged both government and the business sector to include resilience at the core of private and public governance as she stressed that disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM) is a wise investment, during the interactive session "Designing Solutions on Climate and Resource Risks" of the World Economic Forum on East Asia.

“Globally, economic losses due to disasters are taking a toll on development. These losses will continue to escalate unless DRRM becomes integral to national development plans and business investment strategies,” said Legarda, who was named a Global Leader for Tomorrow by the WEF in the year 2000 in Davos, Switzerland.

The United Nations report, Global Assessment Report on Disaster Risk Reduction 2013, showed that global economic losses from disasters since 2000 are in the range of $2.5 trillion.

“Poverty and inequalities worsen as natural hazards and climate change constantly affect the poor and keep them trapped in a vicious cycle of risk and poverty. We can ensure our economic resilience by reducing disaster risks, letting investors be aware of it, and requiring business investments to take into account DRRM measures,” Legarda said.


The Senator said increasing public and private investments in advancing DRRM and climate change adaptation (CCA), and transitioning to clean energy, are the greatest economic challenges and opportunities of the 21st century.

She also stressed that in areas that have been devastated by disasters, governments must build back stronger and wiser.

Legislators are likewise urged to address gaps in policies through measures that will: link science and policy-making; finance mechanisms for climate and energy solutions—including energy efficiency, clean technology and green infrastructure investment; and enable the private business and financial community to support comprehensive climate and energy policies and to invest in climate and clean energy solutions.

She also urged the business community to embed DRRM in business processes to strengthen resilience, competitiveness and sustainability.

Legarda said that robust business continuity planning is part of the private sector’s corporate social responsibility.

“Private companies should mainstream resilience in their value chain. Micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) are especially encouraged to develop their BCPs because disaster impacts such as destruction of road infrastructure, bridges and local facilities have drastic effects on them. The business sector is also encouraged to conduct and share risk assessment and best practices of their companies,” she said.

“Disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation must be closely linked to development—the kind of development that does not create new risks but promotes resilient investments,” Legarda concluded.

Jinggoy pushes passage of strengthened apprenticeship program

MANILA=Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada is pushing for the immediate passage of a measure that aims to strengthen apprenticeship programs, in a bid to train and employ more young workers in the technical industries.

 

The Senate Committee on Labor, Employment and Human Resources Development led by Sen. Estrada recently tackled Senate Bill 136 or the proposed Apprenticeship Training Act.

 

The proposal is among the 12 priority legislative measures for the 16th Congress identified by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

 

Under the explanatory note of the measure Sen. Estrada said, “There is a need to institute further reforms and conduct massive advocacy on the apprenticeship program to make it more attractive to both the enterprises and the prospective apprentices, in a fervent bid to promote skills acquisition and youth employment.”

 

Sen. Estrada noted that the biggest number of unemployed members of the labor force belongs to the 15-24 age bracket, and followed by the 25-34 age bracket.

 

He said that the apprenticeship program would also ensure the availability of qualified manpower in critical and in-demand skills.

 

The bill also extends the apprenticeship period from the current maximum period of six months to a reasonable duration of training depending on the training regulation and complexity of skills to be learned by the apprentice.

 

Certified apprenticeship graduates shall also be exempted from probationary employment and shall be employed as regular workers if chosen to be retained by the enterprise.

 

Further, apprenticeship graduates shall be awarded equivalent unit credits in the formal system of education that can be used in pursuing tertiary degree courses subject to the integrated policies and guidelines on equivalency and adult education acceleration program.

 

The panel also considered putting up incentives, such as tax breaks and non-cash incentives like capability building of trainors, for private businesses that will offer apprenticeship programs.

 

It was noted during the committee hearing that only 664 companies have registered apprenticeship programs. They are businesses engaged in tourism, health and other social development services, automotive and land transport, construction, electronics and garments.

 

According to the representative from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), specifically the courses offered are for electronic assembler, welding, masoning, food and beverage services, tailoring, automotive servicing, cooking, housekeeping, refrigeration and air conditioning, and electrician.

 

“Apprenticeship programs have the unique capability of immersing our younger workers in real life employment atmosphere, enabling them to learn technical skills, practical knowledge and experience needed to make them employable and competitive, while providing them the opportunity to earn a living,” Jinggoy states.

 

“The enterprise-based apprenticeship program also complements the competency-based education systems already in place enabling the economy to have a steady supply of skilled workers,” he adds.