GREAT Women Project : "Kababaihan Iahon sa Kahirapan"

     The GREAT Women Project implemented by the Philippine Commission of Women, added to its list of activities in celebrating International Women's Month (March), the conduct of Talakayan: Kababaihan Iahon sa Kahirapan on March 29, 2011 at the BSWM Convention Hall of the Bureau of Soils, Visayas Road, Quezon City.  The Gender Responsive Economic Actions for the Transformation (GREAT) of Women is supported by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) in provinces such as :  Quezon, Ifugao, Metro Naga Development Council, Bohol, Iloilo, Leyte, Davao del Sur, PPALMA Alliance and 36 municipalities.

     The project's expected result is major changes in mindsets of Phil Commission of Women, National Government Agencies and Local Government Units to :  1)  help women scale up businesses through value- chain development, 2) for NGA's and LGU's to recognize the need to harmonize plans, and 3) for LGU's to increase appreciation of gender-responsiveness in all plans and programs. 

     The Talakayan featured wealth of information from presentation of various agencies such as DTI-BMSMED, DOLE, DWSD, DOST, DAR, PhilHealth, SSS, OPAPP, PCFC on projects and programs that would help entrepreneurship for women and NEDA on the Millenium Development Goals.

     Susanita Tesiorna, President of ALLWIES and Josephine Parilla of PATAMABA and Treasurer of ALLWIES were reactors on social protection, livelihood and enterprise development presentations. The reactions including that of an LGU representative is hoped to improve the implementation of various programs and  projects of the government for socio-economic to help achieve the goal of socio-economic empowerment of women.

    To mention some of Susanita Tesiorna's reaction, she  spoke on the call to have transparent selection criteria for the P500M funds to finance health insurance for the informal sector  under PhilHealth Board Resoultion Nos. 1478 and 1479 passed in the last PPhil Health Board Meeting and recommended that it should be in according to the poorest provinces identified by the National Statistics Coordination Board launched earlier of this year. She also spoke that the problem of lack information, just like other services of the government, is perennial and PHIC should implement one of the provisions in RA 7875 to tap community based organizations like BHW to help disseminate information. Further, she said that information is not enough but educating the communites about the importance of social security until the culture of social security in cultivated in every Filipno home. SSS and OSH related agencie should do likewise.  She also mentioned that in the RA 7857, indigents should graduate into an independent paying member, that the question of when to stop subsidizing was put forward.  

      She also mentioned that it is worth noting that 15 years ago, the advocacy of her organization and partners spoke of lack of social protection, lack of access to productive resources,  and at least on these two major sectoral issues, she can say that since 2005, the cry is towards improved access. There is great hope for Filipinos if all systems work in an integrated approach as the government also went out of their "boxes" to meet the challenge of reality economy..    



Susanita Tesiorna



DSWD Chorale



Dir. Rhodora Leano, Bureau of MSME Development



For  the Agrarian Reform Communities



Information and education about informal economy

          The Education Committee of ALLWIES shares this information material about the informal economy which is believed to be very useful to policy makers, legislators, program and project developers, advocates, national and local government leaders and the workers in the informal economy themselves. This information includes the discovery of informal sector in 1950's, the international debates, the gender perspective.  It also includes the three schools of thoughts of informal sector : 1) the dualist school popularised by the ILO in 1970's, 2) the structuralist school popularised by Caroline Mosser and Alexandro Portes among others in the late l970's and l980's, and 3) and legalist school popularised by Hernado Soto in

the l980's and l990's.

     This information also includes the new term and expnaded definition of the term informal economy and its key features. 

  Quoting some from this link :

"Current thinking regarding the informal economy, as summarised below, suggests the need for an integrated approach that looks at which elements of the dualist, legalist and structuralist schools of thought are most appropriate to which segments and contexts of informal employment. Clearly, some poor households and individuals engage in survival activities that have – or seem to have – very few links to the formal economy and the formal regulatory environment (dualist school); some microentrepreneurs choose to avoid taxes and regulations (legalist school); while other units and workers are subordinated to larger firms (structuralist school)".

Informal Economy and Gender

Certificate of Appreciation Received by ALLWIES President from Phil Health

Ms. Susanita "Babes" Tesiorna posed for a souvenir
with the "Certification of Appreciation" at the
NAPC-Workers in the Informal Sector Office at the
Bureau of Workers with Special Concerns-Department
of Labor and Employment

     Babes Tesiorna posed with pride her "Certificate of Appreciation" signed by Pres. Rey B.  Aquino of the Phil. Health Insurance Corporation and Sec. Enrique T.  Ona of the Dep't. of Health and Chairman of the Board of the said corporation recognizing her exemplary contribution to Phil Health policies and programs during her term as Board Member from Dec. 16, 2004 to 2010. 

     Babes Tesiorna is the designated representative of the late Hon. Francisco T.  Oca, to the said Board, an Ex-Officio position for the Vice-Chairman of the NAPC-Basic Sectors. 

       As she recalled, she said that the best training ground she ever had in being an effective Board Member in the PHIC was the TUCP Informal Sector Project, the "Empowering Women and Children in the Informal Sector" from 1995-2000" of which one of the sectoral issues of the project was addressing the lack of social protection such as SSS, Health Insurance. It was in this project that Ms. Tesiorna, representing KAKASAHA-SKA Inc. TUCP affiliate federations, Balikatan sa Kaunlaran Foundation represented by now Mayor Guia Gomez of San Juan, the late Ka-Trining of PATAMABA worked closely with the Phil Health and SSS at least in five pilot areas (Negros, Reg. 4-A, NCR, Region 3, Cebu) and Surigao del Norte as an expansion program to advocate to the local governments to implement Phil Health Indigent Insurance Program, the individual paying program , etc... The lessons learned from this informal sector program of TUCP has become her backbone in the advocacy for the universal coverage of Phil Health and SSS.

     When the National Anti-Poverty Commission was created and first implemented by Pres. Josepph Estrada, Susanita Tesiorna was elected by the sector as Alternate Commissioner, she made sure that the NAPC-Workers in the Informal Sector Agenda bears the Phil Health and SSS insurance coverage among others and it was among the six Lingap Programs implemented by the Estrada Administration.  During the administration of Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, she was elected again by the Sector and become the Sectoral Representative. She continued the advocacy and had good chance of further advocacy in the NAPC-En Banc arena. The NAPC-En Banc is chaired by the President and members of En-Banc are the 14-Basic Sector Representatives, 23 government agencies, GOCC's, GFI's and the (ULAP) Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines.   
    The advocacy for universal coverage of health insurance did not end for Ms. Tesiorna with her term ended as Phil Health Director. 

DOH held 1st Meeting of IYCF Ad-Hoc Committee for Interventions 2011-2016

Add:  Dr. Vicenta Borja of the National Center for Disease
Prevention and Control - Dep't. of Health explains the
objective of the 1st IYCF Ad-Hoc Meeting.

           The National Center for Disease Prevention and Control of the Department of Health conducted the 1st IYCF Ad-Hoc Committee Meeting for five interventions under the 2011-2016  National Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) Strategic Plan of Action with the goal of reducing child morbidity and mortality through optimal feeding of infants and young children.  It was held on March 18, 2011 at the Family Health Office of the department.

          Ms. Susanita Tesiorna, President of ALLWIES, was one of those invited, who then committed to work for the two interventions namely the workplaces and family/community. She said that her organization and network has focused since last year on this sectoral issue under the Occupational Safety and Health Program after policy gains on the improvement of income of the workers in the informal economy, improved access to training, credit, market, social security and health insurance.    

        The Infanct and Young Child Feeding Plan of Action has  five intervention settings namely health facility, community, work place, school and industry in the plan supported by R.A. 10028, “Expanded Breastfeeding Promotion Act of 2009”.  The goal of the IYCF is to reduce child mortality and morbidity through optimal feeding of infantsa and young children. The 2010-2011 expects outcome by 2016 as follows:  1) 90% of newborns are initiated to breastfeeding within one hour after birth, 2) 70% of infants are exclusively breastfeed for the first 6 months of life, and 3) 95% of infants are given timely adequate and safe complementary food starting at six months of age.

ALLWIES Meets Municipal Councilors on Maternal Death Reduction in Siargao



Front :  Hon. Zosima Espaldon, Susanita
Tesiorna of ALLWIES, Hon. Florita
Tesiorna.  At the back are Hon. Nogalo,
 SK Federation Vice-President and
Hon. Guillermo Boncaros

                        



          Ms. Susanita Tesiorna meet with the four Honorable Councilors of the Municipality of Dapa, Surigao del Norte while they were here in Manila to participate to the Phil Councilors' League National Congress to monitor the impact of Municipal Ordinance No. 5, series of 2009 that aims to reduce if not eliminate maternal death caused by hilot.

           The Honorable councilors bragged that the ordinance was effective in reducing maternal death which was reported high caused by "hilot" and lack of resources to deliver births in hospitals.  The Rural Health Doctor is very creative to develop such a concept and not wait for additional LGU allocation being a top three poorest province.  Much can be done to reduce maternal and neo-natal death and ensure that babies born are implemented with the Unang Yakap and will be exclusively breastfeeding the baby for the first six months inspite of the meager resources of the local government.

          The pregnant mothers, according to Hon. Zosima  Espaldon appreciate such initiative of the local government and the Rural Health Center because in addition to safety and health matters, they also have some savings from the excess of the birth delivery expense out of P1,000.00 prenatal savings.  Ms. Tesiorna thanks the LGU for continuously supporting the ISP-TUCP, now ALLWIES-TUCP projects on poverty alleviation since 1999.

ILS DOLE Convened NTAC Meeting for Labor Employment Summit - P-Noy's MTPDP

          In preparation towards shaping the Philippine Labor and Employment Agenda  in the Medium Term 2011-2016, the Institute of Labor Studies of the Department of Labor and Employment convened a meeting for the National Technical Advisory Committee on Decent Work last March 9 at the Century Imperial Suites Hotel, Timog cor Tomas Morato Ave., Quezon City.  It was an assessment workshop on the 3rd cycle of the Phil. Decent Work Common Agenda 2008-2010.

          The tripartite constituents took turn of validating and presenting more outputs.  Such accomplishment report will be finalized and be presented in an NTAC Meeting to be participated by Sec. Rosalinda Baldoz of the Department of Labor and Employment.

          The Medium Term Phil. Development Plan of the P-Noy Administration (2011-2016), the Labor and Employment in particular tackles the following :  1) Infrastructure development, 2) financial sector and capital mobilization, 3) macro-economic policy, 4) peace and security, and 5) environment and natural resources. Its goal is to increase decent and productive employment and enhance inclusive job-rich growth by creating opportunities for and returns to human capital and enhancing the level of human capital.

          The Department of Labor and Employment jumpstarted the process towards shaping the Phil. Labor and Employment Agenda of the Aquino administration by conducting series of island-wide and sectoral consultations among its social partners.  Susanita Tesiorna, President of ALLWIES, participated in the National Level of pre-employment summit held at St. Benilde, De La Salle, Manila.  She is also representing the workers in the informal economy in the National Technical Advisory Committee on Decent Work.

 

             

  

Labor Committee of the House of Representatives set for the MACWIE

 





From right: Rep. Emmeline Aglipay, Rep. Emil Ong, the Committee
 Secretary, hidden is Hon. Rep. Salvador H. Escudero III and
Hon. Rep. Dan Fernandez. 







A photo of the historic day for the workers in the informal economy in the Philippines.



          The Labor Committee of the House of Representatives held its Pre-Labor Committee Meeting on the Magna Carta for the Workers in the Informal Employment and Magna Carta for the Workers in the Informal Sector which is filed in this 15th Congress.  The Honorable Congressmen, authors of the three (3) bills on file presented the salient features of the respective bills except Hon. Lorenzon "Erin" Tanada as he was participating in the Committee on Justice Meeting on the Gutierrez impeachment. The HB 768 , "An Act Providing for a Magna Carta of Workers In Informal Employment" is the consolidated version of the bills filed by Hon. Ramon "Dan" S. Fernandez, Hon. Huan Edgardo "Sonny" M.  Angara and Hon. Lorenzo "Erin" Tanada III. 

          Hon. Rep. Salvador H.  Escudero III also filed HB No. 3014 or an act that shall be known as the "Magna Carta of Workers in the Informal Sector" while Hon. Rep. Emmeline Y. Aglipay filed HB No. 4306 to be known as Magna Carta for Informal Sector Workers. 

          Inspite that there are three (3) bills on file, the advocates such as the MAGCAISA, ESCR and ALLWIES were all hopeful as the Honorable Congressmen pronounced also their time frame of having the Magna Carta passed at the end of this year or in this 15th Congress.  It was also agreed in this meeting that TWG be created immediately and Hon. Representative Mikey Arroyo who manifested his interest as Co-Author suggested to finish the consolidated version of the Bill before this session ends.  It was also agreed as proposed by the advocates to create a sub-TWG to help the Committee Secretariat.  The sub-TWG agreed afterwards to hold its meeting on March 12, 2011 to draft the consolidated version to be submitted to the Committee Secretariat. All authors presented the salient features of respective bills and one notable expression of dedication to the sector was of Rep. Dan Fernadez as he quoted : "Those who have less in life should have more in laws".

         The Committee meeting was first chaired by Hon. Rep.  Emil Ong and later by Hon. Rep. Jayvee Ejercito.  Each resource persons invited were called to speak by Hon. Ejercito, all of them praying for the legislation of the Magna Carta for the protection and development of the informal sector or workers in the informal economy.  When Susanita Tesiorna took her turn of speaking, she only requested that at the Committee Level, the National Statistics Office and the National Statistics and Coordination Board be invited to present the Philippine definition of the informal sector and the statistics as per NSO survey 2008. Instead, she talked more about the history of the Magna Carta relating the processes to respective Representatives with their parents like Mayor Guia Gomez and Pres. Erap Estrada, Sen. Chez  Escudero, Rep. Bellaflor Angara Castillo and Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.  Ms. Tesiorna, President of ALLWIES, mentioned TESDA and BWSC representatives as the witnesses to the democratic sectoral processes of the things mentioned.  After her talkies, Hon. Escudero responded by saying that they are flattered and that they don't want the legislation of the bill be passed on to the grandchildren. The meeting was so light, a very good sign for the advocates and the legislators.  Other advocates present were the MAGCAISA members, ESCR, UP. Dean Rene Ofreneo, HOMENET-Phils. represented by Prof. Inday Ofreneo.

 

Susanita "Babes" Tesiorna giving
history of the Magna Carta.

 

From left :  Elizabeth Angsioco of the
Democratic Socialist Women of the Phils.,
ALMANA, Susanita Tesiorna, ACIW
and Resureccion Lao of the ESCR



                                                                                                                    



Knowledge Sharing at the House of Representatives

Feb. 21, 2011 :


          The Committee on Poverty Alleviation and the Committee on Health of the House of Representatives conducted "Knowledge Sharing" on the Conditional Cash Transfer and the National Household Targeting System on Poverty Reduction (NHTS-PR) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development. It was such a very informative activity for all Representatives, the Committee Secretariat, the development workers and government agencies invited in aid of legislation and policy development.  The House Committee on Poverty Alleviation is chaired by TUCP Party List Raymund Mendoza.

          Dr. Mahar Mangahas presented the pilot spot check of the implementation and its impact to poverty reduction measures as well as another consultant from the Ateneo de Manila University.  Both Resource Speakers presented the strengths and the areas for improvement of the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) to efficently achieve the MDG Goal to reduce poverty by half in 2015.  However, it was notable that most of the weakness in the implementation were coming from the supply side, which is from the government's responsibilites and mandates.

          It was also announced that the NHTS-PR result of the DSWD is being used by the Phil Health in the issuance of the indigent cards by virtue of Executive No. 367.

          With the room for improvement presented, Susanita "Babes" Tesiorna, President of ALLWIES, one of those invited has high hope that the MDG Goal of reducing poverty by half in 2015 is nearly achievable , if not achieved. She recalled that the NHTS-PR is the government's response to the NAPC-Basic Sectors clamor for single targeting system of the poor to be more efficient and effective in poverty reduction measures during the Estrada and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo administrations.
          Mabuhay Pilipinas!