NAPC Basic Sector Consultation Workshop reflected new direction of Engagements with the Government

Hon. Sec. Jose Eliseo M.  Rocamora, NAPC Lead
Convenor 

      The National Anti-Poverty Commission conducted Basic Sectors' Consultative Workshop on April 6-8, 2011 at the Ciudad Christia, Barangay Ampis, San Mateo Rizal with the theme : " Kung Mamamayan Ang Boss, Solusyon sa Kahirapan Ay Malulubos".
       Participants from broadest representation including the council members and sectoral representatives from 1998 to 2010 were invited.  There are new players among the Basic Sectors attending the consultation.  Sec. Rocamora spoke of challenges for basic sectors' participation and empowerment in the government's.  
     Ms. Jess Rebete presented the new localization framework to be used in the implementation of PNoy's anti-poverty reduction programs such as Conditional Cash Transfer, SEA-K. The localization framework called "Bayanihan-Salubungan Frame" calls for :  1) operationalization of multi-partnership convergence group at priority poorest municipalities and provinces , 2) synchronization of Regional Line Agencies, LGU, Private/basic sectors' budgetting with local participatory poverty reduction planning and budgetting process, 3) implementation and monitoring of completion of standard monitoring systems for projects delivered by line agencies, LGU's, private sectors, including basic sectors' monitoring system, and 4) technical assistance on foreging  partnership with cvabinet and line agencies and other stakeholders on localization concerns.    

        Ms. Susanita Tesiorna of ALLWIES, Mr. Rafael Mapalo and Ms. Karen Tanada were panel of reactors to the presentation of Ms. Beth Yang on her presentation of revisiting the Basic Sectors' Participation in the National Anti-Poverty Commission. The four Administrative Orders (AO 11, AO 36, AO 21 and AO 187) from President Erap's administration to Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.     

From left to right :  Susanita Tesiorna of ALLWIES, Beth
       Yang of Pilipina, Raffy Mapalo of TUCP and
                     Karen Tanada of WAND.

      

The representatives from the Workers in the Informal
Sector took a pose with Sec. Rocamora.

HOR Committee on Health conducted TWG Hearing on PhlHealth Amendatory Bill

    The Committee on Health chaired by Hon. Rep. Golez conducted Technical Working Group meeting on the proposed legislative measures to strengthen the social health insurance program of the government by amending RA 7875 (An Act Instituting A Natiopnal Health Insurance Program for All Filipinos and Establishing the Phl. Health Insurance Corporation for the Purpose) as amended.

    The proposed amendment as to Section 2: Declared Policy was adopted as follows :  " Pursuant to 1987 Phl. Constitution, the State hereby declares the policy of protecting and promoting the right to health of the people and instilling health consciousness among them.  Towards this end, the State shall adopt an intgferated and comprehensive approach to health development, which shall endeavor to make essential goods, health and other services available to every Filipino at affordable cost." 

     Susanita "Babes" Tesiorna submitted an initial position paper submitted an initial position paper about the definition of informal sector, informal economy, the ne and old view of informal sector, the definition of self-employment and wage employment, key features of the informal economy, significance and permanence, continuum of economic relations and segmentation. Such position paper is expected to influence the legislators and other stakeholders on the proposed legislation in order to meet the objective of universal coverage of social health insurance for the poor.

     The information Tesiorna submitted was highly commended by Hon. Golez in aid of their work.  It also explains the NSCB Resolution No. 2 on Informal Sector definition and the coverage of the NSO Informal Sector Survey 2008.  Ms. Tesiorna was joined by Mr. Roserel Virtudazo, Vice-President of ALLWIES for NCR.  Other invitees were of course Phil Health, private sector, DOH, Associations of Health Service Providers, and civil society.  All repesentatives from various offices present were invited to the next committee hearing.

Susanita Tesiorna of ALLWIES and Rhoda Avila of DSWP

DOLE almost done for the Philippine Labor and Employment Agenda 2011-2016

     The Department of Labor and Employment conducted on April 1, 2011 at the Bayview Hotel a Multi-Partite Consultation Workshop in preparation of the National Summit on Labor and Employment this April 27. The consultation workshop was participated by trade union leaders, informal sector leaders, private sector and the plus sector (NGO, civil society organizations, academe, etc)   The activity revealed that stakeholders and DOLE are almost done in the drafting of the Labor and Employment Agenda 2011-2016 and forging the Philippine Jobs Pact in a consultative process. 

      The said activity aimed to mainstream the concerns and suggestions of the social partners and other stakeholders in the Labor and Employment agenda and to general key sectoral positions or recommendations that form part of the agenda.  It is recalled that the Department of Labor conducted series of island-wide and sectoral consultations last October to November with its social partners.  As an initial result, relevant issues and priority issues were gathered, forming part of the DOLE inputs submitted for adoption in the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2011-2016.

     Susanita Tesiorna participated to it and recalled that she also participated in the national workshop held in St. Benilde, La Salle. She reports that she is very hopeful that concerns of the informal sector are being mainstreamed to the PDP 2011-2016.

     According to the introductory chapter of the Labor and Employment Agenda, it seeks the attainment of the over-all macroeconomic goals set forth in the Philippine Development Plan 2011-2016, particularly the goal of inclusive growth. Through this Agenda, labor and employment  stakeholders recognizes that inclusive growth will only occur by underscoring the need for decent for all Filipino workers, thereby, achieving the country's Millenium Development Goal on eradicating extreme poverty and hunger by achieving full and productive employment and decent work for all, including women and young people.

     Further, in the introductory chapter, it is said that the Labor and Employment Agenda is anchored on the President's social contract with the Filipino people and inspired by his vision of a transformed, just and righteous Philippines.

     Hon. Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz stayed the whole day to personally supervise the activity which was then divided into workshop groups (workers, employers and Plus organizations) to review, comment and enhance the draft Agenda of March 22, 2011. 

     Tesiorna made significant enhancement to the draft by proposing and to mention some  :

a)  Chapter 3 : Pillar 1 :  Rights At Work 
     a.1  harmonization of national legislations .
     a.2  Adminsitrative Order to strengthen PESO for enterprise development and other interventions for the
            workers in the informal economy
     a.3  proposed that since upscaling of micro-enterprises is placed as one strategy, the  Community Based
            Training for Enterprise Development (CBTED) be  integrated with all DOLE livelihood and
            enterprise development programs/projects.
     a.4  Amendment to Labor Code to strengthen the rights of non-regular workers and WIE workers to
           self-organization and negotiated agreement
     a.5 that the legislation of MACWIE be included under focused reforms in the agenda
     a.6 that the ratification of ILO Convention 177 on Industrial Homeworkers be pursued
     a.7 new Administrative Order to implement DO-18 and DO 5 on Industrial Homework
b) Chapter III:  Pillar 2 :  Employment
    b.1  Review of COA Circular No. 1 to make it effective to non-corporate construction workers to be
           able to bid projects of less than P500,000.00 with the local government
    b.2  Assist local government units in implementing RA 9003 specifically on product development from
           recyclable waste materials

To be continued in the next blog.....