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THE OFFICIAL E-NEWSLETTER OF THE PHILIPPINE INFORMATION AGENCY - SIQUIJOR | WWW.PIA.GOV.PH and the DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY - SIQUIJOR | WWW.DOST.GOV.PH VOL. 06| NO. 03 January 19-26 , 2018
DTI Siquijor launches province’s 3rd Negosyo Center SIQUIJOR (PIA) -- The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) here recently launched its 3rd Negosyo Center (NC) in the province at the local government unit (LGU) of Maria, Siquijor. This is also the 49th Negosyo Center in the region. The Negosyo Center in Maria town will serve as the one-stop shop to ease the process of starting up and registering businesses of the micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) around the town and its nearby municipalities. It will also facilitate development programs and provide capacity building programs on business conceptualization, management, marketing, human resource, and other aspects of maintaining businesses. The launching was attended by members of the Provincial Small and Medium Enterprise Development (SMED) Council and Siquijor Chamber of Commerce, local officials, MSMEs, and different associations in Maria. Maria Municipal Mayor Meynard Asok, in his message during the opening program, thanked DTI for setting up a negosyo center in the town as he believes it will boost Maria’s local economy. Asok said the launching is timely as Siquijor is cited as one of the most developing provinces in terms of tourism and economic development, and also one of the top tourist destinations. DTI-7 Regional Director Aster Caberte said the establishment of the Negosyo Center is part of President Rodrigo Duterte’s directive to assist small businesses in the provinces and improve the economic status of its people. “President Rodrigo Duterte instructed our department to help the poor and address concerns on employment, therefore, we are looking at the area of concentrating and supporting the development of MSMEs in the countryside,” Caberte said in her message. She also mentioned the “Kapatid Mentor Me” program, a partnership program between DTI and Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship Foundation, Inc. designed to embolden corporations to assist micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) through introducing Inclusive Business
It took less than five minutes to process the Business Name Registration of the first applicant right after the launching of the Negosyo Center in Maria, Siquijor. (PIA Siquijor) (IB) models which is an effective business solution that benefits low-income business practitioners by including them in a company’s value chain. Caberte urged the LGUs to prioritize the MSMEs as they play a crucial role in achieving inclusive economic growth. She said Negosyo Centers are excellent channels to connect with entrepreneurs, provide them with the necessary assistance, and ensure that MSMEs benefit from the government trade’s policy making and execution. With the Maria NC, DTI has exceeded its regional target of 48 national centers regionwide, she added. Caberte assured the LGUs of a number of programs and projects in store for the province as she claimed Siquijor as the launching pad of the
agency. DTI Provincial Director Nimfa Virtucio also explained that the establishment of NCs is pursuant to Republic Act 10644 otherwise known as Go Negosyo Act. “Through this act, the DTI, with the support of the local government units and other government agencies, will assist MSMEs to be more economically viable so that they can contribute to the government’s efforts of poverty alleviation and to contribute to the economy,” said Virtucio. She explained that NCs are mandated to provide business advisory and information services, capability building sessions, and will serve as application centers for Barangay Micro Business Enterprises (BMBEs). (rac/PIA-
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is the Island of Siquijor’s first electronic newsletter produced by the Philippine Information AgencySiquijor Information Center and the DOST - Provincial Science and Technology Center. It contains snippets of information about Siquijor, Central Visayas and the Philippine Government. THERE IS GOOD NEWS EVERYDAY.
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DOLE-7 One-Stop Service Center for OFWs served over 80,000 in 2017 (PIA) --- Around 82,554 Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) were served at Region 7 One-Stop Service Center for OFWs (OSSCO) in 2017. “The significant increase of the number of OFWs coming to the OSSCO is proof that there are more migrants becoming aware of the services being delivered by the agencies involved in the center’s operations,” said DOLE-7 OIC-Regional Director Cyril Ticao. The center is located at the 2nd Floor, Government Express Center, SM City Cebu, North Reclamation Area, Cebu City that houses 15 agencies rendering selected assistance and services to OFW-clients. For 2017, the months of June and July recorded the highest number of OFWs seeking assistance at the center with the Philhealth
registering the highest number of clients served at more than 4,000 for each month. In his report to Director Ticao, National Reintegration Center for OFWs (NRCO-7) Regional Coordinator Dexter Paro cited that Philhealth assisted a total of 45,537 OFWs for the year. This is followed by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) tallying 10,777 clients served. The Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) assisted 6,009 OFWs, while PAG-IBIG recorded 5,055 assisted. The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) reported more than 4,000 OFWs served and following it is the Philippine Overseas
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PH gov’t receives $1.25 billion investment agreements, pledges from India New Delhi, India - Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque on Thursday, January 25, announced that investment pledges and agreements from Indian firms reached a total of $1.25 billion, which are expected to generate thousands of jobs for Filipinos.
“The truth of the matter is, even before the start of the ASEAN-India [Summit], DTI has already facilitated $1.250 billion in new investments in the Philippines,” Roque said during an official press briefing at the sidelines of the ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit 2018.
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DOLE-7 One-Stop Service Center for OFWs served over 80,000 in 2017 from page 2
Employment Administration (POEA) with 3,278 migrant workers assisted. The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) rendered assistance to more than 2,000 OFWs, which is being closely followed by the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA), serving around 1,890 clients. A total of 1,364 OFWs were assisted by the Social Security System (SSS), while about 434 clients were being served by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA). The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) came in next with 403 OFWs assisted, followed by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and Bureau of Immigration (BI) with 282
and 235 OFWs served, respectively. The National Reintegration Center for OFWs (NRCO), on the other hand, served 87 and DOLE, 34. “The implementation of the OSSCO is in response to the marching orders of President Durterte, through Labor and Employment Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III, which is to streamline government services particularly those solely designed by government to cater to the needs of the OFWs,” added Ticao. The center is a place where migrant workers transact, file applications, raise inquiries and process documents in one place. (jsme/PIA7Cebu/DOLE-7)
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) announced that it has obtained at least nine investment pledges and agreements from top Indian companies, which are expected to strengthen the Philippines’ economic relationship with the South Asian country. The DTI conducted a series of meetings at the sidelines of the Summit to discuss investment plans with major Indian conglomerates that intend to either expand or begin their operations in the Philippines. Lopez said the agency received a total of seven letters of intent from firms that expressed interest in investing in the country. Meanwhile, he added that two memoranda of understanding (MOU) on investments were also signed between India and the Philippines. “We had basically about nine agreements with them on how… we can both expand and strengthen our trade and investment relationship,” Lopez stressed. “I will tell you that it is emerging to be a substantial commitment on the investment side as well as job generation side,” he added. The investment pledges came from companies involved in pharmaceutics, information technology, energy, tourism, medical wellness and business processing management. Lopez said the Philippine government primarily wanted to prioritize pharmaceutics and business outsourcing as areas of cooperation with India, since the country is known to excel in both industries. He said this was “aligned with what the President intends to achieve in this visit – to strengthen the trade on pharmaceuticals to ensure that the Filipinos will have better, easier access to affordable quality drugs.” Lopez said there were even discussions to create a working group to develop a plan that would strengthen the two countries’ trade and investment partnership on pharmaceutics. The group was given two months to provide a report. Meanwhile, Secretary Roque reported that the recently concluded bilateral meeting between President Rodrigo Duterte and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi fostered a shared commitment to expand the two countries’ ties particularly on business and security. “The two heads of states agreed that relations, while already very good, will even be better and that there will be further bilateral negotiations on issues involving trade and even military cooperation in the next two months,” Roque said.
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3-M senior citizens, mahatagan og dugang subsidiya tungod sa TRAIN Law Jan. 17 (PIA)--Gibanabanang naa sa 3-milyong senior citizens sa tibuok nasod ang makadawat og dugang nga P200 subsidiya matag buwan ubos sa “Unconditional Cash Transfer” alang sa mga kabos, base sa nakalatid sa bag-ong Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law. Matud pa ni Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) OfficerIn-Charge Emmanuel Leyco, ang mga senior
citizen nga nalakip sa Social Pension Program sa gobyerno makadawat og dugang nga P300 matag buwan sa 2019. Giingong makadawat usab sila og lump sum nga P2,400 sa umaabot nga buwan sa Marso. Gawas pa kini sa binuwang pension nga P500. Apan gi-klaro ni Leyco nga dili
tanang senior citizen ang kwalipikado tungod kay kadto lamang mga nalakip sa Social Pension Program sa ilang ahensiya ang mahatagan sa bag-ong subsidiya. Ang dugang tabang pinansyal nakalatid sa TRAIN Law aron maabagan ang mga kabos nga senior citizen sa epekto sa pagsaka sa presyo sa mga panaliton tungod sa bag-ong buhis nga ipahamtang sa pipila ka produkto. (ecb/PIA7-Bohol)
ECC migahin ug P672M benepisyo sa katawhang adunay kapansanan tungod panrabaho (PIA)—Ang Employees’ Compensation Commission pinaagi sa pakiglambigit sa Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) ug Social Security System (SSS) migahin sa kantidad nga P672,521,916 isip benepisyo alang sa katawhang adunay kapansanan sa panglawas tungod sa ilang panrabaho ubos sa Employees’ Compensation Program (ECP). Ang maong kantidad gitagana gikan sa bulan sa Enero hangtud Hunyo 2017 diin mikabat sa 142,812 ka EC claims ang gipasaka ngadto sa SSS ug GSIS. Mikabat na sa 122,707 ka EC claims ang na proseso sa SSS sa kantidad nga P571.78 million lakip na niini ang death ug pension benefits nga 97,918 claims, sickness benefits claims nga13,724, 9,904 nga disability benefits ug medical services reimbursement , 784, 229 usab nga funeral benefits ug laing 148 claims nga rehabilitation services. Samtang ang buhatan sa GSIS nka proseso na sa gidaghanong 20,105 ka EC benefits nga mikantidad ug P100.74 million, gibahin sa ka kategoryang death and pension claims nga 17,300, 1,387 sa medical services reimbursement, 958 nga disability benefits, 356 nga sickness benefits, 88 nga funeral benefits, ug 16 alang sa rehabilitation services. ECC Executive Director Stella Zipagan-Banawis mitumbok nga adunay 43 porsyento nga pagsaka sa kantidad sa benefits nga gi release sa ECC apan gi tugbangan usab ug 2 porsyento usab nga pagkunhod sa pag proseso sa mga claims gikan sa Enero hangtud Hunyo 2017 kung i-kumpara sa parehong bulan sa tuig 2016. (lpp/PIA7/ Negros Oriental)
Pagbukas sa Negosyo Center sa Maria, Siquijor. Kini mao ang ikatulong Negosyo Center sa lalawigan sa Siquijor ug usab ika-49 sa Central Visayas kon Rehiyon 7. (rac/PIA-7 Siquijor w/ LGU Maria photo)
Labing kabos nga pamilya, hatagan og P200 matag buwan
(PIA)- - Hatagan sa gobyerno og P200 nga subsidiya matag buwan ang labing kabos nga pamilya. Kini aron matabangan sila nga makasugakod sa mahimong epekto sa Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) law sa administrasyon. Matud pa ni Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Kalihim Benjamin Diokno, ang P200 nga subsidiya matag buwan tubag sa mga kritiko nga nag-ingong “antipoor” ang bag-ong balaod. Giingong makatabang sa 50 porsiyento nga pinaka-kabos nga pamilyang
Pilipino kining aksiyon sa gobyerno nga gipaabot nga maapektohan sa bag-ong tax package. Gitumbok usab ni Diokno nga ang malungtarong epekto sa TRAIN law mao ang mapakunhod ang mga presyo nga mahimong makaingon sa mas maayong produksiyon, piskay nga mga imprastraktura ug ubos nga presyo sa transportasyon. Naggahin ang gobyerno og P24.5bilyong unconditional cash grants pinaagi sa Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) diin gipaabot ang P200 – P300 nga pagsaka sa subsidiya sa tuig 2019 ug 2022. (ecb/PIA7-Bohol)