GOOD NEWS: RTWPB approved NEW wage increase in Cordillera Administrative Region

(Wowcordillera) - Workers in some parts of the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) will receive minimum wage increase this year as the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) announced it approved an increase of their minimum wage rate.

Augusto Aquillo, Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board Secretary said  his office had already received a confirmation about the proposed new minimum wage increase.

Aquillo said, the minimum wage rate increase will not be the same to all provinces.  The Department of Labor and Employment will convene on May 24 to explain the approved daily minimum wage increase.

The secretary further explained that workers who are receiving a salary of P285 per day will get an increase of P15 while those workers getting less than P285 will get an increase of P25 per day.

RELATED:  Domestic helpers in Cordillera get P500 minimum wage increase

The new wage order will set an increase of the daily minimum wage rate of workers in the region to P15 making a total salary rate of P300 per day from the previous salary of 285. This covers Baguio, La Trinidad and some parts of Benguet.

The wage order will be effective on June 5, 2017.

READ ALSO: People's Television (PTV - Baguio) is hiring News Anchors, Writers, Cameraman, etc

By Alex.

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People's Television (PTV - Baguio) is hiring News Anchors, Writers, Cameraman, etc

Cordillera - People's Television (PTV- Baguio) or PTV Cordillera is hiring numerous television broadcasting jobs.

On its official Facebook Page, PTV posted that it is urgently needing qualified applicants for the newly opened PTV station located at Romulo Drive, Barangay Lualhati, Baguio City.

PTV Cordillera urgently needs the following:

3 News Anchors/Reporters
2 News Writers/Researchers/Producers
1 Production Assistant
1 Admin Assistant
3 Cameramen
2. Video Editors
1. Director/Technical Director
2 Drivers (Must have 123 Restriction Code)

The post says "qualified applicants should submit his/her resume and pertinent documents to ptnipersonnel@gmail.com." with a subject "Application intent for <position>"

In March 2017, President Rodrigo Duterte graced the inauguration of PTV Cordillera.

The PTV hub in Cordillera was constructed as part of the efforts to improve government owned media facilities. The hub will produced newscast and shows about Cordillera in the Ilocano dialect.

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JOB VACANCY: PDEA-Cordillera needs 185 agents and three chemists. CLICK for more Info

Cordillera - The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency announced it needs new anti-narcotics officers to boost its work force in combating drug proliferation in the country and in beefing up its support over the government's campaign on illegal drugs.

The PDEA - CAR is currently on the look-out for 185 Intelligence Officers and three chemists. Once they passed the qualifying examination, they will be sent to the different training locations in the country for their comprehensive and regimented training program.

RELATED: DENR-CAR needs workers for its regional and field offices. 

Applicants must be 21 - 35 years of age, at least 5'2 tall for men and 5' for women, holder of any baccalaureate degree, holder of CS professional eligibility and have passed the PRC exam or the Civil Service Commission under Special Laws.

Successful PDEA intelligent officers will be given salary of not less than P19,000 under Salary Grade 11.

Interested applicants are required to furnish the following requirements:

- Personal Data Sheet original copy (CSC Form Number 212)

- NSO-issued Birth Certificate (photocopy)

-  Official Transcript of Records (photocopy)

- College Diploma (photocopy)

- Certification of Eligibility (photocopy)

READ ALSO: Japan government to build state-of-the-art drug rehab center in Baguio

You can submit your applications to PDEA - CAR Regional Office at Camp Dangwa, La Trinidad, Benguet.

For more information, watch this PDEA Recruitment infomercial in YouTube.

By Alex

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GOOD NEWS: Domestic helpers in Cordillera get P500 minimum wage increase

Cordillera - Domestic workers in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) will receive salary increase of P500.

The Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board Cordillera (RTWB - CAR) has released wage order No. CAR-DW-02 prescribing new minimum wage rates for domestic workers in the region.

After conducting series of public consultations and hearings from the different provinces in the region late last year and early this year, the RTWD-CAR has announced the necessary adjustment of the current minimum wage  rates of domestic workers.

According to the wage order publication, the reason for the increase is due to the rising cost of living.

Under section one of the said order, the board has approved a salary increase of domestic workers in cities and municipalities to P3,000 a month and P2,500 in other municipalities, an increase of P500 from the previous salary rate implemented in August 2015.

It covers all kinds of domestic workers such as general house helper, yaya, cook, gardener, laundry persons and any person who regularly performs domestic work in one household on an occupational basis except family drivers, children under foster family and any other person who performs occasional work.

The wage order was approved on 19th April 2017 and will take effect 15 days after its publication in a newspaper of general publication.

Aside from the new wage rate, domestic workers are afforded with social and other benefits such as SSS, Philhealth and Pag-ibig which contributions or premiums to these agencies shall be shouldered solely by the employer (based from "Batas Kasambahay" - " Mandatory premium payments or contributions shall be shouldered by the employer. However, if the kasambahay is receiving monthly wage rate of P5,000 and above, the kasambahay shall pay the proportionate share in the premium payment or contributions, as provided by law. http://www.ncr.dole.gov.ph/fndr/mis/files/Batas-Kasambahay-IRR.pdf)

The domestic worker is also entitled to a thirteen month pay.

Augusto Aquillo, RTWPB-CAR secretary, said employers who don't comply with the new order by withholding and interfering the wages shall be fined with not less than P10,000 and not more than P40,000.

Complaints of non-compliance should be filed before any of the the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) offices, Aquillo added.

By Ian - (wowcordillera.com)

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Japan government to build state-of-the-art drug rehab center in Baguio

Aerial View of the Drug Rehabilitation Center at Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija. Image Courtesy: asianjournal

Baguio City, Cordillera - The Japanese government revealed its plan of constructing a state-of-the-art drug rehabilitation center in Baguio.

Baguio City Mayor Mauricio Domogan confirmed on Tuesday that the Japanese government is looking for a 3-hectare land to which the proposed rehab center will be put up.

Department of Health (DOH) Undersecretary Henry Tong-an has relayed the plan to Domogan after their recent meeting this month.

Domogan proposed the Sto. Tomas Apugan for the building of the rehab center as this area is a property of the government, but suggested however, that the rehab will be built somewhere outside the city if it doesn't fit the building standards of Japanese government.

READ ALSO: Two towns in Japan need 32 farmers from Benguet

"If the city government's property will not pass the standards of the Japanese government, we recommend that the proposed drug rehabilitation center be built outside the city," Mayor Domogan said.

According to the city Engineering Office, the planned construction would require an estimated Php200 million for the construction of an access road going to the proposed Sto, Tomas rehab center.


The Japanese government wishes to help the Duterte government war on drugs  by providing rehab centers that would cater drug surrenderees in the city and from the different parts of the Cordillera who wish to get away from drug addiction and build a new life.

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UPDATE: Department of Information offers tips on how to prevent "WannaCry" ransomware. Click to read

(Wow-Cordillera) UPDATED -- Last week, a malicious software also called "ramsomware" has infected tens of thousands of computers worldwide especially targeting countries like Russia, Taiwan and Ukraine.

There were about 57,000 computers in 99 countries that were infected with a ransomware worm called "WannyCry" reports Aljazeera.

What the WannyCry ransomware does to your computer once it infected is encrypt or lock up your files on your computer that you won't be able to access them anymore.

For you to recover your files, you need to pay the hackers money in terms of bitcoin for you to receive a key use to decrypt your files.

Software security companies said that when your computer system is infected, "a pop-up window will appear with instructions on how to pay a ransom amount of $300." Ransomware victim will be given a deadline to pay the ransom, if not, all data will be lost.

How to avoid ransomware attack 

The Department of Information and Communication Technology (DICT) has posted on its FB page an info-graphic detailing about "WannaCry" ransomware and what can you do to prevent it. 

Leading software maker Microsoft laid down simple actions to prevent your computer system being infected by ransomware.

1. Install and use an up-to-date antivirus solution (such as Microsoft Security Essentials)

2. Make sure your software is up-to-date.

3. Avoid clicking on links or opening attachments or emails from people you don't know or companies you don't do business with.

4. Ensure you have smart screen (in Internet Explorer) turned on, which helps identify reported phishing and malware websites and helps you make informed decisions about downloads.

5. Have a pop-up blocker running on your browser.

6. Regularly back-up your important files.

source: Aljazeera.com

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Duterte to ask labor Secretary Bello for possible removal of OEC for OFWs

(Wow-Cordillera) -- In his community meeting with overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) gathered in a hotel near the airport in Hong Kong on Friday, President Rodrigo Duterte once again asked the Filipinos to give him 3 to 4 years to improve the Philippines.

Prior to his scheduled trip to China to attend the One Belt, One Road (Obor) Summit, Duterte delivered a speech to the gathered group of OFWs that eagerly waited for him.

In a short interview after the meeting, the issue of the Overseas Employment Certificate or OEC online service was brought up, asking the president for the total scrapping of the process siting that such procedure only adds to the burden of OFWs when going home.

In order for an OFW to be granted departure from the airport, he/she must present an Overseas Employment Certification  (for first time OFW) or present an OEC exemption number ( returning OFW to the same employer) to the immigration officer before he will be allowed to exit the country.

Although the new procedure of getting a certificate is done partly online, many OFWs still struggle to log-in and register due to unfamiliarity of modern technology.

Thus, they asked the president for a possible removal of the OEC.

President Duterte acknowledged the call and said he will ask the labor secretary to look into it.

"I will ask Bebot Bello to conduct a study. I'm not too familiar with what is wrong here and what is not," he said.

He also added that he will conduct an investigation and crackdown of alleged illegal recruiters who are victimizing many unfortunate Filipinos.

With the regard to the issue of some domestic helpers who allegedly forced to sleep in an inhuman sleeping quarters, he said that Hong Kong authorities and legislators will look into it and will fix the problem.

President Duterte is set to arrive on Beijing, China to attend the Obor Summit on Saturday.

The Obor Summit will be attended by leaders of 28 nations in Beijing to map out China's ambitious new Silk Road project.

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Museo Kordilyera in Baguio lets you time travel to the past and learn the rich culture of the Igorots

This is one of the event you should include in your travel itinerary when you visit Baguio - touring the newly built two-story museum at the University of the Philippine campus called MUSEO KOLDIYERA. 

Since its official launching in February this year, the first ethnographic museum in the north has now been opened for visitors who want to have a glimpse on the rich culture of the Cordillera people through exhibits and displays of their ancient and treasured material culture. 

The Museo Kordileyera was built not only to showcase the different indigenous  culture of Cordillera but " dedicated to the preservation and enrichment" of them.

The museum is a good venue for anyone who wants to have an understanding and learn the identity and culture of the Indigenous people of the Cordillera and Northern Luzon. 

If you want to know and learn the method of tattooing "Batok" done in Ifugao, know what a "hagabi" looks like, come face to face with a "Kadangyan" then head to this museum. 

The museum is situated inside UP-Baguio campus, just a 5-minute walk from Victory Liner bus station. The museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday at 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

Admission Fee for adult is only P60 and P30 for student. 

Click to Enlarge

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Benguet State University (BSU) announces Free Tuition Fee 2017 Guidelines and Requirements. Click to read.

Cordillera - The Benguet State University (BSU) in La Trinidad, Benguet has announced its Free Tuition Fee requirements and guidelines for enrollment this coming school year.

Students enrolling in all states universities and colleges (SUCs) in the country are entitled to a free tuition which is mandated by the government under the Senate Bill 1304 or the Free Higher Education for All Act.

A total of P7.789 billion was allocated to all SUCs in the country for academic year 2017 - 2018 prioritizing those financially disadvantage students.

In an advisory letter posted on BSU's FB page on Thursday, it highlighted the "requirements and pre-registration and enrollment for the said Free Tuition Fee for school year 2017 - 2018.

The letter says"

1. The implementation of "Free Tuition 2017 will start during the first semester of SY 2017-2018.

2. All students are advised to take note that there will be a pre-registration period. The pre-registration and enrollment are as follows.

1st.
Pre-registration - June 26, 2017
Enrollment - July 3, 2017
Priority 1: StuFAP grantees that:
(a) receive more than Php 15,000 annual benefits
(b) receive less than Php 15,000 annual benefits

2nd.
Pre-registration - June 27-28, 2017
Enrollment - July 5-6 2017
Priority 2:  All continuing students. (BSU students who are enrolled at BSU this semester.)

3rd
Pre-registration - June 29, 2017
Enrollment - July 7, 2017
Priority 3: Returning students or new students.
Returning students are BSU students who have not enrolled this semester.
New Students are those who will enroll at BSU for the first time.

4th.
Pre-registration - June 30 - July 1, 2017
Enrollment - July 8, 2017
Priority 4: Other students

3. All students must submit an original or certified true copy of one of the documents listed below as proof of income during the pre-registration period.
a. Income Tax Return (ITR)
b. BIR Form 2316
c. BIR Certificate of Exemption from Filing ITR
d. Barangay Certificate of Indigency
e. Certification from the DSWD
f. Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) Certificate
g. Employment Contract for OFWs
h. Other government-issued documents that indicate the income earnings of member(s) of the household who would be responsible for the financing of the student's cost of education.

4. "Free Tuition 2017" will cover tuition fees only, thus students will pay laboratories and miscellaneous fees during enrollment period.

5. All undergraduate students are advised to take note of the above schedules and requirements.

6. Wide dissemination of this advisory is requested.

Signed: Feliciano G. Calora. JR.
President

Advisory letter from BSU FB page

For more information visit Benguet State University Facebook Page

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DA Sec. Manny Piñol visits Tinglayan, Kalinga, grant farmers P50 million loans and 10,000 coffee seedlings

DA Sec. Manny Piñol handed 10,000 coffee seedlings to farmers in Kalinga. Image credits: Manny Piñol's FB page

Cordillera - Farmers from Tinglayan, Tabuk, Kalinga were the recent recipient of the government's incentive through the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) headed by Secretary Manny Piñol.

On Wednesday, DA Sec. Piñol revealed that a total of 10,000 coffee seedlings was turned over to Tinglayan leaders to be later given to the Kalinga farmers who were formerly marijuana growers.

Aside from the coffee seedlings, a P50 million Production Loan Easy Access (PLEA) program for the Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC) will also be given to the farmers.

According to Piñol, it was the Kalinga Provincial Governor Jocel Baac who recommended the coffee seedling grant to the farmer to help the government effort in combating the growing of marijuana in the region. However, Piñol also pointed out that it would take the farmers to wait for three years before harvesting coffee beans.



READ ALSO: The Great Macli-ing Dulag - The Cordilleran hero who fought for his people

The Kalinga farmers have been calling for the government intervention to revive the coffee industry in the province as this is one of the traditional source of income for many families.

The decline of coffee production can be attributed to the conversion of coffee lands into corn farms due to the lack of coffee seedlings. This problem is one of the reasons why some farmers have turned into planting marijuana instead which is illegal in the Philippines.

In his visit to the town of Tinglayan, Piñol also committed additional livelihood projects such as native pigs raising and free-ranged chicken raising.

Piñol also visited the P1 Billion Farm-to-Market Road project (FMR) funded by the World Bank under the Philippine Development Project (PRDP) which is expected to revive the province's declining coffee industry.

Source: Manny Piñol's Official FacebookPage

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