27 NOVEMBER 2018_1

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8 METRO John Henry Dodson, Editor Tuesday, 27 November 2018 Daily Tribune Rousing Faura’s ‘gods’ Activists press the Supreme Court to allow Filipino and literature to be taught in college, arguing there are no course duplications vis-à-vis elementary and high school subjects. BOB DUNGO JR. SC asked to reverse CHEd order order would stunt the Filipino there are matters covered in the subject in college, it said. the courses optional in college,” Protesters say there’s no Filipino, literature communication skills of students. latter which are not covered in It added that the Constitution Tanggol Wika convenor David duplications in differing educational levels In its motion for the former,” the group said in even provided for the use of Michael San Juan told newsmen. reconsideration, the group its petition. Filipino as a medium of “If it will become optional, fewer By Gladys Mae Ablon The group led by Tanggol Wika compared the subjects being Tanggol Wika said that if educational instruction. students would take it, and many filed a motion for reconsideration taught in the three levels of indeed the rationale of the SC schools will opt out of teaching Hundreds of professors on the SC decision in favor of education to show there were and CHEd was valid, then it may 10,000 teachers stand to Filipino altogether.” and college students trooped CHEd Memorandum Order 20. The no duplications. also be applied to other subjects lose jobs if controversial Likewise, the group said yesterday to the Supreme Court High Court said the CHEd order “When Filipino in the core that are taught in the three levels memo not rescinded, 10,000 teachers of Filipino and (SC) to protest its decision to prevents duplication of subjects curriculum of basic education of education. These subjects Tanggol Wika says. Literature are bound to lose their back an order of the Commission in elementary, high school and — senior and junior high school, are English, Science, Maths and jobs if the CHEd memorandum is on Higher Education (CHEd) college. in particular — is put side-byside with Filipino in the general The CHEd order would waste Supreme Court throwing college teachers to high school History. “It would be akin to the not overturned. Transferring the removing Filipino and Literature The group was composed of as core courses in tertiary writers and cultural activists who education curriculum at the efforts in the last few years to Filipino and Literature into the would mean lower salaries for education. expressed belief that the CHEd tertiary level, it can be seen that strengthen Filipino as a core wastebasket if it would make them, it pointed out. By Elmer N. Manuel Ateneo rapists on the prowl? ‘Victim’ claimed she was ganged upon and sexually assaulted in the restroom Are there rapists going around the Ateneo de Manila University campus in Quezon City? Officials of the university’s Sexual Misconduct Task Force want to know for sure after a purported rape victim, a female student, wrote about her ordeal in the school’s socalled “Freedom Wall.” The student said she was raped in a restroom on the fifth floor of a school building that was, however, not identified. The victim said she did not know the names of her attackers and that she did not know how they looked like, because the attack “happened so fast.” “Someone, please save me. I feel so scared typing this, but I just can’t take it anymore. I don’t feel safe in our school anymore,” she wrote on the billboard. Task force head Mira Alexis By Alvin Murcia Ofreneo said the school is taking the matter very seriously. “Rape is a heinous crime and is a grave violation of a person’s bodily integrity and human dignity. No one should be made to suffer such an act of sexual violence,” Ofreneo said. In her statement shared by the Ateneo Student Council on its Facebook account, Ofreneo addressed the whistleblower, saying: “We are truly sorry for your pain and suffering.” “Our hearts go out to you, and our doors are open to provide you a safe space and the necessary support and assistance, Ofreneo added. She vowed that the school will bear down on the perpetrators with the full force of the law if their investigation would show that the alleged rape incident indeed happened. “Until then, all are requested to remain calm and vigilant and to avoid any speculation so as to prevent disinformation from spreading,” she added, claiming security had been tightened in the school. The rape claim came a couple of months after allegations of improprieties were raised against a veteran professor who allegedly asked for foot fetish photos from students. The professor was also lambasted in posts alleging improper physical advances from him on students, like touching their necks maliciously during class. A n official of the task force of the Jesuit-run university expressed shock and outrage over the rape report, although little had been reported about the outcome of the complaints against the professor. DoJ offered cybercrime training South Korean prosecutors have visited the Department of Justice (DoJ) and offered training assistance on cybercrime prevention and digital forensics, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said yesterday. Guevarra said the offer was timely as the DoJ is in the middle of laying down a training system for public prosecutors under the National Prosecution Service Academy By Anthony Ching A South Korean will have fond memories of the Philippines after honest staff at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 returned to him, through the Manila International Airport Authority, cash and other valuables he lost at the airport recently. The MIAA yesterday turned over to Hwang Sung-ha a pouch he in Clark, Pampanga. Data breach is a serious concern among big companies and government agencies as cyberattacks are becoming more frequent and bolder, necessitating progressive actions against the assaults. Aside from South Korea, other foreign experts are helping the DoJ enhance its capacity in handling computer-related matters. Meanwhile, Guevarra said the issue of dropped at NAIA 1 last October, along with all its content, including P120,614 in cash, various other amounts in different currencies, credit cards and important documents. Hwang lost the pouch at the UBE Express transport counter, but it was luckily found by Judith Mertola of Lucky Jet Travel & Tours who caused its return to the Korean by turning it over to CAN Ateneo students feel safe in the face of a gang-rape claim in one of its restrooms? FILE PHOTO Korean awed by Filipinos’ honesty MIAA personnel. On his return flight to Korea yesterday, Hwang got a pleasant surprise when MIAA officials turned over to him the pouch he had given up for lost. Hwang was speechless after seeing his pouch and all its contents intact. He said he will tell all his friends and relatives in Korea that Filipinos are honest and trustworthy. the killing of South Korean national Jee Ick-joo was not tackled during his meeting with the Koreans. “(There was) No mention of the Jee Ick Joo case. It’s the Korean ambassador who’s b e e n monitoring that case closely,” Guevarra said. Makati surpasses 2018 revenue target COA hands country’s richest LGU an ‘unqualified audit opinion’ By Sundy Locus Makati City Mayor Abby Binay said yesterday that the country’s premier business district already surpassed by 3 percent last 31 October its 2018 revenue collection target of P15.67 billion. Binay said the revenue milestone reflected the trust and confidence of private sector taxpayers in her reforms to promote efficiency and transparency in government transactions. “We are heartened by the positive outcome of our efforts to strengthen the institutional integrity of the city government,” the mayor said. “Let me assure our residents that my administration will continue to implement and expand existing health, education and social services.” Acting City Treasurer Jesusa Cuneta said the city collected P16,189,056,365 from January to October, or 103 percent of the 2018 target of P15,676,047,000. Local sources propped the bulk of collections, led by business tax with P8.9 billion (100 percent of target) and followed by real property tax, almost P5.2 billion (113 percent of target). Other local revenue sources included fees and charges with P720 million and economic enterprise, P216.8 million. Binay noted that new business registrants as of end-September reached 3,762, based on the records of the Business Permit Office (BPO). The new businesses have a combined capital investment of over P24.5 billion. The number of permit renewals at the end of the third quarter reached 33,781, which was higher by 1,122 compared with the same period in 2017, BPO records showed Makati’s revenue collection from other sources for the 10-month period included P213 million from interest income and P948 million from internal revenue allotment (IRA). Makati is among a few local government units in the country that are not dependent on the IRA. Binay’s administration had waged a campaign against fixers to score high on ease of doing business and securing necessary permits to operate from the local government unit. The mayor was especially proud of the “unqualified audit opinion” given the city by the Commission on Audit, the highest audit rating possible. Happy Korean Hwang Sung-ha (third from left) says he is definitely coming back to the Philippines, impressed with the honesty of Filipinos with the return of his lost valuables. ANTHONY CHING
Jun Vallecera, Editor Tuesday, 27 November 2018 Daily Tribune MOST INNOVATIVE BROADSHEET 2018 44TH PHILIPPINES BUSINESS EXPO TAGAYTAY HOTEL TAKES HOME PRESTIGIOUS AWARDS P18 UE, ATENEO FENCING CHAMPS P14 BUSINESS Iloilo City demands PECO ouster 9 The tons of consumer complaints from Iloilo City residents over a utility firm’s penchant for overbilling its customers, its arrogance when dealing with complaints and the danger presented by its ancient transmission facilities, including half-fallen transmission poles and “spaghetti wires” that dot the skyline caused Panay Electric Co. (PECO) to lose the bid to renew its congressional franchise, a city official said on Monday. Fernandez felt bad because while he barely consumers electricity PECO still sends him high monthly billings. FRUIT prices at retail stores in Metro Manila have stabilized in recent weeks. The curbside narrative, however, argues for prices to rise as the season for gift giving in December approaches. ANALY LABOR In an interview, Iloilo City Councilor Joshua Alim said the city gave the utility firm the opportunity the past 96 years to improve its services but ignored consumer complaints and went on providing arrogant service because of its status as a monopoly. He said PECO received some 1,800 consumer complaints on overbilling and frequent power outages that forced the business community to commission a study identifying what PECO should do for more efficient operations and lower its rates. “Despite constant criticisms aired on radio, despite many complaints about the bad quality of its service, and despite frequent power outages, PECO has done nothing to be a better service provider. The complaints (were) all for naught,” Alim said. He cited the case of ship captain Hazel Fernandez, who is often out of the country on maritime assignments but monitored his electric meter with a video camera to determine if indeed PECO’s meter readers actually checked his electricity consumption and was not just guessing as many suspected. Fernandez felt bad because while he barely consumers electricity PECO still sends him high monthly billings. Pat C. Santos Protest over health benefit tax He said there is even a provision for “free medical care for the pauper” Workers were up in arms on Monday against the Bureau of Internal Revenue’s (BIR) unilateral decision to impose taxes on worker health maintenance organization (HMO) benefits. According to Sonny Matula of the Federation of Free Workers, the tax violates the social justice provision on health of the Constitution (Section 11, Article XIII) which states that the “State shall adopt an integrated and comprehensive approach to health development which shall endeavor to make essential goods, health and other social services available to all the people at affordable cost.” He said there is even a provision for “free medical care for the pauper.” The BIR issued Revenue Memorandum Circular (RMC) 50-2018‬ (A7) recognizing the premium paid by employers on the health card of employees are which provides premiums on health cards paid by employers for employees as part of bonuses and benefits which are subject to the P90,000 tax-exempt threshold. The workers said this effectively CSR is oft referred to as the voluntary integration by companies of social concerns and close interactions with stakeholders, which include contributions of companies to sustainable development of communities. Transparency and accountability in the workplace coupled with goodwill and generosity through company-initiated initiatives should be part and parcel of any responsible and socially-accountable enterprise. Whether big or small, a company should find ways to establish a culture of giving within its organization. Corporate social responsibility or CSR, as it is often called, is not a new concept for us in business. CSR is defined as a type of self-regulation in the private sector, but often times, it goes the extra mile beyond complying with regulations. It is about collectively doing socially relevant activities and initiatives even without anyone mandating so. It is both doing what is correct within the organization and outside the organization. Companies can also look at CSR as a driver of competitiveness and sustainability as it draws a number of pluses, such as talents, management innovation and renewal of economic models. However, even when the concept of reverses a previous BIR ruling that premium on health cards shall be tax-free. “Taxing health cards and even education assistance given to workers (diminishes) the take-home pay of our workers. This is a manifestation of government’s insensitivity to the plight of our working people,” Matula said in a statement. In solidarity with the labor groups, Angara urged the BIR to withdraw the revenue memorandum. He claimed the BIR seems detached from the life of ordinary people and so desperate in collecting taxes they added taxable items ostensibly not supported by law. “We very well know that healthcare coverage by Philhealth or other government institutions is not enough to answer the medical needs of patients suffering from serious illness or sickness requiring confinement,” he said. Alan Tanjusay of the Associated Labor Unions-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines also said the BIR Legislating and mandating our MSME to allocate a percentage of their income to CSR activities might be too back-breaking for them CSR should be innate to enterprises, there are still some countries legislating laws on CSR. Why is that so? And should the Philippines move in that direction? CSR in the world Governments do take seriously the stance of companies when it comes to their CSR activities and initiatives. Simply put, since time immemorial, governments do expect enterprises to act according to what is socially responsible and morally correct. The United States and Scandinavian countries, such as Sweden, Norway and Denmark, espouse strong CSR initiatives. After all, a number of American and Scandinavian companies lead the pack of companies globally in the CSR front. Companies like Google, Walt Disney Company and Lego led the 2018 Global CSR 100 RepTrak Report by the Reputation Institute, placing first, second and third, respectively. According to this global survey, these companies were ranked based on their performance in these initiatives. While there are a set of requirements to comply with on CSR initiatives, the US has included the involvement issuance will discourage employers from buying insurances for their workers. “The amount should now be adjusted to P100,000 in the context of higher inflation (when this) was conceived and calculated. With the P90,000, employers will be discouraged from buying insurance for their workers,” Tanjusay said. He claimed the BIR circular does not help workers and their families at a time when the law should protect more for those who have less. “This BIR disconnect with the working people is always oppressive to workers because they make policies without consulting labor groups,” he added. Earlier, Senator Sonny Angara denounced the BIR for penalizing the poor and low-income families with the tax on HMO benefits. He said the BIR should continue supporting health benefits instead of imposing more taxes on workers. In solidarity with the labor groups, Angara urged the BIR to withdraw the revenue memorandum. Raymart Lolo Why legislate generosity of companies in their local communities, philanthropy and sponsorship. The emergence of the Sarbanes-Oxley law, adopted after the Enron scandal, has started to mandate pertinent laws and even compelling companies to implement CSR when corporate activities trigger what could be societal harm. India was the first country to mandate companies to allocate 2 percent of their income on CSR. But do we really need a legislation to do good? The Philippine story As we all know very well, the composition of industries in the Philippines are mostly the micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSME), at about 91 percent. Mandating the MSME, which are already struggling to make ends meet for their businesses, will be cumbersome for them. Sometime years ago, there had been proposals to pass into law and institutionalize CSR in businesses. While this is a laudable proposal, it does not make any sense to legislate generosity considering that pertinent laws exist that protect people from WORKERS fume over the loss of the tax-exempt status of HMO benefits under new revenue regulation. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO CHAMBER LANE Jess Varela fraud, occupational hazards, community environment and many more. Legislating CSR may just open up more abuses and corrupt practices. Besides, generosity may be obliterated in dictionaries and philanthropy — now a duty. A number of corporations, foreign and domestic that are operating in the country, have established philanthropic institutions geared towards helping the marginalized and other vulnerable sectors, even without the government mandating them so. In its own way, the Securities and Exchange Commission required corporate governance seminars, are also being fulfilled dutifully by companies to instill the value of transparency and accountability in businesses. Why fix what is not broken? Way forward CSR is an integral part of an enterprise. Ensuring best practices are exercised and giving back to the community is prioritized, keeps us all level and part of a community working for inclusive growth and development. Legislating and mandating our MSME to allocate a percentage of their income to CSR activities might be too back-breaking for them, especially for those who are also trying to give ample employment and jobs vis-à-vis working on becoming globally competitive and withstanding challenges in doing business. The gift of being able to help one another… is something that we should all cherish. This is not something imposed or guarded upon. Generosity should come innately and should not be imposed. There are many successful and commendable real-life stories of organizations in the country that are giving back to the community. The Philippine Chamber and Commerce and Industry, the country’s largest business organization, for one, has its own CSR Committee, which has spearheaded vital initiatives and activities, geared towards helping the community, most notably its efforts in the Marawi rehabilitation and other typhoon-stricken regions in the country. The gift of being able to help one another, big or small, is something that we should all cherish. This is not something imposed or guarded upon. As Christmas draws near, it is significant that we reflect further on how we can be of help to one another, mandated or not.
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27 NOVEMBER 2018_1

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