Arroyo: I’m retiring. No plan to run for anything in 2019

Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Wednesday said that she is not planning to seek any government seat in the 2019 midterm elections.

The former president stressed that nothing can stop her from retiring next year.

“I am retiring… I don’t plan to run for anything in 2019,” Arroyo, who is on her last term as representative of Pampanga, said in an interview on CNN Philippines’ The Source.

Arroyo also dismissed speculations that she aims to become prime minister once the proposed shift to a federal form of government pushes through.

She claimed that the position of prime minister was not provided in the draft of the federal charter prepared by the Consultative Committee which is tasked to review the 1987 Constitution.

“Let me tell you, it’s not in the draft that’s submitted by the administration. So, therefore, I have no plans to become prime minister,” she said.

The 71-year-old lawmaker added that she was impressed by some of the young congressmen she’s currently working with.

“I’m confident when they take over the reins of government, they will do a good job. It’s really time for us to retire,” Arroyo said.

“I’m looking forward to my retirement, I look forward to writing my memoirs,” she added.

House passes bill requiring paid 10-day incentive leave for workers

The House of Representatives approved on third and final reading a bill which seeks to require a 10-day yearly incentive leave with pay for employees, in a bid to “boost the workers’ morale, wellness, and productivity.”

With 203 voting in the affirmative, zero in the negative and no abstention, the lower Chamber passed House Bill 6770, which specifically seeks to amend Article 95 of Presidential Decree No. 442, as amended, otherwise known as the Labor Code of the Philippines.

Once enacted into law, every employee who has rendered at least one year of service would be entitled to a yearly service incentive leave of 10 days, from the current five days.

In an earlier statement, Baguio Rep. Mark Go, who principally-authored the bill, said the prevailing law does not require employers to grant sick and vacation leaves.

The current five-day service incentive leave and other incentives are given based on the prerogative of the employers, either by expressed stipulation on the employees’ contract or through a collective bargaining agreement, he added.

However, the provision would not apply to those who are already enjoying such benefit, those enjoying vacation leave with pay of at least 10 days, and those in establishments regularly employing less than 10 employees or in establishments exempted from granting this benefit by the Secretary of Labor and Employment after considering the viability or condition of such establishment.

Go pointed out that the granting of paid leaves is beneficial to the employees and economically advantageous to the employers.

“The granting of such incentive boosts the morale and satisfaction of employees which is manifested in their increased productivity. Leave credits also minimize the risks of health and safety issues among employees which may be even costlier for both employers and employees in the long run,” he said.   /kga

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1026240/house-passes-bill-requiring-paid-10-day-incentive-leave-for-workers

Senate ratifies coco levy fund bill

The Senate ratified on Wednesday the bicameral conference committee report on the bill seeking to establish a trust fund for coconut farmers.

The measure’s consolidated version was approved by the congressional bicameral conference committee on August 1.

Senator Cynthia Villar, the author of the bill, said 3.5 million farmers are expected to benefit from the measure.

The government, according to the senator, would allot P10 billion a year for the trust fund while P5 billion a year would come from the P105 billion coco levy fund, which could last up to 25 years.

Once ratified by both chambers of the Congress, the bill would be transmitted to President Rodrigo Duterte for signature.   /vvp



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House OKs bill to establish ‘Timbangan ng Bayan Centers’ in markets nationwide

The House of Representatives on Wednesday approved on third and final reading a bill that seeks to establish “Timbangan ng Bayan Centers” in all public and private markets nationwide and penalize those who tamper weighing instruments after these are officially sealed.

With 199 affirmative votes, zero negative votes and no abstention, the lower Chamber has approved House Bill 7857 principally authored by Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Arroyo earlier said the establishment of Timbangan ng Bayan Centers would provide the buying public with an effective means of checking the accuracy of the weight and quantity of the goods they are buying.

The bill specifically seeks to amend Republic Act No. 7394, or the “Consumer Act of the Philippines.”

The proposed measure would insert a new Article 62-A in Chapter 11 of RA 7394 which mandates all local government units (LGUs), through their provincial, city or municipal treasurers, to establish Timbangan ng Bayan Centers in all markets nationwide, public or private, including flea markets or tiangges.

Once enacted into law, instruments for determining weights and measures would be open for and accessible to anyone who needs to verify the accuracy of the quantity and measurement of the products they purchase, according to the bill.

The safekeeping and maintenance of said instruments would also be under the control and supervision of the market supervisor who would likewise be in charge of keeping a record of every product found to be wanting in quantity or substandard in dimension, as well as the establishment where the product was bought, including the name of the proprietor or manager thereof.

The prohibited acts relative to weights and measures provided under Article 64 of RA 7394 would likewise apply to Timbangan ng Bayan instruments.

Further, the bill seeks to amend Section (h) of Article 64 of RA 7394 so that it should be prohibited for any person “to fraudulently alter, tamper, vandalize or destroy any scale, balance, Timbangan ng Bayan, weight or measure after it is officially sealed.”

The bill likewise seeks to amend Article 65 (Penalties) of RA 7394, so that “any person who shall violate the provisions of paragraphs (a) to (f) and paragraph (l) of Article 64 or its implementing rules and regulations shall, upon conviction, be subject to a fine of P50,000 to P300,000  or by imprisonment of one year to five years, or both upon the discretion of the court.”

The present penalty includes fine of P200 to P1,000 or imprisonment of one year,  or both, upon the discretion of the court.   /kga

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1026226/house-oks-bill-to-establish-timbangan-ng-bayan-centers-in-markets-nationwide