MIASCOR’ s fiasco... p. 4
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VOLUME XXXIV No. 29 Enero 29-Pebrero 04, 2018 P6.00
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Start of jeepney phaseout protested, alternatives pushed
The apprehensions and the stiff fines have prompted operators to temporarily sideline their jeepneys, resulting in reduced number of jeepneys plying the streets thereby creating more difficulties for commuters.
By MARYA SALAMAT
MANILA – Members and allies of Pagkakaisa ng Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide( Piston) and the No To Jeepney Phaseout Coalition staged a protest rally on January 24 from the Quezon Memorial Circle to the headquarters of the Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board( LTFRB). They made it clear that it was not a transport strike, a response to what they described as misrepresentation and“ paranoid” responses of transport officials of the Duterte administration. Still, as they gathered, they noted formations of policemen trying to intimidate the rallyists. At one point, the police tried to direct an empty bus into parking where the jeepney drivers were holding a program.
The drivers were protesting the actions of the Inter-Agency Council on Traffic( I-Act) under the LTFRB, saying this is the start of the costly, unacceptable and anti-poor jeepney phaseout. Since January 8, the LTFRB has apprehended jeepney drivers on the road and imposed fines citing their dilapidated vehicles.
The apprehensions and the stiff fines have prompted operators to temporarily sideline their jeepneys. The result is
less number of jeepneys plying Continue on page 2
Public sector union leader decries harassment from suspected state agent
“ This is the handiwork of the Duterte regime using the same Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Philippine National Police and the paramilitary goons to terrorize and intimidate legitimate activists and unionists.”
By ANNE MARXZE D. UMIL
MANILA – The national president of the Confederation for Unity, Recognition and Advancement of Government Employees( COURAGE) Ferdinand Gaite decried harassment by a suspected state agent who went to his residence on Jan. 19.
According to COURAGE, a man went to Gaite’ s house at 11:00 a. m. and introduced himself as Danny, from the Department of National Defense( DND).
Gaite was not at his house at that time, the man talked to his house help instead. The man asked personal information about Gaite such as the names of his children, the owner of his house, how he treats his house help, his job, among others.
The man was described to be about 5’ 9, has dark complexion and weighs about 150-160 pounds.
The group said the man went to his neighbors also asking the same questions in the guise of conducting a credit investigation for Gaite’ s supposed bank loan. The man left the village after an hour.
Gaite went to the village security guard upon learning about the incident. He found out that a certain David S. Jacson( whom they said fits the name of Danny) asked permission to visit Gaite at his house. The man’ s entry and exit from the village was recorded in a CCTV. He was riding a motorcycle with plate number NC 5392.
Gaite said he has no pending loan application and does not know Danny or David S. Jacson.
“ This is the handiwork of the Duterte regime using the same Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Philippine National Police and the paramilitary goons to terrorize and intimidate legitimate activists and unionists,” Gaite said in a statement.
In a statement, COURAGE vice president and National Federation of Employees’ Associations in the Departments and Agencies in Agriculture( Nafeda) president Santiago Dasmariñas slammed President Duterte for continuing a counterinsurgency program
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Photo courtesy by Bulatlat. com
Increase in SSS contribution‘ the last thing SSS should be doing’— Bayan Muna
“ This( supposed increase in income) is misleading because not all workers would have increased take home pay because of the TRAIN. In fact majority of workers would still have the same wages but will have added expenses due to the TRAIN.”
By MARYA SALAMAT
MANILA – On top of increases in prices of fuel, oil, and sweetened drinks as a result of the Duterte administration’ s“ tax reforms” under TRAIN, SSS contributions may soon be increased by 14-percent if the SSS chief had his way.
SSS president and chief executive officer Emmanuel Dooc told a Philstar reporter two days ago that the state fund intends to pursue the hike in contribution rates after the start of implementation of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion( TRAIN) Law, which raises the take-home pay of a few million Filipinos through an increase in exemptions from income tax.
This doesn’ t sit well with Bayan Muna Chairman and former congressman Neri Colmenares.“ This is misleading because not all workers would have increased take home pay because of the TRAIN. In fact majority of workers would still
have the same wages but will have more expenses due to the TRAIN,” he said. |
with erratic incomes will not have any income tax gains. Yet, while not getting increased take home |
Colmenares |
said |
pay, they will have to endure |
announcing |
a |
hike |
in |
SSS |
price hikes as a direct or indirect |
contributions right now is the last thing the SSS should be doing. He said everybody will surely oppose it— the employers, |
effect of higher consumption taxes, Ibon said. The proposed hike in SSS contributions could potentially add to this.) If the SSS |
the labor sector and the SSS collects contributions and invests |
members, |
because |
workers’ |
well, the SSS funds will be more |
wages have remained low yet than enough to fund more pension |
|
prices are increasing and the“ SSS has not even started its reforms to increase collection efficiency.”
If the SSS does its
|
increases, Colmenares also said.
The Bayan Muna leader urged the SSS to slash the bonuses and perks it is giving to its Board
|
job well and begin improving members. These include the |
its |
collection |
efficiency |
and |
more than P200 Million($ 3.934 |
maximizing |
income |
from |
million) retirement package it |
investments, there may not even |
gave to SSS Board Members in |
|
be a need for an increase in
2009. Also, he reminded the SSS
|
contributions, Colmenares said. |
to collect the fines imposed by the |
Under |
the |
former |
courts on employers who violated |
Aquino |
administration, |
the |
the SSS law. |
SSS collection was“ dismal” at just 38 percent to 42 percent. It collects contributions from only 12 million of its 31 million members.( Note: Only a few of this 12 million will likely see their incomes“ increase” due to TRAIN. According to Ibon, the poorest 60 percent of Filipino |
Without any positive report on these fronts, the SSS has“ no right to increase the contributions,” Colmenares said. On the other hand, he added, Bayan Muna will continue to pursue the passage of the bill increasing the SSS pension in Congress. Aside from the fact |
households |
or |
13.7 |
million |
that this is why the fund exists |
households will continue to have less money under the new tax law. About 15.2 million families who already do not pay income tax because they are minimum wage earners or informal sector workers |
for its members, Colmenares said this is the way also to“ ensure the victories of our pensioners will not be taken back through an inordinate contribution increase.”
Continue on page 3
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