College profs must have master’s degrees, SC rules

By Jerome Aning
Philippine Daily Inquirer

 34 1136 1052

The Supreme Court has upheld the policy of the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) requiring teachers of tertiary schools to acquire postgraduate degrees to become tenured or regular employees.

In an eight-page decision dated Jan. 23, the court’s Third Division junked the suit of two University of the East professors who charged the school with illegal dismissal after their dean repeatedly extended their probationary status as professors for not having master’s degrees.

The justices, pointing out that the operation of educational institutions involved the public interest, said the requirement of a master’s degree for college teachers was “not unreasonable.”

“The government has a right to ensure that only qualified persons in possession of sufficient academic knowledge and teaching skills are allowed to teach in such institutions. Government regulation in this field of human activity is desirable for protecting, not only the students, but the public as well from ill-prepared teachers lacking in the required scientific or technical knowledge. They may be required to take an examination or to possess postgraduate degrees as a prerequisite to employment,” the court said in the decision penned by Justice Roberto Abad.

Concurring with Abad were the division chairman, Justice Presbitero Velasco Jr., and members Diosdado Peralta, Jose Mendoza and Marvic Leonen.

The petitioners, UE professors Analiza Pepanio and Mariti Bueno, who were hired in 2000 and 1997, respectively, filed a labor case against then UE dean Eleanor Javier, contesting the school’s policy that obligated them to acquire master’s degrees as a condition for tenureship.

Pepanio and Bueno said the 1994-1999 collective bargaining agreement (CBA) between UE management and its faculty provided that the school shall extend semester-to-semester appointments to college faculty staff like themselves who did not possess the minimum qualifications such as a master’s degree.

In 2001, the new CBA extended probationary full-time appointments to full-time faculty members who did not yet have the required postgraduate degrees provided that the latter complied with the requirement within their probationary period.

In 2003, Javier reminded Pepanio and Bueno of the expiration of their probationary status. The two, however, demanded that they be placed on regular status given the years of service they had rendered.

The labor arbiter, in 2004, ruled in favor of the professors and ordered their reinstatement. UE, however, appealed to the National Labor Relations Commission, which reversed the arbiter’s decision in 2006.

The professors ran to the Court of Appeals and in 2010 secured a reversal of the NLRC decision. The UE management then elevated the case to the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court noted that as early as 1992, the then Department of Education, Culture and Sports had issued a revised manual of regulations for private schools which required college faculty members to have a master’s degree as a minimum educational qualification for acquiring regular status. The CHEd, created in 1994 to supervise tertiary schools, upheld the requirement.

When in Cebu City, please visit http://www.gregmelep.com for your real estate and retirement needs. Avail of the opportunity to own a condominium unit in Cebu City at the low amount of only P9,333.33 and House and Lot @ P 7,306.81/month only. Hurry while supply of units still last. Just call the Tel. Nos. shown herein: (053)555-84-64/09164422611/09173373687.

Freed Of Corruption, Firm Soars

By Kris Bayos

February 17, 2013, 7:00pm

MANILA, Philippines --- A sequestered corporation under the supervision of the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) has posted a whopping 213 percent increase in income for 2012 after reforms were instituted and corruption curbed.

Based on its unaudited financial statement for 2012, the Bataan Shipyard and Engineering Corporation (BASECO) earned P54 million last year. PCGG said BASECO – marred with excessive directors’ fees and employees’ compensation under the previous administration – earned P17 million in 2011 and posted a steady increase in revenue from P51 million in 2011 to P70 million in 2012.

PCGG Chairman Andres Bautista said the growth is attributed to the reforms instituted by the current management when it took over the corporation in July 2011.

“The new management immediately implemented institutional reforms such as reduction of excessive directors’ fees and employees’ compensation, including rationalization of its manpower, suspension of onerous contracts, investigation of questionable transactions, and adoption of internal control measures. It also ordered the bidding of the lease of its properties to obtain competitive rents,” he said.

Bautista said the new management of BASECO has requested the Commission on Audit (COA) to conduct a fraud audit on the transactions entered into by the previous management to confirm its initial findings of irregularities.

“Appropriate steps, including the sending of demand letters (to previous directors and employees), have been undertaken for the accounting, liquidation and recovery of excessive allowances, bonuses and other irregular disbursements,” he said.

The official added that “appropriate complaints against erring officials are being prepared” against previous directors and employees of BASECO who would not heed the PCGG’s demand for liquidation and return of excessive fees and compensation.

Bautista added that BASECO likewise opened an escrow account with the Bureau of Treasury for the first time after it remitted P15 million to the National Treasury in 2011 and P17 million in 2012.

When in Cebu City, please visit http://www.gregmelep.com for your real estate and retirement needs. Avail of the opportunity to own a condominium unit in Cebu City at the low amount of only P9,333.33 and House and Lot @ P 7,306.81/month only. Hurry while supply of units still last. Just call the Tel. Nos. shown herein: (053)555-84-64/09164422611/09173373687.

What Makes Philippines the Heart of Asia

INQUIRER.net

3:40 am | Saturday, January 26th, 2013

 5 57 12

The country’s medical tourism industry is hoping to get another boost from the soon-to-be-released “Philippines: The Heart of Asia” travel guide. For inquiries, email info@philippinesheartofasia.ph or call +63908.8887880.

The Philippines established its Medical Tourism Program back in 2006—and now, a little over six years later, we can say that while results have not been as quick as first envisioned, the country’s efforts to become a regional healthcare hub are slowly but surely bearing fruit.

A few years ago, the country was re-launched as a medical tourism destination under the brand “Philippines: The Heart of Asia” and the tag remains as true today as it was before.  The Philippines really is The Heart of Asia in more ways than one.

As the Department of Tourism meets with success in presenting the country as one of the most desirable destinations in the region, especially through its “It’s More Fun in the Philippines” campaign—it will be recalled that the Philippines was included in several international “best destinations” lists in 2012—it can be reasonably expected that this will also help highlight the Philippines’ strong points as a medical tourism, healthcare, and wellness destination.

Hearts in the right place

Various research studies show that patients’ recover faster and feel happier when they receive compassionate care.  Compassionate care, unfortunately, is often overlooked as more and more hospitals overseas struggle to save on costs and increase efficiency—this is the reason why Filipino nurses are in such demand the world over: Filipino nurses are not simply competent but also friendly, cheerful, caring, and compassionate.

Friendliness, compassion, caring, and cheerfulness are aspects of Filipino culture that every Filipino grows up with and imbibes. He or she learns it from parents, siblings, relatives and friends. This is because most Filipinos value relationships more than material possessions. Whether rich or poor, strong family bonds and smooth, mutually beneficial relationships among relatives and friends define the Filipino way of life.

Foreigners who visit the country as tourists, work here as expats, or choose it as their second home after retirement, all discover the warmth and hospitality that are unique to the Filipinos. These are attributes that medical tourism travelers discover when they receive treatment in the country’s hospitals and clinics.

English fluency

English is widely spoken in the Philippines as one of its official languages. English is the language used in education and business, and Filipinos in government agencies and the service industry are fluent in it. There are many English-language publications in the Philippines, including the major newspapers and magazines. There are also many English-language programs on television and Hollywood movies are regularly shown in theaters.  Foreigners who speak English will have no difficulty relating to and transacting with Filipinos.

Top-notch healthcare facilities

Filipino doctors are expertly trained in the Western medical tradition and are up-to-date with the latest advances in medical science. Many of them have trained overseas, including the United States and Europe, and are affiliated with medical organizations in those countries.

The country’s top public and private hospitals are equipped with the latest in medical tools, machines, and technologies—the same equipment, if not better, as those found in the U.S. and Europe. The high standards of their facilities assure medical tourists that they are getting the same quality care, or better, as they would receive from their home countries.

This same high quality of care is found in the Philippines’ top specialty clinics that offer dental and aesthetic procedures.

Tropical paradise

With more than 7,000 islands in its archipelago, the Philippines is home to beaches and seaside resorts that provide relaxing, refreshing tropical paradise settings. There are natural landscapes of breathtaking beauty in the highland regions. Medical travelers will discover many picturesque places where they can enjoy their recovery.

Together with these various natural settings, the Philippines also offers all the modern conveniences needed for 21^st century living. From high-tech telecoms networks to cable TV, to Internet service, and highly urbanized, cosmopolitan areas with malls retail complexes offering local products and international brands.

World cuisine

Filipino food is a blend of Western and Eastern influences that include Spanish, American, Chinese, and Indian cuisines. With such a sophisticated palate, Filipinos easily welcomed the entry of Japanese, Korean, Thai, Italian and Continental food in the culinary scene. As a result, there are now so many different dining establishments that offer a gamut of authentic, gourmet fare.

More work ahead

As more of the country’s top hospitals make considerable investments in their personnel and facilities, the benefits to Filipino and foreign patients will also increase. There really is no other way to help the Philippines become a regional medical tourism hub except to make sure that its healthcare facilities are world-class.

One very important area that more Philippine hospitals need to get into is international accreditation. This accreditation is the most credible certification of a hospital’s, clinic’s, or wellness facility’s world-class quality standards.

When we talk about world-class healthcare certification or accreditation for hospitals and other healthcare facilities, we usually refer to accrediting bodies like JCI, NABH International, Accreditation Canada and others that are affiliated with the International Society for Quality in Healthcare (ISQua). The ISQua is the world body that accredits these accrediting bodies.

One ISQua-accredited body that has been giving generous support to Philippine hospitals is NABH International. Through its local affiliate, HealthCORE, the NABH International has been giving workshops to Filipino hospital administrators to help them learn how to meet ISQua standards, and assist them in the actual process of accreditation.

The success of the Department of Tourism’s campaign plus the increasing number of foreign patients being treated in the Philippines top hospitals prove that the country still has a bright future and great potential to be a medical, health, and wellness hub in the region.

To fulfill that potential, all stakeholders in the healthcare and travel sectors must get their acts together. Only then will the world truly realize that the Philippines is the Heart of Asia—a heart that gives care, compassion, life, love, and healing to those in need.  – Ramil Digal Gulle, contributor  

When in Cebu City, please visit http://www.gregmelep.com for your real estate and retirement needs. Avail of the opportunity to own a condominium unit in Cebu City together with your own parking space at the low amount of only P12,000.00+ and House and Lot @ P 7,306.81/month only. Hurry while supply of units still last. Just call the Tel. Nos. shown herein: (053)555-84-64/09164422611/09173373687.

Lamoiyan Hikes Toothpaste Market Share

January 24, 2013, 4:59pm

Lamoiyan Corp., makers of Hapee toothpaste, is expanding its export markets and product product portfolio as it has overtaken the multinationals in specialized dental care products, kiddie and gumcare toothpastes.

 Cecilio Pedro, president and chief executive officer of Lamoiyan, in a press conference at the sidelines of the 25th anniversary of the company also said they would pursue exports in order to compete with the multinationals.

The company has been expanding to Russia, the Middle East and the US. Pedro said they may expand products to include treatment for head lice. The company is also looking at mouthwash this year and a and will company said it is looking at new products like mouthwash.

Lamoiyan’s toothpaste brands account for 20 percent of the total P9 billion local market. It produces 4,000 tons of toothpaste a year or 11 percent higher than 2011.

Pedro also revealed that it is looking at Myanmar for a manufacturing plant noting Myanmar could be a good jump off point to neighboring countries like Laos, Cambodia, and Thailand. Myanmar alone has 50 million population.

“We are very bullish for our country,” Pedro said noting it is not only Lamoiyan but all Filipinos.

“The only way to compete with the giants is to be big, as big as the multinationals. Our intention is to go out beyond Philippines,” Pedro said.

He said Lamoiyan has exported to as far as Russia, Europe, Middle East, Asia and even the United States mostly catering to Filipinos and OFWs, make them remember the Philippines.

Pedro said Lamoiyan is now number one in kiddie and gumcare (Gumtech) toothpastes, beating the MNCs.

Kiddie is a small 3 percent share of the company’s total toothpaste sales. Toothpaste accounts for as much as 80 percent of its total sales.

 With the theme “Silver” for its 25th year, Lamoiyan also marked its celebration with the signing of a memorandum of agreement with the Philippine Dental Association to continue its partnership for a nationwide dental missions.

Last year, Lamoiyan has conquered 20 percent market share.

“We want to challenge our competitors to provide reasonable pricing,” Pedro said noting that the MNCs sell their toothpaste a lot cheaper in China.

He also said that their price increases have been limited to 2-3 percent only. Lamoiyan toothpaste is also 15 percent cheaper than the MNC brands. (BCM)

When in Cebu City, please visit http://www.gregmelep.com for your real estate and retirement needs.

Avail of the opportunity to own a condominium unit in Cebu City together with your own parking space at the low amount of only P12,000.00+ and House and Lot @ P 7,306.81/month only. Hurry while supply of units still last. Just call the Tel. Nos. shown herein: (053)555-84-64/09164422611/09173373687. 

• Print
• Email

PH takes China to UN arbitral tribunal

By Fat Reyes
Inquirer, net

3:33 pm | Tuesday, January 22nd, 2013

 29 272 241

Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario. AP FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Tuesday announced that the Philippines has taken the step of bringing its West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) territorial disputes to China before an Arbitral Tribunal under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) to achieve a peaceful and durable solution to the disputes.

The announcement was made by Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert Del Rosario.

Del Rosario, in a press conference, said that a note verbale detailing the notification and statement of claim that “challenges before the Arbitral Tribunal the validity of China’s nine-dash claim to almost the entire South China Sea (SCS) including the West Philippine Sea and to desist from unlawful activities that violate the sovereign rights and jurisdiction of the Philippines under the 1982 UNCLOS” was handed to Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Ma Keqing at around 1 p.m. Tuesday.

“The Philippines has exhausted almost all political and diplomatic avenues for a peaceful negotiated settlement of its maritime dispute with China……To this day, a solution is still elusive. We hope that the Arbitral Proceedings shall bring this dispute to a durable solution,” Del Rosario said.

“We hope that China would join us in this aspiration,” Del Rosario said.

Del Rosario noted that Solicitor General Francis H. Jardeleza has been tasked as the legal representative for the Philippines in these Arbitral proceedings.

“The lead counsel of the Philippines is Paul Reichler of Foley and Hoag LLP,” he said.

When in Cebu City, please visit http://www.gregmelep.com for your real estate and retirement needs.

Avail of the opportunity to own a condominium unit in Cebu City together with your own parking space at the low amount of only P12,000.00+ and House and Lot @ P 7,306.81/month only. Hurry while supply of units still last. Just call the Tel. Nos. shown herein: (053)555-84-64/09164422611/09173373687.

Three new ecozones being developed

 0  0  0 

THREE NEW economic zones are being developed to provide additional areas for manufacturing firms, the head of the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) said yesterday.

  "These have been approved and will be for manufacturing companies to locate in," said PEZA Director-General Lilia B. de Lima at the sidelines of a Makati Business Club/Management Association of the Philippines meeting.

A 250-hectare area near Rosario, Cavite is being developed by Megaworld Corp. in partnership with the Remulla family for P1.1 billion while AG&P Co., Inc., an engineering firm, is developing a 46-hectare area in Batangas for its and its suppliers’ exclusive use.

There is also a 33-hectare area in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan but Ms. de Lima did not say which firm is spearheading its development.

The three economic zones are expected to be ready for locators next year.

Ms. de Lima added other areas are being developed into economic zones.

PEZA has said more economic zones, particularly in areas like Cavite, which is accessible from Metro Manila, are needed to draw more investors.

Ms. De Lima also said that Brother Industries Ltd. wants to expand its facility in Batangas.

"They will have two new projects amounting to about P5 billion so even if they have not yet finished their first facility they are already thinking of expanding," said Ms. De Lima.

Japanese firm Brother Industries was approved as a PEZA locator in Jan. It started building its P20-billion printer manufacturing facility that month; the printers will be exported to other Southeast Asian countries. -- ENJD

When in Cebu City, please visit http://www.gregmelep.com for your real estate and retirement needs.

Avail of the opportunity to own a condominium unit in Cebu City together with your own parking space at the low amount of only P12,000.00+ and House and Lot @ P 7,306.81/month only. Hurry while supply of units still last. Just call the Tel. Nos. shown herein: (053)555-84-64/09164422611/09173373687.

                                                                          

SC: Cojuangco’s UCPB shares belong to gov’t

 7 84 63

The Supreme Court has upheld a ruling issued by the Sandiganbayan in 2004 declaring that 7.2 percent in shares of the United Coconut Planters Bank (UCPB) transferred to businessman Eduardo Cojuangco Jr. were owned by the government.

The affirmation, penned by Associate Justice Presbitero Velasco Jr., denied Cojuangco’s petition arguing that the high court had already ruled on the controversial coconut levy fund.

The high court declared as unconstitutional provisions in the agreement between Cojuangco and the Philippine Coconut Administration (PCA) in 1975 which allowed the businessman  “to personally and exclusively own public funds or property.”

Cojuangco is known to have been a crony of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos and is the uncle of President Aquino.

The agreement had provided for the transfer to Cojuangco “by way of compensation” of 10 percent of the 72.2 percent shares of stock that the PCA purchased using the coco levy fund.

“In sum, Cojuangco received public assets—in the form of UCPB shares with a value of P10.88 million in 1975, paid for with coconut levy funds,” the court said.

It noted that Cojuangco had admitted that the PCA paid the entire acquisition price for the 72.2-percent shares, “which is a clear violation of the prohibition, which the court seeks to uphold.”

“We, therefore, affirm, on this ground, the decision of the Sandiganbayan nullifying the shares of stock transfer to Cojuangco. Accordingly, the UCPB shares of stock representing the 7.22 percent fully paid shares subject of the instant petition, with all dividends declared, paid or issued upon thereon, as well as any increments thereto arising from, but not limited to, the exercise of preemptive right, shall be reconveyed to the government of the Republic of the Philippines, which as we previously clarified, shall be used ‘only for the benefit of all coconut farmers and for the development of the coconut industry.’”

The high court stressed that Cojuangco was not entitled to the UCPB shares which were bought with public funds and as such, were considered public property.

The high court reiterated its January 2012 ruling that the Sandiganbayan had jurisdiction over the subdivided amended complaints that included Cojuangco’s.

When in Cebu City, please visit http://www.gregmelep.com for your real estate and retirement needs.

Avail of the opportunity to own a condominium unit in Cebu City together with your own parking space at the low amount of only P12,000.00+ and House and Lot @ P 7,306.81/month only. Hurry while supply of units still last. Just call the Tel. Nos. shown herein: (053)555-84-64/09164422611/09173373687.