KAKAMMPI News

Bali, Indonesia, 6 November 2012 We, 21 Asian civil society organizations who attended the Civil Society Conference on “Advancing Substantive Democracy in Asia: The Roles of Civil Society and Democratic Governance”, held on 5-6 November 2012, parallel to the Bali Democracy Forum V, Appreciating the initiative and continued commitment of the Indonesian government in organizing the Bali Democracy Forum ;  Acknowledging the importance of the Bali Democracy Forum in promoting the development of democracy in the region ;  Welcoming the invitation extended to Asian civil society representatives to the Opening Session of the Bali Democracy Forum for the first time this year ;  Reaffirming our commitment to democratization in Asia based on people’s participation, pluralism, rule of law, international human rights law and standards , Call on governments at the Bali Democracy Forum V to take into serious consideration with the aim of acting substantively on the foll...

  Women from various groups mobilized today in front of the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Embassy of Cambodia to call on the governments of the Philippines and Cambodia to take heed and reflect the concerns of women in the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration (AHRD.)     With the Cambodia government gearing to finish and launch the declaration under its chairship, women’s rights and human rights groups and advocates expressed their dismay over the impetuous processes of adopting the AHRD. Despite persistent demands from the civil society groups for postponement and wider consultations, the ASEAN seemed adamantly bent on adopting the AHRD during the ASEAN Summit to be held on 18-20 November 2012 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.   The public action was held under the banner of Philwomen on the ASEAN, a network of around 80 organizations that work together for women’s rights and gender equality in the ASEAN. The groups carried elaborate megaphones and passports...

The Social Security System (SSS) said it has not violated any law or policy on lending from any supervisory body of SSS nor overcharged its member-borrowers contrary to reports that came out in media recently. SSS Assistant Vice President for Lending and Asset Management Ma. Luz C. Generoso emphasized that the computation, which the SSS uses to calculate the interests on loans is based on a policy that was approved by the Social Security Commission (SSC) in 2000. “ In compliance with the SSC resolution, we started deducting in advance the first year interest on salary loans since 2000 to align the yield of our investments on member loans with the prevailing market rates.” Generoso said. “The interest computation was a regular and accepted method in credit-granting.” Generoso added that the policy of collecting the first year advance interest is clearly indicated in the application form for salary loans which the member confirms to have read and agreed. In a previous state...

Pag-IBIG Chief Executive Officer Darlene Marie Berberabe today responded to news reports saying that the Court of Appeals found her and the member of Board of Pag-IBIG liable to Globe Asiatique Realty Holdings Corporation. “This is a gross distortion of the decision of the Court of Appeals. The court never said that Pag-IBIG or any of its officers is liable to Globe Asiatique” Berberabe said.  The CA simply said that that the RTC Judge of Makati did not abuse his discretion when he denied  Berberabe’s motion to dismiss the case filed by Globe Asiatique against the Pag-IBIG Fund and its Board.  In her petition Berberabe claimed that the Board cannot be sued because it has no legal personality of its own. This specific case was never about the merits of the civil case filed by GA against the Fund. Clarifying further, Berberabe said that the case filed by Globe Asiatique is still pending before the Makati court. She also  said that she has already filed a motion askin...

New Libyan President Mohammed el-Magarief lauded Filipino nurses and medical workers in Libya for their important contribution to Libyan society, the Department of Foreign Affairs said.   DFA spokesman Raul Hernandez said the Libyan leader made this acknowledgment when new Philippine envoy to Libya Oscar Orcine presented his credentials to him last Oct. 22.   "(The) President of Libya acknowledged (the) contribution of Filipino workers to Libyan society during Ambassador Oscar Orcine's presentation of credentials," Hernandez said in a  post  on his Twitter account.   During the tension in Libya, many Filipino medical workers had chosen to stay behind and tend to the injured.   A separate  news release  on the DFA website said the new Libyan leader also stressed the Ambassador's role in enhancing relations between Libya and the Philippines.   He likewise wished Orcine success in his mission in the new Libya, the DFA sai...

The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) has clarified that PhilHealth cards issued to its members can still be used in health care facilities that will be reclassified as infirmaries and clinics. The state-run health insurance agency is reacting to Dr. Rustico Jimenez, President of the Private Hospitals Association (PHAP) who expressed fears that PhilHealth cards will be rendered useless in infirmaries as a result of the new policy contained in Administrative Order 12 of the Department of Health. PhilHealth reiterated that it automatically accredits health care facilities granted a license to operate by the DOH. “In the event where hospitals get reclassified to infirmaries, their accreditation with us remains but will just be adjusted based on their new classification” clarified Dr. Eduardo P. Banzon, PhilHealth President and CEO. Banzon assured its members and the general public that PhilHealth will immediately take necessary steps to come up with an appropria...

2012 MOFYA REGIONAL SCREENING AND SELECTION Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) recognizes the outstanding achievements of Overseas Filipino Workers and Family in the field of education, finances, and community involvement while maintaining not only close but strong family ties. The Model OFW Family of the Year Award (MOFYA) is an annual search for model families representing all 17 regions in the country. OWWA will now have its 8th year of witnessing and celebrating the success stories of our OFWs in their battle against challenges of migration. Each region shall have 2 MOFYA winners representing the land-based and the sea-based category. OWWA Regional Welfare Office I (RWOI) has 7 candidates for the 2012 Regional MOFYA with 5 land-based and 2 sea-based contenders. NAME ADDRESS SEA-BASED LAND-BASED ORGANIZATION Ms. Agnes Madriaga Asuncion Pias Norte, Currimao, Ilocos Norte     / LGU-Currimao, Ilocos Norte Capt. Arcadio Pascual Gregorio Brgy. 3 Loing, P...