The Departments of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and Interior and Local Government (DILG) have signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) defining the terms of cooperation between the two departments in maintaining industrial peace and harmony and in promoting workers’ protection and welfare in all work places.

Labor and Employment Secretary Patricia A. Sto. Tomas and Interior and Local Government Secretary Jose D. Lina signed the MOA at the DOLE offices in Intramuros.

"This agreement is part of our continuing program to institutionalize pro-active approaches in resolving labor disputes," Sto. Tomas said after the signing.

"I am pleased to have the DILG, under the leadership of Secretary Lina, as an active partner of the DOLE in its efforts to maintain and foster industrial peace and harmony and promote workers' welfare and protection," she added.

The DOLE is the primary agency of the national government tasked to maintain industrial peace and promote workers’ welfare.

However, labor disputes occur within the geographical jurisdiction of local government units (LGUs) which, in the exercise of their own powers, are in the best position to assist DOLE in the maintenance of industrial peace and harmony, Sto Tomas said.

Lina said the DOLE-DILG cooperation agreement is in response to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's call for the need to address the problem of overly confrontational labor-management relations systems which work as an obstacle to a more productive and harmonious work relations.

Under the agreement, the DILG will actively encourage LGUs to maintain a corps of qualified personnel who will render conciliation and mediation services not yet filed with the DOLE.

The DILG also agrees to assist the DOLE in maintaining industrial peace by directing its attached agencies and offices such as the Philippine National Police (PNP) and urging the LGUs to cooperate in the enforcement of DOLE's orders and decisions.

On its part, the DOLE will provide technical and training assistance to personnel of the different LGUs and conduct advocacy and information and education activities, such as seminars and the dissemination of flyers and pamphlets to workers within the LGUs' specific areas of jurisdiction.

Sto. Tomas stressed that the agreement is one way of building on the accomplishments of the DOLE in the area of industrial peace and harmony, which in 2002 was generally stable and peaceful.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has drawn accolades for her untiring campaign against the smuggling of pork, vegetables and other agricultural products through the Anti-Smuggling Task Force.

In a letter to the President, the National Federation of Hog Farmers, Inc. (NFHF) cited the government’s "unrelenting campaign against smuggling and continued work of the task force in apprehending the smuggled items."

The NFHF said the campaign has resulted in the "price recovery in farm gate prices of hogs."

"Ever since the task force undertook its job, we have noted a marked improvement in the farm gate prices of hogs compared to the last quarter of last year," the group said.

"We are confident that prices will still improve as smuggled pork and meat is minimized in the domestic market," they added.

NFHF Chairman Gabriel Uy also informed the President that the group has launched the "Boteng Bobby Program," a radio program aired over 92.7 FM in San Fernando, Pampanga, to promote local pork and meat trading in Central Luzon.

Uy said the NFHF has been working closely with Agriculture Secretary Luis Lorenzo on the clustering of corn and livestock. An initial project is in the pipeline in San Rafael, Bulacan.

Member-raisers of NFHF have also set aside a dedicated supply line to meat processors to reduce the latter’s dependency on importation.

"We look forward in maintaining our vigilance in insuring that smuggling can be completely wiped out," Uy told the President.

Labor and Employment Secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas today said "there is no compelling reason, at the moment, to halt the deployment of domestic helpers to Saudi Arabia."

Sto. Tomas said the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has continued to review the agency’s overseas employment policies and the review covered other countries besides Hong Kong.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ordered the review after she placed a temporary ban in the deployment of domestic helpers to Hong Kong.

Sto. Tomas said the review included the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

She said the position of the Philippine government is clear on the unified contract, "a proposed agreement between the recruiters in the Philippines and recruiters in Saudi Arabia."

"The Philippine government is not a party to it and it should not be expected to negotiate with the recruiters in Saudi Arabia relative to the business arrangements between them and Filipino recruiters," she added.

Sto. Tomas stressed that the Philippines has a standard employment contract processed by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) and which is the basis of the terms and conditions of work of every Filipino worker who goes to Saudi Arabia or anywhere in the world.

"This is being enforced worldwide and is the basis for resolving disputes about wages, working conditions, including money claims being filed at the POEA of the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC)," she said.

"I have communicated to the Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia that a unified contract signed by recruiters cannot prevail over the Philippine standard employment contract," she added.

This means that there can be no diminution of existing benefits, no imposition of additional fees and no impairment of the rights of workers as contained in the standard employment contract.

"Relative to this matter, I have ordered the POEA and the NLRC, two attached agencies of the DOLE, to strictly enforce the POEA standard employment contract in their adjudication of claims by workers.

Sto. Tomas added that she had created a committee headed by National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) chairman Roy Seneres, who had volunteered to solve the problems that may be created by a conflict between the Philippine standard employment contract and the recruitment agreement between Saudi and Philippine recruiters.

Magandang araw sa lahat ng ating mga kababayan.

Alam kong maraming alalahanin ang nasa inyong mga isipan, tulad ng napipintong digmaan sa Iraq, ang di-matiyak na pagtaas ng presyo ng langis, mga pangamba kaugnay ng terorismo at ng lokal na ekonomiya.

Pero, nalampasan natin ang mas matinding krisis noon at malalampasan din natin ito. Maging mahinahon tayo. Huwag tayong padadala sa takot o panic. Lilipas din ang krisis na ito at magbabalik ang lahat sa normal matapos maayos ang mga kaguluhang pandaigdigan at ang sitwasyon sa Mindanao ay maging matatag. May mas matindi pang krisis tayong naranasan at lagi tayong nakakabangong muli.

Lubos nating sinusuportahan ang Bangko Sentral sa kampanya nitong habulin ang dollar speculators at hoarders. Ang ginagawa ng ilang bangko at kanilang mga opisyal ay para na ring economic sabotage; kaya ang buong higpit ng batas ay dapat ilapat laban sa kanila. Sa panahong ito ng krisis at malawakang pag-aalala ng publiko, hindi natin papayagan ang mga walang-konsensiyang institusyon o tao na mangibabaw sa interes ng publiko.

Ngayong araw, pupulungin ko ang mga local leaders ng Central Luzon, Metro Manila at Southern Tagalog. Aatasan ko silang maging crisis managers sa kanilang mga komunidad. Sila ang mangangasiwa sa pagmamatyag sa lahat ng klase ng problemang sosyal at ekonomikal na kaugnay sa kasalukuyang krisis, tulad ng presyo ng mga pangunahing bilihin at para tiyakin na ang komunidad ay listo laban sa lahat ng uri ng terorismo. Dapat nating laging tulungan at suportahan ang ating mga pinunong lokal.

Ang mga local leaders din ay dapat maging information champions para sa katatagan ng ekonomiya at kagalingan ng publiko. Sila ay may tungkuling ipaalam sa mga mamamayan ang mahahalagang pangyayari sa ating paligid, harapin ang mga maling balita at espekulasyon at ipalagay ang loob ng komunidad sa pamamagitan ng pagsasabi sa mga mamamayan ng katotohanan.

Ang mga local leaders ay dapat ding maging anti-street crime czars. Dapat nilang protektahan ang taumbayan laban sa mga kriminal na bumibiktima sa mga mahihina at laban doon sa mga may-kagagawan ng scams o panloloko at iba pang masasamang gawain.

Dapat nating gawing halimbawa ang Davao City, General Santos City at Zamboanga City. Ang mga lungsod na ito ay may mga malalakas na lider, mga plano at programa para sa lahat ng uri ng kagipitan at mga listo at handa ng tumulong na mamamayan.

Bagama’t tayo ay magiging maingat, hindi natin dapat kalimutan ang kahalagahan ng kapayapaan.

Ang mga mamamayan ngayon ay malakas na nagpapahiwatig ng kapayapaan at ito ay ating sinasang-ayunan. Ang ating aktibong pagtatanggol sa Mindanao ay tugon sa kanilang kagustuhan ng kapayapaan. Aktibong pagtatanggol, pagiging listo ng mga pulis, mataas na antas ng alerto ng komunidad at mahusay na diplomasiya. Ito ang mga elemento ng ating peace operations, at may napakalakas na pagkakaisang pulitikal, mula sa hanay ng nasyonal at lokal, na sumusuporta sa mga hakbanging ito.

Ang kapayapaan ay isang polisiya para sa ating panloob at panlabas na seguridad.

Sa situwasyon sa Iraq, kapayapaan pa rin ang pinakamabuting opsiyon at ang lider nito ay dapat tuparin ang kanyang mga obligasyon sa sangkatauhan para magkaroon ng kapayapaang pangmatagalan. Habang isinasa-ayos ng mga bansa ng ating mundo ang krisis na ito, ang ating mga kababayan naman ay dapat manatiling kalmado. Kailangan tayong magtulungan para sa katatagann at kagalingan ng ating bansa. Ang ating mga manggagawa sa Middle East ay ligtas sa anumang kapahamakan. Handa ang inyong gobyerno na harapin ang epekto nng krisis na ito sa ating pambansang seguridad at sa ating ekonomiya.

Kapayapaan at seguridad. Panatag na isipan at pagtitiwala. Ang mga ito ang ating higit na kailangan sa panahong ito ng krisis. Ang mga ito ang tutulong sa atin upang malampasan ang ating mga pangamba at mamuhay nang mapayapa.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today called on the people to stay calm and stay united amid domestic and global crisis situations, as she expressed confidence that the nation would pull through the challenges of the times.

In her weekly regular radio message, the President said it was normal for people to think about current issues -- the impending war in Iraq, uncertainties in oil prices, fears spawned by terrorism and apprehensions on the economy, among others.

"Pero nalampasan natin ang mas matinding krisis noon at malalampasan di natin ito. Maging mahinahon tayo. Huwag tayong padadala sa takot o panic (But we have weathered a worse crisis before and we can do so too this time. Let us stay calm and not be hostages of fear and panic," she said.

"Lilipas din ang krisis na ito at magbabalik ang lahat sa normal matapos maayos ang mga kaguluhang pandaigdigan at ang sitwasyon sa Mindanao ay maging matatag (The global crisis will also end and so will the instability in Mindanao. When this happened, everything will return to normalcy)," she added.

The President took time to condemn dollar speculators and hoarders, calling them economic saboteurs.

She said she fully supported the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ campaign to go after those who take advantage of the crisis to cause the peso to slide against the American dollar.

"Hindi natin papayagan ang mga walang-konsensiyang institusyon o tao na mangibabaw sa interes ng publiko (We will not allow the interests of unscrupulous institutions or persons to go above public interest)," she said.

She added that she would meet today with local leaders in Central Luzon, Metro Manila and Souther Tagalog, to appoint the latter as crisis managers who would oversee social and economic concerns that might crop up in their respective communities in these times of crisis.

Local leaders, she stressed, should be the country’s "information champions" and "anti-street crime czars" to stabilize the economy and strengthen the society.

The President cited the persistence of local officials in the cities of Davao, General Santos and Zamboanga, saying that they have stood up always prepared to help their constituents in times of crisis.

The President likewise reminded the nation to adhere to peace.

"Ang mga mamamayan ngayon ay malakas na nagpapahiwatig ng kapayapaan at ito ay ating sinasang-ayunan (The government is one with the Filipino people in the call for peace)," she said.

She noted that the active defense position of government in Mindanao corresponded to the call for peace.

She said the elements of the country’s peace operations included active defense, alertness of the police force, high level of community alertness, and effective diplomacy.

"Ang kapayapaan ay isang polisiya para sa ating panloob at panlabas na seguridad (Peace is a policy for our internal and external security)," she added.

The President also said that there were peaceful solutions to the Iraq situation.

Iraqi leaders should ably perform their obligations to mankind so that lasting peace in the world could be achieved, she said.

As this developed, she reiterated her assurance that Filipino expatriates in the Middle East would be safe from harm, if and when war breaks out in the Gulf.

"Handa ang inyong gobyerno na harapin ang epekto ng krisis na ito sa ating pambansang seguridad at sa ating ekonomiya (The government is ready to meet head-on the negative effects of the Gulf crisis on our national security and economy)," she stressed.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today said that her administration’s stepped up campaign against graft and corruption is paying off as evidenced by the latest finding of a Hong Kong-based risk consultancy firm.

In a meeting this morning with the local officials of Metro Manila, and Regions 3 and 4, the President said that the Political and Economic Risk Consultancy, Ltd. (PERC) has classified the Philippines as among those countries in Asia where "corruption is becoming less serious" as against countries that are "most corrupt."

According to the President, the latest report of PERC has classified the Philippines, along with Indonesia, Singapore, South Korea, and Thailand as countries where corruption cases are no longer serious.

PERC, which was established in Hong Kong in l957, coordinates a team of researchers and analysts in the ASEAN countries, Greater China and South Korea

Some of the world’s leading corporations and financial institutions regularly use PERC’s services to assess key trends and critical issues shaping the region, to identify growth opportunities, and to develop effective strategies for capitalizing on these opportunities.

The President paid tribute to the local executives of Regions 3 and 4 for their role in eradicating red tape in particular and in the fight against corruption in general.

She said that during her first year as president, a lot of businessmen told her that red tape and corruption have been contained in the national government agencies but not in the local level.

Now that PERC has said that corruption is now less serious and that investors are flocking not only to Metro Manila but also to Regions 3 and 4, then it means that there is an improvement in the fight against corruption in these three regions.

The provinces of Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac, and Zambales comprise Region 3 while Region 4 includes the industrialized CALABARZON provinces of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon.

"Malaki ang inaasahan ng taong bayan mula sa atin. At hindi natin sila puwedeng mabigo (The people have great expectations from us. And we are not going to fail them)," the President said.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today warned local government officials who have cultivated cordial ties with the enemies of the state that their units would not be prioritized in the appropriation of government funds.

In her meeting with local government executives from Regions 3 and 4 and the National Capital Region at the Heroes’ Hall in Malacanang, the President said she knows "more or less" these LGU officials who are "sleeping with the enemy."

"Alam ko na rin kung sino yung sleeping with the enemy kaya huwag kayong aasa ng dagdag na tulong. In fact, kung nagigipit ang national budget at kailangang i-phase-in ang releases, huli kayo sa release (I know who are sleeping with the enemy. That’s why you should not expect assistance from the national government. In fact, if the national budget is restrained, they would be the last to obtain funds)," the President said.

"Those sleeping with the enemy, you have to draw the line, during this time of crisis, you are with the government on peace and order or you are not," she added.

The President said the LGUs can use their intelligence funds but they have to account for these if they would ask for more from the national government.

The President noted that the community is the most important part of the criminal justice system.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today said she has ordered the full honors in the burial of slain policeman PO1 Aristotle Tacata, who died in a shootout with robbers at a convenience store in Makati City after killing two of five armed men.

The President, who visited the remains of Tacata last night, said she also ordered the promotion of the policeman to Police Officer 2.

"That would be the template for those killed in the line of duty," the President said.

Tacata, 26, was at the LPC Minimart on Kalayaan Ave. in Makati City Wednesday when three robbers entered the store, drawing their handguns and announcing a robbery.

Police said that as the suspects were scooping cash from the register, they noticed handcuffs on the belt of one of the customers. Tacata, who was assigned at the Police Community Precinct 8 area as an intelligence detective, was in civilian clothes.

A shootout ensued, leaving the cop and another suspect dead.

The President, who paid her respects on the remains of Tacata last night, said she is gratified that the police in the National Capital Region "are back on the beat."

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today urged local government officials to be the crisis managers, anti-crime czars and information champions in their communities.

The President made the call during a meeting with local officials of the National Capital Region and Regions 3 and 4 at the Heroes’ Hall in Malacanang.

The President said that as crisis managers, the local executives would be responsible for the public safety of their communities.

"Kaya tuwing may krisis, kayo ang may kakayahan na manguna (everytime there is a crisis, you are the ones who should lead) through the crisis and out of the crisis," the President said.

The President said local officials should get the cooperation of everyone concerned in ensuring public safety as well as in sharing intelligence with the police and other authorities.

"Siguro kung tumataas ang presyo ng bilihin, galit ang taong bayan, pero kung hindi sila ligtas sa kalsada at sa tahanan ay napakalaking problema talaga yun para sa ating national security maging sa ating survival (if the prices of goods rise, the people would not be pleased but if they are not safe from the streets and in their homes, it would be a bigger problem for our national security, even survival)," she said.

The President said she expects the officials to follow the examples set by local officials after the Davao City Airport bombing and in other incidents in Mindanao as models of crisis management control, which have become a seamless teamwork of police, military and the LGUs.

The President said as anti-crime czars, the local officials should lead the fight against crime, including street crimes as well as anomalies like the pyramiding scams.

The President noted that pyramiding scams, although these cases do not land on the headlines, affect a lot of hapless victims.

As "information champions," the President said she expects the officials to be the "spokespersons of prudence and sobriety."

A total of 23,000 tanods from 1,600 barangays have been mobilized as force multipliers by the police, contributing greatly to the reduction of street crimes in the metropolis.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo disclosed this today during a meeting with local executives of Metro Manila and Regions 3 and 4.

"Sa terorismo talagang importante ang kooperasyon, pagkamulat at pagkahanda ng buong pamayanan at ng local government (In terrorism, what is important is cooperation, alertness and vigilance of the entire community and local government)," she said.

The President cited a report made by Gen. Reynaldo Velasco, PNP Deputy Director, indicating that street crimes in the metropolis have gone done from 264 cases to 152 in the six-week period after Feb. 21, when she ordered a crackdown on lawlessness in Metro Manila.

The report also stated that a total of 346 seminars for barangay tanods have been conducted by the National Capital Region (NCR) since that date, indicating the readiness of the police in Metro Manila to carry out her orders.

"Kaya binabati ko ang mga pulis sa Metro Manila at iyon din ang inaasahan ko sa mga pulis sa Regions 3 and 4 kung saan ang threat ay mas maliit (That’s why I am congratulating the Metro Manila police for their enthusiasm and that’s what I also expect from those in Regions 3 and 4)," she said.

The President also batted for the institutionalization of the tanods as force multipliers in order to curb the incidence of crimes in the urban areas, adding that the percentage in reduction because of this arrangement far exceeded expectations.

Zambales Gov. Vicente Magsaysay today asked President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to hold the Balikatan exercises in the provinces of Zambales, Bataan and Pampanga.

Magsaysay made the suggestion during the Chief Executive’s meeting with local government officials of the National Capital Region, and Regions 3 and 4 at the Heroes’ Hall in Malacanang.

Magsaysay represented the Central Luzon Regional Peace and Order Council during the meeting.

"Yun pong Balikatan, napapansin natin, nababasa natin, nagkakaroon ng problem. Ayaw ng mga ibang probinsya sa kanilang lugar, ibalik na po ninyo sa Bataan, Zambales at Pampanga yan (We hear and read in newspapers that some provinces don’t want Balikatan exercises. Why don’t you bring the exercises to Bataan, Zambales and Pampanga)," Magsaysay said.

The President pointed out that Sulu was the only province that did not want to host the Balikatan. "Sulu lang ang ayaw, lahat ng iba gusto (Sulu does not want it but everyone wants it)," she said.

Magsaysay said the three Central Luzon provinces welcome the Balikatan exercises. "Sa Bataan, Zambales at Pampanga, diyan po ay walang problema. Welcome na welcome po sa lugar natin yan."

He noted that the provinces have become familiar with the presence of United States troops in the past four decades, referring to the previous presence of U.S. facilities in the region. "Sapagkat apatnapung taon na kasama natin yang mga Amerikano (We were alongside American soldiers for four decades)," Magsaysay said.

"Ang problema po kasi kung nakakakita sila ng Amerikano sa ibang lugar, akala nila, giyera na (the problem with the others is when they see Americans, they think there’s already a war)," he added.

The President, on the other hand, thanked the Zambales governor for the offer.