GOVPH

Department / Agency / Organization

Logo

Lead

Sector

Facebook

Website

Department of Budget and Management (DBM)

Secretary Wendel E. Avisado

Government

Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)

Secretary Eduardo M. Año

Government

Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO)

Secretary Jose Ruperto Martin M. Andanar

Government

Caucus of Development NGO Networks (CODE-NGO)

OIC Executive Director Deanie Lyn Ocampo

Non-Government

Right to Know, Right Now!

(R2KRN) Coalition

Ms. Jenina Joy Chavez

Non-Government

Role

Agency/Organization

Resource Speaker

Designation

Discussants

Department of Education (DepEd)

Undersecretary Diosdado M. San Antonio

Undersecretary for Curriculum and Instruction

United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) Philippines

Mr. Isy Faingold

Chief of Education, UNICEF Philippines

Education Network Philippines (eNET)

Ms. May Rendon Cinco

National Coordinator

Episode Replay on Youtube

https://youtu.be/FkBgIoLQXEg

Episode Replay on Facebook

https://fb.watch/1ARP_iGuiQ/

Agency / Organization Concerned

Questions/Concerns Raised

Source of Feedback (Zoom/Facebook, etc)

Response and/or Action Taken

Status

DepEd

Ano ang mga programa para mapairating sa kanila ang quality education para sa namang grassroots at disadvantaged learners? 

Reg Sevilla Sibal, GIZ and ARAL Pilipinas Coalition, Quezon City, Zoom Live Q and A

DEPED: DepEd acknowledged that there were delays in the release of vouchers due to the late enactment of FY 2019 GAA as well as the late submission of documents of learners. To hasten the process, DepEd has created a body to manage the funds and facilitate the fast release of vouchers.

Concern addressed during Dagyawan/Open Forum

DepEd

How does the new grading system work in the new normal? Many parents do not know how it works especially now that there are no longer any periodical examinations

Prudencia Sanoy, EDUCO (Fundacion de Educacion y Cooperacion), Legazpi City, Zoom Live Q and A

DEPED: We have already tried something similar in the previous school year; we removed the fourth quarter periodic exams as schools were shut down by COVID-19. For this school year, we are basing the grades on written outputs and performance tasks. We encourage our teachers to have conversations with the students and talk about the subject they are studying. Teachers will then assess what the student have learned and their level of competency. Students will have numerical grades, and those students who don’t take their classes seriously won’t pass.

Concern addressed during Dagyawan/Open Forum

DepEd, Unicef, E-Net

The new normal under COVID-19 is new territory; We cannot avoid the need to troubleshoot during the roll-out of classes. How do the LGUs, DepEd, and CSOs work together to ensure that the budget for education is sufficient based on the data and experience on the ground. We want to ensure that no one is left behind.

Follow up: The Special Education Funds (SEF) available to LGUs is not equal between different areas. How do we ensure that children who are marginalized, have disabilities or are displaced are included in the priority list for assistance?

Luz Abayan, Child Rights Coalition Asia, Zoom Live Q and A

DEPED: DepEd Acknowledges that LGUs have different financial capacities. We factored in the SEF when we calculated the funds that we downloaded; those with abundant funds for SEF were put in low-priority for DepEd funds, while those with low SEF funds were slated to receive more funds. We want to ensure that there is an equitable distribution of resources for those areas who are in need.

Local DepEd Offices have intensified their coordination with LGUs and local partners. They know their priorities because they have an open and inclusive process where different sectors can provide their feedback. School Based management, decentralization, and shared governance is already being practiced in DepEd.

UNICEF: There was a meeting in Incheon in 2016 where ministries of education of different countries committed to invest at least 6% of their GDP for Education – this was the Incheon Declaration. The Philippines was still far from that – below 3%. K12 implementation increased this. The Incheon Declaration also estimated that 15% to 20% of the national budget should go to education. The Philippines has seen important cumulative increases in budget but we have yet to reach the 15% commitment. We know with the COVID-19 crisis, resources are harder to come by but we should still keep the advocacy. There is still a digital divide so we must invest in providing connectivity to these rural areas and schools. The schools have been operating with these very difficult gaps in the budget.

Concern addressed during Dagyawan/Open Forum

DepEd

What is the status of the reproduction and deployment of modules for the entire School Year? We’re hearing issues from some areas related to the lack of printers, paper and transportation to send the modules to the students.

James Francis Mirador, Asia Foundation, Crowdsourced question from Dagyaw Registration Form

DEPED: Generally, the data we have shown applies to the first quarter- Our regional officials have assured us that the materials are ready for the first two weeks. We are ongoing with the second month reproduction and distribution. For the second quarter, our Self-Learning Modules (SLMs) are undergoing performance review and hopefully by the middle of October, we’ll be finished and start with field reproduction. For 3^rd and 4^th quarter, we will engage the private sector. We’re already engaged with talks and we’ve begun preparing the technical specifications of the materials so we can proceed with the procurement. We still have lead time before the start of the quarter in February. We did reproduction of materials for quarters 1 and 2 because it would have been impossible to do so with the private sector due to time constraints. We want to eventually decentralize the service delivery.

Concern addressed during Dagyawan/Open Forum

DepEd

What is our initial assessment of the first few days of classes in terms of student adaptability to new learning modalities?

Crowdsourced question from Dagyaw Registration Form

DEPED: DepEd believes the start of the school year was successful. They were able to implement their plans. They understand that there are still a few errors in the self-learning resources (SLMs) but DepEd is still verifying if these are materials that the made. We understand that some of these errors might still slip through the cracks

DepEd is however thankful that there are plenty of people who recognize that they have gotten a lot of things right in the roll-out and that looking for these errors is just part of ensuring quality insurance. They admit that they were initially overwhelmed when designing these materials as that they had trouble with coordinating with teachers and students. During the first day, there were still students and teachers trying to get their materials, but this has mostly been addressed. Of course, internet connectivity still remains an issue for some.

UNICEF: UNICEF congratulates the DepEd, the families, LGUs for their successful efforts to start the school year. This is good news, and the first few days have been positive in terms of modalities being used for learning. They do acknowledge that there are still plenty of students who have difficulty accessing these materials. Even before the start of the schoolyear, it was predicted that this would be difficult not only for the Philippines but for the world. It is challenging to implement blended learning because we are not used to it. There are problems like the digital divide that we cannot solve in just the next few months.

However, this crisis is an opportunity to build a better and more equal system. it is better to start classes now. The alternative is worse – our children would have zero learning. It was a difficult decision, but UNICEF supports the opening of classes. We start with distance learning, but we adjust it as we go, learning from our mistakes and work together to arrive at better solutions

E-NET: E-Net is happy that we have started the school year. If we did not start classes for public schools, we will get left behind by private schools. So, we would like to congratulate DepEd for the rollout.

E-Net has three guideposts: Inclusion – they advocate for whatever system that would encourage increased enrollment among ALS, Indigenous Peoples (IP) and Learners with Disabilities. E-net supports Equity. Equality – the Alternative Learning Systems is not new to DepEd, they have plenty of experience. ALS has given a huge premium to community participation. We just need to enhance our processes with safety measures. For our budget, we must advocate for further investment. For SEF, E-Net advocates for the formula to be revised. It should have the real value of property task.

Finally, aside from DepEd who provides basic education, we should have a public investment for literacy. There are plenty of government agencies with education funds; how do we use these for farmers and workers. The DSWD for example has education funds – DepEd should not be the only agency tapped. This should be a collaborative effort. This is the time for change.

Concern addressed during Dagyawan/Open Forum

DepEd

Is it true that there were teachers who got sick with COVID-19 due to the distribution of DepEd modules? If true, what are the figures? Teachers are being forced to go to their students homes to distribute the modules and this might pose a danger.

Perigine Macayadong, NAPC, Quezon City, Sourced from Zoom Room 3 Chat

This was a report from Region II. According to our DepEd Superintendent, it is not true that the teachers got sick due to distribution of modules. The source of the virus exposure to one of their neighbors from Pakistan died to COVID-19 but had previously reported to the school not knowing that he was a carrier. So, the teachers contracted the disease in school and not because they were distributing modules. It is the job of barangay officials and SKs to distribute the modules.

Concern addressed during Dagyawan/Open Forum

UNICEF

In one of the communications materials shared by UNICEF, it was mentioned that prolonged stay at home of students would be detrimental for their mental health. This question should also be raised on behalf of the parents who now have to travel to work and not able to assist their children for online learning. Can you go delve more into this?

Sourced from Zoom Room 3 Chat

There are several studies that explore the effects of COVID19 in the quarantines and isolation during the start of the school year on the mental health of the children and their families. UNICEF invites people to visit the webpage of the UNICEF research center and look at the studies. There is a specific section on mental health, and it delves into the effects of COVID-19. Many of these studies are new (Qatar, Brazil) – some are two months old. This is why it is important to start the school year and return the sense of normalcy to the lives of students. Not being able to go out in the streets, play with their friends, and to have social interactions – all of these affects the mental and physical health of children. These are some of the negative effects of school closures and lockdowns.

Concern addressed during Dagyawan/Open Forum

DepEd

How far should this learning in the new normal continue? What do we do for the last mile learners?

Sourced from Zoom Room 3 Chat

DepEd’s monitoring of areas that serve the last mile areas showed that teachers are still doing personalized visits. The teachers did clustered sectioning – neighborhood by neighborhood. The delivery modality is mostly modules but hopefully we can supplement this with radio-based instructions

Concern addressed during Dagyawan/Open Forum

DepEd

There is news that there are errors in our online learning materials and modules. How does DepEd act on these? What is the validation process?

Kenneth, PTV4, Sourced from Zoom Room 3 Chat

DepEd has quality assurance protocols, conformance review process that the learning materials go through but we do admit that some errors still slip through. If DepEd receives reports of errors in learning materials, they first verify if these materials came from them; not modules have been quality assured at the central office level. DepEd gave local units the authority to use their materials in case that the CO was not able to completely provide for everyone. DepEd division and regional offices did develop their own learning materials but those also went through their own vetting systems. DepEd just wants to ensure that the materials in questions did indeed come from them so that they can correct the contents.

Concern addressed during Dagyawan/Open Forum

DepEd also encourages 'bayanihan' with the public on reporting errors in learning materials through the Error Watch initiative. Citizens are encouraged to report any spotted errors in learning materials through the following channels:

⮚     Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

⮚     FB Messenger: DepEdErrorWatch

⮚     Text and Viber: 09616805344

⮚     Workchat: Deped Error Watch

DepEd, UNICEF, E-Net

How do we ensure that students and their parents from marginalized communities are properly supported?

Multiple Sources from Zoom Room 3 Chat

DEPED: DepEd established learning support aid for parents are not able to teach their children by themselves. DepEd also developed multiple modalities that students and their parents can use that do no not require gadgets. They believe that it is better to give Filipino Children the chance to learn rather than not giving them any chance at all. DepEd conducted several surveys to check what materials and tools are available and what they need to provide.

E-NET: E-Net will continue in actively engaging in education forums with DepEd and UNICEF to ensure inclusion and equity for marginalized students. On the issue of legislation, E-Net hopes that ALS gets passed by congress and the President and thus firmly establish a legal basis. This will allow us to ensure that budget is always allotted to it. E-Net also has their own community- initiated projects to help. While these are at the micro-level, these can be a good showcase and subject for future study. PCOO and R2KRN can document these for good practices.

Concern addressed during Dagyawan/Open Forum

Role

Agency/Organization

Resource Speaker

Designation

Discussants

Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)

Undersecretary Benjo Santos M. Benavidez

Undersecretary for Labor Relations, Social Protection and Policy Support Cluster

International Labor Organization

Mr. Khalid Hassan

Country Director

NAGKAISA Labor Coalition

Mr. Rene Magtubo

Spokesperson

Episode Replay on Youtube

https://youtu.be/mc6H4ifHlpc

Episode Replay on Facebook

https://fb.watch/1ASRK6tuK9/

Agency / Organization Concerned

Questions/Concerns Raised

Source of Feedback (Zoom/Facebook, etc)

Response and/or Action Taken

Status

DOLE

For DOLE at ILO: Mayroon bang mga programang pwedeng sumuporta para sa mga startups o organisasyon na may mga inisyatiba kaugnay ng job hiring o job recruitment ngayong pandemic?

Joseph Ian Onyok, LGU-Bayugan City Zoom Live Q and A

DOLE: Totoo po iyon, meron tayong suporta para sa mga start up na negosyo. Marami pong binibigay na supporta ang gobyerno, ang DTI meron po siya pero ang DOLE rin po ay may tulong na pwedeng ibigay sa nagsisimulang Negosyo. Eto po ay sa pamamagitan ng programa po naming SPES o yung programma po naming Jobstart. Sa programa po na ito, portion ng salary ng mangagawa na ihihire ng mga kompanya ay binabayaran o pinopondohan ng DOLE. Ito po ay nangagaling sa tax mamamayan at ito po ay iniimplement ng aming regional offices. So kung meron po kayong mga plano o yung mga Negosyo ngayon na gusto niyong magresume ng operations, kung willing po kayo na maghire ng additional worker lalong- lalo na ‘yung ating mga batang manggagawa, makipagugnayan po kayo sa aming mga opisina sa rehiyon at magtanong o mag-inquire patungkol po sa programang SPES at ganun na rin po sa Jobstart.

Concern addressed during Dagyawan/ Open Forum

DOLE, ILO, NAGKAISA

Hindi po yata naipresenta ang mga datos para sa women, sa PWDs, sa seniors, at sa youth.

Idugtong ko lang po sa seniors, papaano po kaya naimplement ng DOLE ang anti-age discrimination law ngayong panahon ng pandemya?

Jean Justimbaste, Ormoc City, Live ZOOM Q and A

DOLE: Sa unang katanungan kung bakit po di naipresenta ang datos patungkol po sa mga senior citizen, kababaihan at kabataan – medyo limitadopo kasi ang aking oras sa aking presentasyon. Pero rest assured na kung kailangan niyo po ng statistics on employment with respect to women, doon po sa youth at ganun narin po sa may kapansanan, pwede po naming ipadala sa inyo.

Sa pangalawa ninyo pong katanungan patungkol sa age discrimination – ito po ay pinagbabawal na ng batas at ito po ay may kaukulang criminal penalty. So papapano po ito ini-implement ng gobyerno at ng Department of Labor and Employment?

Ito po ay bahagi ng aming ginagawa na inspeksyon.  Meron po kaming checklist at tinitingnan po namin doon kung ang kompanya ay sumusunod sa batas na ito. Kung hindi po siya mahagip ng aming inspeksyon lalo na po sa limitasyon ng mga personnel, maaari pong magsumbong ‘yung ating manggagawa sa DOLE.

ILO: The  Philippines has quite advanced laws. It has a lot of capacity, and it does have the financial capacity and fiscal space for more stimulus packages that can be given to different sectors. Utilizing the good legislation systems, the effective programs that we have, we need to make them fit for the purpose that the COVID is now bringing in.

One of the situations we are facing is work from home as a new way of doing things. If the Teleworking Law and the laws that we already have can be implemented effectively so that the discrimination not take place, the people who cannot come to the office due to certain reasons – they can work from home. These capacities should be enhanced and further strengthened.

For the youth, the issue is their education and work is disrupted. Women’s jobs have also been disrupted. What needs to be done is active fiscal policy, accommodative monetary policy – lending and financial support to the specific sectors including the health sector. We need to strengthen our social protection systems. We need to implement employment retention measures like DOLE mentioned, but they also need to be improved. Finally, social dialogue is of high importance. We need the employers, workers and government to work together so they are able to find solutions

NAGKAISA: Apektado talaga ang kababaihan at kabataan na nawalan ng trabaho, lalo na pag wala po tayong low cost employment program. Mungkahi lang po namin ay na magkaroon ng isang program na initiated ng gobyerno na kasama na ieexpand po ang TUPAD (Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers) para sumaklaw siya na ‘di lamang 10 days to one month kundi gawin nating 100 days to nine (9) months ang ibinibigay na suporta ng gobyerno. Ang trabaho na yan ay dapat nakadesign to help our public health systems at climate change mitigation measures. Maganda rin kung may ibang space ang manggagawa na gusto mag-training. Bigyan natin sila ng training programs with a stipend of 50% para nang sa ganon ay ang gusto magtrabaho at gusto magtraining ay sinusuportahan ng gobyerno at ang walang trabaho ay may guaranteed employment through the expansion of different employment programs like TUPAD.

DOLE Response to NAGKAISA: Regarding the expansion of TUPAD, ginagawa na po natin iyan. Nagkaroon tayo ng proposal sa Kongreso para pondohan ito. Pero the grander plan is not just to provide emergency employment.  Dahan-dahan dapat buksan ang ekonomiya. Para kapag nagbukas na ating mga negosyo, mas maraming manggagawa ang makakapasok at makakabalik sa kanilang mga trabaho. Kapag sila po ay nakabalik sa kanilang trabaho ay marerestore ang income opportunity at sila ay magkakaroon ng sahod at panggastos.

DOLE Response to Ms. Justimbaste:

Thank you for giving us the opportunity to provide additional input. Women, Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) and Senior Citizens are still covered / may participate in our COVID-19 DOLE Integrated Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program (DILEEP)

May we share the data culled from our Regional Offices implementing the DILEEP through bit.ly/trabaho-dole-response-jj

On Disaggregated data on DOLE’s COVID-19 mitigating measures per sector (women, PWD, senior citizens, youth, etc.)

On the first question, please see attached data on the updates on the implementation of the COVID-19 Adjustment Measures Program (CAMP), the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantage/Displaced Workers (TUPAD), and the DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program (DILEEP). As of January 17, 2021, DOLE provided to half a million of 502,430 affected workers financial assistance under CAMP Bayanihan 2. Around 200,000 of the total CAMP beneficiaries are women, and more than 5,000 are senior citizens or those within the 60 and above age group. Furthermore, DOLE provided livelihood assistance under DILEEP to 486 PWD beneficiaries and 902 senior citizen beneficiaries. We also recorded 240,000 women beneficiaries of TUPAD in addition to 22,032 women beneficiaries of DILEEP.

On implementation of the Anti-Age Discrimination in Employment Act amidst the COVID-19 pandemic

Please be advised that DOLE has inspected around 15,000 establishments as of January 2021 as part of its visitorial power to enforce labor laws, including the Anti-Age Discrimination in Employment Act. Out of 2 million workers covered by the inspection, 6.42% are within the 15 to 24 age group; 0.08% or 1,721belong to the 60 to 65 age group; and 377 are PWDs. Attached are the inspection data provided by the Bureau of Working Conditions (BWC).

All questions answered including follow-up for DOLE.

DOLE

Sa usapin ng edad: Sa inyong pagtataya, ano ang epekto ng COVID-19 crisis sa trabaho ng “nakakapag trabaho” pa nating senior citizens? Papaano sila mabibigyan ng supporta sa panahon na ito?

Pat Sarenas, MINCODE, Davao City

DOLE: Pagdating sa ayuda na ibinibigay natin sa manggagawa, ilan sa ating mga programa ay ang CAMP o one time financial assistance na P5000. Ganundin ang ibinigay po ng DSWD na SAP at ibinigay po ng DOF at SSS na small business wage subsidy. Wala pong discrimination sa edad sa mga programang ito. Ikaw man o senior citizen o hindi, basta ikaw o ang iyong kompanya ay qualified sa ayuda, iyon po ay ibibgay sa inyo.

Ang gusto po natin ngayon ay hindi lang ang pagbibigay ng financial assistance, kundi buksan din ang ekonomiya, ,mapahintulutan na ‘yung may edad na 21 years old hanggang senior citizen ay makalabas na. Kahit noong ECQ po, kung ang isang manggagawa ay authorized personnel ay pinapayagan po siya magtrabaho. Imagine niyo po ‘yung ating mga boss sa gobyerno ay nagtratrabaho po sila kahit sobra sa 60 years of age sila. Pinapayagan po sila magtrabaho kung sila ay manggagawa na tinatawag pong authorized.

Concern addressed during Dagyawan/ Open Forum

DOLE, NAGKAISA, ILO

Anong posisyon ng organisadong sector ng mangagawa sa patuloy nabanta ng demolisyon sa sentrong lungsod sa kabila ng kawalan ng tiyak na hanapbuhay at pagkakakitaan ngayong may pandemya?

Jessica Ammon, CO Multiversity, Rizal. 

NAGKAISA: Sa tingin ko po ay isang appropriate policy ang itigil po lahat ng demolition sapagkat ang bansa po natin ay nahaharap sa twin crisis of health and economic crisis dulot ng pandemya. Kapag gumawa ka pa ng hakbang na magdemolish, ang ating mga kababayan na mahirap ay magkakadouble burden. Wala pa po tayong pera for purpose of relocation sa ngayon. Nakafocus po tayo to address ung pagtaas ng covid-19 cases, kawalan ng trabaho, pagbukas ng ekonomiya – dito po dapat nakafocus ang magegenerate natin pondo. Tingin ko po ay isang maling policy na mag demolish pa tayo na wala naman tayong konkretong pondo at maayos na relocation sa ating mga kababayan.

DOLE: I am not in the position to make a pronouncement - the Department has no expertise on this.  But for the record, in government, we have laws to implement and enforce – and every time we enforce that, we should follow strictly what are the injunctions imposed by law. So ‘pag ang isang demolition po ay labag sa umiiral na batas, kailangan po natin ipahinto po iyon. Subalit, kung ito po naman ay naayon sa ispirito at letra ng batas – then wala po tayong rason para hindi po natin ito pwedeng iimplement. But in all cases, siguro sa panahon ng pandemya, tingnan po natin kung ano ang mas makakabuti sa mas nakakarami at ang alam ko naman po ay ang gobyerno ay nakikinig at ang lagi niyang tinitingnan lagi ay ‘yung kapakanan ng mas nakakaraming mamamayan.

Concern addressed during Dagyawan/ Open Forum

DOLE

Anong trabaho ang in-demand ngayong kalagitnaan ng pandemya? Ano ang iyong payo na magandang alternatibong pagkakakitaan at pantawid habang wala munang sustenableng trabaho ang mga mahihirap?

Various Sources:

Elda Juan, Private Citizen, Apayao

Jessica Ammon ng CO Multiversity sa Rizal,

Ruby Desolo, Bicol Center for Community Development, inc.

DOLE: Isa sa negosyo na pwede po nating simulant o ipagpatuloy ay ang negosyo sa pagkain. Panahon po ng pandemya o hindi, lahat po ng tao ay kumakain, kung kaya maganda ang agriculture and agri-business. Naglabas po ng isang survey si PSA at kung merong isang sector ng ekonomiya ang tumaas, ito po ay ang sector ng agrikultura.

Pangalawa, papaano kakain ang nasa siyudad?  Kailangan po natin ng negosyo ng pagbebenta. Karamihan po ng nagbebenta ngayon ay online, so we take advantage of this platform para po kahit panahon ng pandemya, kahit di po tayo nakakalabas ay kumikita pa rin po tayo.

Meron pa rin naman po tayong ibang sector na bukas habang tayo ay nasa pandemya: healthcare at construction. Pwede po natin ito tingnan para magsara man po ang nakararami nating negosyo ay meron pa rin po tayong pagkakakitaan.

Concern addressed during Dagyawan/ Open Forum

DOLE, NAGKAISA, ILO

Usapang Kababaihan – papaano sinisiguro ng DOLE na inclusive ang inyong programa at nakakaabot sa totoong nangangailangan / marginalized groups?

May mga programa ba ang DOLE, ILO o NAGKAISA na tutok sa pagtulong sa sector ng kababaihan ngayon pandemya?

Various sources

Jesselita Espinosa, Mabini Federated Women, Cebu

Lorenzana Fernandez, Legal Alternatives for Women’s Center, Cebu

DOLE: Our policies and programs are inclusive and based on the Decent Work Agenda by the International Labor Organization. Wala kaming pinipili, lahat kasama. Lalong-lalo na po un gating kababaihan at kabataan. Katunayan, meron pong bureau dito sa DOLE na ang kanyang mga programa at polisiya ay para lang tiyakin ang well-being ng kababaihan at kabataan. Ang tinutukoy ko po ay ang Bureau of Workers with Special Concerns. Meron po kaming mga programa dito para sa kanila. Ngayon, para sa programa sa pagbibigay ng kapital, mga programa po naming sa emergency employment, wala po itong diskriminasyon based sa sex or sa gender. Kung gusto niyo po mag avail ng emergency employment, kung gusto po ng grupo ng kababaihan na mag avail ng livelihood assistance, pumunta lang po sila sa DOLE.

So papaano po naming nasisiguro na ung mga mga batas patungkol sa kababaihan, ganun narin sa kabataan ay nasusunod? Una, may tinatawag po kami na enforcement mechanism. Ito po ay sa pamamagitan ng inspection. Sinabi ko po kanina– may limitation po ito. Because of this limitation, meron pong isang platform kung saan pwede parin magreklamo ung mga manggagawa lalong-lalo na ang ating mangagawang kababaihan. Maaari silang magreklamo sa DOLE upang matugunan ang kanilang hinanaing, lalo na sa pasahod at benepisyo.

NAGKAISA: To ensure protection ng kababaihan at kabataan sa panahon ng pandemya, kahit na mahirap, nag-eengage kami sa DOLE. Kung sino man ang may problema, sabihin ninyo po samin para po ‘yung concerns ay maipaabot natin sa DOLE. Sa usapin ng kabuhayan, nagmumungkahi po kaymi sa DOLE na magkaroon ng Office of Employment para sa kababaihan at kabataan. Doon po sa gusto magcreate ng livelihood, mag-oranisa po sila at tututukan namin sila. Sa local government, meron pong GAD na makakatulong sa grupo ng kababaihan at kabataan basta ma-organize sila sa communities. 

ILO: As I mentioned in my presentation, schools and apprenticeship programs are not available. The youth and women cannot learn and will have less skills. This will lead to them having difficulties later in getting employment

The businesses who are vulnerable to closing down – most of these employ women.

Furthermore, even if the women and youth complete their education, they will have difficulty in finding jobs, because the stimulus package has a 982-billion dollars gap. If this is not filled, most of the businesses will close down anyway. When they close, many people will lose jobs with women being affected more than men.

We need to develop international solidarity and regional solidarity, so we can provide such programs and initiatives. For example, value chains are now affected – even if the people are now working, the value chains are not working. In that process, many people will lose their jobs.

An ILO study shows that 500 Million jobs will be created in the recovering economy because of the aging population. How do we make these jobs available for women? The social protection systems need to work. Many workers have inadequate protection systems. Many migrant workers are in the informal economy. Domestic work is especially affected in this process. It is time that we work on these policies, we work on these legislations, we work with the international community to make these systems work now. If we are unable to do it, we will be in the same situation as the financial crisis of 2008. We will come out from this with more inequality, and create more stress. It is the interest of workers, employers and government to work together and find solutions. A number of studies have already been conducted by multiple agencies. It is now time to find solutions and work on it. 

One solution is unemployment insurance systems. The Philippines does have an unemployment law but we have to make it more effective. We need to create contingency funds. We need to finance skills training for these workers so they can find jobs in the new normal as the DOLE Usec. Benavidez has mentioned. It’s not only COVID but we will be facing technological change, climate change, demographics challenges. Urban areas are more congested and such kind of diseases spread fast in it. We need to invest in rural development, we need to invest in rural infrastructure so people can move to the provinces so they can find jobs there. But if the infrastructure is not there, the ICT is not there, the mechanisms are not there – it will be difficult for people to move. We need to do invest in rural areas. 

We need to look not only at the short-term stimulus packages but also long-term jobs and investments in rural economy and industry. Because of technological changes, countries will be moving from industry 3.0 to 4.0 – how prepared are we? Where are our education programs? The estimates show that 14.3% jobs in our region in ASEAN are considered as high skilled jobs. Is this enough considering the technology changes? We will be needing more high skill jobs due to the times. We need to be preparing short term, medium term and long term plans.

Concern addressed during Dagyawan/ Open Forum

DOLE

Ano po ang ating prospects pagdating sa pagkakaroon ng unemployment insurance?

Anonymous Question + Ruby Desolo, Bicol Center for Community Development, inc (Online Registration Form)

DOLE: Unemployment insurance is not new in our country. Since 1974, meron na tayong separation pay na tinatawag. Ito po talaga ang nagbibigay sa atin ng assistance/financial support while looking for another employment. So this is akin to an insurance. But more recently, noong in-amend ang charter ng SSS, meron po doong probisyon kung saan ang SSS ay magbibigay ng unemployment insurance benefit para sa manggagawa na tinanggal by reason of authorized causes tulad ng pagsasara, pagretrench, pagdeclare ng redundancy, or installation ng labor saving device. Kapag ang mga reason ay hindi sa kadahilanan ng pagkakasala ng isang empleyado, ang SSS po ay magbibigay ng financial assistance sa loob ng dalawang buwan na umaabot ng 10,000 for two months.

Para po ma-avail ito, ang manggagawa na natangalan ng trabaho ay kailangan magpunta sa opisina ng DOLE at kumuha ng certification of unemployment na siya po ay tinanggal by reason of authorized causes. Ang certification po na iyon ay isusubmit sa SSS para maproseso ang kanyang benepisyo na tinatawag na unemployment insurance. So in short, meron na po tayo dito sa Pilipinas na batas na nagbibigay ng benepisyo na unemployment insurance.

Concern addressed during Dagyawan/ Open Forum

DOLE

Ano po ang susunod na programa pagkatapos ng COVID adjustment Measures Program (CAMP)? Nabigyang prayoridad rin po ba natin ang mga maliliit na negosyo at koooperatiba na apektado ng pandemya sa makakatanggap ng subsidies?

Jocelyn Soriao, Pili Market Development Cooperative, from Pili, Camarines Sur.

DOLE: Ang CAMP po ay under Bayanihan 1, at patuloy rin nating ini-implement ito under Bayanihan 2. Under Bayanihan 2, meron pong allocation na 13 billion pesos ang DOLE para po iimplement ang tatlong sumusunod na programa: una po ang CAMP, sunod po ang TUPAD at pangatlo po ang DOLE AKAP para sa ating mga OFW.

Sa Bayanihan 1, priority ang micro and small enterprises. Under Bayanihan 2 and TUPAD – ipaprioritize pa rin natin sila lalong lalo na ung unserved claimants or applicants during Bayanihan 1 under CAMP. Ngunit ito po ay one-time assistance lang kaya tulad ng nabanggit ko kanina,  kailangan na unti-unting buksan ang ating mga negosyo. Ayon po sa isang presentation ng NEDA, ang ating ekonomiya ay more than 50% nang open, kaso ang transport facility po natin ay nasa 30% pa lamang na bukas. So, kung nabasa po natin sa balita, may mga adjustment po tayong ginagawa sa operations ng public utility vehicles at mass transportation para po maging mas madali na makakapunta sa opisina at pagawaan ang ating manggagawa, at hindi po sila mahirapan makauwi.

Isa pa po dito ay nireview na po ng ating pamamahalaan ang pag-iimpose ng curfew. Nahihirapan po kasi ang ating manggagawa na pumasok at bumalik sa mga tahanan after po nila pumunta sa trabaho.

Uulitin ko po: ang gusto natin ngayon ay dahan-dahan pero siguradong pagbubukas ng ekonomiya. But still, we should make sure that we observe the minimum health standards. Patuloy na magsuot ng mask, ugaliing maghugas ng kamay at mag disinfect at lagi nating iobserve ang social at physical distancing. Sabi nga po – mask, hugas at iwas.

Concern addressed during Dagyawan/ Open Forum

DOLE

Ang mga miyembro ng Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) kadalasan ay mga volunteers lamang at may on-call arrangements. Bukod sa pagbibigay trabaho, may oportunidad ba para makatulong ang mga CSOs sa pag-implement ng mga proyekto para sa labor sector? May ganito rin bang programa ang DOLE para mabigyan rin ang CSOs ng access to job opportunities?

Josefa Pizon, RD II from Matalom, Leyte

DOLE: Unang-una po ay sila ay mga organisadong grupo, mga organisadong sector ng kamamangawaan. Bilang organisadong grupo, pwede po silang makipag-ugnayan sa DOLE. Kagaya po ng NAGKAISA, lagi po kaming nakikipagdiyalogo sa kanila, kung hindi man personal ay sa pamamagitan ng po ng technology or zoom meeting po na tinatawag.

Ang mga organized groups po ay pwedeng humingi ng tulong sa DOLE na mabigyan po sila ng kapital o ng pangnegosyo.  Iyon pong nabanggit ko kanina, kababaihan man o kabataan, o mangingisda or magtitinda – meron po tayong pondo para doon. Ito po ‘yung tinatawag po naming DOLE integrated livelihood assistance program at meron po kaming tulong sa livelihood formation. Meron din po kaming tulong sa livelihood enhancement o kaya naman po ay restoration. So kung ang kailangan po nila ay tulong pinansyal o loan facilities, meron po tayo niyan. Kung gusto po nila mangutang, meron naman pong loan facility na binibigay ng DTI. Katunayan sa Bayanihan 2 ay nag-allot po diyan ng pondo para sa Negosyo na nasa micro-small-medium enterprises

Concern addressed during Dagyawan/ Open Forum

ILO

What are the areas of collaboration between government non-government sectors in the promotion and implementation of the programs for the labor sector during the time of pandemic?

Diane Romero, J.Amado, Araneta Foundatin, Pasig City

ILO: Without collaboration, nothing can work. The private sector, government sector and workers have to work together in this crisis situation. Social dialogue is the answer for these kinds of situations. For example, if you see the stimulus package, it will reach 1.5 to 2 million of the 10.9 million that were unemployed. However, how are the remaining people being supported? Definitely there is support from the private sector but we don’t have data or information on the exact figures. If we were eager to capture those kinds of information effectively, we will be able to respond more effectively.

Like what was mentioned by DOLE, yes the Philippines has a law on unemployment. But if you have a large informal economy and they are not contributing to the social protection systems, then in these kinds of situations you will get in trouble.

In first world countries, they have strong social protection programs. Outlaws are less there because they are responding very quickly. DOLE Usec. Benavidez has also mentioned BPOs and those are the sectors where jobs can be created and given to the people. However, this is not simple because you need certain skills and institutions for it – if we do not have institutions, training centers, we will not be able to respond to this kind of crisis that we are facing. The Philippines has done a very good job, they have responded effectively but it can be further improved by establishing institutions, making them work, learning from the lessons. The private sector, workers and government should all work together to find solutions to the problems we are facing.

Concern addressed during Dagyawan/ Open Forum

DOLE, NAGKAISA

Sa proposal ng DOLE na i- defer muna ang 13th month pay, kasama ba government workers, cabinet members, GOCCs, at senior officials ng gobyerno, senators, congress members, pulis at sundalo sa mga hindi muna tatanggap ng 13th month pay? baka dapat lead by example ang public officials?

Anonymous Asker – SLIDO

Malou Mangahas, Co-Convener, R2KRN

DOLE: Kung narinig po nila sa radio o napanood po nila sa TV sa usapin po na ito– totoo po iyong discussion. Pero hindi po totoo na walang thirteenth month pay. Nakapaloob po sa Presidential Decree No. 851 na ang lahat ng manggagawa ay kailangan po bigyan ng 13^th month pay on or before December 24. Eto pong Presidential Decree na ito ay inilabas noong 1975. Alam niyo po, hindi pa ko pinapanganak ay may 13^th month pay law na – ang Presidential Decree law na ito ay hindi pa naman nababago pero meron pong lumabas na mga department orders or rules and regulations na nagprovide po ng exemptions. So ang ginawa po ng DOLE ay hinayaan po namin for the past two weeks ang diskurso at diyalogo tungkol sa usapin. Una, napakinggan po natin ang mga sector na umalma or nagpropose ng panukala na idefer ang thirteenth month pay or kaya naman po ay iexempt sila. Kaya ang desisyon po ng aming kalihim pagkatapos po mapakinggan ang lahat ng partido, mga manggagawa at nagnenegosyo, nagpatawag po si Secretary ng meeting ng National Tripartite Peace Council.  Ito po ay isang istraktura sa loob ng DOLE kung saan kinokonsulta po namin ang mga sector. Sa pagpupulong po na iyon ay meron pong mga option na lumabas – at bukas po ay maglalabas ng official decision ang aming kalihim. Pero nasabi na po niya sa interview na he will not allow under his administration na idefer or magexempt ng mga employer sa pagbabayad ng 13^th month pay. Pero alam rin po natin na may mga negosyo po ngayon na naapektuhan ng pandemya. Kaya isa sa mga options na napag-usapan noong meeting ay tulungan ng pamahalaan ang mga maliit na business owners na makapagcomply sa kanilang obligation na makapagbigay ng 13^th month pay.

Doon po sa question ng manggagawa sa gobyerno ay may thirteenth month pay, unfortunately doon po sa implementing rules and regulations ay inexempt po ang mga taong gobyerno sa 13^th month pay. Pero may mga ibang batas naman po na sinusunod patungkol dun sa mga bonuses na ibinibigay sa kawani ng gobyerno – opisyal man po iyan, managerial or rank and file employees. Under separate laws tulad ng GAA natin, meron naman pong pondo for the bonuses of government employees.

NAGKAISA: Wala dapat exemption. Naniniwala kami na dapat tulungan ng gobyerno ang mga manggagawa – nakalagay iyan sa labor standards law.

Nagsusulong rin po kami ng unemployment subsidy para iaddress ang job processing at renewals para ma-address ang issue ng unemployment. May concrete proposals na po ang NAGKAISA na isusumite.

Merong batas na panukala sa Congress ukol sa unemployment insurance. Nagpapanukala ito ng allotment for three months from the SSS para sa mga manggagawa na nawalan ng trabaho.

Concern addressed during Dagyawan/ Open Forum

DOLE:

If minomonitor po ni DOLE ang workplace safety and health of workers ng mga private businesses, sino po ang nagmomonitor sa government agencies especially in the time of pandemic? May benefits po ba na nakalaan para sa mga emplayado na patuloy pa ring pinapapasok ng kanilang employers?

Tina Grace Cruz, DOH – Mega Drug Abuse Treatment and Rehabilitation Center

Dr. Charlie Nacario, Central Bicol State University of Agriculture

DOLE: Doon po sa question na kung sino ang nagmomonitor ng compliance sa occupational health and safety standards - ito po ay bahagi ng joint memorandum circular na in-issue ng CSC, DOH, at DOLE. Pero ang unang responsibilidad sa pagpapatupad ng occupational health and safety standards sa trabaho ay ang mga government agency po mismo. Gobyerno po siya, ang employer ay ang gobyerno. So dapat po niyang siguraduhin na sumusunod siya doon sa JMC. Ito naman po ay minomonitor ng Civil Service Commission.

Doon po naman sa katanungan ng benepisyo ng mga patuloy na pumapasok na empleyado: karamihan po dito ay mga ospital ang nagpapatupad, so I assume na ang nagtanong po ay health workers. Y’ung Bayanihan 1 po ay may binigay na benepisyo for health workers. Ang pagkakaintindi ko po, under Bayanihan 2 ay niretain naman ito. At hindi lang po iyon, in-expand pa ang benepisyo na binibigay sa mga health workers. Dati po, ang binibigay nating special risk allowance o actual hazard pay ay nabibigay lang sa health workers sa pambublikong sector. Under Bayanihan 2, ito ay inextend na sa manggagawa na nasa pribadong sektor. Pero aside from the actual hazard pay and special risk allowance, nagbigay na rin po ng libreng panggastos para po sa pagkain, accommodation and free insurance. Ito po ay kailangan natin tingnan at bantayan para naman po ang tunay na nakasulat sa batas ay maimplement nang maigi.

Concern addressed during Dagyawan/ Open Forum

DOLE

Ano ang tugon ng DOLE sa massive retrenchments ngayon sa mga eco-zones na mas mahirap abutin din lalo na kung may labor violations? Bilang ito ay hiwalay na estado, paano ang proteskyon ng mangagawa?

Ruby “Ubeng” Monge, NAGKAISA Labor Coalition

Ang mga umiiral po nating batas sa paggawa ay applicable po sa labas ng eco-zones as well as loob ng locators ng ecozone. Wala naman pong pagbabago. Wala naman pong pagkakaiba. Ang isang manggagawa na tinangal sa labas ng ecozone ay kailangan pa rin pong bayaran ng separation pay, at may observance po dapat ng notice. Kailangan rin po iyon sa pagtatanggal ng manggagawa na nagtratarabaho sa locators ng economic zones. Ang minimum wage po ng manggagawa sa labas ng ecozone ay ganun rin po ang minimum wage na dapat tanggapin ng mga magagawa sa mga locators sa loob ng ecozone. Sa lahat ng labor standards, as well as, occupational health and safety standards na pinapatupad po namin sa labas ng ecozone, kailangan rin po iyan ipatupad sa ecozone.

Sa nakaraan po na budget hearing, may namention po iyong kaibigan po natin sa Congress na naglabas po ang PEZA ng memorandum circular sa pagko-conduct special assessments ng mga kumpanya. We recognize that, ngunit pwede pa rin po naming ipa-inspect ang mga locators. Actually, may mga inspection po kaming ginawa kahit po nitong panahon ng pandemya. Unfortunately, may nagpositive po samin na mga inspector. Aside po sa inspection, pwede pa rin naman po magcomplain ang mga manggagawa sa ecozone sa ating mga opisina ng DOLE. So, wala pong pagkakaiba, standard po ito: ang Labor Code po ay pinapatupad sa loob o labas ng mga ecozone at kailangan iyang sundin ng mga locators sa loob ng ecozone.

Concern addressed during Dagyawan/ Open Forum

Role

Agency/Organization

Resource Speaker

Designation

Discussants

Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA)

Geronimo C. Suliguin, Jr.

Acting Executive Director, Office of Migrant Affairs Workers

Blas F. Ople Policy Center and Training Institute

Ms. Susan V. Ople

President

Center for Migrant Advocacy

Ms. Ellene Sana

Executive Director

Episode Replay on Youtube

https://youtu.be/JKkXIxM8vpk

Episode Replay on Facebook

https://fb.watch/1ATMbS_MTo/

Agency / Organization Concerned

Questions/Concerns Raised

Source of Feedback (Zoom/Facebook, etc)

Response and/or Action Taken

Status (e.g. Resolved, needs follow-up, etc)

OWWA

Para sa DFA/ OWWA: Tuloy ba ang planong pagbabayad ng PhilHealth ng mga OFWs? Bakit kailangang magbabayad pa ng Philhealth ang mga OFW?

Jessilita Espinosa, Mabini Federated Women ng Mabini, Cebu

(Sent via Registration Link)

OWWA: Hindi po ako taga Philhealth but without preempting the response of the Philhealth representative, meron po kasing batas patungkol sa Philhealth contributions and ito’y mananaig hanggang may panibagong batas. May plano naman po yata sa Kongreso na repasuhin ang batas but I don’t want to step on the boundaries of the Philhealth representative pero nasa batas po siya so kailangan natin umayon sa ngayon

Concern addressed during Dagyawan/ Open Forum

DFA

Para sa DFA: Kumusta po ang implementation ng Assistance to Nationals program? Nasaan po ang mga opisina ng Assistance to Nationals, how many are being served? Ano po ang mga usual na issues, concerns o problemang idinudulog sa inyo ng ating mga kababayang OFWs? Ano po ang inyong aksyon sa mga concerns na ito? May available po ba tayong sex-disaggregated data patungkol sa implementation ng ATN?

Lenbi Laborte, Central Visayas Network of NGOs, Cebu City (Sent via Registration Link)

DFA: Katulad ng nabanggit natin, ang funding ng Department ay 1 billion pesos funds para sa assistance to nationals. Kung susubaybayan ang mga balita nitong mga nagdaang araw, na-highlight na itong usapin na halos naubos na budget natin. Umabot na sa around 20 million na lang ang natitira sa ATN fund dahil ang majority nito ay nagamit primarily para sa pagresponde sa mga kababayan na tinamaan ng COVID. Ang una mong tanong ay saan-saan muna ginamit ang ATN fund. Una, ito ay nagamit sa pagcharter ng eroplano para sa mga kababayan nating kinailangang umuwi, ‘yung repatriation. So ang pondo ng ATN, diyan natin ginamit. Nasa kulang-kulang 600 million pesos ang umabot para sa pagrerepatriate. Pangalawa sa pinakamalaking chunk ng budget ay ang shipment of remains or ‘yung pag-uuwi ng mga labi ng kababayan natin na namatay. Gayundin para sa welfare assistance –halimbawa para sa mga kababayan nating nasa abroad pa na nawalan ng trabaho o hindi na talaga makahanap ng trabaho, o mga undocumented na humihingi ng tulong sa mga posts natin. Kabilang dito ang lodging—kung saan sila titira, pang-araw-araw na kakainin nila, at ibang gastusin sa pagbabayad ng ilang penalties na kailangan bayaran para sila ay makauwi. Dito po sa mga expenses na ito karamihan ng pinaggagastusan ng ATN fund.

Tinatanong rin kanina kung saan-saang opisina pwede lumapit or pumunta ung kababayan natin para mag-avail nito. Majority sa mga humihingi ng tulong o ayuda ng ATN fund ay ang mga kababayan natin na nasa abroad mismo o kaya naman ay mga kamag-anak nila na sumusulat dito samin sa DFA para iparating kung ano ‘yung problema ng kanilang kamag-anak na nasa abroad at inaaccomodate natin ‘yan. Gusto ko banggitin dito na isa sa pinakamalaking platform natin para mareceive ung panghingi ng tulong ay ung OFW HELP na nasa Facbook. So diyan pwede magsubmit ng kahilingan or request para sa pagtulong or assistance sa ating mga kababayan o kamag-anak nila. Kapag naiparating sa amin ang concerns ay agad naming inilalapit sa mga post natin para macheck nila kung ang kalagayan ng mga kababayan natin na binabanggit at para mabigyan sila ng karampatang ayuda. ‘Yan po ang proseso ng pagbibigay ng ATN fund. Kabilang sa binibigyan natin ng ATN funds ay ang mga maysakit at may kapansanan, ‘yung mga kailangan ng medical repatriation, at mga  naospital tapos walang pambayad. Diyan natin normally nailalagay ang ATN funds natin lalo na ‘yung wala na talagang makukuhang pondo dahil wala na silang employer.

Nagpapasalamat rin po tayo sa DBM dahil ang additional na ATN fund na hinihingi natin na around 820 million ay nailabas na. Na-issue-han na ito ng SARO this week lang. Patuloy pa rin, hindi titigil ang pagprovide natin ng assistance sa mga kababayan natin na nangangailangan. Meron pa tayong mga kababayan na stranded o kailangan pa rin makauwi. Ito pa rin ang paglalaanan natin ng pondo para sila ay makauwi nang madali at ‘yung mga nangangailangan ng pagkain o tirahan ay masuportahan pa din.

 Concern addressed during Dagyawan/ Open Forum

Blas Ople Center

Ano-ano ang mga suporta o serbisyong hatid ng POEA, CMA at ng Blas Ople Center para sa naistranded na OFWs abroad ngayong panahon ng pandemya?

Para sa DFA/CMA/Blas Ople: Ano ang mga legal remedies o resolusyon para maresolba ang mga hamon na hinaharap ng mga stranded na OFWs?

Mary Rebecca Rogacion, Bacoor City, Region 4A

(Sent via Online Registration)

Charlie Nacario, Professor III and President of Faculty Union
(Sent via Online Registration)

Blas Ople Center: We are entering into a partnership with San Miguel Corporation para sa mga narepatriate, lalo na ‘yung naging victims ng abuse. ‘Yung mga domestic workers na natin na napauwi can contact us – hanapin lang kami sa FB (Blas Ople Policy Center - https://www.facebook.com/blasoplepolicycenter/) kasi meron kaming livelihood program na we can provide them with capital para makapagtayo ng community-based na poultry business with San Miguel. At patuloy parin ang pagmonitor namin ng cases in partnership with IACAT. Nagdonate kami ng PPE, alcohol at iba pang importanteng gamit pang-health personnel also through IACAT. We should also start planning for next year pagdating ng vaccine and also ‘yung gradual re-opening ng overseas employment. Siguro policy-wise, pwede kami makatulong to give our perspective as an NGO.

Concern addressed during Dagyawan/ Open Forum

DFA

Para sa DFA: Covered ba ang mga naistranded na Overseas Filipinos na hindi OFW (student, tourist, family visit visa holders ) sa mga pwedeng matulungang makauwi ng ating gobyerno? Sa kanilang pag-uwi, may suporta bang naghihintay para sa kanilang gastusin sa quarantine hotel at pagkain habang naghihintay ng swab test result tulad ng ibinibigay ng OWWA sa mga OFWs? Mayroon akong kaibigan na naistranded sa ibang bansa nang ilang buwan on a tourist visa. Bukod sa gastos sa pagrebook ng flight, higit sa Php 20,000 ang bill sa kanyang quarantine hotel pagkarating sa Pilipinas dahil napakatagal dumating ng kanyang swab test result. Ayon sa kanya, napakasaklap dahil ito ay at her own expense lahat at marami ang katulad nya ang naging sitwasyon. Wala bang ayuda o suporta ang gobyerno para sa ating non-OFWs na bumabalik rin sa ating bansa?

Anonymous asker (Sent via Slido)

DFA: On the part of DFA, ang pangunahing binibigyan ng ayuda ay ang mga kababayan nating distressed na. Ibig pong sabihin, eto po ‘yung mga kababayan natin na undocumented doon sa mga bansa kung nasaan sila naroroon. Ito po ‘yung may iba-ibang suliranin na hinaharap doon na may kinalaman sa kanilang status. Halimbawa, hindi na sila properly documented. Sila po ‘yung priority na kailangan tugunan ng DFA. Pero noong dumating po ang pandemic, binigyan po tayo ng pagkakataon na mabigyan ng tulong ang mga kaso ng stranded. Kung mapapansin po ninyo, isa sa mga chartered flight na nagawa natin is ‘yung pagpapauwi ng ating mga stranded na kababayan sa Macau. Marami rin po ‘yung sa Hong Kong. Halimbawa, ito po ‘yung mga turista na na stranded po doon. At isa pa pong halimbawa ng ayuda natin ay ang pagbibigay ng pagkain habang naghihintay sila repatriation flights para makauwi. Hindi lang po talaga natin pwede gamitin ung pondo ng ating Assistance to Nationals pra doon sa mga may kakayahang sagutin ang kanilang sariling gastusin. So, hindi po natin masabi na lahat po talaga ay kasama, tulad po ng mga tourist na pumunta doon at naabutan ng lockdown. May pagkakataon naman po, may cases na hindi na po talaga kaya. Lumapit lang po sila sa ating mga embahada o consulate at ito naman po ay pinapaunlakan natin. Meron naman po tayong mga kasong ganito. Halimbawa po ay ‘yung mga estudyante sa America: ‘yung visa nila natapos na, hindi na nila natuloy ang kanilang pag-aaral or yung kanilang OJT. Ito po ‘yung mga bahagi ng tinutulungan po natin.

Concern addressed during Dagyawan/ Open Forum

DFA

Our economy relies a lot on tourism. Do we have a target timeline when our borders will open again to international travels?

Daff Binobo
Malapascua Island, Daanbantayan, Cebu

(Sent via Slido)

DFA: Ang pagkakaalam ko naman po, base sa nababalita, ay nagoopen na paonti-onti ang DOT para po sa mga local tourists pero as of now po – hindi po kasi ako member ng IATF para makapagbigay ng tamang kasagutan – pero sa tingin ko naman po na darating tayo sa punto na iyan na icoconsider nang buksan ang ating borders para sa international tourists.  Siguro naghihintay lang po tayo ng mas maayos na panahon na masasabi natin na ready na po yung ating lugar, na ready na po tayo magcater ulet sa turista.

Concern addressed during Dagyawan/ Open Forum

OWWA

Totoo po ba ang balita na may mga umuwing OFWs na halos isang buwan ang inabot na paghihintay sa labas ng airport bago mapayagang umuwi sa kanilang mga probinsya? Kung oo, ano po ang naging aksyon ng gobyerno dito? May kaakibat po ba na suporta na ibinibigay ang gobyerno para agarang mapauwi po sila sa kanilang mga tahanan?

Multiple Sources:

Zachary Jan Diaz, Student, Pasig City
(Online Registration)

Anonymous Submission
(Slido)

OWWA: Di ba nga po ay nag ECQ ng March and then nagkaroon ng mandatory quarantine bandang April 13, and mandatory swabbing noong first week of May. Noong mga panahon na iyon, ang mga LGUs, lalo na ‘yung nasa Visayas at Mindanao ay hindi tumatangap ng mga kababayan nila na mga returnees, kahit OFWs. Basta’t meron silang patakaran noon na kailangan may PCR testing bago umuwi sa kanilang lokalidad. Ang naging resulta nito ay tumagal dito sa Manila ‘yung mga taga Visayas at Mindanao. May panahon kasi na hindi kasing laganap noon ang swab testing bandang March and April. Bihirang-bihira ang swab testing and ang talagang rule ni DOH ay kailangan symptomatic ka or PUI ka bago ka ma-swab test. Wala pa ‘yung tinatawag na mass testing. Hindi pa laganap ang mga test kits noon at PCR machines. So ang resulta noon ay ‘yung mga taga Visayas at Mindanao ay tumagal talaga and more than month in an OWWA hotel quarantine sila.

But that has all changed – meron nang mass testing ngayon. Pinalaganap na ngayon ng IATF. Sila Sec. Charlie Galvez at Sec. Vince Dizon ay nagpalaganap na ng kanilang effort ukol diyan—DOH-BOQ sila Sec Duque, Red Cross si Senator Gordon, and the Government Hospitals, I should say. So ‘yung proseso ngayon ay mas madali, mas mabilis so wala na ‘yung tumatagal ng isang buwan. In fact, less than fourteen days, kasi ‘diba 14 days quarantine ang rule, nakakauwi na sila. ‘Yung napabalitaan noon na natutulog sa ilalim ng tulay, yoon ay ‘yung tinatawag na locally stranded individuals (LSIs). Hindi sila OFWs dahil hindi sila nakaalis ng bansa, naistranded sila sa Metro Manila. May effort pa rin ang national government doon. Pumasok ang Office of the President, Office ni Senator Bong Go, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine Coast Guard, DOTR, DSWD and even ang OWWA. Sila ay nasa labas ng airport at nagkaroon po kami ng Food Feeding Program doon sa mga LSIs na nandodoon. Patuloy ang effort ng pagpapauwi LSIs. In fact, nagkameeting sa airport and nagreport ‘yung AFP doon na nagkaroon na naman ng batch na napauwi, mga dalawang daan yata mula sa Cultural Center kasi parang may campsite na itinayo doon ang Armed Forces. Patuloy po ang efforts sa pagpapauwi ng locally stranded individuals, subject of course to medical protocols. So, ‘yung PCR testing and ‘yung observance ng medical protocols, social distancing, PPEs, and facemasks to avoid COVID-19 virus.

Concern addressed during Dagyawan/ Open Forum

POEA, CMA, OWWA, Blas Ople Center

Ano ang mga bagong social protection programs para sa mga OFW na hindi na muling makakablik sa trabaho dahil nalugi o nagsarado ang kanilang kumpanya? Paano rin po ang mga OFW na dapat paalis na ulit ng bansa pero hindi makaalis dahil may pandemic pa?

May programa rin po ba kayo para naman sa mga nakauwi nang OFWs sa Pilipinas

Josefa Spizon, Volunteer, Rural Development Initiatives in the Islands of Leyte Inc.
(Sent via Online Registration)


Marino Badal
Pangulo ng AKLAS MINDORO inc
(Sent via Email)

POEA: Regarding sa question na “Ano po ba ang concern ng POEA sa mga OFWs natin na hindi pa makabalik..” Actually po, meron pong ginawa ang POEA at finafinalize na interim guidelines para sa mga household workers upang magkaroon po ng isang standard na system para maprotektahan po ang ating mga OFWs at makapagdeploy po kami nang sumusunod po sa batas ng IATF. Ang akin pong department o branch na hinahawakan sa POEA ay ang Welfare Services Branch so kung’ yung itatanong po ninyo ay ung mga in-demand po na trabaho sa abroad ay, sabi nga po ni Ma’m Susan Ople, sa ngayon po ay talagang bumagsak ang deployment namin sa abroad kaso nga marami pong mga employer at mga agency na apektado ng pandemic po na ito. Ang sa amin po na maibibigay na tulong sa ating mga OFW tungkol po sa programa ng deployment namin ay magvisit po sila sa Website ng POEA (http://www.poea.gov.ph/). At the same time po ay tingnan nila ang mga guidelines na ginagawa po ng aming administrasyon para po matugunan ang pangangailangan ng ating mga OFWs.

Ang isa pa rin po na gusto ko pong sabihin po ay doon po sa mga locally stranded individuals o LSIs na na napauwi na po sa atin. Kung sakali po na sila ay may reklamo o grievance na gusto nilang mabigyan ng karampatang kaso, o kung sila po ay inabuso, pwede po silang mag file ng kaso via our legal office. Ang aming legal office ay magrerefer po sa Conciliation Unit para po makapagfile po sila ng reklamo at masettle ang kanilang gustong hingiin na money claims or iba pa pong dapat maibigay sa kanila. Kami ay tumatanggap na ng face to face transactions at video conferences kung saan maaari po nilang idulog ang kanilang mga grievance sa amin. Ito po ay isa sa mga opisina na hawak ko po bilang Director ng Welfare Services branch.

At doon naman po sa aming repatriation unit, kami naman po ay talaga pong nagbibigay ng tulong sa mga OFW na gusto makauwi. Actually, mula po noong nagstart ang pandemic noong Marso hanggang sa ngayon, kami ay nakapag-issue na ng notice of repatriation sa mga agency para kanilang matulungan ang ating mga OFW na minamaltrato ng kanilang mga employer. Sa amin pong record, kami ay nakapagbigay na ng humigi’t kumulang na 3,577 na notice of repatriation para mapauwi po ang mga kababayan natin na minamaltrato. Kung ang agency po ay hindi po tutugon sa 15 days na period na dapat aksyunan ang aming notice, at sila po ay walang earnest effort na ginagawa, sila po ay isususpend ng aming opisina. Sa ngayon po – mula nang nagsinula ang pandemic hangang sa kasalukuyan – kami po ay nakapagsuspinde na ng mga agency na umaabot ng kulang-kulang na 200 agencies. May ibang agency na pulit ulit po sila. Dahil po kasi sa lockdown ay nagstop ang kanilang operations pero sila po ay tumugon doon sa mga karaingan ng ating mga OFW.

CMA: Iyong mga programa ng CMA ay sa policy advocacy--‘yung may kaugnayan sa re-integration, pagka-craft ng public employment program na inclusive of the repatriated OFWs. Ang thrust nito ay ang mas sustenableng pag-empleyo na may disentent pasahod at iba pa.

Pangalawa po, we are happy to announce na natapos na ang ating skills matching survey looking into the skills ng ating repatriated OFWs. Mahalaga kasi na pag magtratarabaho ka dito, matingnan natin kung ano ang skill mo at skill na available para sa employers sa Pilipinas. Usually, we are looking at COVID referral hospitals, hindi lang para sa mga healthworkers nating repatriated, pero pati mga auxiliary and ancillary services na kailangan ng isang COVID referral hospital. We will be making a presentation to our policy makers by October 28.

We also definitely see the urgency for immediate relief kaya tuloy ang aming pagfacilitate ng communication support para sa DOLE AKAP applicants. Ang kanilang lamentation na “ang tagal-tagal na nag-apply nila, nakauwi na sila but they have not received any word or any reply on their application,” ito ay na-articulate na rin natin sa DOLE at ang pangako lang nila ay maghintay lang kasi nga meron namang 13 billion pesos na dagdag from Bayanihan II na kasama ang allocation for DOLE AKAP. So, inuulit ko ito sa ating mga kababayan na nag apply sa DOLE AKAP. Ang sabi po ng DOLE ay maghintay lang kayo at kayo ay bibigyan ng prayoridad particularly ‘yung mga nakapag -apply na.

Yung pangatlo, natutuwa kami na kahit papaano ay nakapag raise kami ng kaunting ayudang bigas at limited medical assistance para sa talagang nangangailangan.

Ang dagday ay inuulit natin na very crucial ang reintegration program ng NRCO at ng OWWA. Hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit bumababa ang pondo ng NRCO although for this year nga ay para ngang meron silang unspent. Pero apart from the fact na meron silang pera ay ‘yung point na kung ano ba talaga ang magandang reintregration program. Iyon ang kailangan ng assessment kasi ito ang malaking hamon sa atin. Ano ang sustainable na reintegration para hindi na talaga babalik sa pag-aabroad ang ating mga OFWs?

Definitely, we have been engaging with our migrant communities in Luzon, Visayas Mindanao. Once nakauwi na kayo dito sa Pilipinas ay dapat lalawak na iyong mundo in terms of the agencies na pwede ninyong lapitan, especially in the case of usapang pangkabuhayan. Hindi nalang iyan OWWA. Pinakafavorite po kasi ang OWWA at NRCO. Definitely nandiyan po ang DSWD at ang Department of Agriculture, DOST pati po ‘yung CHED. May mga programa po silang available sa komunidad dahil kayo po ay babalik bilang miyembro ng mga komunidad. Yes – OFW, bumalik na po kayo sa community. Reintegrate in the community and you should be able to avail of the other programs na available sa iba pang ahensya ng gobyerno. Imbis po na lumiit yung mundo ninyo na OWWA, POEA and NRCO lang ay dadagdagan ninyo po iyon at kailangan po na mas maintindihan natin na marami pang untapped na program ang DAR, ang DA, ang ATI na lalo na dun sa may mga lupa pa. May mga lupain pa kayo na pwede mapagyaman ng pagkuha ng technical assistance and the like dito sa mga ahensya na ito ng gobyerno.

Nasa policy-advocacy ang mga programa naming. Nagreresearch kami para evidence-based and directed ang pagdedevelop ng programa. I would also like to mention yung mahalagang papel ng local government and communities sa pagbabalik ng ating mga OFWs in the immediate but also in the long term. Ang isa lang disturbing kasi ay may narinig kaming concern na “itong mga bumalik na OFW na ito, makikipagagawan pa isa amin ng trabaho dito.”. Meron na ngang stigma na sila ‘yung carrier ng virus, which should not be the case, kaya ‘wag na po sanang marinig na ‘pag bumalik ang ating mga repatriated na OFWs ay makikipagcompetition sila sa mga trabaho na available dito. Hindi po sila magkocompete kung meron pang ibang options dito.

OWWA: Idadag ko lang po dahil naalala ko na social protection ‘yung question ng nagtatanong. Of course, nandiyan ang Philhealth and SSS and Pag-Ibig kung saan mandatory ang membership ng isang OFW with these financial institutions. Pero sa OWWA at DOLE, nandiya-diyan for OFWs ang AKAP na nabangit ni Sec. Wendel earlier na 10,000 pesos made available to OFWs displaced by the crisis. Pangalawa, Scholarship na nabanggit na kanina ng presenters. Pero ung scholarship is in partnership with the CHED and the DOLE and OWWA. May comment si Ellene kanina na wala pang guidelines. Meron na for OFWs, as we speak: Scholarship for Collegiate Level for OFWs displaced by COVID.

Lastly, for group livelihood, we are rolling this out by next week at signed na ang guidelines. Ang group livelihood assistance ay P150,000 – P1,000,000 grant for OFWs who can organize themselves into a feasible business endeavor.

Blas Ople Center: May initiatives rin ang Blas Ople Center in partnership with IOM and POEA and OWWA para itulak yung ethical recruitment among recruitment agencies. Paalala lang namin na napakahalaga ng role ng recruitment agencies sa pagstop ng exploitation ng ating OFWs and very welcome naman itong initative sa kanila. Hopefully, isa ito sa magiging legacy ng Duterte Administration, ang pagkakaroon ng kultura ng ethical recruitment practices sa private sector. Paalala lang po sa aming mga OFWs: patuloy po na mayroong online illegal recruitment at human trafficking. Kaya sa pagbubukas po ng outbound travel bilang mga turista, ‘wag po kayo papatol na kayo ay ideploy abroad bilang turista lalo na di dadaan sa POEA kasi maiiwan po kayo sa hangin. Pagkakakitaan lang po ang pangarap ninyo. So siguro po sa ating government partners, kailangan po natin ito paulit-ulit na ipaalala sa ating mga kababayan.

Concern addressed during Dagyawan/ Open Forum

POEA

Gusto ko po malaman kung ano ang ating competitive positioning sa labor market. Mayroon pa bang demand abroad para sa OFWs? Kung oo, ano-ano kayang mga trabaho ang in-demand parin hangang ngayon? Mayroon po bang job preservation programs ang Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO)?

Ricardo R. Casco (PH-OGP Facebook Page)

POEA: Sa ngayon po kasi, dito po sa government placement branch –sa South Korea at sa Taiwan ay meron pong government-to-government arrangement para sa mga trabahong tulad ng pagiging Factory Worker. Tapos sa China, mayroon po tayong hiring ng teachers, at sa Saudi at Germany po ay mga nurses. Sa Japan po ay may mga kailangan din po tayong mga nurses and caretakers. Sa Abu Dhabi kailangan po ng medical technician. Pero ang lahat po ng mga trabaho na ito ay kinakailangan po na sumunod po sa mga health protocol na ginagawa po ng ating gobyerno at ‘yun pong mga agency po na dito ay nagsasabi po sila na may mga ganung kailangan, dapat po ang ating mga OFW ay magcheck muna sa POEA kung talaga po bang accredited ang kanilang mga agency. Sa ngayon po, ang mga nabanggit ko na mga bansa ay nangangailangan po ng mga magtatrabaho – mga factory worker, teachers, nurses, caretakers at mga medical technicians. Sa ngayon po, iyon pa lang po ang inaalok sa POEA under government-to- government arrangements.  

Concern addressed during Dagyawan/ Open Forum

Role

Agency/Organization

Resource Speaker

Designation

Discussants

Department of Agriculture (DA)

Cheryl Marie Natividad-Caballero

Undersecretary-designate and concurrent Chief-of-Staff

Pambansang Kilusan ng mga Samahang Magsasaka (PAKISAMA)

Raul Socrates Banzuela

Exeucutive Director

World Bank

Eli Weiss

Senior Agriculture Economist

Episode Replay on Youtube

https://youtu.be/ZvJs7aiCUyY

Episode Replay on Facebook

https://fb.watch/1AU3CUmNEj/

Agency / Organization Concerned

Questions/Concerns Raised

Source of Feedback (Zoom/Facebook, etc)

Response and/or Action Taken

Status

DA, PAKASAMA, World Bank

Napakababa na ng presyo ng palay sa halagang Php 11 per kilo. Mas mababa pa ito sa production cost ng ating mga maliliit na magsasaka. Ganoon din sa mais. Paano natin tinutulungan ang mga maliliit at mahihirap nating magsasaka, lalo na ngayong may pandemya? Ang mga concerns ba na ito ay prayoridad ng ating gobyerno? Bukod sa DA, may assistance din ba ang World Bank at PAKISAMA sa kanila?

Multiple Sources:

Becky Barrios, General Secretary ng PASAKK Inc. mula sa Bunawan, Agusan Del Sur (Live Q and A)

Other Sources:

Becky Barrios, ang General Secretary ng PASAKK Inc. mula sa Bunawan, Agusan Del Sur

Caroline Ubalde ng Lingap Para sa Kalusugan ng Sambayanan (LIKAS) ng Irosin, Sorsogon

Ferdinand Valdez, Northeast Luzon Credit cooperative League (NELCCO), Isabela

Allan Lucero, United Methodist Church Christian School ng Ramon, Isabela

Maria Rosa Solis, Genesis Foundation, San Carlos, Negros Occidental

Nathaniel Tumalip, Estudyante mula sa Tulunan, North Cotabato

DA: Binibigyan po natin ng halaga ang partisipasyon ng ating mga magsasaka at mangingisda sa pamamagitan ng kanilang mga kooperatiba or asosasyon. The Department of Agriculture strongly pushes for the collectivization or the grouping of these farmers’ organizations so that the government can provide more services to them given the limited resources we have. In terms of farms and fisheries clustering and consolidation, meron po tayong pondo diyan under Bayanihan II para po isakatuparan natin ang programa na “Bayan-Agri”. It’s basically a combination of Bayanihan sa agrikultura.

Second is we also engage the participation of the youth in the professionalizing the services of our cooperatives by providing a 6-month on the job training program for youth aged 22-30. The Department can accept them as Management Trainees that will be deployed in the cooperatives to help in the capacity building mechanisms alongside with working together sa ating mga government offices that are engaged in the regulatory activities. Ito po ang dalawang mahahalagang programa na naka focus sa capacity building and competency enhancing program among cooperatives along with the cooperative development authority.

PAKISAMA: May dalawa pong programa ang PAKISAMA – ‘yung advocacy program and membership development services. ‘Yung advocacy program po kasalukuyan po tayong nakikipag-ugnayan sa iba’t ibang grupo, mga farmers’ organizations at NGOs upang makabuo ng mas komprehensibong advocacy materials sa ating pamahalaan. Kaya mahalaga ang pagsusuri. Bakit bumababa na naman ng ganyang katindi ang presyo natin sa bigas? Ang sinasabi at lumalabas sa pag-aaral ngayon ay masyadong dumami pa rin ang import na palay o bigas sa panahon na nagharvest na tayo kaya mababa talaga ang presyo sa atin: hindi talaga tayo makakapag-compete sa imported rice. Kaya ang aming advocacy ay sana mayroong safeguard measures tayo na sa panahon ng pag-ani ay limitahan ang pagiimport ng ganya o kaya ay itaas natin ang tariff – kaya pa ba natin itaas from 35% to 70 or even 80%. Sa ibang bansa nagagawa po nila yan. Kaya po iyon ang panukala natin para ma-apektuhan natin ang buhay ng dalawang million nating rice farmers.

Sa mga members naman po ng PAKISAMA, 75,000 members sa 36 provinces, karamihan po sa kanila, 40% ay rice farmers. Ang ginawa na po natin mula pa n’ung late 90s ay nag-umpisa na tayo ng advocacy towards Integrated, Diversified, Organic Farming systems. Kaya ang nangyari po dito sa panahon ng pandemya at itong crisis sa Rice Tariffication Law, napansin natin itong mga nagshift na sa integrated, diversified, organic farming system ay sila yung nakaligtas. Sila ‘yung mas mataas ang kita. May isa tayong miyembro na kumikita ng 38,000 pesos per month at marami nang mga conventional rice farmers ang nag-apply sa cooperative nila. Nakikita natin ito na nagiging pattern. ‘Yun po ang ginagawa natin: patuloy na membership education towards diversification, and then we’re linking farmers direct sa market. We are now organizing cooperatives even here at the urban centers upang mag-absorb ng mga products ng mga members natin. Nagkecreate tayo ng famers’ market upang diretso na mismo ang mga farmers natin na makabenta sa mga consumers at sa mas magandang presyo.

World Bank: It’s a very important question because it is a very big reform. In general it is a good reform because if it lowers prices it is good – all the Filipinos are rice consumers, so if prices can be lowered, it is good – it is pro-poor and it has a net-gain for society. But obviously, the rice farmers are suffering for that and it is very important to have compensatory measures in place for the affected farmers during this transition. This is extremely important and can improve, on one side, the productivity of the rice farmers and to improve also their competitiveness. It is also good for the diversification. The diversification on one side is good because it is also the consumption side – it is not just rice which is imported but nutritious food is also very important. Affordable and available nutritious food is important for all Filipinos for their nutrition benefits. The other side is also important for income. Just staying on rice is difficult to have a good income, mostly for rain-fed farmers. Being able to diversify is important for improving the incomes of the farmers. To achieve that, it is important to have this more outcome-based, more holistic approaches which include public goods like roads, renovation systems, irrigation systems and specific support to the farmers and the farmer groups, that they can strengthen their organizations and be strengthened along the value chain: from the inputs to the production to the cross farming to marketing, validation, logistics. These can be done together, in a holistic approach, in an evidence-based way.

Concern addressed during Dagyawan/ Open Forum

DA, World Bank

For DA: Paano ninyo tinutugunan ang pamumulitika sa mga DA programs sa mga lokalidad? (How do you address politicization of DA programs at the local level?)

Multiple Sources

Mr. Romeo Agraviador Jr., Integrated Livestock Farmers Association ng San Carlos City, Negros Occidental. (Live Q and A)

Other Sources:

Anonymous responded from Slido

DA: Ang ating pong programa ay dapat tumugon at maramdaman ng tao hangang sa baba. Sa pamamagitan po ng pag-adopt po ng mga criteria, may mga guidelines po tayong nagiging basehan ng implementation ng programa. So kagaya po ng farm-to- market road development, meron pong guidelines na nilabas nitong Septyembre 2020 ang ating Kalihim na si Secretary William Dar, at ito ay basehan ng ating mga selection process. So halimbawa po niyan: dapat ang kalsada na paglalagyan ay tumutugon doon sa pagbubukas ng mga production area that will allow now the communities to bring their products closer to the market through an efficient road system. Pangalawa, we also adopt the use of digital technology to map out the areas which are proposed for expansion or construction and at the same time to monitor kung ano po yong mga existing na nakalagay doon na mga roads through geo-tagging. So, we take cognizance of both soft and hard components in project review and project monitoring so that end of the day po ay this becomes a more transparent engagement process. Binuksan rin po natin sa pamamagitan ng ating guidelines ang identification or request for roads through cooperatives or associations that can be submitted by your organization to the Department of Agriculture through the Regional field offices sa bawat rehiyon para ito po ay magiging part ng ating wishlist which will be evaluated, validated and reviewed and endorsed eventually to the regional development council wherein the proper participation and representation of the communities or the organizations are recognized. So ito po ay mechanism at proseso na ating sinusundan sa ating pamamaraan sa pagpapalaganap ng programa ng agriculture.

World Bank:

On the politicization of the DA programs – I was part of the Philippine Rural Development Project (PRPD). I can see that the PRPD has done a really good job of evidence-based planning: shifting the focus from traditional planning approach which was mostly spearheaded by politicians on where to put the farm-to-market roads, to an approach really based on data and evidence where expanded vulnerability and resiliency assessment has been included which basically overlays several factors like the potential of a certain value chain or poverty rates, etc. to really identify where the specific investment should be done. This is basically included in the Provincial Commodity Investment Plans (PCIP). This has definitely been a change/shift in how things are done at the local level.

Concern addressed during Dagyawan/ Open Forum

DA, World Bank

Multiple Sources

 Esther Roxanne Veridiano, 7K-Kalikasan, Baguio (Live Q and A)

Others:
Anonymous Citizens from Slido

Dumarami na ang bilang ng mga plantito at plantita ngayon sa ating mga siyudad na nagpapractice ng urban agriculture. Ano-ano ang mga programa at mekanismo na para sa mga urban agriculture practitioners natin? What are the support mechanisms for Urban agriculture practitioners? Does World Bank also have data to share on Urban Agriculture?

DA: We take cognizance of the value of urban agriculture in the pandemic. This allows our communities to be self-sufficient. Household food sufficiency is the area that urban agriculture tries to address. On an individual level, the Department of Agriculture, through the Bureau of Plant Industry and the regional field offices, provides seeds to organizations. Kunyari, ‘yung barangay, they can request from the Department of Agriculture, so through that line, the mechanism to systematically distribute the seeds is going to be handled properly. Again, kung meron rin po kayong cooperative, I think we also are working on a program that will allow some cooperatives to produce, to grow the seedlings and if it is possible that it can be sold by them and if you are accredited, then some programs can also be used to buy from the cooperatives through the Sagip-Saka Act. So hindi lang po indibidwal kundi mga organizations ang pwedeng makinabang sa mechanism na nilatag ng Department of Agriculture

World Bank: On urban agriculture – it is timely because the World Bank has just finalized a study on Urban Agriculture which had, even in the Philippines, it includes Urban Cities and it will be published probably in a few months or later this year. It also shows the importance of not just the ministers of agriculture but also local government units because they have a really important role in that – and it’s not just about production, but also the entire food system. At the local level, there are food systems strategies in place. The research looks at food safety, food markets, just to make sure there is enough affordable and nutritious food at the local level. It is a study that will come out soon and we hope that we can share it with you.

Concern addressed during Dagyawan/ Open Forum

DA, PAKISAMA, World Bank

Kung may suporta tayo para sa mga magsasaka sa panahon ng pandemya, may bukod rin bang suporta at programa ang gobyerno, World Bank at PAKISAMA sa mga magsasaka, fisherfolks at iba pang apektadong sektor tuwing panahon ng kalamidad. Gaya ngayong panahon, kakatapos lang ng Bagyong Quinta, at alam naman natin marami pang paparating na bagyo.

(If we provide support to our farmers during this time of pandemic, does DA, World Bank, and PAKISAMA have separate programs or assistance provided to farmers, fisherfolks and other sectors affected by calamities? Typhoon Quinta just left and we expect more typhoons to make landfall in various areas in the country.)

Multiple Sources:

Marino Badal ng AKLAS-MINDORO Inc. (Online Registration)

Others Sources:
Anonymous Citizens in Slido

DA: Opo, ang pagtugon po ng Department of Agriculture during the calamities are basically covered by two response mechanisms: ito po ‘yung ating availability ng Quick Response Fund na nagiging available to Department of Agriculture at binababa po ito sa pamamagitan ng rehiyon patungo sa munisipalidad, from the Regional Offices to the local government unit. They just have to declare the damage covered by the Typhoon and that will be the basis of our payout through the QRF (Quick Response Fund).

Pangalawa po, meron rin tayong crop insurance through the Philippine Crop Insurance Cooperation (PCIC) wherein those farmers who were able to access or avail of crop insurance will be covered automatically. So, may mga mekanismo po ito na magiging accessible sa ating magsasaka para matugunan ang kanilang pangangailangan in times of crisis like typhoons.

PAKISAMA: Pangunahing tugon po ng PAKISAMA ay patungkol sa pagpapalakas ng kakayahan ng mga kooperatiba na miyembro ng pakisama, mga associations na magkaroon ng kakayahan na tumugon mismo sa mga ganitong problema ang mga cooperatiba: ano ang ibig sabihin nito? Una, may kakayahan dapat siyang magbigay ng agri-extension services sa mga members upang matransform ang kanilang farms into resilient farms na nabanggit po kanina. May mga pamamaraan po na tiyakin pa rin na may pagkain kahit na may bagyo.

Pangalawa po – ay ang kakayahan ng mga kooperatiba na makipagpartner sa iba’t ibang government agencies, NGOs sa marami pong serbisyo ang gobyerno at iba ibang ahensiya, maliban sa DA, sa panahon ng kalamidad katulad nito. Ang kulang lang ay ‘yung kakayanan ng mga association at kooperatiba, paano ito ma-access? Kaya iyon po ang isa naming pangunahing binibigyan ng paraan.

World Bank: The World Bank has various mechanisms in place to support the government when there are calamities, mostly from our disaster-risk colleagues. From our side in Agriculture, through the Philippine Rural Development Project (PRPD), when there were big ones like Yolanda – there was support. Basically, there were some processes that were introduced to support affected farmers. Our current objectives per-se is not for that, we are still looking to produce the group that has the potential that have good business plans.

Concern addressed during Dagyawan/ Open Forum

DA

Para sa DA, World Bank, at PAKISAMA: Usapang Kita: I believe that income is among the many driving forces to help sustain the interest of our farmers to continue farming as a way of life, what programs does any of the speakers have to help improve the earning capacities of our local rice farmers?

Kilian Deveza, Oro Integrated Cooperative, Opol, Misamis Oriental

DA: Una sa lahat, ang atin pong battlecry sa Department of Agriculture ay “Ani at Kita”. So, hindi lang po sa pagpapataas sa ating productivity, kung hindi ensuring the profitability to our farmers and fisherfolk. Una po diyan ay ang programa na dinadagdag natin na inclusive agribusiness – business incubation in agriculture, and social entrepreneur support. Isang mechanism po ito na meron na tayong mga partner cooperatives na na-identify through due diligence na pwede po sila ang pagsimulan ng ating mga programa sa pamamagitan ng kanilang pakikipagunayan sa mga regional offices ng DA. And then, nandiyan po ang ating Bureau of Agricultural Research kasi po may mga teknolohiya po tayo na pwede po nilang iadopt and that adoption of technology as their own business model. Pwede pong tingnan nila ang isang pamamaraan through the inclusive-business mechanism.

Pangalawa, meron rin po tayong access sa Expanded Sure Aid and Recovery Projects. Ito po ay loan program na available sa kahit sinong Pilipino na gusto mamuhunan at mag-engage sa Negosyo ng agrikultura at pangisdaan. Ito po ay walang interest, walang collateral, at mahaba ang termino ng bayaran – hangang limang (5) taon. Ang atin lang po hinihingi ay magkaroon ng pakikipag-ugnayan po sa ating mga regional offices kung kayo po ay nasa labas ng Metro Manila or kahit po magpadala kayo ng email through this platform para po naming kayo masagot at makapag-ugnay. Ilan lang po ito sa mga programa ng DA. Meron rin po tayong enhanced Kadiwa Market, and logistics financial grant program.

Concern addressed during Dagyawan/ Open Forum

DA

Para sa DA: Ano naman po ang status ng Coco Levy Fund? Kailan and paano magkakabenepisyo mula rito ang ating mga maliliit na coconut farmers?

Caroline Ubalde, Lingap Para sa Kalusugan ng Sambayanan (LIKAS), Irosin, Sorsogon (Question sent via registration)

DA: Ang Coco Levy Fund ay kasalukuyan pang nasa Senado para ito po ay maisakatuparan bilang isang batas. So technically, nasa lehislatura pa po ang fine-tuning. Once the final version is approved, it will be presented to the bi-cam: both lower house and senate – para ito ay buuin at ilatag para sa ating Pangulo. ‘Pag ito po ay napirmahan, then it becomes a law. At doon lang po natin makikita ang pamamaraan ng implementation through the creation of a new organization that will work side by side not only putting the money directly to the Philippine Coconut Authority. SO may ganun pong istruktura. Habang nag-aabang po tayo kung kailan bababa ang coco levy, ang Department of Agriculture ay nagcome up ng ilang programa para matulungan ang ating mga mag-uuma. What has been included is the integration of dairy sa mga coconut farms. So meron po tayong mga twelve (12) sites to start with at kasama po diyan ang pagbibigay ng baka at ng milk processing facilities. Ito po ay work in progress, kasama din iyong planting materials siguro na pwede itanim in between the coconut trees. These are immediate interventions that the Department of Agriculture has extended alongside the Philippine Coconut Authority while waiting for the Coco Levy Funds.

Concern addressed during Dagyawan/ Open Forum

DA

Para sa DA: Kamusta po ang implementasyon ng KADIWA Assistance para sa Iligan City?

Julius Haganas, Iligan City Government Employees Multipurpose Cooperative (Sent through online registration).

DA: I have to check on the localized implementation because this is now being done through our regional field offices; nationwide po kasi  anything outside Metro Manila, this is handled by the regional offices. But kung meron po silang ways for us to communicate with them, we can probably refer through email para mas madetalye ang maibigay naming sagot. This is covered by RO10 DA.

Needs response from DA on the status of KADIWA Assistance

DA

Ano po ang mga guidelines natin patungkol sa certification ng mga organic products?

 Renato Banas, Negros Organic Agri Movement Inc., Bacolod City (Sent through registration)

DA: May bagong batas po kasi na naisakatuparan regarding organic agriculture. So iyang amendment na iyan ay isinama po ang certification process because in the past, one of the complaints of our farmers and those who are engaged in organic farming is the high cost of certification. So, the Department of Agriculture, in cooperation with the Legislative Branch of the Government, are supporting this mechanism to make it easier for our organic farmers to avail of assistance for organic certification. I just have to check kung ano ang mechanism ng simplified procedure and cost reduction mechanism to allow our organic farmers to be certified as such.

Needs follow-up response from DA on the simplified procedure and cost reduction mechanism for organic products certification.

DA

Para sa DA:  Will the Philippine government promote regenerative agriculture that combines many principles of organic agriculture, no till, non-use of GMO and pesticides, rotational herding and use of animals in agriculture?

Maria Rosa Solis, Genesis Foundation Inc., San Carlos City, Negros Occidental (Sent from registration form)

DA: We subscribe to sustainable farming systems, so we take cognizance of using both natural and organic systems to allow first of all our resources to regenerate. We have the balanced fertilization program, we have the adaptive, sustainable, land management program under the Bureau of Soils and Water Management. We take cognizance of the need to harness the natural resources. This is the complementary to the area on sustainability.

Concern addressed during Dagyawan/ Open Forum

DA, Pakisama, World Bank

Para sa DA: Paano ninyo sinisiguro na gender-sensitive at inclusive ang inyong mga programa para sa mga basic sectors natin sa agrikultura? May datos po bang available tungkol sa partisipasyon ng mga kababaihan sa inyong programs?

 Other Sources:

Anonymous Citizen from Slido

DA: The Department of Agriculture subscribes to this program. In fact, meron po tayong Gender and Development (GAD) – ito po ay minainstream na natin sa ating mga programa sa lahat ng aspeto.

PAKISAMA: I don’t have the figures here, but since 1990s we set up a cooperation of Women Rural Farmers – pamilya magsasaka ang miyembro ng cooperative associations natin. So you can form a federation of women farmers, so that they are able to advocate their issues well. Kasama na diyan ung pagsisiguro na ang mga agrarian reform beneficiaries ay hindi lang pinapangalan lang sa tatay kundi pati narin sa asawa nila.

Pangalawa, sa lahat ng mga training processes at projects na dinedevelop at binibigay at iniimplement ng PAKISAMA – ang kababaihan ay laging nasa sentro. Kasama sila sa disenyo, implementation and monitoring. Ang alam lang natin ay mas marami ang trabaho ng mga women farmers but they are poorly compensated. Malaking trabaho talaga na mabigyan sila ng incentive kaya sa organizing work – mahalagang meron tayong preference sa organizing women farmers, ganun narin ang young farmers.

World Bank: The gender dimension is very important to the World Bank: in every project, we do analysis to see where are the gender gaps and then once it is assessed – what are actions that have to be included. How do we monitor that? For example, in the PRPD we make sure, not just in the share of beneficiaries that are female, but also to make sure that at the management level, director level – those who take shots that there is fair share of women there. Not just in participation of women in the project but also those who are holding positions.

Concern addressed during Dagyawan/ Open Forum

PAKISAMA

For World Bank and PAKISAMA: Totoong maraming magagandang programa at loan facilities ang gobyerno gaya ng DA para sa ating mga nasa sektor ng agrikultura. Ngunit bakit kaya mahirap pa rin ang kalagayan at buhay ng maraming magsasaka at fisherfolks hanggang ngayon? Ano po kaya sa inyong tingin ang problema at ano po kaya ang maaari pa nating gawin? Saan at ano-ano ang mga aspeto ng ating mga programa na pwedeng pagtulung-tulungan ng iba't ibang sektor? 

(We seem to have lot of good government programs and loan facilities available like those under DA, so why are many of our farmers and fisherfolks still poor until now? What do you think are the challenges here and what can we do about it? Where and what are the areas for collaboration for different sectors when it comes to our agriculture programs?)

Multiple Source

Samuel Garcia, Philexport, Bountiful Cagayan Valley Chapter, Tuguegarao City (Sent via Registration)

Others:
Anonymous Citizen via Slido

PAKISAMA: Ang sagot natin lagi dito ay marami sa ating nananatiling mahihirap na magsasaka dahil hindi nga nila napapakinabangan ang iba’t ibang programa ng pamahalaan at iba pang sektor, mga supporting institutions like Civil Society Organizations and businesses. Pangunahing dahilan diyan ay kokonti lang talaga sa atin – around 10% ang members of the 12 Million in the Agri-Fishery-Forestry sector ang organized or members of organizations that are functional and have the capacity. PAKISAMA is providing full-value chain services for comprehensive capacity building sa members naming; we want cooperatives and associations to have these 5 competencies:

1)      Capacity na paganahin nang mahusay ang kanilang cooperative; membership education, participation and governance. Sana ay meron ring professional management, maka-hire tayo ng professional management staff. Marami pong associations na di members diyan.

2)      Capacity to provide full value chain services sa mga members. Karamihan po sa associations, pakonti-konti lang ang serbisyo sa mga miyembro. Kaya maraming services ay naiiwan lang sa landlords.

3)      Capacity to manage information

4)      Capacity to partner with various agencies, and finally

5)      Capacity to advocate and fill-up political public-spaces na pwede sila magparticipate

Itong limang competencies ay malaking bagay kung iyan ay mapunta sa ating mga cooperative so that they are able to expand the reach of their membership. ‘Yan po ang ating kalagayan. Sa ibang bansa, halos lahat ng magsasaka ay miyembro ng effective cooperative kaya sila ay maunlad: Japan, South Korea, Vietnam – who has 12 million members of farmers union that receive aid from government.

World Bank: I completely agree with PAKISAMA, it is important to have these capacities. In addition, I want to re-emphasize that is very important to shift away from specific crops into improving the resilience inclusiveness, the competitiveness of environmental sustainability of the sector as a whole. This involves includes shifting to a more demand driven sector. If we look at cooperatives as mentioned before; let us link them to the market so that the cooperatives are producing what the markets want, not what the cooperatives or DA think is in high demand. It should come directly from the market. If there is a processor or wholesaler who demands this – there should be an agreement between the cooperatives.

There should be a business plan done together with the buyers so that they know exactly what produce is needed. To achieve the quality, quantity and demand – what kind of investments are needed at the production level, marketing level, logistics level, value addition level – like that. It really has to be a demand driven thing. We have more evidence based. We also need public goods -without good farm to market roads, the logistics, the good information system: this is difficult to achieve.

Concern addressed during Dagyawan/ Open Forum

DA

Ano po ang top 3 na panukalang batas na itutulak ng DA para sa natitirang panahon ng 18th Congress?

Jeck Cantos ng Action for Economic Reforms (Zoom)

DA: Una po sa lahat ay inaantay po natin ang Coco Levy – kasama po ito sa priority agenda sa legislature. ‘Yun pong Organic Agriculture tapos na ang amendment. National Land Use Act is also included in our agenda. Iyon rin pong establishment ng mga Inclusive Agri-Businesses. Ito po ang ilan sa mga areas na ating isusulong sa mga susunod na buwan.

DA

Mahalagang ma-organisa ang mga magsasaka at mangingisda para mabilis mapalaganap ang bagong teknolohiya at makinabang sila sa scale economies na kaakibat noon. Kapag hindi po ito ginawa, malalaking agribusiness lang ang siguradong makakakomptensya. May programa po ba ang DA para sa organizing at capacity building ng mga magsasaka at mangingisda? Ano po ang mga nakikita ng DA na mga balakid para sa maayos na organisasyon nila?

Teodorico de Guia ng Palawan Advocates for Good Governance and Empowerment, Inc. (Zoom)

DA: Sa katanungan na organizing and capacity building: Kami po ay nakikipagugnayan sa cooperative development authority dahil napag-alaman po namin na meron po silang mga cooperative and federations which are composed of 200 to 300 primary cooperatives that are also aligned with the program for training and capacity building for cooperatives. We go into partnerships with them para po ma-harness natin ang kanilang skills and competencies sa pamamagitan lang ng DA; meron rin po tayong MAYA – mentoring and attracting youth in agriculture. Isa po ito sa pamamaraan ng supporting the cap-building through our Agriculture Training Institute.

Concern addressed during Dagyawan/ Open Forum

DA

Paano tinutulungan ng DA ang DAR upang tumaas ang kita ng mga bagong magsasaka, matapos ilipat sa kanila ang titulo ng lupa sa pamamagitan ng repormang agraryo? Halimbawa, paano nakatulong ang pamahalaan sa paglipat ng mga mangtutubo ng Negros mula sa pagiging trabahador sa mga hacienda, tungo sa pagiging mga magsasaka sa sarili nilang lupa?

 Noam Renato Banas (via Zoom)

DA: Number one: iyon po ating pagbibilang at pakikipag-ugnayan regardless where they are registered as farmers. Even if they are agrarian reform beneficiaries or they are in the organization – we work with them via our regional offices as the nearest point to connect. Kahit po saan sila nakarehistro – tayo po ay nakikipagugnayan. In terms of the program of the DA and DAR – may convergence po tayong tinatawag. Under the convergence structure, meron pong areas specific na development planning and program implementation. So, we complement and leverage the resources of both agencies para po mas malayo ang marating ng ating pondo at pakikipagtulungan sa ating magsasaka under the Agrarian Reform Program. In terms of sugar workers – this covers sugar canes and block farming through the SRA. Nakikita po natin dito na kapag nag block farming – under the program, a minimum of 30 hectares within a 2 KM zone will have to be consolidated to reduce the production cost. Hopefully with that, farm workers will be able to earn more and reduce their cost, and have the chance to own their lands by saving or linking them up to other mechanisms to help them profitably gain from enterprises related to agriculture which will earn them savings which they can use to purchase land.  Madami pong mechanisms, through collectivization will be the entry point.

Concern addressed during Dagyawan/ Open Forum

DA, DILG

Usec Marivel (DILG)/Usec Caballero (DA) - One problem the agriculture agency faces, is the non action of certain LGUs to focus and implement its agriculture programs. According to some DA workers, they have no control over the priorities of the LGUs, thus agri production output relies on the LGU. How can we resolve this inaction in the part of the LGU?

Ray Gaspay, Mata, Samar (Via Zoom)

DA: Number one, we look at the participation of the LGUs in the devolution program. Devolved po kasi ang function ng agriculture. Tayo po ay patuloy na nanawagan at nakikipag ugnayan sa mga Local Chief Executives to see the agriculture sector as a way to increase their revenues as well. One way of doing that is providing an enabling environment that will allow not only our farmers to engage in basic production, but also to attract private sector investments for processing and value addition because we look at free enterprise and the participation of the private sector and the cooperatives as very important in making their areas attractive to agri enterprises and agri industrial development. Ito po ay dialogo na patuloy po nating pinaparating sa ating mga executives. We are in the steering function because we provide directions at the national level to policy mechanisms; but the LGUs have the rowing-function which is in the implementation. So we also reach to our LGUs executives by way of capacity building for their municipal agriculturists, and provincial agriculturists through the provincial agricultural extension program. Ito po ay patuloy na isinasagawa natin nang maiadopt po natin ang bagong polisiya ng Agriculture.

DILG (c/o Asec. Calacat) – It would be best for the farmers’ association and groups to adequately engage themselves into the development programming of the LGUs. The political aspects will be set aside. It is more of farmers group working closely with the LGUs

Concern addressed during Dagyawan/ Open Forum

DA

Kasama po ba ang vegetable seeds (carrots, cabbages, lettuce, etc.) sa massive seed production na nabanggit ng DA?

Cristina Aban ng CORDNET/Iyaman Inc., Benguet (Via Zoom)

DA: Ito po ay both a plant and low-land vegetable. So magiging location specific po iyan at ilalatag po sa ating programa under the stimulus package ang aspetong ito.

Under the program of the agriculture, kasama po ung seeds for both the plant and low-land vegetable.

Concern addressed during Dagyawan/ Open Forum

DA

What role can the Multi-Purpose Cooperatives play in the programs of the DA?

Samuel Arsulo (Chairman of the Board, Iloilo Science & Technology University and Community Multi-Purpose Cooperative)

Needs response

DA, World Bank, PAKISAMA

For World Bank: As years go by, we observe a great deal of reduced farm labor because of industrial options. Aside from Republic Act No. 602 with its goal to establish minimum wages our farmers could easily earn money, what other financial interventions does World Bank recommend for us to look into so that we could directly encourage a lot more people to make the agricultural sector thrive in constant?

Question for PAKISAMA and World Bank: There is a stigma among young people when we talk about importation of products that are also available locally. When does importing goods help us and when does it actually cross the lines and threaten the performance of local production considering that the market price of imported goods, let us say, spices (especially the red onions) are far more affordable compared to our natives products?

For DA/PAKISAMA/ World Bank: As of now, an average farm size of a farm holding is under 3 hectares. What sustainable measures can possibly be observed in order to maintain (and if possible, increase the number) agricultural lands and prevent them from getting converted to commercial estates?

Divine Arcel Munar (Editor-in-Chief, The College Forum)

Needs response

DA, World Bank,

PAKISAMA

How can Filipino citizens best support the country's agriculture? (ex. consumer behavior advice, some advocacies to support, or tips we can do at home to contribute to this sector) Thank you very much.

Janine Tinsay (Information Officer, Philippine Information Agency)

Needs response

DA

How committed is DA in investing in responsible agriculture specifically on young farmers?

Katlea Zairra Itong (Project Manager, PhilDHRRA)

Needs response

DA

Here in the CAR especially Benguet, the farmers cannot do away with mass production of vegetables but the vegetable seeds (carrots,cabbages,lettuce etc) are imported. Can DA include this in your massive seed production program?


Iyaman Office

Needs response

DA

Issue pa rin natin ang land conversion of agricultural lands to residential and commercial lands. What interventions being done by DA to address this issue?

Ruby Desolo

Needs response

DA

Tanong po for DA:

May programa po ba kayo sa nagnanais na magtayo ng training center at demo farm upang makatulong sa ating maliit na magsasaka?

Teodorico De Guia at Roy Nelson G. Layosa

Needs response

DA

Why are farmers and farmer groups easily get red-tagged by military? Farmers feed our soldiers. Are there any move/actions for resolution with the NTF-ELCAC?

Mata, SAMAR

Needs response

DA

The presentation of the Department of Agriculture was very well said. But how can we avail of the assistance for Food Processing. Our Womens Group have already started the Fish Processing Livelihood. DTI provided us the facility and the equipment but we have no monetary capital to purchase the raw materials which are the FISHES. In what way DA can help us?

Jessilita Dano Espinosa

Needs response

DA

For DA:

I am food security advocate. How can we help promote planting of genuine rootcrop gabi, instead of gabi-gabi as ornamentals, etc..?

Josefa Roces-Pizon

Needs response

DA

Hoping na ang FMR namin at Sitio tongo,Bgy Palampas,San Carlos city,Negros occ maimplement.it is signed by Regional Director Remelyn Recoter last Dec 2019 validated,geotagged but the city of San Carlos won't processed the required papers to be submitted to Dept of Agriculture central office.hoping it will be acted soon

Romeo Agraviador

Needs response

Ask lang po kung kasali po ba dito ang mga scholar grant ng D. A via ACEF-GIAHEP, ask lang po bakit sobrang tagal, malapit napo kaming ga graduate until now wla

Anonymous Citizen from Slido

Needs response

Are the reports on the actual accomplishments of the DA programs, and the programs' objectives/targets and budgets for each region available on the DA website?

Needs response

on a general outlook, how do we simply categorize the status of food sufficiency of the country until December? pls use the scale of 1 to 5, of which 1 is d lowest n 5 the highest.

Needs response

Thank you Da for trying to address the needs of our farmers and Cooperative. Pwede po bang I priority din ang Post harvest Facilities (Mechanical Dyer and Storage Facilities) Dahil sa tuloy-tuloy na ulan nasira po ang mga palay at mais ng ating mga farmers. Salamat po.

Needs response

Role

Agency/Organization

Resource Speaker

Designation

Discussants

Board of Investments, DTI

Director Sandra Marie S. Recolizado

Director of Investment Policy and Planning Service, Board of Investments
Department of Trade and Industry

Action for Economic Reform (AER)

Mr. Filomeno Sta. Ana III

Coordinator

Episode Replay on Youtube

https://youtu.be/DtumOhVEUbU

Episode Replay on Facebook

https://fb.watch/2FFUGfp6nF/

NEDA/ DBM/ DTI

Sa ilalim ng ating economic recovery plan, ano ang mga programa upang direktang makatulong ang pamahalaan sa mga maralitang Pilipinong gustong magnegosyo ngunit kung uutang sa mga bangko ay hinahanapan ng mga collateral at iba pang mga dokumento? Halimbawa ang mga maliliit nating magsasaka na wala ring kapital at hindi kayang magcomply sa napakarami at kumplikadong rekisito ng mga lending institutions?

Noel Gallardo, Presidente ng TROPA Inc., sa Antipolo City at Lily Mocles, Chairperson ng San Jose ISF Farmers Association of General Santos City

From Registration Form

NEDA –Offhand, ang masasabi ko ay merong programa para dito ang DSWD, ang DOLE at in particular kung para sa magasasaka, ang Department of Agriculture. Meron silang nakalaan na pondo mula Bayanihan 2 at sa regular rin nila na programa.

DBM – Mayroon tayong allocation para sa ating mga magsasaka na binigay natin sa Bayanihan 2 lalo na ngayon. Under Bayanihan 2, meron po tayong allocation na 24 billion na nasa DA to provide a direct cash or low interest rate subsidies and other forms of assistance to our qualified agrifishery enterprises – farmers and fisherfolks registered under the RSBSA (Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture), and of course, ang ating mga agriculture cooperatives. Sa katunayan, out of this amount na 24 billion, nakapagrelease na po ang DBM ng 15.28 Billion as of November 18.  Ito po ay nasa lending institutions like Landbank, sa ating mga field guarantee corporations, sa DBP, and even sa SB corp and private institutions or SMES rin na pwedeng matulungan. So meron po talagang allocation under Bayanihan 2.

Doon naman sa nabanggit kanina, sa Bayanihan 1 ay nagprovide rin tayo ng support para sa Agriculture lalo na sa ating farmers para sa kanilang mga projects and activities. As of today we have already supported 597,404 farmers– they have already received financial assistance sa DA’s Rice Farmers’ Assistance Program. 535,650 rice farmers also benefitted from DA’s financial subsidies for rice farmers and 47,165 farmers and fisher folks, and 122 small and micro enterprises have benefited from DA’s SureAid and recovery project. So ayun po – as far as ating mga kababayan na nasa agriculture sector, iyan po ang ating naipamigay na tulong para sa kanila.

DTI – Sa DTI, meron po kaming COVID-19 Assistance to Restart Enterprises or CARES program. Dito po pwedeng mangutang iyong ating mga maliliit na nagnenegosyo na para papondohan po ‘yung kanilang mga negosyong gusto nilang gawin. Meron po itong iba’t ibang categorya, yung unang una po ay pondo sa pagbabago at pag asenso, COVID-19 to restart enterprises na pwede silang umutang hangang 500,000 PHP tapos meron kaming Regular Cares na pwedeng umutang hangang 5 Million. ‘Yung sa pondo sa pagbabago, ang asset size ng mangungutang ay dapat hindi lalagpas sa 15 million, sa regular care ay hangang 100 million lang dahil micro and small enterprises lang ang ating tutulungan. Tapos meron ring tayong P3 Heroes. Ito naman po ‘yung loan facility natin or pautang sa mga OFWs na pinabalik dito sa Pilipinas. Pwede silang magstart ng sarili nilang negyoso at papautangin sila ng DTI. Dagdag pa dito, meron rin po tayong program on rehabilitation and revitalization of enterprises and livelihood or CARES to Travel – ito naman po ay in cooperation with DOT. So, nag-aaccredit po tayo ng mga tourism enterprise and LGU accredited small-scale tourism enterprises. Pwede rin po silang umutang under this program. ‘Yung sa tanong po on workaround and assistance para sa mga hindi kayang magcomply sa requirements, mas okay po kung ito ay irerefer natin sa SB Corp ng DTI.

Resolved

DTI

Irerelate ko lang sa katanungan ni Sir Noel – tinatanong po niya kung pwede po kayong magdagdag papaano dun sa Negosyo na hindi makakomply sa requirements pero nais nilang mag avail nitong mga binabangit na programa. Meron po ba kayang concessions or palugid para dito sa mga hindi makakacomply?

Follow-up Question from Moderator 

DTI –ang on top po ng CARES Program na ito ay ang SB Corporation ng DTI. Ang requirement po nila ay magsubmit ng audited financial statement na filed sa BIR noong 2018 or 2019. So, iyon po ung kailangan nilang gawin. Kapag wala pong BIR registration, ang mga requirement po is dapat wala kayong malaking pagkakautang sa bangko or ibang microfinance entities. Dapat meron kayong Mayor’s permit, Barangay’s business permit, larawan or video ng Negosyo at mga patunay na meron kayong benta. Kung hindi pa sila rehistrado sa BIR,  kailangan na may patunay na may Negosyo sila. So ano ‘yung patunay na may benta sila at larawan kung saan sila nagnenegosyo? Wala din pong collateral kung mapapansin ninyo.

Resolved.

NEDA, AER

Usaping gender sa economic recovery plan: may datos po ba ang NEDA pagdating sa impact ng pandemya at mga recent disasters sa ekonomiya at kabuhayan ng mga kababaihan? Base sa datos o konsultasyon, paano sinisiguro ng NEDA na gender-sensitive ang economic recovery plan ng gobyerno? May maiipayo rin ba ang AER paano magiging gender-sensitive ang ating economic recovery plan?

Lily Mocles, Chairperson ng San Jose ISF Farmers Association of General Santos City

From Registration Form

NEDA – Hindi pa naming nagagawa iyong talagang study para sa gender impact dito sa COVID-19 at itong mga pandemya. Meron na kami sa pangkahalatan and even before this meron na kaming ginawang pag-aaral sa female labor participation we were grappling with low participation ng kababaihan sa labor force. Ito iyong natapos na naming study. Isusunod po talaga naming itong sa gender. But you’ll be glad to know na dito sa mga webinar na ginagawa namin katulad ng sa DOLE at DILG, even DSWD – andon po ‘yong gender mainstreaming in all this. Tulad ng nabanhgit ng webinars na nagawa, kasama po sa mga tinackle nila na topic ay tungkol po talaga sa gender. Doon naman sa ginagawa ni DILG – remember that I mentioned na meron naging ugnayan ang pamahalaan between several civil society organizations. Ang isa pa doon ay may mga ilang seminars na nagawa na rin on making sure na gender responsive ang ating mga programa. Pero maraming salamat po sa katanungan na iyan at ifafast track po naming iyon.

AER – kapag napagtuunan talaga natin ang health programs – kapag ipaglaan natin ang malaking parte ng budget na labanan ang COVID – Malaki ang gender impact nito. Sapagkat Nakita natin sa pandemic na mas Malaki ang epekto sa mga kababaihan. Halimbaw, bunga ng edukasyon ay hindi pwede magbukas kaya ngayon tayo ay nasa bahay ginagawa ang education – nakakaapekto ito lalo na’t sa nanay dahil kailangan niyang alalayan yung bata. So may mga nanay rin tayong kailangan mag dropout sa pagtratrabaho para sa pag aalaga sa bata and pagtutulong sa kanyang edukasyon. In fairness to government, napansin ko rin yung sensitivity nito sa gender – halimbawa nito ay yung sa SAP funds – tiniyak na yung binibigay na cash subsidy ay mapupunta sa kababaihan sa household – hindi sa lalaki. S pagkat alam naman natin na ang nagbubudget ay yung babae.

Resolved.

NEDA

Nagkaroon ba ng participatory planning processes ang pagbuo ng economic recovery plan ng gobyerno? Ikokonsider din ba ang participatory monitoring approaches para ma-ensure ang accountability sa mga programang nakalatag? Paano sinisiguro ng pamahalaan na kasali at prayoridad sa plano ang mga vulnerable at marginalized sectors tulad ng mga kargador, maliliit na magsasaka, mangingisda, urban poor at iba pang sektor sa laylayan na pinakatinamaan ng pandemya at mga kalamidad?

Mula kay: Nanette Antequisa, Executive Director ng ECOWEB sa Iligan City, at Jean Justimbaste ng Pagtinabangay Foundation, Ormoc City

From Registration Form

NEDA – ito pong nabuong Recharge Philippines plan ay magkakadugsong-dugsong po ito na related na proseso. Nagsimula po ito around April when we started ‘yung We Recover As One na document na natapos naming noong May. Pero we started work a week before Holy Week. Ang naging malaking hamon po sa amin talaga ay dahil we were on lockdown and a very strict lockdown on that. Pero nagawa po naming ay nagkaroon po kami ng various engagements with civil society, business sector, pati na rin po ang general public, pati na rin po ang farmers and fisherfolks. ‘Yun nga lang po ay online or sa pamamagitan ng telepono. Meron pa po kaming ginawang crowdsourcing. Meron po kaming ginawang online survey kung saan meron pong mga 400,000 na nagrespond dito. Tapos sa farmers and fisherfolks, ginamit po naming ang network ng mga SUCs natin para makapagreach out. Sa online survey ginamit rin namin ang mga regional offices hindi lamang ng NEDA kung hindi ng marami pang ahenya ng gobyerno para masigurado na makukuha namin ang iba’t iba pang mga suggestions. At iyon po ang naging basehan naming sa We Recover as One and pagkatapos po nun ay yung Recharge Philippines.

Yun pong sa We Recover as One din,  pagkatapos po naming nagawa yung draft, ilang beses na po naming na disseminate ito sa iba’t ibang forum. Again, siguro po maintindihan naman na limited kami in terms of hindi talaga pwede yung face-to-face so lahat po ng mga online forum nagamit po namin para maidisseminate ito at makakuha ng comments, suggestions and inputs sa ating mga kababayan. May tanong rin tungkol sa monitoring – yung sa participatory monitoring. Actually meron rin po kaming ginagawa ulit na survey. Hindi po kami ang gumagawa pero tinutulungan po kami dito ng mga Development Partners.

Resolved

DILG, NEDA

I. How do we make sure that the government's stimulus packages will really become effective and sustainable while making sure that they benefit the most needy and qualified sectors of our society?

II. For DILG: What are the roles of the DILG and LGUs in supporting the objectives and programs under the economic recovery plan? How are we going to operationalize all of these programs at the local level?

Mula kay Caroline Ubalde, Executive Director, Lingap para sa Kalusugan ng Sambayanan (LIKAS) ng Irosin, Sorsogon

From registration form

Anonymous citizen from Slido

DILG – Noong ng unang tumama pa lang ang pandemic satin, talagang naging bahagi ang DILG doon sa pagtiyak na makakaabot sa mga tamang tao or recipient ang ating tulong. Kaya nga katulong ng DSWD ang DILG sa pagbabahagi ng Social Amelioration Program (SAP) at tinitiyak namin na ang mga maaabutan ay sila talaga ang tamang makatanggap – ibig sabihin sila ‘yung nangangailangan. At kung hindi naman, bukas din ang DILG sa pagtanggap sa mga reklamo doon naman sa mga abusado na local officials or doon sa mga local officials na hindi talaga ginampanan ang kanilang dapat gawin nung panahon na ‘yon. Kaya nga meron mangilan-ngilan na mga punong barangay na kinasuhan. Umaabot na ata ng 100 ang under preventive suspension ng Ombudsman dahil diyan sa bagay na ‘yan. Isa rin sa pangunahing polisiya ni DILG Secretary Eduardo Año is to encourage the local government units to do their part in making sure na magiging mas magaan ang buhay ng mamamayan, mga negosyante at mga traders, businessmen and investors. Through the efforts of Sec. Año, we saw siguro more than half of local government units providing incentives sa mga tax payers of business establishments lalo na doon sa tumutulong sa COVID-19. Itong effort na ito ay tuloy tuloy, bagamat sa tingin namin kalahati lang ito ng mga LGUs, dahil hindi rin naman lahat ay pantay-pantay ang kakayahan. Ngunit tinitiyak namin na ito ay magiging patuloy na effort ng DILG habang tumatagal itong pandemya na ito at habang nagtratransition tayo sa new normal na tinatawag, ating tinitiyak na iyong mga proseso, ‘yung systems sa mga local government units ay wala talagang room for korupsyon dahil mahalaga talaga na maayos at efficient ang service.. para matiyak na kung anuman ‘yung resources na meron sila na pwede ipaabot dun sa mamamayan ay magagamit nang maayos. Sa mga panahon ngayon, walang puwang ang korupsyon dahil limitadong-limitado ang resources natin. Kumbaga, very tight ang budget ng gobyerno, at malaki ang inaasahan talaga na kung anuman ang resources na dapat matanggap ng mga tao ay matanggap nila, lalo na nitong panahon na ito. At ganito rin ang mangyayari sa pagpapatupad natin ng Economic Recovery Program for the local government units.

NEDA: Ang DILG ay kasama namin sa recovery cluster. Iyong task group on governance is actually chaired by Usec. Jon Malaya of DILG. Under this task group, malaki ang papel ng DILG at lagi naming sinasabi na malaki ang papel ng LGUs sa pagrecover ng ekonomiya natin dahil alam natin na marami sa businesses natin ang kailangan mag reconfigure or mag repurpose ng kanilang business. So, nagkaroon ng commitment ang mga local government units na i-streamline ang mga permitting processes para masigurado na mafacilitate ang pagbabago ng negosyo ng mga kasamahan nating negosyante. Isa pang naging klaro na hakbang nila ay marami nang LGUs ang gumagamit ng online platforms. Isa rito ay ang electronic BPLS o Business Permit Licensing System. 537 out of 1600+ LGUs ang nakaenroll na sa eBPLS at patuloy pa ang pag-encourage ng paggamit nito. Many of them are already using online platforms sa iba pang tinatawag naming business to government transactions. Ang hamon ko noon sa DILG ay dapat walang magiging COVID cluster na mag-ooriginate sa ating mga opisina. So alam nating pwede maging reason dito ay pag nagkakaroon ng kumpol-kumpol na tao, may nilalakad na papel, nagkakaroon ng pila. So, inaayos ito para ma-ensure na marami ang maging online ang pag-ayos ng mga transaction. Mas mabilis, mas convenient for business and also for government and mas transparent and accountable itong mga nagiging proseso na ito.

DILG – Halos 80% ng mga LGU natin dito ay nirelax talaga nila ang mga polisiya nila or regulation just to make sure na magpapatuloy mabuhay ‘yung negosyo at komersyo sa ating ng mga local government units. Alam nila na malaki rin yung maitutulong ng mga negosyo na ‘yun para magpatuloy ung buhay at hanapbuhay ng mga mamamayan natin. Kasama na rin diyan ‘yung nabanggit kanina na pagdating sa economic recovery program, napakahalaga rin ang transparency at accountability kaya hinihikayat ang mga mamamayan at civil society organizations to report any wrongdoings or shortcomings of local government officials in relation to addressing COVID-19. ‘Yung tulong na iyon ng CSOs at ordinaryong mamamayan ay napakahalaga habang binabantayan natin yung pagtiyak na makakaahon tayo through these economic recovery programs.  

Resolved.

NEDA

Baka pwede gamitin ang NAPC for planning and monitoring. There are 14 basic sector representatives in that Commission,
considering that NAPC is the institution in charge on social reform and poverty reduction, lalo na pagbibigay ng automatic representation ng mga poor sa RDC.

Paul Richard A, Paraguya (NAPC NGO Basic Sectors)

Zoom Room Chat Box

NEDA: Doon po sa task group on governance, ang isa po sa kanilang strategies is really citizen engagement. Nakikipag-ugnayan po sila sa maraming civil society organizations at ang nagko-coordinate po nitong lahat ay ang aming attached agency ng NEDA which is the PNVSCA, Philippine National Volunteer Service Coordinating Agency. So ‘yung nabanggit ko po kanina na meron nang 5000 plus na Civil Society Organizations. With respect to the basic sector mismo ng NAPC, tingin ko po kasama na din sila sa Civil Society Organizations, pero what I can do po is to relay this to the task group on governance dahil sila po ang nakikipag engage sa Civil Society ukol dito.

Proposal needs endorsement to IATF Task Group on Governance.

DBM

For government speakers: Anong pong kailangang tulong ng ating gobyerno mula sa CSOs, academe, thinktank, and development partners para sama-sama nating makamit ang mga layuning ng economic recovery plan?

Anonymous citizen from Slido

DBM – Sa katunayan nga isang patunay na we are working with CSOs itong Dagyawan na ginagawa natin. At ito ang gusto naming makita na lagi tayong nag-uusap. We have to engage the government not only in this kind of situation, but also in all aspects of government services. Kaya po minumungkahi naming dito, being also the secretariat of the Open Government Partnership, we encourage CSOs to really actively engage government. We want our citizens to participate actively not just in this event but in all aspects ng ating pamahalaan. As far as our development partners, of course kailangan po natin sila. Sa katunayan, malaki ang bahagi ng tulong na binibigay nila satin hindi lang sa pinansyal but even sa teknolohiya na binibigay at tinatransfer sa atin sa Pilipinas. So we encourage more of that.

Resolved.

DBM

What stimulus support does  the government have for the Private Higher Education institutions (HEIs) which have suffered a big reduction in enrollment and, therefore, in their income and in the benefits provided to its faculty and employees? Is there a stimulus package for private education institutions?

Mula kay Fe Ricon, Dean of College, Palawan Polytechnic College Inc, ng Puerto Princesa City

DBM – Doon sa ating Bayanihan 1 and 2, wala pong specifically na nakasaad para sa ating higher education but we have some sort of allocation sa ating mga releases sa TESDA. Meron po kasi tayong allocation sa Bayanihan 2, specifically for TESDA to cover the funding requirements for training for work scholarship program. So iyon po ang nakikita kong isang allocation na pwede nating i-tap para sa ating mag-aaral. As far as education is concerned, we have also released around 4 Billion sa ating DepEd for the implementation of Digital Education – iyon po ang ating tulong. Meron rin po tayo ditong tulong na binibigay sa University of the Philippines to cover funding requirements for the establishment of computational research laboratory which will process Big Data for COVID-19 and other pandemics. As for our private sector, hindi po nakasaad sa Bayanihan 2 ang pwede nating maitulong sa kanila. So far, that’s what we have as part of the Stimulus Package under the Bayanihan 2.

Concern should be forwarded to CHED.

AER, NEDA, DBM, DILG

Based on NEDA's presentations, what would be good areas of collaboration between government and CSOs under the economic recovery plan? Ano rin po sa inyong palagay ang dapat iprioritize?

Mula sa isang Anonymous citizen sa Slido

AER – Ang pwedeng pagtuunan ng ating mga Civil Society Organization ay kung paano natin matitiyak na ‘yung ating budget ay magigign responsive para sa pagflatten ng COVID. Iyon ang pinaka importante, maflatten natin ang COVID, ma-enable ang recovery. So ‘yung budget natin ay dapat sumalamin doon at tulad ng nabanggit ko ay ‘yung budget for health ay kulang pa. May oras pa tayo para gumawa ng intervention dahil tinatalakay pa sa congress, particularly sa Senate, ‘yung budget. Kung pwede natin maconvince ang mga Senador para mapalaki ang budget para sa activities na responsive sa flattening the curve at activities na responsive for accelerating the recovery. So health should be the priority at pwede namang gumawa ng reallocation tulad ng nabanggit ko kanina. Pwede i-reallocate ang pera for counter-insurgency o doon sa intelligence funds para sa health, agriculture at iba pang productive activities. Tingin ko kahit sa loob ng gobyerno, meron tayong mga kaalyado para sa ganitong klaseng advocacy.

Response from NEDA:

Actually nasa Senado na ngayon ang budget deliberation. So, let it go through the budget process kaya nga po may pagsusuring ginagawa ang Senado. Ang lagi naming sinasabi – we will abide by the wisdom of the Senate. As it is, malaki na ang na-allot natin sa health also, in consideration of the fact na marami po talagang dapat magtulong-tulong dito, especially if you’re talking about COVID 19 and flattening the curve. Malaki po talaga ang maitutulong dito ng Civil Society and everyone. All of society should really be complying to the minimum health standards dahil ang kailangan po talaga natin ay maprevent ang transmission kasi kahit ano po ang gawin niyo, in terms of providing more hospital facilities, kung hindi po natin aayusin or pipigilan ang transmission, padagdag lang po ng padagdag ang cases. So, talagang kailangan ang pinagtutuunan po namin ng pansin is bawasan ‘yung influx ng patients. Kailangan po talaga natin is prevention at nakita naman po natin dito na ang pinakamalaking bagay na makakapagprevent dito is if we practice our social distancing, pagsuot po ng facemask, faceshield, frequent handwashing, more outdoor than indoor activities. So, iyon po talaga ang kailangan at this point in time. Ang sakit na ito ay infectious disease. Ang pinakamabisang solution is to prevent the transmission and spread of COVID-19 and iyon po ay magagawa natin by complying with the minimum health standards. Sure, we will have the treatment facilities at sinasabi po namin is nagawa na iyong mga isolation facilities, treatment facilities at kailangan rin po ng pondo para magpatuloy itong mga ito. Para sa amin po, ang kailangan ay minimum health standards. Nonetheless, nasa kongreso na po ito, sa Senado and we recognize kung ano ang proseso sa pagbuo ng budget.

DBM – Sa katunayan, actually ang ating approach dito ay hindi lang dapat health. This should be a whole of government approach. That’s why in all budgetary requirements, or PAPs (Programs, Activities and Projects) ng ating mga departments, may allocation po tayo for COVID-19 response. As a matter of fact, when we look at the budget for 2021 – nakakuha kami ng around 838.3 Billion allocation for funding support for COVID-19 response efforts natin. Kasama po diyan si Department of Health, Department of Agriculture, Department of Labor, Department of Public Works and Highways, technology, tourism and trade at marami pang iba kasi alam natin na hindi lang dapat isa ang tutugon dito. It is a whole of government approach sa pagtugon sa problema na ito. We look at health, and at the same time, sa economy natin. Kasi iniisip nila na mababa ang allocation natin sa COVID-19 response. Pero, as a whole nga, tinitingnan natin ang buong budget and P838.3 Billion ang allocation natin for COVID-19 response.

I would also just like to respond to the comments of our friend from the Action for Economic Reforms (AER). Of course, as far as the ELCAC or the allocation for the ELCAC is concerned. Alam niyo po, itong bagong nakalagay sa ating national expenditure program na Barangay Development Program in affected barangay areas, ito po ay hindi pambili ng bala. Hindi ito pambili ng ammunition. Sa katunayan, ito po ay tulong sa ating mga barangay. May menu po iyang program Barangay Development Program at ito ay ang mga issues on sanitation, farm to market roads, road construction, canals, and other social services na pangangailangan sa ating mga barangay. So, ito po ay isang magandang adhikain ng gobyerno para tulungan ang ating mga tinatawag na affected by conflict na areas. Iyon po ang isang programa ng ating gobyerno to end conflict and matulungan yung mga barangay na cleared na ng ELCAC.

DILG – Nakahalaga talaga iyong tightness ng budget ng gobyerno ngayon. Dapat lahat ng sentimo nababantayan at nagagastos sa tamang paraan, sa tamang proyekto. Kaya nga sabi naming sa mga local government units ay: irevisit ninyo ang inyong mga plano, tiyakin ninyo ang inyong mga prayoridad. For example, if mababa ang investment ninyo sa health, then it’s about time for you to invest in health. Mukhang nagkakasundo tayo sa bagay na iyan. Ang mahalaga whether it is in a pandemic situation or not, ang pondong ginagamit ng local government units ay dapat doon lamang sa pangangailangan ng mga mamamayan. Hindi iyon sa kagustuhan or whims ni Mayor kung saan niya gagamitin ang resources. It’s about the needs versus the wants. Mas mahalaga kung ‘yung needs ng mga mamamayan as they elevated them to the local government units are the ones that are being provided by the budget or funds by the LGUs

About the budget for insurgency, we have made it clear that the government can find ways. Asec. Rolly has mentioned may mga resources ‘yan. Pero let us not deprive the barangays that have been long affected by conflicts. Let us not deprive what they really need or what will address their needs. Anything, if at all, on top ‘yung gawin nating tulong sa kanila pero hindi pwede mawala ang ayuda na ‘yan. Halos 50 years nang nagdurusa at ‘di nakakaramdam ng tamang presensya at tulong galing sa tamang ahensya ‘yang mga areas na nasa influence ng kabila. Napakahalaga na mabigyan sila ng budget this time and the right projects that they need to alleviate their condition or situation.

AER Response - Sa budget, alam naman natin may tradeoff yan, alam naman natin na scarce ang resources natin. Hindi natin mapagkakaila na kailangan natin na tulungan ang mga kababayan sa mga liblib na baryo pero ang tanong is ano ang pinakamabisang paraan para epektibo natin silang matulungan? Nabanggit na nga ‘yung whole of government approach. Saan dapat mapunta yung pera halimbawa? Tingin ko mas malaki ‘yung impact niyan kung ilalagay sa departamento na merong mandato,  halimbawa sa agriculture, sa health, sa social welfare, tapos itarget sila sa halip na ilalagay sa counter insurgency kung saan ay pwede pang magamit yan na in the end ang epekto noon ay tungkol sa paglaban. Sana maintindihan natin na ang isang paraan para maprovide natin ang kapayapaan sa Pilipinas ay iprovide natin yung welfare ng mga mamamayan na magagawa sa provision ng essential services like health, education, environment, and justice. ‘Yung pondo ay dapat doon pumunta at itarget nang mahusay.

Resolved.

DTI, DBM,

For DBM and DTI: Dahil sa nagdaang kalamidad, hindi lang naman pinsala sa bahay at kagamitan ang natamo ng mga mamayan kundi pinsala rin sa kanilang kabuhayan lalong higit sa mga magsasaka. Magkakaroon ba ang gobyerno ng immediate livelihood programs para sa mga naapektuhan nating mga kababayan upang makabalik sila sa kanilang normal na pamumuhay?

Dennis Juab, PENRO, Misamis Occidental

Zoom Chat Box

DTI: Sa DTI po, ang alam ko pong financial program po naming is yung nasa SB corporation parin po. Ito po ung mga P3, Pondo para sa pagbabago at pag asenso. ‘Yun po yung alam kong available kasi ito p ang regular na programa ng SB Corp ng DTI. Wala po akong alam as of now na ginawang programa specifically para sa Ulysses at mga nakalipas na bagyo. Ito po ang alam ko na aming financial assistance program – iyong P3.

DBM – As far as DBM is concerned and based on the requests of the Departments, lalo na po sa ating mga quick response fund, nabigyan na po namin sila ng replenishment para sa kanilang quick response fund para makatulong sila sa kanilang mga constituents. Sa katunayan, we have already released 6.755 Billion replenishment sa kanilang response fund, particularly sa Department of Agriculture,  P1.5 Billion, Department of Education, 2.1 Billion, Public Works and Highways, P1 Billion, Department of Public Works and Highways, P2 Billion, among others. So iyon po ang ating mga replenishments para sa ating mga Department. On top of that, meron na rin po tayong binigay na Financial Assistance to LGUs affected by Typhoon Rolly and Quinta. So, una pong nabigyan na po natin ‘yung mga affected basically from Region IV and V muna. Meron na po tayong 1.5 Billion na narelease para sa regions na ito particularly sa Albay, Quezon, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Oriental Mindoro, Batangas, Sorsogon, Occidental Mindoro, Laguna, Marinduque, Cavite, Rizal, Camarines Norte, Masbate, Romblon at Palawan. So, meron na po tayong ayuda na ibinigay sa kanila. Aside from that, ay inaugment narin po natin ang local calamity funds for LGUs that are severely affected by flashfloods brought about by Typhoon Ulysses.

Needs follow up with SB Corporation of DTI.

DILG

Last October 28, nakatanggap kami ng advisory mula sa DILG tungkol sa bagong SAP Beneficiaries List. Itutuloy po ba ito? Hindi po ba mas nararapat kung ang pondo ay ilalaan muna sa mga naapektuhan ng bagyo sa Catanduanes, Albay, Mountain Province, Marikina, Cagayan Va

Cirena Sia ng CSWD, Tagbilaran, Bohol

Jocelyn Soriano ng Pili Market Development Cooperative, Bicol

DILG – Maganda sana yung nabanggit noong kasama natin na tagaBohol kaya nga lang kahit si Asec Rolly (DBM) at Usec Rose (NEDA),  alam natin kung saan nakalaan yung pondo, unless meron tayong panibagong batas or amendment ay tsaka mo lamang magagamit sa iba pa ‘yung pondo. Palagay ko naman sa ngayon ay may hinahanda or nakalatag naman tulad ng nabanggit ni Asec. Rolly kanina na mga tulong or ayuda na maaring maavail or makaalleviate sa condition ng mga mamamayan sa mga lalawigang nabanggit. Tuloy-tuloy ang pamamahagi talaga ng SAP dahil iyon ay nakasaad talaga sa batas na dapat ipagpatuloy hangga’t maabot ang mga mamamayan na dapat maabot. Again, tulad ng nabanggit ko kanina at ni Asec. Rolly, mayroon talagang inihahanda ang ating pamahalaan para iyon namang mga tinamaan or hardest hit na areas na iyan ng sunod-sunod na kalamidad or bagyo ay makatanggap ng karampatan na ayuda. Sa ngayon, ang mga hindi naaabot dati ay dapat din silang maabot. Kailangan nila mabuhay at kailangan nilang maitawid ang kanilang mga kalagayan ngayon sa pamamagitan ng Social Amelioration Program.

DTI, DBM

For DBM and DTI: Hindi sapat ang pondo ng mga programa ng gobyerno para sa lahat ng nangangailangan, halimbawa kung may Php 6 Billion na pautang para sa mga MSMEs at Php 200,000 ang average loan per enterprise, 30,000 MSMEs lang ang mabibigyan. Ito ay 3% lang ng higit 900,000 na total na bilang ng MSMEs. Kaya mahalagang malinaw at angkop ang criteria at proseso ng pagpili ng mga makikinabang. Paano ito sinisigurado ng gobyerno? At ano ang mga ginagawa para maging transparent ang proseso ng pagpili?

Dodo Macasaet ng Foundation for a Sustainable Society Inc.

Zoom Chat Box

DTI – Yun sa pagpili kung sino yung bibigyan ng pautang, nasa SB Corporation po iyan. Ang alam ko lang po talaga na qualifications na hinahanap ay kung hindi ka BIR registered, may mayor’s permit ka at meron kang proof na business mo iyan. Kung meron kang income from that business at kung ikaw ay BIR registered, ang isusubmit mo ay financial statements mo na sinubmit mo sa BIR na nagpapatunay na negosyo mo ‘yan. Ngayon, yung pag-aassess nila kung sino ang bibigyan, nasa SB Corporation po iyan.

DBM – Sa katanungan yan, just like also nabangit ni Director Recolizado, pinapaubaya po namin kasi ito sa mga pinagreleasan natin ng pondo like the SB Corporation which is under the DTI. Unfortunately, wala po sila dito so I think we cannot respond properly to your question but I think they can ask that sa mismong SB Corp. Probably they also have the website and FB account to respond to your question.

Needs follow up with SB Corporation of DTI.

DTI

For DTI: May mas agresibong paraan ba ang gobyerno upang mas maisapubliko ang mga training programs for small entrepreneurs?

Mulay kay: Olie Lucas ng Unang Hakbang Foundation, Manila

Zoom Live Chat

DTI – Ang alam ko po iyong mga regional offices po ng DTI ay nakikipag-ugnayan sa mga communities pati na rin sa mga local government units para ma identify po ‘yung mga training requirements related po doon sa mga produkto na pinopromote sa lugar na iyon. Kasi ‘yung whole system approach po ng DTI ay ‘yung One Town, One Product natin. Doon po natin tine-train sa mga livelihood programs ang mga negosyante natin diyan. Yun po ‘yung alam kong approach na ginagawa ng mga DTI offices natin.

Resolved.

DBM

Nakasaad sa R.A. No. 11494 or Bayanihan to Recover as One (Bayanihan 2) sa effectivity provision nito (Sec. 18) na ang Batas ay mage-expire na sa December 19, 2020; ano ang epekto nito kung mag-expire na ang batas na halos isang buwan na lang ang natitira mula ngayon?

Noel I. Gallardo, President and Chairman of the Board of Transformation and Revival of Organizations and Prosperity and Advocacy (TROPA), Inc

Zoom Live Chat

DBM – Totoo po na nakasaad sa ating Bayanihan Law which is RA 11494 na ang effectivity na nakalagay sa batas ay December 19, 2020. Ang masasabi ko lang po sa ngayon ay out of the 140 Billion na naallocated na sa Bayanihan II, halos 60% na po nito ay nirelease na po naming, as far as DBM is concerned, and that is around 87 Billion already released. Kaya po inaanyayahan po naming ang ating mga department or agencies na dapat magsubmit na sila ng kanilang special budget request at ito po ay aaksyunan ng aming kagawaran. As far as our Secretary is concerned, within 24 hours, dapat ito ay may action sa DBM at mailabas na po ito. Ngayon, ang tanong regarding sa pag eexpire, pagkatapos naming mairelease sa DBM iyong pondo, under the cash budgeting system po ay pwede po nilang i-obligate within the year and ang implementation and payment diyan, at pwede pa po sa susunod na taon. Most of Bayanihan 2 is under MOOE kaya ito po ay pwedeng i-implement at bayaran, at gawin pang up to June 30 of 2021.

Resolved.

Role

Agency/Organization

Resource Speaker

 Designation

Discussants

Department of Budget and Management (DBM)

Assistant Secretary Rolando U. Toledo

Assistant Secretary, Supervision of the Budget Information and Training Service, DBM Focal Person to the Cabinet Assistance System, DBM Spokesperson

Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)

Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya

Undersecretary for Plans, Public Affairs and Communication

Episode Replay on Youtube

https://youtu.be/hHG62elURwg

Episode Replay on Facebook

https://fb.watch/2LOVeKFIHM/

DILG

Para sa DILG at DSWD: Una, paano po ang daloy ng ayuda pababa sa ating mga LGUs? Paano ang ugnayan ng pamahalaan nasyunal sa kanila? 

Pangalawa, kung nakakapagtayo ang mga LGUs ng mga COVID-19 facilities, pwede rin kayang ma-initiate o maendorso ng DILG ang paglalagay din sana ng mga kahit isa lang na HomeCare Facility kada-LGU para sa tumataas na bilang ng mga kababayan natin na may mental health issues sanhi ng mga problemang dulot ng pandemic at kalamidad? Mas pangmatagalan ang epekto ng mga mental problems at ang National Center for Mental Health na takbuhan din ng mga kababayan natin mula sa mga probinsiya ay hindi sapat para makapag-accommodate ng napakaraming clients.

Ms. Mimi Esguerra, Presidente ng KAINAKAP Manila (Kaisahan ng Nag Aaruga at may Kapansanan)

Live Q&A (Question from Google Registration Form)

DILG – Unang una po – iyon pong sinasabi nilang health quarantine facilities natin ay requirement po talaga yan para matugunan ang COVID-19. Dahil po marami sa ating mga kababayan ay dati nasa bahay nila nag quaquaratine. At dahil po nasa bahay nila ay nagkaroon ng hawaan. Kaya po nagkaroon tayo ng programa na Oplan Kalinga. Ito po ay ang naging isa sa mga matagumpay nating programa dahil nung ginawa po natin ito sa Cebu ay bumaba po ang numero ng mga kaso, ginawa natin sa Metro Manila ay bumaba rin ang numero ng mga kaso, at ngayon po ay sa Davao ay bumaba rin po ang mga kaso doon. So, ang iba po dito ay mga hotel na dahil sarado ay ating kinuha muna bilang quarantine facility. ‘Yung iba naman po ay nagpatayo tayo ng mega isolation facilities or quarantine facilities. Yung pinakahuli po ay yung nasa calamba laguna. At meron rin po ang mga LGUs. Kailangan po talaga ito – ipinapaliwanag ko lang po kung bakit iyon ang ating ginawa. Dahil po wala namang gamot ang COVID-19 ang pinaka-solution po ay prevention and isolation.

Hindi lang po sa Metro Manila nagpapagawa ng quarantine facilities. Sa Bukidnon po meron naring Oplan Kalinga; sa Pangasinan, sa La Union, meron narin po tayong Oplan Kalinga. Meron po kasing CODE team ang NTF – pag meron pong pagtaas ng kaso ay takbo po kaagad kami doon, inaalam po namin ang situation at we implement the necessary intervention.

As for mental health and homecare facilities – of course, we recognize this very important issue. Maganda pong mungkahi ito.  We will raise this with the LGUs pero sa tingin po namin, ang pinakamagandang sagot sa depression ng ating mga kababayan ay mabuksan na ang ekonomiya para sila ay muling makapagtrabaho, mabuksan ang ekonomiya para sila ay muling makalabas sa kanilang mga bahay, makapag-interact sa iba’t ibang kaibigan nila rather than naka-Zoom na nga lang. Sa tingin namin, ito ay ang mas long term solution na kailangan gawin. And that is what we are doing right now, we are trying to balance the economy and health issues kaya minamadali po natin yung pagbubukas ng ating ekonomiya dahil by re-opening up the economy ay diyan po makakabalik ang sigla ng ating mga kababayan. Makakapagnegosyo muli sila, makakausap nila face to face ang kanilang mga kamag-anak at kaibigan, but of course, maintaining minimum health standards. ‘Yun lamang po ang pakiusap namin– there must be minimum health standards but I agree with the suggestion, it is about time na magkaroon rin tayo ng homecare facility para sa mga ating mga kababayan na undergoing depression or mental health problems. 

Needs follow-up on endorsement of recommendation for LGUs to have local Home Care facility for individuals undergoing mental health issues. 

DSWD

Para naman sa DSWD:

Tama po ba ang pagkakaalam namin bilang pangkaraniwan Pilipino na:

[1] Ang SAP 1 ay may 2nd tranche na tig 8k at ito ay patapos na ang pay out? Nais ko ring iparating na wala pa kaming natatanggap kahit isa and still waiting pa rin kami ng mga PWD member namin sa pay out.

[2] Ang SAP 2 ay para lamang ba sa mga hindi nakakuha sa SAP 1 at isang 8k lamang? 

[3] Ano naman ang SAP 3 at nababalitaang SAP 4 under DSWD?

Ms. Mimi Esguerra, Presidente ng KAINAKAP Manila (Kaisahan ng Nag Aaruga at may Kapansanan)

Live Q&A (Question from Google Registration Form)

DSWD – sa presentation po kanina nakikita in terms of SAP 1 natin, sinasabi po natin na out of the 17,946,000, ang nabayaran na po natin ay 17,695,889 or roughly 99.43%. Ito po ay ‘yung tranche 1 na ang katulong po ng DSWD ay ang LGUs. So, ito po ay nakuha nila kaya nga po sila ay nag-aabang nalang ng tranche 2. So, with the tranche 2 po, it was mandated na ang gagamitin po natin ay ang financial service providers. Ang DSWD po ay nakipagpartner with Banko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), at ang BSP po ay nakipagpartner sa anim (6) na service providers. So, ‘dun po sa second tranche natin makikita po natin na nakalagay doon is 98%. Bakit po ba 98%? Because the payroll has been uploaded or the money has been transferred to the financial service provider. However po, medyo may kahirapan po ang pagvavalidate ng records dito so nagcreate po sila ng transactional accounts. So ibig sabihin po nito ay kinakailangan ivalidate nitong mga financial service provider na si Maria Clara ay si Maria Clara talaga na nakatira sa ABC street at ang birthday niya ay ganito. So if there is a discrepancy in the information na ibinigay po na usually ganun po ang nangyayare, ibinabalik po natin ito doon sa munisipyo. Kinakalaro po talaga itong pagkakamali sa spelling, itong pagkakamali sa birthday na ito ay naijujustify ninyo. At iyon po ay binabalik po sa amin, ibabalik po naming ‘yan sa financial service provider. Ito po kasi yung tinatawag po kasi naming requirements ng financial institutions – ‘yung know your customer, yung KYC. So, nararamdaman po ng DSWD na we really need to provide the subsidy in an expeditious manner. However po, kami po sa department ay nakaharap po sa legality naman rin po ng pagpirma, pagdidisburse po ng funds. So, ang amin pong plano dito in such event po, sa MOA po niyan ay once created na ‘yung account, if hindi po ito nakukuha ni beneficiary, it will stay there for 90 days. But within that 90 days period, if hindi parin po niya nakukuha, the DSWD has the option to withdraw the funds from the financial service provider and conduct the direct payout. Kami na po ‘yung bababa, ipepayout po namin sa mga areas na hindi po talaga nabibigyan.

Concern addressed during Dagyawan/ Open Forum

DSWD

Follow-up from R2KRN: Nadownload, nadisburse ‘yung pera sa bangko. Pero hindi po ibig sabihin na natanggap mismo yung pera dahil depende po yan sa pagbuo ng account. So yung 98% po ay downloaded or disbursement rate, hindi pa po actual payout? Nalilito po kasi yung mga tao na malaki ang inyong claim pero sabi ni Ms. Mimi ay hindi naman po nakuha on time – yung iba pa raw po ay one-month late pa raw nakuha yung pagkakuha nila ng SAP nila.

Moderator (R2RKN) to DSWD: Sa tranche 1 po, meron po tayong konting problem pero nag local government po kayo.  ‘Yung tranche 2 po, ito yung mga accounts sa mga bangko. Kaya nga lang po, wala silang ID to verify ‘yung kanilang mga account. Ganun po yung mga dumarating na mga balita – bakit ito pong PWD, hindi po nila nakuha yung kanilang ayuda from Tranche 1 pa?

Mimi: Yes po, kahit kasama na kami in the list, meron na akong update galing sa DSWD mismo kung sino ‘yung in the list naming and then marami pa rin naman ang PWD na hindi parin nabibigyan dito po sa amin. Kaya po ang tanong ko rin po is – si Service Provider kung hindi niya namimeet yung deadline, ano po ung plan B ng DSWD? Nabanggit po ng DSWD na yung plan B para mapabilis itong payout kasi aabutin na ng pasko wala parin kami.

R2KRN and Ms. Mimi Esguerra, Presidente ng KAINAKAP Manila (Kaisahan ng Nag Aaruga at may Kapansanan)

Needs follow-up with DSWD on the payout for the PWD and other groups who haven’t received payout for both Tranche 1 and 2 of SAP.

DILG, Social Watch

Ang SAP at relief goods ay short-term measures lamang. Kung kaya bukod sa SAP, may iba pa bang ayuda ang DSWD para sa amin sa communities na panglong-term tulad ng livelihood assistance? Maaari kayang magpaabot sa komunidad ng ayuda pagdating sa pag-access ng kapital pangnegosyo, at assistance rin sa packaging and marketing? Ano pa ang ibang mga long-term measures na inihahanda ng gobyerno?

Ping Fampulme ng AKKMA National Coalition Philippines

Live Q&A (Question from Google Registration Form)

DILG: Meron pong programa mamaya po. I’m sure ilalahad ni Asec. Glenda ng DSWD, pero kami po sa DILG ay minomonitor po naming yung assistance na binibigay ng Local Government Units. Minsan po kasi nakakalimutan po natin ‘yung tulong ng local government units. For example po, sa Paranaque, ang nabigyan ng DSWD ay ‘yung mga informal settlers, members of the informal economy. Pero ang ginawa naman po ng local government ay nagbigay naman sa lahat ng hindi nakatanggap ng benepisyo sa DSWD or sa DOLE ay sa kanila naman binigay. So ito po yung sinasabi kanina ni Ma’am sa Social Watch na universal assistance whether you are poor, middle class or whatever status you are. Nagtutulungan po ang local government unit, ang DSWD, sa pagtulong sa ating mga kabababayan. Iba’t iba pong klaseng tulong yan. May tulong na nanggagaling sa local government unit, meron tulong nanggagaling sa national government though the DSWD kasi po madalas pag may sakuna, ang unang tumutulong muna ay LGU, and then maya-maya po ay dumarating na ang DSWD para magbigay ng augmentation or supplemental support kaya mahalaga po doon sa kaninang diniscuss ko na Oplan Listo. Mahalaga sa Oplan Listo ay bago pa dumating ang bagyo ay nakahanda na agad ang LGUs, nakapagprepare na ng relief goods, napirmahan na ‘yung mga kailangan pirmahan para makapagbigay ng mabilis na ayuda, at samahan na rin natin ng livelihood program for long term solutions para sa kanilang pangangailangan. Sa ibang detalye ay I give the floor to Asec. Glenda.

Concern addressed during Dagyawan/ Open Forum

Social Watch

Moderator R2KRN followup: to Professor Marivic (Social Watch): ano pa ang pwedeng recommendations kanina tungkol sa Universal Social Protection? Minsan magaling ‘yung LGU, pero ‘pag hindi magaling at lalo na kung walang pondo ay tagtuyot ang ganitong programa. 

Social Watch: ‘Yung SAP kasi, by design it is not intended to  be given everyone in the barangay at doon nagkakaroon ng problema. Because those who do not receive will of course be dissatisfied which is precisely why many MMDA Mayors ay nagreact talaga doon, and they said we have to do something about this because it will create restlessness in our communities. This is precisely why during this period there were certain LGUs who we must commend like Makati, Pasig, Valenzuela, Quezon City, who came out with statement and programs that said na ‘yung hindi makakatanggap ng SAP sa mga areas namin, kami mismong LGU ang mag fifill-up ng gap in varying degrees. Nag-100% ‘yan sa Makati and other areas. Sa iba, not 100% pero nagsumikap talaga sila which underscores the need for universal approaches. Kaya hinggil dito, napakahalaga ‘yung National ID System because with a good system, that would help us bring in to our database sino ba talaga ang nangangailangan. Alam naman natin na when a pandemic strike, napakarami ang nangangailangan. At least all those who are in need will become visible in our statistics. So, we do not limit our national ID system to just the poor because many people, even non-poor, will be needy in the context of a pandemic as we have just seen. We want poverty reduction, if not eradication. The most sustainable way to move out of poverty is really jobs, kaya napakahalaga ng role ng DTI at DA. Ang DTI, ito yung in charge sa mga micro, small and medium enterprises. They have programs like shared services facility, meron silang mga Go-Negosyo centers that really help the micro-enterprises and the MSMEs. Ang DA meron ring mga livelihood programs, and these are the institutions who are best equipped, have the mandate, and have the expertise to provide livelihood assistance. So, I would urge that we broaden our horizons because DSWD is primarily an agency for social protection. It is alright to provide livelihood, but the groups and agencies who do this as a matter of their mandate would be DTI and DA.  And yet, if you look at their programs – a lot of their livelihood giving programs get so little in terms of the budget. It suffers so much for example, compared to CCTs and that raises questions over budget priorities.

Concern addressed during Dagyawan/ Open Forum

DSWD

Moderator (R2KRN): Maganda ‘yung punto na sana lakihan ‘yung budget ninyo at hindi lang parang social amelioration ang trabaho ninyo kung hindi pati universal protection. Kaya pa ba ng DSWD, kasi medyo late na nga yung iba ninyong disbursement at super dami na ‘yung trabaho ninyo. Yung carrying capacity ng DSWD kaya iyon ang dahilan bakit humingi kayo ng tulong sa SAP 1.

DSWD: Actually, ang design ng Social Amelioration Program katulad ng binangit naming kanina is the whole of government approach; this is not the DSWD alone and it is divided into two phases: number one is the relief. Ito nga po ‘yung intense yung crisis na kinakailangan na andun yung ayudang financial. Ito po ay participated in by DSWD, DOLE through their CAMP and then TUPAD kasama po diyan ang DTI through their price freeze and other programs. For the recovery phase, nandiyan pa rin ‘yung aming Sustainable Livelihood Program, nandiyan rin po yung aming CDD (Community Driven Development), nandiyan po yung sa Department of Agriculture na makaka-access ang mga farmers ng mga rice farmers subsidy, and nandiyan rin po yung sa DTI sa 3Ps po nila. Nandiyan rin po sa DA and DOLE. So nandiyan po si Asec Rolly (DBM) sa Bayanihan 2  po which is the second phase, the recovery phase, where higher budget were given for these sustainable programs. Sa amin po sa DSWD, you can get livelihood assistance – 15,000 per tao or per pamilya. Pwede pwede po kayong mag form into group kung 20 kayo, each of you will receive 15,000 and you can start a business. Meron po rin niyan si DTI, meron rin po niyan si DA, meron rin po niyan si DOLE. So ito po yung sustainable program ng DSWD and ito nga po yung buong context ng social amelioration program. It is not just the financial assistance and loans, but also the other programs of other agencies. 

Concern addressed during Dagyawan/ Open Forum

DBM

1.   Ano ang mga protocol para ma-facilitate ang humanitarian aid sa Bicol Region at mas mabilis ito makarating?

2.   Paano makikipagtulungan sa gobyerno ang mga local CSOs na gusto magpaabot ng ayuda pero naapektuhan din ng bagyo?

3.   Ang mga LGU natin ay hindi na nakapagtabi sa kanilang calamity fund dahil sa pagrespond sa COVID 19. Paano makakaasa sa mga external funding para sa ayuda sa mga nasalanta?

Mula kay Bel Nachor ng Coalition for Bicol Development

Live Q&A (Question from Google Registration Form)

DBM: Uunahin ko po ‘yung sa COVID-19 response. Sa katunayan po, aside sa ating mga Ayuda for COVID-19 response, sa mga na apektuhan ng bagyo po, meron na rin po tayong binigay sa mga LGUs. Sa katunayan, naka-release na po ito at ito po ay nasa Region V, IV-A, IV. Nakapagbigay na po tayo ng 1.5 Billion pesos para sa ating mga provinces, cities and municipalities. Kasama po diyan ang probinsya ng Albay, Quezon, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Oriental Mindoro, Batangas, Sorsogon, Occidental Mindoro, Laguna, Marinduque, Cavite, Rizal, Camarines Norte, Romblon at Palawan. At doon po naman sa mga apektado ng Ulysses, ito po ay kasunod na po kasi kanina kung nakinig po kayo sa regular na briefing ng ating spokesperson, na aprubahan na po ng President ang ating ayuda para sa mga provinces at regions affected by Typhoon Ulysses. So meron na po tayong ayuda para sa kanila. Kanina po, nabanggit rin na may mga tanong sa ating budget. Nabanggit rin ni Asec. Glenda na sa ating mga response sa COVID-19. Babalikan ko lang po – sa Bayanihan 1, marami na rin po tayong binigay na ayuda para sa ating mga mamamayan. Aside from the SAP, meron rin po tayong livelihood program na binigay at nirelease po like sa DTI. Sa katunayan, sa Bayanihan 2, marami na rin po tayong nirelease – meron pong tulong para sa mga farmers and fisherfolks through the Department of Agriculture. Ang narelease na po natin diyan ay 16.3 Billion para sa ating Agriculture Stimulus Program. Nabanggit rin kanina ni Asec. Glenda na meron tayong 6 Billion para sa Social Protection Program assistance sa Bayanihan 2, at meron rin po tayong livelihood and employment program para sa ating mga Assistance to Tourism Sector through cash-for-work programs and employment assistance program ng DOLE. Aside from that, marami na rin po tayong nirelease para sa tulong natin para sa Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, capital infusions sa Small Business Corporation para tulungan ang maliliit na Negosyo. Sa katunayan po, under Bayanihan 2, out of the 140 Billion na approved ng Congress, we have released almost 90 Billion para sa ayuda.

Concern addressed during Dagyawan/ Open Forum. Question No. 2 was addressed by OCD-NDRRMC via Zoom Chat Box (see response from OCD in the last row of this section)

DBM

Moderator (R2KRN) – Ang budget deficit po ba ay hindi niyo inaalintana dahil ang sabi ng report ngayon ay 940 Billion pesos na ang deficit natin from January to October kasi mababa ang tax collection. Wala gaanong revenueng inaasahan – paano tayo magpapatuloy ng mga social amelioration funding kung ganyan ang estado ng budget?

DBM: Alam po naman natin na because of the limited economic activities because of the pandemic, totoo po na bumaba ang collection ng ating gobyerno at tumaas pa ang ating gastusin dahil sa response natin to COVID-19, at the same time sa mga nakaraang kalamidad. Subalit, yung 940 billion budget deficit na nababanggit, sa katunayan po ay that is still within the deficit target ng ating gobyernol. Sa katunayan that is just 51.8% ng 1.8 trillion deficit target. ‘Yan po ay isang programa ng gobyerno, kumbaga response ng gobyerno para matulungan natin ang ating mga mamamayan despite the pandemic. Kailangan nating gumastos para matulungan ang ating mga mamamayan. But of course, ang deficit target na ‘yan ay also still within the international recommended na debt threshold which is within 60 to 70%. Sa katunayan, ‘yung ating 2020 program is just about 51.2% of our GDP. So, expected po ‘yang magkakaroon tayo ng deficit as projected specifically by our economic projection committee headed by our Secretary of DBM.

Concern addressed during Dagyawan/ Open Forum.

UNDP

1.    Para sa UNDP at Social Watch: Ano-ano ba dapat ang mga elemento/features ng isang epektibong programa ng pamahalaan para maaddress ang kahirapan at mabawasan ang mga nagugutom?

(For UNDP and Social Watch: What do you think are features of a successful poverty reduction and zero hunger program of government in the time of pandemic and calamity?) 

Mula kay Jessica Amon, CO Multiversity, Antipolo City

Google Registration Form

UNDP: I would like to go back to the point I was making – if you were to go in the future direction of reducing poverty and eradicating poverty in the Philippines, a number of things should be looked into. The surest way of reducing poverty is creating jobs and securing income. In that sense, all effort have to be put in creating jobs, and of course getting people to work in the first place and then creating more jobs, and more importantly supporting small and medium enterprises. We are losing jobs at the moment due to the pandemic. In that sense, all effort have to go in support of labor markets whereby jobs can be brought back. That is of course the most important thing. While we are doing that and the recovery is on its way, it is very important that we continue to provide the necessary support to the most vulnerable in addressing their needs. In that sense, we are really reiterating that the existing programs should be strengthened and should be expanded in their scope and coverage. The cash transfer programs have been effective in many countries and also in the Philippines. They should be expanded and kept in the highest possible level – not being reduced without having to be synchronized with the recovery efforts. So, once we are sure that the recovery is on its way, the reduction should begin. So, beyond the Bayanihan 2, we should start looking into maintaining a high level of the cash transfer programs and more so other supportive programs for the same means which have been discussed by length during these forum. So, we need to maintain that. Last but not least, we should ensure that women are actually included in these programs. As you very much know, quite a number of women are among the people who are engaged in unpaid domestic work and then you have social protection programs by virtue of the fact that they are either labor force focused or they are targeted in some ways, and may leave a significant number of women unattended. In that sense, to make sure that not many women are left behind, we should be able to look into existing programs and make sure that they address gender needs.

Concern addressed during Dagyawan/ Open Forum.

DSWD

Para sa DSWD: Paano ko po malalaman kung ako ay kasali sa listahan ng mga makakatanggap ng SAP2 at iba pang ayuda ng DSWD at iba pang ahensya ng pamahalaan ngayong panahon ng pandemya at kalamidad?

Mula kay Joanna Marie Arboleda, isang ukay-ukay vendor sa Marikina City

(Question from Google Registration Form)

DSWD – Meron pong hotline ang DSWD na makikita po natin sa ating mga webpage; meron po tayong mga linya para sa call or text na pwede po tayo mag inquire. Ang isa rin pong pamamaraan ay magpunta po tayo sa ating mga munisipyo, sa ating mga local social welfare officer or sa city social welfare officer dahil nagpoprovide po ang ating mga field offices kung sino po ang nakasama sa ating SAP tranche. So, iyon po yung ating mga pamamaraan para malaman po natin whether po sila ay nakasama or eligible to receive ang ating mga Ayuda from DSWD. Ang DSWD rin po ay repository po ng data ng DOLE as to the TUPAD lang po. ‘Yung pong sa SSS ay hindi po naming maga-guarantee dahil hindi po kami nagshare ng database with them so panibago pong pagve-verify ‘yun kung sila ay kasama, pero usually po ay ito ‘yung mga nasa formal economy. Iyon po ang distinction natin. For other government agencies – those belonging to informal sectors can verify with the DSWD, DOLE and DA, samantala ‘yung mga belonging to the formal economy ay pwede po tayo magverify through the SSS.

Concern addressed during Dagyawan/Open Forum

OCD-NDRRMC

Para sa OCD: May datos po ba tayo sa mga pumasok at paparating pang mga foreign aid/assistance para sa mga nasalanta ng bagyong Quinta, Rolly at Ulysses? Ano na po ang status ng mga pondong ito?

Anonymous Citizen

(From Slido)

OCD: Meron po tayong tracking ng mga Foreign Assistance po. Actually meron pong in-organize na response cluster po sa NDRRMC – ang tawag po dito ay Philippine International Humanitarian Assistance Cluster na led by the Department of Foreign Affairs. On a regular basis po nagrereport ang DFA kung ano-ano na pong mga bansa ang may manifestation ng tulong whether financial, in kind or through service. Ngayon po kasi although nagdeclare na tayo ng state of calamity sa buong Luzon, wala pa po tayong call for international help. Pero meron na pong ibang bansa na nagprepresenta na ng tulong, so ang protocol po natin ay if nandiyan na po yung actual na tulong ay kinocoordinate na po sa DFA and isinasangguni po sa Office of the President. As we speak po, ‘yung iba po ay nagbigay pa lang ng intent  pero officially, based on our tracking from DFA, inaccept na po natin yung offer ng AHA center; sila po ‘yung coordinating body based sa Indonesia para sa mga regional disaster concerns po sa buong ASEAN region. So, ‘yung inoffer po ng AHA center ay ilang mga food and non-food items na ating ididistribute. So iyon naman po ay natratrack ng NDRRMC and directly po nirereport ng DFA. Meron rin pong ilang mga donation na directly na pong dinadala ng mga foreign donors sa ating mga beneficiaries locally. Ang protocol po kasi natin is ‘pag ang pagdodonate po ay galing sa non-government organization, ay hindi na necessarily i-under sa mga inspection and assessment. Pwede na po sila dumiretso sa mga beneficiary. Based po sa report ng DFA, may mga ilang donations na ang nagfacilitate ay through Philippine Red Cross. Lahat naman po iyon ay na-tatrack natin. For example, ang donation ay financial at hindi naman po ‘yan galing sa foreign government, based on our protocols ay hindi na kailangan pang dumaan sa Philippine International Humanitarian Assistance Cluster. Pero kapag po ang mag-offer po ng donation ay from a foreign government, ‘yun po ay dadaan sa Philippine International Humanitarian Assistance Cluster na kino-coordinate ng DFA at iyon po ay natatrack ng ating NDRRMC. So meron naman po tayong regular reporting dito pagdating sa status of donations. Idagdag ko nalang rin po, sa webite po ng NDRRMC meron po kaming dashboard doon ng COVID-19 donations (http://ndrrmc.gov.ph/index.php/donations-dashboard.html). Doon po natin makikita kung ano ‘yung mga status ng donations na dumaan na po at namonitor ng Office of Civil Defense, although iyon po ay para sa COVID-19. Ibahagi ko na rin po sa inyo na meron po tayong isa pang dashboard in collaboration with DFA and DICT. Ito ay tinatawag na Philippine Humanitarian Assistance Registry. Redundant dashboard po siya doon sa ating Office of Civil Defense and given nga po na mas pinaghahandaan natin ‘yung pagdating ng mga donation hindi lang sa COVID kung hindi sa ibang disasters tulad ng Typhoon Ulysses, ngayon po ay may usapin na palawakin na ‘yung dashboard para makita na ng publiko kung ano na ‘yung status mga donation na officially dumaan po sa NDRRMC. So, pwede niyo na pong ma aaccess ung dashboard yung COVID-19 donations pero in the future expect na magrereflect na yung donations for other disasters.

Concern addressed during Dagyawan/ Open Forum.

DSWD

Tanong para sa DSWD: Totoo ba na ang makakatanggap lang ng ayuda sa ilalim ng Bayanihan 2 ay iyong mga lockdown na barangay lang muna?

Mula sa isang Anonymous citizen

(From Slido)   

DSWD:  Hindi po exclusive na sila lang. There are two provisions in the law po – ‘yung isa is those who are proclaimed under granular lockdown using the NTF guidelines, iyon pong tinatawag nating critical risk zone. Ito po ung F1 Provision. ‘Yung F3 provision are those belonging to waitlisted,’yung sinabi ko po kanina na sila yung eligible pero na left-out po sila during the implementation of the Bayanihan 1. So, sila po ay ide-determine pa rin ng LGU.  Ang LGU pa rin po magde-determine ng kanilang eligibility, ifoforward sa DSWD, and then we will conduct the payout.

Concern addressed during Dagyawan/ Open Forum.

DSWD

May mga initiatives po ba ang ating DSWD sa pag validate at re-validate sa mga 4P's at IPs na tumatanggap ng monthly cash allotment (4P's) at yearly cash releases (IPs) at ng SAP? May mga nasa listahan pa rin kasi na well-off na ang kanilang status economically (may mga trabaho, ang iba ay empleyado pa ng gobyerno), habang marami ding qualified pero hindi nakasali sa ganitong programa ng ating gobyerno. Paano din nating sinisiguro na kasali sa listahan ang dapat kasali lalo na ang miyembro ng informal sector?

Paano natin mapipigilan ang mga oportunistang nakakuha ng dobleng mga ayuda sa DSWD at ibang pang government agencies? Pwede ba talaga ito? May sanctions ba dito ang DILG o DSWD para sa kanila? We hope so, dahil maraming ganitong kaso, tapos marami ring pong qualified ngunit hindi pa rin nakakatanggap ng kahit anong ayuda.

Tanong mula kay: Alicia Servento, Officer-in-Charge, LIHUK, Incorporated, Iligan City, Region 10 at Anonymous Citizen

(Question from Google Registration Form)

DSWD:  Meron po. Ang 4Ps po natin ay nagcoconduct ng tinatawag nilang re-certification ng SWDI (Social Welfare and Development Indicator). Ginawa po ito last year, so bago po nagpandemic, almost 70% na po ‘yung ating na-census para sa SWDI. Ito po ung pagtataya ng level of well-being nila na kung sila po ay mapunta sa third level po, sila ay pwede nang matanggal sa programa at maipasok naman sa ibang programang sustenable ng DSWD. At just to clarify lang po, ang database po ng 4Ps ay different from the database of the NHTS (National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction). Ang 4Ps po ay yong CCT program po natin, while yung NHTS po, ito po yung ating poverty targeting system natin siya. So magkaiba po sila, however, both of them are updating their systems. Nagkataon lang po na inabot po ‘yung ating NHTS ng pandemic, but nakahingi po kami ng exemption sa IATF, so nagreresume na po sila. Ang DSWD po dahil sa yaman ng database namin coming from the 4Ps, listahanan at ngayon po sakop itong SAP form natin, we were able to generate millions of information kaya nga po ‘yung pong ating SAP 1, marami po ang nagrefund kasi Nakita po naming na nagdouble dip po sila. With this information database that the DSWD has, nape-prevent na po natin ito at naglabas na po kami ng guidelines lalong-lalo na ng miyembro ng 4Ps na nagva-violate po nito or nagdo-double dip na kumuha. So talagang, hindi po talaga sila nakakaligtas.

Concern addressed during Dagyawan/ Open Forum.

UNDP, Social Watch

For UNDP at Social Watch: In your analysis, do you have data on women and inclusion when it comes to social protection and disaster response programs in the Philippines? What are your recommendations to make such programs and policies more inclusive and gender-sensitive?       

Mula sa isang Anonymous citizen            at Benjamina Pereyra, Chairperson, Happy Homes Housing Cooperative, Cavite

(From Slido and Google Registration Form)           

Social Watch – I think they should include GAD analysis in all their programs and processes. So, dapat may GAD analysis, may gender focal points who are able to really engage in the planning and implementation of these programs. Right now, may mga GAD programs na compliant but if you look at the substance, hindi talaga sila compliant in terms of including women’s welfare and rights in many of these programs. Number two, we should include women’s groups, organizations in the planning and programming of many of these activities because it is the best way, if we listen to the women themselves.

UNDP: I fully agree with my fellow panelist who have made a point that the designs of the programs in the first place should be informed by the GAD analysis – it should involve both men and women. After having to do so, it is very important to look past COVID-19. If you just look at COVID-19 in particular, it didn’t affect many women equally. It actually disproportionately affected women more than men. So, depending on the vulnerabilities of the women, the program should actually incorporate the aspect that they should check up more. Now, having said that, I think that as the country moves forward, by applying of principles of universalism, I think issues of coverage started being addressed. In that sense, I think we will be in a better position to form a package of policies that address the various needs of women with health needs, economic needs, as well as other needs that they may be having including, and most importantly, the aspect that we have not been fully catering across the remaining countries which is related to the fact that women are disproportionally represented in the unpaid labor and domestic work. So going forward, countries will be in a better position to design appropriate packages that will reflect the needs and vulnerability of women. In that sense, we should continue to pragmatically do assessments on existing programs and also move along towards a universal and comprehensive package.

Concern addressed during Dagyawan/ Open Forum.

OCD

Ano ang mga protocol para ma-facilitate ang humanitarian aid sa Bicol Region at mas mabilis ito makarating?
Paano makikipagtulungan sa gobyerno ang mga local CSOs na gusto magpaabot ng ayuda pero naapektuhan din ng bagyo?
Ang mga LGU natin ay hindi na nakapagtabi sa kanilang calamity fund dahil sa pagrespond sa COVID 19. Paano makakaasa sa mga external funding para sa ayuda sa mga nasalanta?

Mr. Bel Nachor – Zoom Chat

(Answered Via Zoom Chat)

OCD-NDRRMC_Joe-Mar Perez: Magandang hapon. Joe-Mar Perez from OCD-NDRRMC. Dagdag lang po na kasagutan, meron nilabas na DILG Advisory dated Nov. 14: ENSURING THE UNHAMPERED RESPONSE AND EARLY RECOVERY OPERATIONS OF HUMANITARIAN ACTORS IN AREAS AND LGUS AFFECTED BY TY ULYSSES. Pwede po ito gawing reference kung saan pinapayagang makipagtulungan ang humanitarian aid workers given the health protocols. Ayon sa Advisory, makipag-ugnayan lang sa Regional DRRM Operations Center para magpahatid ng tulong ang mga CSOs natin sa mga target LGUs.

Concern addressed during Dagyawan/ Open Forum.

Role

Agency/Organization

Resource Speaker

Designation

Discussants

World Food Programme (WFP)

Dr. Martin Parreno

OIC Programme Unit and Programme Policy Advisor

Pambansang Koalisyon ng Kababaihan sa Kanayunan (PKKK)

Episode Replay on Youtube

https://youtu.be/ddC5YVVMi_Y

Episode Replay on Facebook

https://fb.watch/2LRgXfV9-C/

OCS

How did the government programs on food security change over the last ten years? If the focus remained the same, how are we changing or adapting our program delivery modes to adapt to the pandemic? [Paano nagbago ang mga programa pagdating sa food security sa nakalipas na sampung taon? Kung hindi nagbago ang focus, paano naman nag-aadjust ang ating mga program delivery modalities ngayong panahon ng pandemya?]

Question Submitted through Online Registration

OCS - Actually, dito po sa ating National Food Policy katulad ng naexplain ni Cabsec, ito po ay isang evolving document. We are trying to finalize it, we are at the final stages. Kakatapos lang or bukas po matatapos po yung ating first round of public consultations. Isa sa mga bagay na na-raise rin po is dapat po bang mga bagong programa ang kasama dito o ang mga isasama nating programa ay ‘yung mga meron na pong pruweba na sila po ay gumagana. At iyon po ang ating palalawakin, palalawigin at palalalimin. It’s not a big secret that we are working on a very limited resource which has even become more limited especially that we need to prioritize our COVID response. Actually, we are moving so fast from responding to actually re-opening, making sure that we are delicately balancing the issues of making sure that the people are safe. But we also need to re-open already the economy because the bottom line is there will be more – and we are expecting more – the impact of COVID-19. So patungkol po sa usapin ng pagkain, sa pantaha po naming hindi po ngayon ang tamang pagkakataon na magintroduce ng mga bago – kung hindi, gaya po ng ating gustong mangyari ay mas lalo pong mag tulong-tulungan ang lahat ng sector ng lipunan, ganun rin po ang lahat ng parte ng ating bureaucracy para yung programa po natin ay naguusap at nagtutulungan para mas marami po tayong mga tao na matulungan na hindi na po sila magugutom. Pero, tama rin po kayo doon na dapat rin po mag consider tayo how else – or what else we could do on top of these things given that we are currently under a pandemic.

Concern addressed during Dagyawan/ Open Forum

NNC

Sa ilalim ng KRA#3 ng National Food Policy, ang ating layunin ay ang pagkamit ng wasto at sapat na nutrisyon. Ayon sa pre-COVID data mula sa Save the Children, 29 porsyento lamang ng mga nanay ang eksklusibong nagbe-breastfeed ng kanilang mga sanggol sa unang limang buwan pagkapanganak, na nakakaapekto sa maayos na paglaki ng sanggol. Sa pagdami ng pamilyang nagugutom, paano natin pinapalakas ang kampanya para sa exclusive breastfeeding sa unang anim na buwan ng sanggol? May mga documented models ba tayong pwedeng tingnan? Paano natin mapapanatili ang progreso natin bago ang pandemya?

Question Submitted through Online Registration

NNC – Actually, KRA 3’s overall message is to ensure adequate intake to food and nutrients at all times, meaning not only normal times but also during emergencies to prevent and end all forms of malnutrition. So, people should be able to buy food, grow food, and for the most nutritionally vulnerable, get through a safety mechanism. KRA 3 also highlights the promotion of Age Appropriate Infant and Young Child Feeding Practice as one of the core foundations of the right to food, and as an anti-poverty strategy. Also, we promote the importance of exclusive breast feeding especially during emergencies. So, the sharing of good practices and online infant and young child feeding counselling and webinars to uphold IYFC feeding practices. Exclusive breastfeeding in the first six months is under one of the major programs, activities and projects on infant and young child feeding. So, during COVID-19 pandemic, several policies by DOH were issued to intensify continued breastfeeding and uphold ban on milk donations. The NNC released advisories as well, and NNC and DOH actually posted numerous social media cards, para mawala ‘yang mga fake news na’ yan. We also conducted free webinars like home-online nutrition exchange or HONE on IYCF – it focuses on exclusive breastfeeding. We also have appropriate and timely provisions of complementary feeding. We also share in our Facebook pages and websites all the efforts done by our breastfeeding heroes.

Concern addressed during Dagyawan/ Open Forum

WFP

To World Food Programme: How are other countries responding to the food security concerns pre-pandemic and during the pandemic? What were effective or helpful strategies for them? What have we learned from other countries or the global context? [Paano tinutugunan ng ibang mga bansa ang mga isyu pagdating sa food security bago dumating ang pandemya at sa kasalukuyan? Ano ang mga  istratehiyang naging epektibo para sa kanila? Ano ang mga aral na ating pwedeng matutunan mula sa ibang mga bansa?]

Question Submitted through Online Registration

WFP – basically lahat po ng country are suffering from the same problem we are experiencing in the Philippines. Pero may ginagawa rin po silang social protection program. They try to make some alternatives to continue the school feeding program for children despite the pandemic. They rely on alternative forms like take home rations - dry rations. They ensure that this is provided to all their beneficiaries. Aside from Dagyaw, we are looking at partnerships from NGOs and government agencies as well as development partners to ensure the delivery of those commodities galing sa national government hanggang sa mga schools po natin. 

Medyo mahirap talaga i-contain ‘yung sakit sa mga bahay bahay natin. So what we do, is we continue to pursue food security while ensuring social distancing and follow strict rules imposed by the government. It is a different scenario here in the Philippines dahil lahat tayo affected ng bagyo so nawala yung social distancing natin. Makikita sa radio reports na ‘di na sumusunod ang mga tao sa social distancing. Wala na rin yung mga supply ng mga facemasks dahil wala na silang pambili ng facemask nila. S,o the important thing is we continue what we did prior to covid 19 – that is, ensuring we continue to feeding our country.

Concern addressed during Dagyawan/ Open Forum

PKKK, OCS

There are already several cases won on the health impacts of GMOs, likewise documented cases of its environmental and adverse livelihood impact on small farmers. What is government's concrete plan in shifting to agro-ecology as the ecologically sustainable system of food production? Likewise, given the experience from the pandemic, there is a need to make the country food secure and not reliant on food imports. What is the government's concrete plan to finally resolve food insecurity? [May ilan nang mga naipanalong kaso pagdating sa epekto ng ng mga GMOs sa ating kalusugan; may mga isyu din pagdating naman sa masamang epekto nito sa kapaligiran at kabuhayan ng maliliit na magsasaka. Ano ang konkretong plano ng pamahalaan pagdating sa pagsulong ng agro-ecology, bilang mas sustenableng solusyon para sa food production?

Question Submitted through Online Registration

PKKK –  Sa pronouncements ng mga tao sa gobyerno ay talagang iniiwanan ‘yung domestic food production. Talagang mas kine-cater ay ang pag-import. Pero itong pandemic na ito ay pinakita na may kakayahan tayo magsupply ng ating sariling pagkain. Kasi n’ung lockdown, walang pagbiyahe ng produkto. Pero saan natin nakuha ‘yung pagkain? Sa sarili natin nanggaling, nanggaling sa mga magsasaka. Kaya lang, maliit ang kompyansya ng ating gobyerno sa ating magsasaka. Hindi sila masyadong pinaniniwalaan. If you are confident that your producers will produce your own food sufficiently for your country, you will support them. Halimbawa, ‘yung Rice Tarification Law. Talagang free flowing ang imported rice. Hindi ‘yan sinusuportahan ng local production. Sinasabi natin kanina na dapat sustainable agriculture. Kaso, magkano ang budget? Dapat makita natin sa budget kung ano ang dapat priority ng ating pamahalan. Sustainable agriculture man or organic agriculture, magkano ang nakalaan – napakaliit. Paano tayo makakapagproduce ng sariling gulay, pagkain, kung ‘yung magsasaka ay nananatiling self-supporting. Sinusuportahan nila ang sarili nila, maliit lang ang sa gobyerno. If we really want to address food security, kailangan talaga nating ipakita sa ating paglaan ng budget lalo na sa pandemic. ‘Yung 2021 budget ng gobyerno natin saan pumunta?

OCS – Gaya po ng naexplain namin, kaya nga po merong anim na key result areas na tintingnan. Ang tanong po ni Ma’am kanina, ‘yun po ang key result area 2:  siya po ‘yung in charge sa pagmamake sure ng coming up with a plan and roadmap to ensure that there is available and affordable food, but also at the same time, supporting our farmers and fisherfolks. Naniniwala po kami na ‘di dapat ang unang nagugutom ay yung tagapagtanim at tagapagbigay sa atin ng ating kinakain. Tama po kayo, for KRA2, kasama po sa mga priority programs, activities and projects na ginagawa sa ngayon sa leadership ng Department of Agriculture ay ‘yun pong pagsisigurado na ang mga pinapaghirapan ng ating mga magsasaka at ang mga mangingisda, ang unang makikinabang ay sila at ang kanilang pamilya. Ilang dekada na pong suliranin ang ating gustong solusyonan agad-agad, pero hindi po natin nalilimutan ‘yon.

‘Yung sinabi po ni Ma’am regarding the GMOs, sa KRA 4 naman po iyon na napag-uusapan. Bukod sa KRA 2, na nag-eensure ng available at affordable food, ang KRA 4 ay ang nag-eensure po na ang roadmap natin ay nagcocontain ng polisiya patungkol sa food safety. Sa KRA 5 din po pinapag-usapan kung paano ba natin masisisgurado na sa panahon ng crisis ay meron tayong makakain kagaya ng ngayon na nasa panahon tayo ng pandemya, ano ba ang daan natin? Lahat naman po ata nagulantang, pero naging magandang pagkakataon po ito para sa inter-agency taskforce on Zero Hunger na mapag-usapan paano pa kung meron pang mga susunod na mas magkakaisa dito sa pandemya na kasalukuyan na pinagdadaanan lahat. Eye opener po siya, pero at the same time, we have to come up with very concrete programs on how to address them. Kaya nga po ang pakikipag-usap ay tuloy-tuloy. Maari po ang meron tayo ay hindi pa complete pero ang lahat po ng naraise ninyo ay natatouch naman po sa mga kasalukuyang discussions na ginagawa at sa pagpepreprare po ng ating individual key result area roadmaps na siya pong magbubuo, pagsasama-samahin po natin yan sa National Food Policy. We note po the questions and also the suggestions in between. We also note the reply that was given by Ms. Ampi before I was given the floor. We will take this back, and also consider them. But, what I can assure you, meron po talagang key result area technical working group na in charge po sa lahat ng inyong na-raise ngayong hapon.

Follow up response from The Cabinet Secretariat has been incorporated per email response on February 11, 2021.

All concerns were addressed.

WFPP, PKKK

For PKKK and World Food Programme: What are your recommendations to make the National Food Policy more inclusive and gender-sensitive?

For CabSec and NCC: Paano ninyo sinisiguro na gender-sensitive at inclusive ang ating approach pagdating sa pagdisenyo at implementation ng inyong mga istratehiya at mga programa sa ilalim ng National Food Policy?

From Zoom

WFPP – First and foremost, kasama po ang World Food Programme sa pagbalangkas ng National Food Policy at meron pong representative ang WFPP sa bawat key result area na tinitingnan natin. May inclusivity ang bawat programa sa ating strategic plan. So, when we say inclusivity, ibig sabihin po ay dapat muna nating tingnan ‘yung production side to ensure na meron tayong sustainable, production, economically and physically accessible. This means dapat may pera ang taong pambili, affordable siya, at meron tayong physical access na ibig sabihin ay hindi na tayo dadaan sa middle men. So iyon pong elemento na ito ang tinitignan natin. Itong  four pillars of food security, ‘pag na achieve po natin ‘yan despite the emergency, and continued pa rin ang production natin and utilization ng local products, then we can be assured na meron parin pong food security sa Pilipinas. While the National Food Policy is being drafted by the Inter-Agency Task Force for Zero Hunger, ang flagship program po niyan ay ‘yung tinatawag nating Enhanced Partnership Against Hunger and Poverty na sa ngayon po ay meron nang 26 Partners, national agencies kasama na po yung kanilang attached agencies. Originally, it was only four agencies – DAR, DA, DSWD and PAO and World Food Programme as the advisor. Ang purpose po noon is to ensure that small scale farmers are protected, provided technical assistance based rin po sa objective ng SDG #2 and to ensure that they can be linked up to markets and at the same time, they can go directly to platforms like the DSWD’s supplementary food program, like the Department of Education’s feeding program, even Department of Health. Ang purpose n’un is direct ang pagprovide ng food fresh from the market going to the supplementary feeding platform, wala nang middle man para mas mura po siya.  Wala nang intermediary, iyon po ang objective ng enhanced partnership. Their goal is to address micronutrient deficiency not only through GMO. We can also do pre-harvest and post-harvest food fortification kasi during the pandemic na experience po natin yan. We cannot buy diverse food from the market kasi walang market.  ‘Di makakapunta doon kasi walang sasakyan, walang pera, so ang nangyari po diyan sa pre and post-harvest is to fortify, example ‘yung rice with zinc. We know that Zinc is very important to prevent stunting. Very important po yan sa development ng baby. And then post-harvest, we can fortify it with Iron. The problem with the Philippines is that our laws and policies are conflicting with each other to the point na matagal nang may law na on rice fortification pero up to now we cannot implement it due to some administrative and policy issues out there. That is why the World Food Programme piloted it in 2019 and it was really successful. We were able to develop and produce iron fortified rice locall, buying that rice straight from the local farmers and from NFA so marami po ang pwedeng gawin diyan.

PKKK – sa tingin ko, para maging inclusive at gender sensitive ang National Food Policy natin, kailangan talaga pakinggan ‘yung mga food producers mismo. Sa totoo lang, ‘yung mga magsasaka naman at mangingisda ay nagsasalita rin. Halimbawa nalang po ay yung sa Rice Tariffication Law. Dahil luging-lugi sila, talagang bagsak, nagsasabi sila na pwede bang pagar-alan ulit, irepeal man lang or itigil muna ang implementation para naman makahinga kami pero hindi ko lang alam kung nakikinig nga.

Tapos, kanina sinasabi ko, talagang kailangan suriin kung nasan yung inequalities. Kasi, ang solusyon talaga sa food security is kailangan tingnan kung saan ‘yung sources of inequalities which niraise kanina. Kasi ‘yung food system talaga natin ngayon sa global at dito sa ating bansa, makikita mo ‘dun kung sino talaga yung may kapangyarihan, at sino ‘yung nawawalan ng kapangyarihan. Ang mas may control talaga ngayon ay ‘yung kompanya. Kaya kailangan mo talaga tingnan saan ‘yung inequalities of power at sana mas maging guiding framework ‘yun ng policy.

OCS FOLLOW UP ANSWERS/RESPONSE:

UPDATE:

The IATF-ZH, in celebration of the first anniversary of EO No. 101, officially launched the National Food Policy (NFP) Document last 11 January 2021.

This NFP Document is a product of various consultations with national government agencies, private sector, development partners, academe, CSOs, NGOs, POs, and other stakeholders. It will be published soon in print and online. As it is not a static document, it is still subject to further inputs and comments.

KRA 2 of the NFP is focused on ensuring affordable and available food for all Filipinos. Under the leadership of Secretary William Dar, the DA has embarked on a strategy called “New Thinking” which envisions a food secure Philippines with prosperous farmers and fisher folks.

Among the plans adopted by the KRA 2 is the Food Security Development Framework, which was approved by the Task Group on Food Security and the IATF-EID last year, will lead the country’s agriculture sector towards the new normal. It focuses on the five objectives of food production, namely: availability, accessibility, affordability, price stability, and food safety. Its core strategies are farm consolidation, modernization, industrialization, export promotion, and infrastructure development.

Concern addressed during Dagyawan/ Open Forum

DEPED

For DepEd: Paano po sinusuportahan ng inyong ahensya ang implementasyon ng National Food Policy?

Anonymous citizen from Slido

DepEd – Ang DepEd po ay may ini-implement na school-based feeding program na syempre ito po ay para sa mga mag-aaral natin. So kahit wala pong pasok ngayon ay tinuloy pa rin po naming ‘yung programa. So in a way, eto po yung aming contribution for food security ng ating bansa. So, in terms of supply naman po, ‘yung gatas po ay kinukuha namin sa mga local dairy farmers through the National Dairy Authority at ang Philippine Carabao Center so nae-ensure po natin ‘yung mga magsasaka ay nakikinabang rin po. ‘Yun rin pong instead na hot meals na binibigay namin, nag-adjust po kami ng food commodity na binibigay--naging bread po siya at fruits na sino-source rin naman locally. Let’s say sa bawat probinsya po, if may supplier po diyan ng nutri bun na dinevelop naman po ng FNRI (Food and Nutrition Research Institute), ito po ‘yung mga priority namin.  Dahil po nasa aming schools divisions office ang pera or funds ng SBFP (school based feeding program), syempre nakakatulong rin yan sa local economy. So iyon po yung pagsupport po natin sa national food policy.

Concern addressed during Dagyawan/ Open Forum

OCS

For CabSec: Paano po ang tali o alignment ng National Food Policy sa Philippine Development Plan? Kasama na po ba ito sa Midterm Update ng PDP?

Paano rin po ang tali ng National Food Policy sa FY 2021 National Budget? Ano-ano po ang mga budget items at programang na susuporta sa mga layunin ng National Food Policy?

Anonymous citizen from Slido

OCS – ‘Yun pong sa PDP, isa po iyang batayang polisiya na kinonsider ng ating National Food Policy po sa ating policy mapping. Ito po ay alinyado, hindi po ito nagsosolo. Makikita niyo po sa enhanced PDP natin kasi po every three years ito po ay ina-assess at ito po ay ina-update. Pero dahil may COVID tayo, ang ginawa po ng NEDA ay after po ma-update, ay in-enhance kasi po meron tayong iba pang consideration which is yung impacts po ng COVID-19. So, sa lalabas po nila na enhanced PDP, makikita niyo po  na may isang section po doong mention tungkol po sa Zero Hunger Program. Sa budget naman po, ang pwede ko pong sabihin sa inyo ay ina-apply po natin ang convergence budgeting. Under the Zero Hunger Program, meron pong mga naka-enlist na mga ahensya na meron po silang mga kanya kanyang programa na na-budgetan, pero po ang tinitingnan po natin na impact at outcome ay doon po sa paano po sila nakakatulong talaga ng diretsahan doon sa ating gustong gawin na Zero Hunger. So doon sa dalawang nabanggit, meron naman po tayong diretso at malapit na pakikipag-ugnayan.

OCS FOLLOW UP ANSWERS/RESPONSE:

UPDATE:

The PDP is the main document the NFP is anchored on. In fact, the IATF-ZH approved its inclusion as a responsible agency/ body in the results matrices of PDP Chapters 10 (Accelerating Human Capital Development) and 11 (Reducing Vulnerability of Individuals and Families), as it goes through its midterm updating process.

As to the budget, for 2021, zero hunger-related projects, activities, and programs (PAPs) will be funded and implemented by specific concerned agencies. Each agency will implement its own zero hunger PAPs.

For 2022, National Budget Memorandum No. 138 (issued on 06 January 2021) identified the Zero Hunger Program as a priority convergence program. The DSWD is identified as the lead agency for this convergence program. Participating agencies include the various member-agencies of the IATF-ZH, namely: DTI, NEDA, DOH, DOLE, DBM, PCOO, DILG, DA, DENR, DepEd, DOST, and CHED, among others.

Concerns addressed and incorporated from email responses by CabSec Nograles dated February 11, 2021

DEPED, NNC

Follow-up Question to DepEd and NNC: Magkano po ang budget ninyo sa Feeding Program at ano po ang inyong proposal sa 2021 budget

Moderator

DepEd – For 2020, per child po ay 20 pesos per day, and then naka-compute po siya sa 120 days. Meron rin pong gatas, 18 pesos per day for 60 days. For 2021, halos ganun rin po ‘yung nasa aming NEP (National Expenditure Program). Nasa 5.9 billion pesos po ito for 202,1 and then ang amin pong beneficiaries ay the same rin na severely wasted and wasted children, plus all kinder po sana with 60 feeding days na target for 2021.

NNC – This year, we have 162 million pesos for the pilot areas in 7 provinces in 2020. In 2021, hindi po siya nag increase pero we are planning to lobby for an increase in the budget.

Concern addressed during Dagyawan/ Open Forum

WFPP, DILG

For any speaker: Ano ang role ng iba't ibang sektor upang makamit natin ang SDG Goal No. 2 on Zero Hunger?

Ano rin ang aking magagawa bilang indibidwal para makatulong sa pagkamit ng mga layunin ng National Food Policy at SDG No. 2?

From Zoom Room

WFPP – Actually, it would really start from ourselves: by just simply planting something in your backyard, it would already address some of these food security problems. And maybe pagsunod lang po sa mga policies na layunin ng government natin, and that’s from the individual level. But from the agency level, this is what we are doing as the World Food Programme. We have convened the scaling up nutrition business network in the Philippines. Currently, we have 15 members, kasama po diyan yung Ayala Foundation, Makati Business Club, some of the private enterprises, kasi ang purpose po natin dito is magkaroon ng investment coming from private corporations to support the Philippine Plan of Action for the Provision of the Philippine Development Plan and also to support the small scale commerce by linking them to necessary support. So iyon po ang ginagawa ng World Food Programme

This scaling up business – this is under the umbrella of the National Nutrition Council at ginagawa rin po ito sa ibang bansa. So, lahat ng mga private corporations ay kinoconvene natin to support the food security and nutrition program of the government.

DILG – Unahin po natin sa urban area, most especially here in Metro Manila. There are a lot of vacant lots na pwedeng gamitin for barangay farming or barangay garden like what Mayor Joy Belmonte is doing. Meron silang directive ngayon sa Quezon City na kapag nakatiwangwang na lupa at pinagagamit mo bilang barangay gardening or farming area, ikaw ay mabibigyan ng incentive na libre na ang iyong magiging amelyar ng lupa. That is a big incentive kaysa ‘yung lugar mo ay dinadamo at may mga ginagawang basurahan. So, this is one of the ginagawang incentive.

We also target one (1) million food gardens para sa barangay sa buong Pilipinas. Ito ang ginagawa natin together with the NGO, and mandatory for LGUs.

Concern addressed during Dagyawan/ Open Forum

OCS

Kung hindi mapipigilan ang tuluyang conversion ng lupa or commercialization ng agriculture land, hindi na rin mapipigilan ang kakulangan ng pagkain. The more we convert agriculture land to commercial purposes ay lalong hihina ang supply ng pagkain. Hindi kami tutol sa pambansang kaunlaran pero sa tingin ko po ay dapat natin iconsider paano natin mapapanatiling stable ang ating pagkain sa bansa. Ano ang plano ng gobyerno para pangalagaan ang ating prime agricultural lands?

From Zoom Room

OCS – Ang in-charge naman po diyan ay ang key result area 1. Ang trabaho po niyan ay magreview, magrationalize and mag harmonize ng kasalukuyan nating polisiya na may kinalaman sa food including those for production, the actual transfer of food, etc, so the whole gamut, and the whole dimension of the issue of food and ensuring that finally, maa-achieve talaga natin yung goal natin na zero hunger. ‘Yung sinabi po na hangga’t on land coversion, ito din mismo ‘yung paniniwala natin na dapat ang agricultural land ay para sa agricultural purpose. Kaya nga po mas pinapatibay natin na ganun rin po sana yung pagtingin ng mga nagmamay-ari ng agriculture lands.

Patungkol po sa prime agricultural land, as much as possible, tayo po ‘yung nangunguna na susunod dapat dun sa land use, although alam naman po natin na wala pa tayong national land use policy or law at matagal na po ‘yang dream natin. Makakatulong po sana ito na mag-identify kung saan po ‘yung mga area na kung ito ay para sa agrikultura, ito talaga ay para sa agrikultura lamang, at kung ito ay para sa commercial and etc., doon po siya dapat gagamitin. Malaki pong bagay sana na meron na tayong batas, unfortunately, wala pa po pero kasama po ‘yan sa nakalagay sa recommendation natin na sana ay ito po ay isa sa mga bagay na maconsider at maging batas na sa lalong madaling panahon.

Concern addressed during Dagyawan/ Open Forum

DEPED

May programa po ba ang DepEd tungkol sa agricultural education kung saan hinihikayat nito ang mga mag aaral na kumuha ng karera sa agrikultura?

Anonymous citizen from slido

DepEd – Actually, meron po tayong tech-voc track, so andun po nakalinya ‘yung ating mga agri-related na subjects. So, in-encourage naman po natin ‘yung mga bata. Meron rin naman po kaming programa tulad ng gulayan sa paaralan, so sa elementary pa lamang po ay ine-encourage na po namin sila na maging mas aware po sa food production, matuto sila sa importance nito. Tulad ng sinabi ni Dr. Pareno, within the school po ay nagtatanim pa rin kami and ine-encourage po namin sila sa kanilang mga tahanan na magkaroon rin po ng tanim for food security.

Concern addressed during Dagyawan/ Open Forum

OCS

Capability is one of the factors on how we define poverty which causes hunger. So we will be guided, do we have a benchmark on our human development and capability index? The latest figures? Our target for 2025 and 2030?

Moderator – Ang PIDS po ay may study na parang may 7.7 Million new poor, nakasama po ba iyon sa counting ninyo sa vulnerable to hunger and food security?

From Zoom Room

OCS – For any plan and policy, if we cannot measure it, then we will never be able to achieve what we like. So, kasama po iyon sa consideration. Pero, ang masasabi ko po, ang kasalukuyan po namin diyang tinatapos pa, marami pa pong dapat i-include patungkol po sa baselining, pag-adjust po ng ating mga paunang targets kasi po inabutan po tayo ng pandemic. Nag-umpisa po kami sa trabaho na ito after maissue ang EO101 nun pong January 20 this year, so n’un pong kasagsagan ng ating pandemic, kinailangan po naming baguhin ‘yung nalagay po natin d’un. At ito pong mga epekto na ito, dapat po kinokonsidera natin otherwise hindi magiging realistic ang ating targets.

OCS - Yes, ‘yung bagong study po na lumalabas ay preliminary po. Hindi pa po iyan very expensive. We have noted that and ‘yung sa benchmarking po namin ay yung initial estimates sa World ‘yung ginagamit natin. Pagdating po ng mga numero na ang sakop po ay ‘yung meron na tayong COVID-19, iyan po, wala pa po iyan. ‘Yan po ang ating hinihintay para po mas ma-capture natin kung ano ba talaga ang effect and necessarily, ano naman po ‘yung kailangan nating pagdating doon. What do we need to do if that is the effect to us of COVID, not to also forget na bukod sa COVID, meron pa po tayong ibang crisis na pinagdadaanan ngayong rainy season?

Concern addressed during Dagyawan/ Open Forum

DILG

Sa amin pong karanasan ay alam namin na maraming magagandang programa ang pamahalaan. Nakalulungkot na hindi ito naiisakatuparan sa local na level. Walang continuity at nasisira ng too much politics and politicking. May dichotomy sa policy at implementation. ‘Yung priority ng national ay iba sa local na priority. Mag-e-election na naman, ‘yung paudlot-udlot na paglunsad ng programa nasisira ‘pag may bagong dating na mga nahahalal. Ano po ‘yung solution d’un kasi kung 2030 ang ating target, ibig sabihin magkakaroon pang dalawa-tatlong election?

Anonymous Citizen from Slido

DILG – Dapat meron tayong continuity ng lahat ng mga proyekto ng mga previous administrations like what the present government is doing right now. Nakikita niyo na ‘yung mga proyekto during the time of last administration ay tinutuloy ng gobyerno ngayon. Ganun rin kami sa DILG, lalon- lalo na yung ano ‘yung mga proyekto na ginagawa ng previous administration na talagang kapaki-pakinabang sa ating mga mamamayan ay tinutuloy po yan ni Sec. Año. Nakita niyo naman, it is always the barangay pagdating sa fight against illegal drugs, tapos itong Manila Bay clean up, ngayon pati ‘yung pagtatanim ng puno sa mga kabundukan, pangungunahan na yan ng DILG at DENR. And of course, itong Food Security right now dito sa Metro Manila. Meron kaming mga proyekto at the barangay level, meron kaming barangay gardening for food security. At tiyaka, ito na nga, dinidivert namin ‘yung mga Plantita. Baka namanpwede ay magtanim tayo ng mga gulay lalong-lalo na sa loob ng ating tahanan. Kami naman, ‘yung technology ay ie-enhance together with the Department of Agriculture. ‘Yan naman ang aming ibibigay lalong lalo na ang aming barangay. Alam niyo naman na there are barangays all over the Philippine.  We have 42,045. Here in Metro Manila we have 1710 barangays that can spearhead itong mga food security programs. Ito ngayon ang tutok natin  lalong-lalo na ngayong pandemya. ‘Wag po tayo mag-alala, tuloy-tuloy po itong ating programa with continuity.

Concern addressed during Dagyawan/ Open Forum

NCC

Maari din po bang gumawa ng programa involving Family farmers to ensure diversified farming and address income and nutrition needs? Perhaps you can link NFP with the National Action Plan for Family Farming being spearheaded by DA-ATI right now?

From Zoom Room

NCC - Actually ang Department of Agriculture is one of the members agencies of the NCC governing board at talagang kailangang sama-sama, convergence ang ating mga programa lalong lalo na doon sa local government units. We must be able to ensure that lahat ng mga families, especially those with malnourished children, ay kailangan meron silang mga food gardens sa kanilang mga bahay. So, the Department of Agriculture and the local agriculturists ay kailangan magsama-sama along with the health and nutrition workers para lahat ng programa ay maisulong.

Concern addressed during Dagyawan/ Open Forum

OCS

Don't you think we need to campaign for more dietitians, as based on the demand to respond on our challenges of today, a nourished populace is imperative. Right now, Western Visayas has one nutritionist, dietician for 253,438 people.

From Zoom Room

OCS – Opo, tama po ‘yang observation and I think the numbers will also show na ‘yun po ‘yung isa sa mga dapat marami para maraming makakapagprescribe at para marami rin po makakapagsabi sa’tin kung ano dapat ‘yung ating kinakain. ‘Yung tamang nutrition po at tiyaka diet, ‘yun po ‘yung sa proactivity side ng addressing hunger and the more practitioners we have, that will help us have that kind of a lifestyle na conscious po tayo sa ating food intake at ano-ano po yung sangkap ‘nun. Meron po tayong proyekto na tinatawag na “Pinggang Pinoy” and dapat ito rin po ‘yung pinag-uusapan in lieu of more dieticians. In fact, ire-relate ko na rin d’un sa pangangailangan po natin ay malaking tulong po ‘yung ating mga barangay nutrition scholars. Maaaring ‘dun po pwede na ring makakuha ng complement ng staff or magtrain ng magiging mga dieticians. Pero, iyon po ‘yung mga kulang natin pa.

Concern addressed during Dagyawan/ Open Forum

DEPED

To attain a nutritious diet in school meals, how much is the recommended meal cost?

From Zoom Room

DepEd – Sa DepEd po, ang ginagamit namin ay 20 pesos per child, pero sa totoo lamang po ay medyo kulang na ito dahil alam natin na nag-increase po ang food cost. Kaya lang ito nasu-supplement kasi may programa po kami na gulayan sa paaralan, so sometimes galing po sa garden ‘yung kamatis, ‘yung mga ganun po. May mga donations rin naman po gaya ng bigas kaya na-augment. Pero, bago po ng COVID – nagstudy po kami ng iba-ibang recipe na nadevelop tulad ng sa FNRI. Sa tingin po namin, nasa 30 to 35 pesos na po yung nutritious meal po per child. That includes bigas and ulam. Pero syempre, sa school feeding po ay may kinder hanggang grade six. Nagiging average nalang po siya kaya nagkakasya ‘yung pondo namin sa ngayon.

Moderator - Can WFP follow up on that, especially since no one mentioned the effect of population growth to food security?

WFPP – Sa presentation ko po kanina, using the data from 2015 – lumalabas po dapat na ‘yung budget po sa meal for pre-schoolers is 24 pesos at sa school child ay 25 pesos. Pero, putting into consideration po ‘yung price fluctuation and inflation rate, palagay ko ay malamang more than 25 pesos na ‘yan. Siguro mga 30 pesos na po sa ngayon kung yan ang pagbabasihan natin. With regards po ‘dun sa isang tanong regarding population, totoo po na factor ang population growth. Kasi ‘pag dumadami ang member ng family mo, mas lalong darami rin ang pinapakain mo at malamang mas marami ring nutrients ang kinakailangan ng isang family. So in other words, ‘pag mas marami sila, siguro ‘yung worth ng nutritious diet could even escalate to x2 perhaps, knowing as well ngayon ay karamihan walang trabaho due to COVID. The minimum wage should also be increased. Maganda itong panawagan sa ating gobyerno that it would be good to review the minimum wage per region. Kasi nakita natin sa presentation na hindi po siya sapat para makamit natin ang nutritious diet.

Concern addressed during Dagyawan/ Open Forum

PKKK, DepEd

Meron po bang programa ang gobyerno kung mismong ang magulang ang nagkukulang or medyo pasaway?

From Zoom Room

PKKK – Usually ang magulang ay pasaway dahil hindi nila alam kung ano ‘yung gagawin at malakas ang advertisement ng media. Syempre ie-encourage nila na ‘wag mag breastfeed, kumain sa fastfood. Kaya kailangan ‘yung gobyerno ay mag step up at mas maraming information at services na ibibigay sa mga magulang para maturuan nila ‘yung mga anak nila.

DepEd – Sa DepEd, nakakausap po namin ang mga magulang thru PTA conferences at talagang totoo ‘yan at napagsasabihan po na bibigyan namin sila ng advice kung ano ang dapat gawin sa mga bata, para matuto po ng nutritious food choices. Kung sa mismong household nila ay may poor food choices po, syempre hanggang school dinadala po iyon. Kami po ay nag-i-strive on parents’ education pero minimal pa rin po kasi mas focused po kami sa education ng mga learners namin. So, maaari po na ‘yung agencies like DSWD ay may family development sessions po sila. Pero tama po na dapat magkaroon ng education for parents. 

Concern addressed during Dagyawan/ Open Forum

DILG, OCS

Nutrition programs are based dapat mismo sa municipality, pero walang nutritionist bawat bayan or siyudad sa Pilipinas. Ang nutrition projects ay grounded sa municipal level pero there are no nutritionists in all the municipalities in the country.

From Zoom Room

DILG – naghihintay lang kami dahil alam mo na sa barangay, meron po kaming almost 800,000 barangay health workers. Meron tayong NNC. Meron rin tayong tinatawag na barangay nutrition scholars. Just let me know kung ano ang i-uutos ninyo to the more than 800,000 barangay health workers – gagalaw ‘yan. Basta utusan niyo lang kami at we are ready to do that.

OCS – ‘Dun sa binangit ni Usec. Diño, tama po. Maari pong hindi nutritionist ang meron tayo pero meron po tayong mga inihahanda na katuwang po natin sa level ng mga barangay natin. Patuloy po yung pagtetraining natin sa kanila, because of their numbers we will be able to reach more and serve more. Dahil po na organisa na po ito, ‘yung pagpapalakas po sa kanila ‘yung inaayos natin ay ‘yung sistema para rin po makakastep-up po sila para maging mga nutritionist po natin. Pero sa kasalukuyan, sila po ‘yung tinatawag nating force multipliers and malaking tulong po sa barangay level.

Moderator - May paglilinaw lang po mula sa DOST-FNRI. Iba po ang barangay health worker and barangay nutrition scholars sa registered nutritionists. So dapat po malinaw na may pagkakaiba po iyon. Kailangan parin po natin ng trained and registered nutritionist.

DILG – Tama ‘yan, dahil unan- una, sinabi ko sa inyo na may tinatawag tayong National Nutrition Council. Ready kami, just let us know what we need to do.

OCS FOLLOW UP ANSWER/RESPONSE:

UPDATE:

There is already a local budget memorandum circular directing the LGUs to allocate part of their funds for zero hunger PAPs.

The DILG, in partnership with the NNC, is also conducting capacity building trainings on nutrition planning for the LGUs. The lead of the KRA 6 (DILG) is also working with the DILG National Barangay Operations Office for the implementation of the Gulayan sa Barangay and other zero hunger PAPs at the barangay level.

The matter on the presence of nutritionists in each municipality is still subject for discussion of the IATF-ZH.

Concerns addressed and incorporated from email responses by CabSec Nograles dated February 11, 2021

Role

Agency/Organization

Resource Speaker

Designation

Discussants

International Labour Organization (ILO)

Public Services Labor Independent Confederation - National Public Workers’ Congress (PS LINK-PUBLIK)

Episode Replay on Youtube

https://youtu.be/iPpqZt_Lv8g

Episode Replay on Facebook

https://fb.watch/2LSAPoDcYe/

PSLINK-PUBLIK

What are your recommendations on good mechanisms to strengthen social dialogues between local colleges and universities and CSC-accredited associations or unions and local government units?

Alexander de Luna

President, Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Marikina Faculty Association

Zoom

PSLINK: Papaano itataguyod ang social dialogues? Ano ang pwedeng gawin para ito ay yakapin din na katulad sa pribado mas hinog at mas may kultura na ang social dialogue kasi nagsimula naman sila ng matagal na. So, sa bahagi ng PSLINK ay ginagawa natin ay ‘yung capacity building. Maaring gusto naman ng government bilang ating employer na makipagdiyalago kaya lang hindi siya ‘yung sa pamamaraan o sa depinisyon natin kung ano yung social dialogue. Kaya gusto natin na may orientation at may capacity building both ‘yung empleyado, ‘yung mga unions at management. Tapos sa pag-i-iscan naman natin sa workplace, marami naman mekanismo para makipag-social dialogue. Halimbawa, ‘yung selection and promotion board, occupational health and safety committee. May mga mekanismo ang labor management council, uniform committees, staff development committee. In fact, kahit sa ibang mga workplace, sa Bids and Awards Committee, narerepresent na rin yoong kinatawan ng mga asosasyon o ‘yung unyon.

Tapos sa executive order na pwede nating gawing reference, ‘yung sa freedom of information. Kasi ang porma ng social dialogue ay ‘yung pagkakaroon ng sharing o ‘yung pagbukas ng public information ay ma-access ng mga tao at iyan ay pwedeng gawin nating reference dahil maaari ka lang makilahok sa pagdedesisyon o paghugis ng mga patakaran kung meron kang tamang impormasyon, pareho kayo ng management na mayroong impormasyon. Ito ‘yung mga nakikita kong ilan. At kailangan na i-democratize natin ang ating workplace. Like I said, iyong registered and accredited na union, ang CSC ay may circular na kailangan ang kinatawan ay manggagaling diyan. At kung wala naman registered and accredited na unions, sinasabi din ng Civil Service na kailangan na mag-elect ng mga kawani kung sino ang kanilang kinatawan sa partikular na committees. Halimbawa sa selection and promotions board. So, ‘dun lang sa mga circular na ‘yon ay sinisigurado na ang pipili ng kinatawan ng mga kawani ay mismong ‘yung kawani. At kung ikaw ay may union, ay talagang garantisado na o secured na dapat ikaw ang mangangatawan.

ILO: Unfortunately, there is no specific kind of mechanism that I can recommend as being good or whatever. Each country has a social dialogue mechanism and how institutions evolve does not have anything to do with the country’s culture, history, and how things are in the world. But generally speaking, what one I’ve seen is that in social dialogue, in any mechanism, it basically has certain preconditions that simply need to be satisfied. One finds that social dialogue mechanisms work better where there is a certain culture of democracy, respect for freedom of association and collective rights of the workers, strong independent workers, as well as employees organizations. Basically, organizations that have appropriate technical capacities and capacity to deliver on agreements.

Then, of course political will and commitment to engage in social dialogue in good faith--that is what is necessary, otherwise it doesn't work. If we don't have that, what should be the matter for bargaining, what should be the matter for consultation subject to social dialogue or collective bargaining? These are needed to be decided by the parties of the dialogue. That is why it is important that in any mechanism you may set up,  if the mechanisms follow the principles that are enshrined in convention number 87 regarding the freedom of association and convention 98 regarding the right to collective bargaining that mechanism has a chance to work, basically. I think it will work in the Philippines.

Concern addressed during Dagyawan/ Open Forum

DBM

Paano po natin i-aaddress ang issue sa hiring and merit and promotion system sa local colleges and universities vis-a-vis LGUs prerogative. Tulad po ng SUC, mayroon po silang NBC 461 na sa pagkakaalam ko po sa LCUs po ba maari po bang magkaroon ng ganong promotion ng cycle.

Nais po sana namin mailinaw ang sinasabi po sa amin na hindi po sakop at hindi po pwede gawing basehan ang DBM Circulars and Memos sapagkat po may sariling batas ang LGUs. Hanggang saan po ba ang limitasyon ng DBM pag dating po sa desisyon ng LGUs.

Alexander de Luna

President, Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Marikina Faculty Association

Zoom

DBM: ‘Yung pong ating NBC 461, hindi nga po talaga kasama ang LGUs kasi LGUs are autonomous. The LGUs are encouraged to replicate the policies of the national government in terms of the hiring, recruitment, and promotion of the personnel of the local universities.

Maganda sana ang CSC ay kasama dito kasi the CSC has existing rules and regulations pertaining to LGUs esp for promotion process. ‘Yung NBC 461, it is a three-year implementation and evaluation period wherein the qualifications of the faculty members are being assessed based on certain standards formulated by the DBM and CHED in coordination with the different SUCs. So, pertaining to LUCs, currently hindi talaga naaapply itong mga policies natin considering nga na autonomous ang ating mga LUs/ LGUs. Pero baka the local universities are governed by the existing service rules and regulations.

Pertaining naman doon sa instances na pwedeng ang mga circulars ng DBM ay pwede implement ng LGUs, doon lamang po sa mga concern na budgetary or certain management concerns na involved or under jurisdiction ng DBM ang LGUs, doon po namin sila sinasakop. For example, sa compensation policies, considering the DBM is concerned with the administration of the government’s compensation and position classification system, so merong mandato ang DBM na icover ang LGUs pertaining sa compensation. So, may hangganan din po ang jurisdiction ng DBM pertaining to LGUs dahil nga po may awtonomiya ang mga ating LGUs. But for the policies engaging COS and Job Order workers, as I mentioned a while ago, we are encouraging the LGUs to apply the measures enforced by the National Government for this matter.

Concern addressed, but should also be forwarded to CSC.

DOLE, DBM

Maaari po ba natin na mairekomenda sa Governance Commission for GOCCs, sayang nga po wala sila rito na maengage ang public sector unions sa pagdadraft at pagprepare ng draft compensation, position, and classification systems directive bago po ito ma-isumite sa Pangulong Duterte sa kanyang approval, dahil alam po naman natin na ‘yung mga manggagawa ay syang pangunahing naaapektuhan sa implementasyon ng polisiyang ito, para sa lahat ng mga GOCCs at GFIs.

Kung matandaan po natin na ‘yung GOCC sectors na under ng GCG ay siyang po naapektuhan ng batas na ipinatupad noong 2011. Bilang representante ng mga manggagawa, naramdaman ko po ‘yung hinagpis ng mga manggagawa sa government corporation na napag-iwanan na, in terms of their salaries and benefits. Kung saan ‘yung nagbibigay po ng pera sa gobyerno mukhang siya ang napabayaan ng gobyerno.

Bilang bahagi ng PSLMC, maaari din po kayang makipag-unayan ang PSLMC doon sa gagawing EO [executive order] dahil nakikita natin na may direktang epekto ito sa labor management relations kasama na rin ang tinatawag natin na bargaining aspect para sa sector ng GOCCs at GFIs, na alam natin na ito’y nasa ilalim ito na ekslusibong jurisdiction ng council.

Christopher Bautista, Kapisanan ng mga Manggagawa sa GOCC at GFIs

DOLE: Hindi na ako nakakasama sa pagpupulong ng council, but alam naman po natin ang posisyon ng kagawaran sa pamunuan ng aming kalihim. Kung ang amin pong irekomenda na mabigyan kayo ng espasyo o pagkakataon na makapagbigay ng komento o inputs, ay malugod po namin ito i-eendorse sa GCG. Ang pakiusap lang po namin ay magbigay kayo ng specific na sulat para sa aming kalihim, para sa ganon ay officially namin ma-endorse sa GCG.

Patungkol naman po sa desisyon ng council sa pag-endorso ng usaping ito sa GCG, pinapaubaya o dapat po nating ipaubaya doon sa collegial decision ng council. Pero kami po ay tumatalima pa rin sa polisiya na sa sana po sa lahat ng pagdedesisyon, lalong-llalo na kung ang desisyon ay may kinalaman sa ating mga kamanggagawaan dito sa pampublikong sektor, ay sana po ay makonsulta at mabigyan ng pagkakataon marinig, hindi lamang po ang mga unyon kundi lahat po ng mga mangagawa na nirerepresenta na po ng mga unyon sa pampublikong sektor.

DBM: Katulad ng sagot ni Usec. Benjo, I think I will defer to that collegial decision of the PSLMC regarding the possible endorsement of the proposal of the GOCC sector representative regarding the participation of the GOCC employee’s association in crafting the executive order. Currently, GCG have engaged a third-party firm to conduct a study regarding the compensation structures for the goccs. I think naka-present na ang third party firm, and on-going parin ang discussion regarding doon sa preparation for the revised CTCS for the GOCCs. Will take note of the concern, if ever any other employees association regarding this matter would submit a proposal or a request to the DBM, we will formally reply, considering that the DBM is an ex officio member of the GCG.

Concern addressed, but should also be forwarded to GCG.

Unions are also encouraged to draft the related letter on the issue and send it to DBM and DOLE.

DOLE, DBM, ILO

Simula nang maipasa ang Executive Order No. 180 na bumuo sa PSLMC, mababa pa rin ang union density sa pampublikong sektor; mababa rin ang CNA coverage. Meron din mga pinirmahang PSLMC resolutions na parang pumipigil sa karapatan namin mag-organisa at makipag-negotiate. Kaugnay nito, ito ang aming mga katanungan:

Kasunod ng ratipikasyon ng ILO Convention 151, may mga hakbang ba para bumuo ng independent at adequately funded na public sector labor relations body ang gobyerno? Ano ang opinyon ng ILO pagdating dito?

Ang mga public sector union representatives ay mga observers, at minsan pa nga ay TWG level members lang nga sa PSLMC. Hindi ba dapat ay ma-recognize ang genuine representation ng public sector unions in the PSLMC with voting rights? 

From the PUBLIK members

DOLE: Doon po sa unang katanungan, pagdating po sa una kung mayroon nang independently and publicly funded na body when it comes to public sector, wala pa po akong alam, actually hindi ko po nasusubaybayan na ang mga pag-uusap sa council patungkol po doon sa mga gawain in pursuance of the implementation of the principle of Convention 151, dahil naratipikahan na nga po ito. Now, ito po ay nagangailangan ng budget, so, mas maigi pong masusing pag-aralan ito kung kanino ibibigay ang budget at magkano ang ibibigay na budget at kung saan manggagaling ang budget.

Patungkol naman sa ikalawang katanungan, totoo pong walang po talagang regular seat ang mga sectoral representatives sa council. Ito po kasi ay nakabatay sa executive order na pinirmahan po ni Pangulong Aquino noong siya po ay mayroon pang legislative power. Para po ma-amendyahan ito, kailangan po ng panibagong batas na ipapasa po ng kongreso. Pero ‘wag po natin sigurong i-tweak ang social dialogu, doon lamang sa reserbang upuan ng mga representative sa isang council. Ang importante po dito ay napapakinggan ba ‘yung mga sektor pagdating po sa mga isyung kinakaharap ng mga manggagawa sa pampublikong sektor? Kino-consider po ba ng gobyerno ng PSLMC, ‘yung mga inputs and comments ng mga sector kahit sila po ay umuupo bilang observer po laman? Mayroon po kasing isang function ang council na, ang pagdedesisyon ay para lamang po talaga doon sa representative ng government. Pero po ‘yung malawakan at nakakaraming trabaho, which is policy-making function ng council, lagi po nating kinokonsulta ‘yung mga representatives’ ng pampublikong unyon sa NGAs man po yan, sa SUCs, LGUs, at GOCCs. What I’m trying to drive at is that tingnan po natin ang value ng contribution nga mga representative ng unyon sa Council. Hindi po mismo ‘yung bilang kung ilan sila nandon nakaupo. Pero kung kailangan po talaga nating baguhin ang komposisyon, kailangan po natin ang panibagong batas.

Concern addressed, but should be forwarded to CSC for response on the comments of DOLE and unions

ILO

How do you think can we strengthen social dialogue in the public and private labor sector with regard to Joint Administrative Order on Occupational Safety and Health, especially during this time of pandemic?

Anonymous citizen from Slido

ILO: There is no magic or formula or an answer anyone can give. Like I said before, as long as there is a genuine desire to co-determine and co-implement the safety and health regulation at work places, basically, it all depends, like I said, some of the things that cannot quantify is good faith and attitude. With an attitude on co-determination and treating the labor side as equal partners in the dialogue process, then,  things can be better decided on.

In our experience, in many countries, especially in developing nations, the focus appears to be on improving housekeeping or teaching workers how to be safe - how to work safely. The focus is not on removing the hazards. So you will see our companies reporting, our GOCCs reporting, that, yes, we do our occupational safety and health training because we do fire training. This fire safety training is happening in the name of health and safety which is true, which is necessary. But fire safety is more oriented towards keeping the property safe rather than making the work safe. This is where the role of social dialogues come in. And the unions need to raise this issue that we have to move away from behavior-based safety systems towards removal of safety hazards basically. Why should workers be trained to work with hazards? Why not focus on removal of hazards? When you think of making work safe, it is best to invest in technology. But then that requires investment, and not always we will find the same enthusiasm of the management to invest. So, it is easier to do a behavior-based system. If there is any problem, usually that is always blamed on human error. I mean, everytime a flight crashes, airline companies always blame the pilots. They would not say that there is something wrong with the aircraft or its engines because then that will affect the sales. So, the whole approach to health and safety needs to be changed. This is where the dialogue comes in because when both management and workers talk it out, then they can decide. I mean one cannot prescribe any basic system, but I say the basic principles of ILO that facilitates effective social dialogue should be there. The answer remains the same, you feed the two parties in equal footing of their rights, and implement the decisions that were taken, that would lead to its effectiveness. The lynch-pin of any social dialogue mechanism means respect for freedom of expression and collective bargaining rights of the workers. And I think almost all of the countries tend to fail in this regard.

Concern addressed during Dagyawan/ Open Forum

DBM

Matagal na ang kampanya ng mga pampublikong sector para sa pantay-pantay na kompensasyon para sa empleyado ng national at local government, pero dahil sa mga polisiya pagdating sa Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) at mga probisyon ng Local Government Code, talagang nahuhuli at hindi ito kayang i-comply ng mga mas mahihirap na munisipalidad. May mga hakbang ba ang DILG at DBM para matugunan ang isyung ito ng equity?

Paano rin tumutugon ang DBM sa isyu ng kontraktuwalisyasyon sa pampublikong sektor at eksploytasyon ng mga job orders at contract of service workers?

Members of PUBLIK

DBM: Pertaining po doon sa LGU Compensation, nakalagay po kasi sa RA 1146 o SSL5, ang talaga pong salary schedule for LGUs shall be as a percentage ng national government compensation. Itong provision ng RA 11466 din ay consistent doon sa provision ng RA6758 or yung SSL1 noong 1981 that the rates and pays of the LGU shall be determined based on their class and financial capability of each LGU. Para ma-address ang concern ng ating nagtanong na kawani mula sa LGU, kailangan natin mag-amyenda ng mga batas. Pero ang dapat unang tugunan ay ang classification ng LGUs kasi ang income classification natin ngayon ay medyo matagal-tagal na at ang Department of Finance together with DILG, ay meron din mga pag-aaral na ginagawa regarding doon sa possibility na i-modify ang income classifications ng mga LGUs.

Currently ngayon, tama nga, na may mga LGUs na talagang may kapasidad na magbigay ng mas matataas na salaries na pwedeng comparable na sa national government. But until such time na ma-amend ang batas or mabago ang LGU income classification, ito’y nanatiling magandang oportunidad para sa mga LGUs na magkaroon sila ng karadagang increase sa kanilang salaries. Ngayon ang ginagawa natin ay may mga diskurso ang DILG, DBM at DOF, in particular yung Bureau on Local Government Finance. Pwede ito maisama doon sa modification sa income classification. Pag na-address na natin ang problem natin dito sa LGU income classification, I think magkakaroon na ng mas matataas na sweldo sa LGUs na comparable na sa national government.

Concern addressed during Dagyawan/ Open Forum

SSS

Ang sahod at working conditions sa GOCCs ay stagnant na sa nakalipas na sampung taon, ano ang stand ng SSS patungkol sa isyung ito?

Paano pinapalakas at pinapalawak ng SSS ang democratic space para makilahok ang mga public sector unions sa policy and decision making process sa loob ng inyong ahensya?

Members of PUBLIK

SSS: Unang-una po ang SSS ay isang ahensya ng gobyerno na ang aming pong mandato ay bigyan ng social security protection ang mga members po ang mga manggagawa sa private sector. Kaya po ang mga katanungan doon sa mga sahod tungkol sa GOCCs sa palagay po ay hindi nasasakop iyon ng SSS. Sapagkat gaya nga po ng sabi ko, ang aming mandato ay mabigyan ng social security protection ang nasa private sector workers.

Doon naman po tungkol sa dialogue, kami po ay nagbibigay ng social security coverage sa lahat ng mga empleyado ngunit kung mayroon naman reklamo tungkol sa hindi pag-cocover dahil, kung matatandaan po natin, mayroon pong mga GOCCs na under ng SSS. Pinagbabasehan naman po namin diyan ay buwanang kita na tinatanggap ng ating miyembro. Kung pong kulang yung mga naihuhulog ng mga employers sa ibang GOCCs, iyan po ay binibigyan ng karampatang aksyon.

Idagdag ko sa unang kasagutan, mayroon po tayong mga GOCCs na under ng SSS, ngunit kami po ay nakabase sa deklarasyon ng kita ng isang empleyado sa isang GOCC. Kung ano ang ideklara sa SSS, iyan po ay tinatanggap natin. Ngunit tandaan po natin na ang SSS ay may cap doon sa aming kontribusyon. Ibig sabihin ang nasasakop lang ng security coverage ay ang kita hanggang 20,000. Lagpas po ng 20,000 ay hindi na covered ng SSS. Kaya po stagnant ang kita sa GOCCs ay hindi po natin masasabing kung makalagpas po ito ng 20,000, kahit lumagpas pa po ang kita ng isang miyembro na nagtrabaho sa isang GOCC, hanggang 20,000 lang po ang covered ng SSS.

Kung pong may problema kayo tungkol doon sa hulog na ‘di nababayaran ng ating mga kumpanyang pinapasukan, maari po kayong lumiham sa amin at isumbong sa atin ang mga iregularidad upang maaksyunan ng SSS nang mas maaga ang ating mga problema. 

Concern addressed during Dagyawan/ Open Forum

DBM

May mga inilabas na polisiya ang DBM na sa aming tingin ay anti-union at minsan ay nag-o-overstep sa PSLMC. Halimbawa: CNA incentive ceiling, performance targets of the whole agency as basis for granting CNA incentive. Maari ba nating i-revisit ang mga polisiyang ito kasama ang mga public sector unions sa pamamagitan ng social dialogue?

Paano sinisiguro ng DBM na ang pondo para sa CNA ay nasa ilalim ng GAA?

Upang maipatupad ang Supreme Court ruling sa patungkol sa Salary Grade-15 ng mga government nurses, inilabas ng DBM ang DBM Memo Circular 2020-4 on modifying the position attributes of nurse positions. Kaso ito rin ay nagresulta sa “downgrading” ng mga mas matataas na position para sa mga nurses. Maari bang i-revisit din ang polisiyang ito gamit ang social dialogue kasama din ang DOH at public sector unions?

DBM: Regarding sa policy ng DBM, if DBM is overstepping the functions of PSLMC, under the Administrative Order 135, series of 2005, DBM is authorized to formulate the necessary policies and procedural guidelines on the grant of CNA incentives. Meron po talagang legal basis ang DBM being the administrator of the CPCS or compensation and position classification and government kaya po nag-iissue ng policies ang DBM sa CNA. Ito ay nakapaloob sa AO 135 series of 2005.

Regarding naman po sa paglalagay ng ceiling ng CNA incentives, sa nilabas na circular ng DBM nitong November 4 2020, the CNA incentives should not exceed P25,000 per qualified employee. The purpose of providing CNA incentives is that, in the past, there are certain agencies which are abusing the policy on the grant of CNA incentives wherein there are certain agencies that will ensure that there is savings for the CNA incentives. Ang nangyayari, na-sa-sacrifice ang pagdeliver ng certain goods and services. May mga instances na certain agencies are providing higher CNA incentive although ang kanilang performance or delivery of programs and services ay hindi natupad or na-accomplish. With that, DBM has a mandate regarding CNA incentives kaya nga po naglabas kami ng polisiya na ang CNA incentive should not exceed P25,000. Ayan po ang karampatang rason kung bakit po tayo may ceiling.

Regarding naman po sa pondo para sa CNA, noong 2018, there were only 6 allowable MOOE items which could be the source for the grant of CNA incentives. Dapat nating tandaan na ang CNA incentives is a result of efficient and viable services through cost-cutting measures and systems improvement. Ito ang definition ng CNA incentive under the Congress Joint Solution No. 4, series of 2009. Considering na ito ay to be sourced under MOOE, DBM identified the necessary allowable items which could be the source for the CNA incentives. Noong 2019, the 6 MOOE items have been expanded to 10.

Ngayong 2020, there are 10 allowable MOOE items na pwede maging source ng agency savings provided na ang mga MOOE funds natin na ating in-allocate na para sa COVID efforts ay hindi lang dapat i-consider na savings. Dapat ‘yung mga na-commit na ng mga agencies na gagamiting for COVID-19 responses or COVID-19 efforts ay hindi na dapat siyang isama dito sa magiging source ng CNA incentive. With that, nagkakaroon naman kami ng pag-aaral, in case na mayroong additional talagang kailangan pang dagdagan ‘yung allowable MOE items.

Doon naman sa last question regarding sa nurses: the DBM issued the Budget Circular 2020-4 to comply with the decision of the Supreme Court regarding the upgrading of the entry level of nurse position. So, the Supreme Court issued a decision last November and its entry of judgement was only issued last June, upgrading the entry level of nurse positions in the national government, as well as the LGUs, from SG-11 up to SG-15. Ngayon po ang entry level po ng ating mga nurses ay SG-15 na.

With that, since kailangan ireview ang classes ng nurse position, kaya ang seven levels ng nurse position ay aming siyang na-classify into six (6). Ang pag-classify o pagreduce ng classes ng mga nurse positions from seven to six, it’s an unavoidable consequence, kasi nga po na-upgrade na ang Nurse I. Ngayon, to address mga concerns and issues, actually nakapag-dialogue na kami with certain employees association regarding sa plight ng mga nurses. DBM, together with the DOH, had series of consultation meetings to address the concerns of the nurses. One of the initiatives na aming kino-consider ngayon is to review and revisit the existing standards for the positions of nurses in the different UH hospitals. Mayroong mga proposals from DOH corresponding to the modifications doon sa standards. Ito ang pinag-aaralan ng DBM ngayon and hopefully ma-issue na namin ang DBM-DOH Joint Circular para ma-address ang plight ng ating mga nurses. At the same time, we are encouraging the DOH to promote the necessary and qualified nurses doon sa mga bakante nilang positions.

Concerns addressed during Dagyawan/ Open Forum

PSLINK, ILO, DBM

Realistically, given where we are now, what are the concrete steps that the Philippine government can take in terms of ending or reducing contractualization in government?

How can different sectors work together in advancing this labor sector reform agenda?

ILO: This is a problem not only in the Philippines but in many countries. Unfortunately, even with the ILO, there has been no agreement on this issue of contractualization rights because we are in a tripartite body that makes decisions by consensus. The employers are there. So, between contract of service and contract for service and freedom of the business to outsource to best organize, this one does not have achieved any, basically, recommendation from the ILO on how to deal with these decisions. But there are certain principles that the ILO and all three parties have agreed, that at least even if you are employing people in contractual basis, they should have the same rights as any other worker regularly employed except for the matter, that in this case, this person’s employment comes to an end after a certain period and a regular full-time public sector employee’s employment may normally go on until the end of the service.

So, what ILO does recommend is that this flexibility or the constant contract terminations, renewal of contracts, this practice should not be used to side-step the labor laws or the labor rights that are enshrined in the country’s laws basically. It becomes the means to side-step the obligations on the labor law and that is what the government policy needs to basically provide. That is one of the recommendations that I think was given in the ILO jurisprudence.

No labor practice should basically be used to side-step the labor obligations of the labor laws. Other fundamental principles that apply are, of course, equality and non-discrimination. So that’s where the situation where the ILO stays. And the final principle that the ILO advocates is, it is for the country’s constituents, it is for the employers’ organizations and the workers’ organizations in the government to sit down together and find a solution that is accepted by all parties to this problem. And that’s having a solution through a social dialogue mechanism. Otherwise, I think it has not been a subject matter of the ILO.

PSLINK: I would just like to comment, taking from the presentation of Director Janda, maraming contractual pero marami ring vacant positions in the entire bureaucracy. I think kailangan mag-imbentaryo at tingnan kung ‘yung mga contractual personnel sa isang specific agency ay qualified, katulad ng sinabi kanina na one of the ways to address contractualization is to regularize or doon sila sa position na vacant na qualified sila, sila na ‘yung i-prioritize. The second is, for DBM to really, since sinasabi ng DBM na pinag-aaralan nila ang mga ahensya na may mga COS and JO doon sa operations nila, kasi sa amin ang tingin namin kapag lagi mong nire-renew ang contract and then they are performing their regular function, desirable and necessary ang mga tao na ‘yan.

Therefore, ang isa sa mga dapat gawin diyan ay mag-create ng plantilla position para doon sa mga nasabing COS or contractual. O kaya, dahil matagal maka-create ng plantilla position, ay i-transform nila ang COS status at saka JO status sa temporary appointment o casual na sila’y magiging government employee while waiting for the plantilla position. Tingin ko, ito ‘yung mga steps na magtransition sila from COS, JO to non-career pero government employee ang turing sa kaniya hanggang ma-plantilla position sila. Ayon ang tingin ko na nakita ko sa ilang presentation sa Dir. Janda, mukhang mayroon ganong direction.

DBM: In response to the statements of Ma’am Annie Geron, tama po kay.  Currently, the transitory period is an opportunity for different government agencies to revisit their organizaiton structure and if they have necessary positions na kailangan nila ay pwede nilang i-submit sa DBM. This is an opportunity for the COS and JO workers to be appointed doon sa mga vacant positions. Kaya nga po nabanggit ko kanina, there are 177,000 vacant positions in the national government and we are encouraging different government agencies to fill these vacant positions and among others the qualified COS and JO workers could be appointed. Secondly, in case na wala pang qualifications, this transitory period is also an opportunity for the COS and JO workers to comply with the qualification standard requirements ng CSC para ma-appoint sila sa regular positions.

There are also instances ngayon kagaya ng ginawa namin sa DOH, DSWD, DOTr, and DTI na ‘yong mga COS workers nila, if they are implementing programs and projects and time-bounded initiatives, these agencies or Departments requested for the conversion of the COS’ status into contractual positions subject to availability of funds and consistency with our standards when converting the status of the COS to contractual. Lastly, we are encouraging agencies, if there are vacant positions that are no longer needed, they could convert or reclassify these positions so that necessary COS and JO workers could be appointed to these vacant positions. 

Concern addressed during Dagyawan/ Open Forum

DBM

Bakit hindi po nakakatanggap ng bonus (gaya ng Performance Based Bonus) o 13th month pay ang mga JO o COS?

Arvin Jay Felizardo, Logistics Management Officer ng NAPOCOR, mula sa Bocaue Bulacan via Online Registration Form

Response to be updated.

DOLE

Ano po ang mga venue para makipagdayalogo sa DOLE ang mga informal sectors tulad ng mga samahan ng mga tricycle drivers, padyak, construction workers, etc?

Alex L. Andaya, Field Officer, USAID RenewHealth Project, Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro

Issues and concerns of workers in the informal sector may be raised before the DOLE Regional Offices for evaluation and appropriate action. Note that lodged within each Regional Office is a Regional Tripartite Industrial Peace Council (RTIPC) and various regional Industry Tripartite Councils (ITCs) where informal sectors are likewise represented. These RTIPCs and ITCs, which were institutionalized by virtue of Republic Act No. 10395 or the Tripartism Law, serve as fora for tripartite advisement and consultation among the labor, employer and government sectors in the formulation, review and implementation of labor employment and social policies at the local and industry levels.

Apart from informal sector workers, also represented in the RTIPCs and ITCs are formal, public, youth, migrant, and women workers. The representation of workers from these various sectors ensure inclusivity and broad-based consultations and engagements, which shall then redound to stronger developmental frameworks and better policies that incorporate and address all sectoral interests and concerns.

Follow up made through a letter dated January 18, 2021.

DOLE’s response was submitted on January 25, 2021.

CSC

Gaano kabilis magresolve ng cases o isyu ang PSLMC pagdating sa mga appeals pagkatapos ito maresolve ng DOLE-BLR? Gaano din kabilis maresolve ang motion for reconsideration after madesisyunan ng appeal?

Oscar B. Alvarez Jr., Presidente ng PAGCEA o Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. Employees Association

 Response made by CSC through a letter dated February 10, 2021

As a matter of Policy, this Office refrains from rendering categorical opinion on matters and issues that may later on be the subject of an administrative proceeding before the Commission either via an appeal or a complaint. This is to preclude the possibility of prejudgement should an actual administrative case be commenced or instituted based on the said matters or issues.

Be that as it may, please be advised that the issue concerns procedural policies involving the Public Sector Labor Management Council, a collegial body created by law to implement and administer the provisions of Executive Order No. 180 (Guidelines for the Exercise of the Right to Organize in the Public Sector and Creating a Public Sector Labor Management Council). Said council is separate and distinct from the CSC. As such, your issue shall be referred to the Human Resource Relations Office of the CSC, which serves as the Secretariat for the PSLMC, considering that the first issue raised lies within that office’s jurisdiction and area of expertise.

Concerns addressed.

GCG

Kamusta na ang salary increase para sa mga GOCC/GFI workers?

Ano po ang status ng privatization ng mga GOCCs?

Matagal nang puro Presidential Appointees lang umuupo sa Board ng mga GOCCs/GFI, nasaan po kaya ang mga ex-officio representative of the workers?

GOCC major blocks ng PUBLIK

On “Kamusta na ang salary increase para sa mga GOCC/GFI workers?”:

A new Compensation and Position Classification System (CPCS) for the GOCCs under R.A. No. 10149 is currently being developed to standardize the compensation, including the salaries, of all officers and employees of GOCCs, whether under the Salary Standardization Law or exempt therefrom. The new CPCS is now in the final stages of refinement as recommendations and inputs from key government agencies are being consolidated before the submission to the Office of the President (OP) for consideration. Once approved by the President, the new CPCS will govern the adjustments of the compensation of GOCC officers and personnel.

On the status of the privatization of the GOCCs:

Presently, there are only three (3) GOCCs approved for privatization by the President namely: the GSIS Family Bank, the Intercontinental Broadcasting Corporation, and the Southern Utility Management and Services, Inc.

On Presidential Appointees occupying seats in the GOCCs/GFI Board:

Section 15 of R.A. No. 10149 provides that (“[a] Appointive Director shall be appointed by the President of the Philippines from a shortlist prepared by the GCG.” Thus, with the enactment of R.A. No. 10149 in 2011, the President now appoints all GOCC Appointive Directors, including the representatives of the labor sector in certain GOCCs.

Presently, there are seven (7) GOCCs under the coverage of R.A. No. 10149 with Appointive Director seats representing the workers, employees, or labor sector in their Governing Boards.

The incumbent holders listed in the 7 GOCCs mentioned above were appointed by the President of the Philippines in accordance with R.A. No. 10149.

Response made by GCG through a letter dated January 29, 2021.

Concerns addressed.

GCG

The government agencies, military and police forces, nurses and teachers have already started to increase salary SSL V, how about the GOCCs and GFIs?

Oscar B. Alvarez Jr., Presidente ng PAGCEA o Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. Employees Association

Response made by CSC through a letter dated February 10, 2021

As to this issue, the attention is invited to Section 2 (2 and 3), Article IX (B), Philippine Constitution, provide, that:

“Section 2. (1) xxx.

“(2) Appointments in the civil service shall be made only according to merit and fitness to be determined, as far as practicable, and, except to positions which are policy-determining, primarily confidential, or highly technical, by competitive examination.

“(3) No officer or employee if the civil service shall be removed or suspended except for cause provided by law.”

Section 4 of R.A. No. 11466 or the Salary Standardization Law (SSL) of 2009, expressly excluded from its coverage the “GOCCs under Republic Act No. 10149 which shall be covered by a [CPCS] x x x.” Fully aware of the sentiments of the GOCCs, the Governance Commission has considered this exclusion of GOCCs from SSL V in the CPCS development.

Rest assured that the Governance Commission commits to continue prioritizing the establishment of the CPCS for GOCCs under R.A. No. 10149. All GOCCs and stakeholders shall be informed by the Governance Commission once the CPCS has been approved by the President.

Concerns addressed.

CSC, DILG

Paano naman po inaddress ‘yong issue on political influences lalo na sa LGU. Kahit na masipag sa trabaho pero pagtapos na ang termino at iba na ang nakaupo, tinatanggal na dahil hindi po sya tao sa nakaupo?

Jessilita Dano Espinosa - Zoom Chat

Response to be updated.

Role

Agency/Organization

Resource Speaker

Designation

Discussants

Procurement Service, DBM

Episode Replay on Youtube

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NTF COVID-19

Ang Sinovac Biotech ay isa sa mga pharmaceutical companies mula China na kausap ng gobyerno patungkol sa pagbili ng bakuna kontra COVID. Ngayon ay may kontrobersiya silang kinakaharap kaugnay ng history nila ng panunuhol sa mga Chinese drug regulators. Ano ang komento dito ng IATF Against COVID? Ano rin ang masasabi dito ng HPAAC?]

From Online Registration

Usec. Purisima (NTF COVID-19) Titingnan muna natin ang sistema natin dito sa vaccine roadmap. Para maipaliwanag po sa atin, unang-una, ang guidance po ng ating President at para masagot narin ung tanong kanina ni Dr. Dans, ang priority po dito is equitable access for the poor and indigents. So ‘yun po ang nasa isip po natin lagi: priority rin ung mga frontliners, mga healthcare workers and policemen, at tiyaka lahat po ng Filipino ay magkaroon ng vaccine without exception. Ang idi-discuss ko po ay ‘yung proseso po natin para magkaroon tayo ng framework natin for vaccine procurement. Unang-una, ‘yung considerations po natin dito ay safety and efficacy. Iyon po ‘yung primary consideration natin sa pagseselect natin ng ating vaccine na pipiliin. Pangalawa, ‘yung sensitivity. Pangatlo ay ‘yung supply and demand. Alam naman po natin na malaki po ang demand ng buong mundo. So, may problema po tayo initially sa supply ng vaccine. Pang-apat po ay ‘yung cost and complexity ng supply chain--maraming proseso po dito. Mayroong mga kailangang ang mas cold ang paraan ng kanilang pag transport, at ‘yung supply chain po lalo na sa ating bansa, alam naman natin na we are composed of so many islands, so marami pong complexity dito. Ang mga complexity of the distribution at tiyaka ‘yung result po ng clinical trials, dadaan po sa ganong proseso. May clinical trials, at tiyaka may proseso rin tayo sa pagseselect. Meron tayong scientific evaluation and selection. Meron po tayong group diyan headed by DOST at tiyaka ng DOH, at of course, tulad nila Dr. Dans na tumutulong rin sa atin dito sa pag-a-advise sa mga taskgroup natin ng scientific evaluation and selection para sa ganun ay masigurado ang safety ng vaccine.

Moderator: Pasintabi po, ang tanong po kasi ay specific. Okay po yung proseso, mukhang talagang naisa-isa ninyo kung ano ‘yung gagawing standards and process. Pero ang tanong po ay may history po ng panunuhol itong SINOVAC. Ang problema ay may panimulang statements ang pamahalaan na sa Russia at China tayo kukuha ng bakuna. Iyon po ba ay consideration na may nauna nang pasalita ang ating Pangulo na doon na tayo kukuha ng bakuna?

Usec. Purisima (NTF COVID-19): Alam po natin na ang ating Pangulo ay ayaw niya ng corruption at sa proseso na ito ay dapat ang safety and efficacy ng vaccine na iseselect ay dumaan sa proseso ng mga different vaccine experts at selection team natin. Walang pinapaburan, dapat lahat ay dumaan sa proseso. Meron po tayong dapat pagdaanan bago natin iprocure ang mga vaccine natin.

Concern addressed during the Dagyawan/ Open Forum

NTF COVID-19, HPAAC

Ano po ang plano ng gobyerno pagdating sa deployment ng vaccines? Sino po ang mga priority groups?

Kapag nagdistribute at nag-administer ba ng bakuna, sasabihin sa amin na mga tuturukan kung saan siya galing o anong kumpanya ang gumawa?

May side effects ba?

From Online Registration

Usec. Purisima (NTF COVID-19): Tama po, and iyon nga po sinabi ko kanina.  ‘Yung priority natin ay iyong mga vulnerable talaga- ang mga healthworkers natin, ‘yung vulnerable patients, mga indigents and mga poor communities. Iyon po ang priority po natin dito, at maipapaliwanag rin po natin sa kanila kaya nga po meron po tayong thrust sa pagpapaliwanag at ang pag-explain kung ano ‘yung vaccine na ito, anon ang klase ng vaccine, at paano ang gagawin dito. May proseso po talaga para ma-explain po sa kababayan natin ito para alam nila ‘yung gagawin pagdating pagkuha ng vaccine natin.  Sa priortization, una ay geographical prioritization based sa mas maraming kaso sa nakakaraan at tiyaka sectoral prioritization. Ang sinabi kong sectoral is priority ang mga healthcare workers, vulnerable patients and indigent and poor communities. Iyon po ang gagawin natin sa vaccine immunization

Dr. Dans (HPAAC): Salamat Usec for the clear explanatio. Kailangan talaga ng proseso for this. Idadagdag ko lang ‘yung process just before we start to purchase it: ‘yung purchasing and distribution. Kami, we agree with the priorities.  Dapat ‘yung mahihirap ang uunahin dahil sila ang mas exposed. ‘Yung idadagdag ko lang is may problem kasi ngayon: ‘Yung alam lang natin sa mga bakuna ay ‘yung mga alam lang natin sa mga periodiko. Ang tawag namin dito ay “Science by Press Release”. Mahirap po ‘yung ganun kasi napakarami po ng information ‘yung nangyayari during the pandemic. Ang ganda-ganda paglabas sa news, pero ‘pag lumabas na sa scientific paper na peer reviewed: hindi pala effective. Ang ibig sabihin po ng peer reviewed ay ibibigay po nila ‘yung results ng study nila sa maraming scientists at susuriin nila ito, babasahin nang maigi at titingnan kung tama ‘yung kanilang analysis, maganda ba ‘yung study nila? Kapag nagkaroon na ng suggestions and adjustment sa pagsulat ay lalabas na ‘yan sa scientific journal. So ganun po dapat, science by scientific publication. Huwag pong science by press release.

Ang susunod po diyan ay mabilis, I think lumalabas na ‘yung ibang papers on many vaccines in the scientific journals. ‘Yung second step po na nakalabas sa binanggit ko kanina: RA11223 or Universal Healthcare Act, it should be recommended by DOH and PhilHealth. It also has to have the positive recommendation of the Health Technology Assessment Counci (HTAC)l. ‘Yung HTAC po, napakamasinsin ang pagtingin sa mga telnolohiya like tests and vaccines. Titingnan ‘yung study, iisa-isahin ‘yung results. Kung tatlo ‘yung study ay pagsasama-samahin nila. Tapos, bibilangin nila kung magkano ba ang pagbigay nito, magkano ba ang pagstore nito, at ‘pag nakaiwas, magkano ba ang nase-save natin sa pag-iwas sa sakit. Tinitimbang nila kung ‘yung naiwas mo bang gastos ay kasukat ba niyan ‘yung gastos ng ibabayad mo sa bakuna– kasi kung hindi, lugi ka. Ang laki ng binayaran mo pero konti lang ng benefit na nakuha mo. So iyon po ang kailangan from HTAC. So minsan, naghuhunos-dili kami mag-answer ng “Yes” or “No” kagaya niyan.

Nagkaroon raw ng corruption – hindi naman pwede na ‘yun lang yung gawing nating basis. Kung titingnan natin lahat ng kumpanya – lahat sila may kaso ng corruption already somewhere in the world. So ‘wag natin ibase d’un.  Let’s give everyone a fair chance. Tingnan natin ‘yung study nila, maganda ba? Gawan natin ng health technology assessment at kung mukhang sulit, ‘yun ung gusto malaman ng HTAC: effective ba siya at sulit. Kung effective siya at sulit, tiyaka natin itutuloy sa process na dinescribe ni Usec. Purisima

Concern addressed during the Dagyawan/ Open Forum

NTF COVID-19

Ang mga PWD po ba ay may libre pong pabakuna? Kasi, PWD po ako.

From Von Philip Perez, Student from Montalban, Rizal

Usec Purisima (NTF COVID-19): Iyon po ang sinabi ng prioritization: lahat po ng Filipinos, at syempre ang ating mga PWDs ay syempre priority rin po. Sila po ang mga vulnerable sectors na tinatawag natin. At yan po yung nakalagay sa polisiya ng DOH at mga experts natin – prioritization ng vulnerable sector.

Needs clarification from IATF Against COVID-19 if vaccines will be free for marginalized and vulnerable sectors

NTF COVID-19, DBM

If lahat ng Pilipino ay babakunahan, ano po ‘yung budget requirement and sourcing? 109 Million Filipinos po ba ang estimate?

Moderator

Usec. Purisima (NTF-COVID19): Based po doon sa plano na magkaroon ng herd immunity, mga 60 to 70% of the population ‘yung need ma-vaccinate. For a period siguro gagawin natin ‘yan, depende sa availability ng mga vaccine for the next three to five years. Hindi po natin kaya pagsabayin-sabayin lahat ‘yan. About 60 to 70 million po ‘yung mavavaccinate pagdatin sa number. May pondo po tayo, ‘yun po yung in-assure ng ating gobyerno based dun sa recent bicameral conference. May nakalaan na initial na pondo. Meron rin po tayong tinatawag na unprogrammed funds na pwede natin i-access, just in case na kailangan na natin bumili ng mga vaccine. At marami pong paraan para makabili tayo ng mga vaccine natin. Kaya nga po ang importante ngayon ay ‘yung pakikipag-usap natin sa ibang bansa na may vaccine para magkaroon na tayo agad dapat ng reservations ng mga available na vaccine. As I have said, kulang ‘yung initial na available na vaccine, pero eventually maglelevel off rin po iyan at magkakaroon rin po tayo.

Usec. Lao (DBM): We cannot answer the total cost for all vaccination of Filipinos simply because there are so many vaccines available with different prices. Pfizer has a different price, Moderna has a different price, Sinovac, Sinofarm – magkakaiba ‘yan ng cost. So, the fact na magkakaiba po sila ng pricing, we cannot compute the exact amount. That’s why we are still negotiating, baka babaan pa nila –iba rin kasi yung mga storage requirements. With the storage requirements, ‘yung iba negative 80 degrees, it’s colder than ice cream. Ang alam natin, the Philippines has a storage facility good for ice cream, at ice – I think that is just negative 20 degrees. So hindi pa natin alam ‘yung total cost, that’s why we are open for it pa. We are discussing through IATF the procurement of the said items.

Concern addressed during the Dagyawan/ Open Forum

DBM

Para sa DBM: What is the current status of funding, procurement, and distribution of critical medical supplies and equipment for the COVID-19 response such as the PPE, test kits, and vaccine? 

How has the Philippine government budgeted for the procurement of critical medical supplies and equipment under the FY 2020 national budget and with Bayanihan 1 and 2? What is the status of procurement, budget utilization, and distribution of such, to date?

What have been the issues and challenges in terms of funding, procurement, and distribution of critical medical supplies, specifically the PPEs and test kits, in the time of pandemic? What have been the lessons learned?

From Online Registration

Usec. Lao (DBM): Based on previous data we have – in Bayanihan 1, we had 30 Billion Pesos allocated for the PPE and the COVID19 tests. Since we got direct procurement from chinese companies sa PPE, we only spent 10 Billion for the PPE, and ‘yung 10 Billion ginamit natin pambili for COVID-19 tests. The other 10 Billion tinago natin kasi nga, it was projected that the supply would be enough till January next year. Initially, the 30 billion was supposed to supply the total PPE requirement until December this year at 3800 pesos per set. But since we got it directly from China at 1900 pesos per set, we bought it at least 50% cheaper. So, kalahati ng items ‘nung pera natin, tinago natin. That’s what we’re using now for Bayanihan 2. And we had an educated guess na baka bumaba pa ‘yung cost ng PPE when the pandemic slows down or goes down ‘yung spike. Now, bumaba nga ang presyo ng PPE, so we’re buying them for Bayanihan 2 using Bayanihan 1 funds.

Ang problema natin ay ‘yung COVID-19 tests natin ay we bought it on April. It will last until January kasi during that time, we projected na hanggang for 2 years ‘yung test kits na ating binili. But the number of testing facilities all around the country have increased significantly. We are using RT-PCR which has 98% accuracy, and I think more than 20 years of technology na ‘yan. Since tumaas ang bilang ng cases, mauubos na rin po ‘yung stock natin, until mid-January or mid-February. The data will present this. As to bidding requirements – ongoing na po ang biding natin for Bayanihan 2 for PPE items, but we cannot give information since it is still pending with our BAC teams kasi confidential po iyon.

Dir. Suntay (PS-DBM): Sa PS-DBM po, ang procedure po namin sa pagprocure is that nakakatanggap po kami ng agency procurement requests mula po sa end-users. So, ang planning po sa pagbili ng supplies ay responsibilidad po ng end user, which in this case po ay ang DOH. Pero in terms po of agency procurement requests or APR na naisumite po sa PS-DBM, 0.34% na lang ang hindi po namin nadedeliver out of the 12.3 Billion pesos na naitransfer po na pondo sa amin mula sa DOH para po bumili ng mga supplies tulad ng PPE. P42 Million na lang po ang natitira to be used at ipambibili na po namin ulit ng bagong supplies nila.

Concern addressed during the Dagyawan/ Open Forum

HPAAC, NTF COVID-19

Ano po ang inyong rekomendasyon pagdating sa prioritization ng mga sector na unang makaktangap ng bakuna? Sino sa tingin ninyo ang talaga dapat mauna sa pila?

Anonymous Citizen from Slido

Dr. Dans (HPAAC): I agree with the prioritization na nadescribe ni Usec. Purisima. Kasi, ‘yung may mga underlying illness, vulnerable ‘yan. Sila ‘yung mataas ang mortality rate. Tapos, ‘yung matatanda at tiyaka yung mahihirap kasi studies show na yung mahihirap ay mas mataas ang risk of infection at pag nagkainfection, mas mataas ang risk of death. So, prioritization lang naman iyon. I think eventually we will all need to get the effective vaccine. I think ang magandang policy diyan ay ‘wag madaliin. ‘Wag natin gawing mabilis, gawin nating tama.

Usec. Purisima (NTF COVID-19): Tama po iyon – sabi nga natin may proseso po tayo doon sa pagprocure ng vaccine. Gawin nating tama ang vaccine program po natin.

Concern addressed during the Dagyawan/ Open Forum

NTF COVID-19, HPAAC

Para sa OPAPP at DBM: What is the outlook for a post-COVID pandemic Philippines? What are the NTF Against COVID-19's next steps and ways forward?

Anonymous Citizen from Slido

Usec Purisima (NTF COVID-19): Iyong situation natin, ‘yung sa national level po ay gumaganda naman po at nakikita natin ‘yung pag-baba ng mga active cases po natin. Makikita po natin ‘yan dito sa NCR at tiyaka ung kalapit na lugar (Region IVA and Region III). Meron lang po talaga tayong mga areas na tumataas – example natin are Baguio City, Davao City and the like. Iyon po ‘yung kailangan natin i-address. Kaya sa National Task Force po natin, meron tayong coordinated operations to defeat the epidemic. Iyon po ay nagpupunta sa LGUs para tulungan po sila sa mga programa para mapababa po ‘yung cases natin. Sa National Action Plan po natin, tama po ‘yung sinabi kanina ni Dr. Dans na napakahirap po ibalance talaga ‘yung economy at tiyaka ‘yung health. At iyon po ang focus ng ating National Action Plan na phase 3: balancing between health and economy. Hindi naman po natin kailangan mag concentrate lang sa health kundi pati sa mga economic factors po ngayon. Kaya nga ‘yung implementation ng response po ay ‘yung PDITR strategy po natin ay tuloy-tuloy – Prevent, Detect, Isolate, Treat and Reintegrate. Lalong-lalo na ‘yung sinabi kanina ni Dr. Dans, ‘yung sa preventive aspect.  Kailangan po natin ito pagtulungan lahat. Iyong paggamit ng facemask at tiyaka pag handwash, at tiyaka yung physical distancing. Kailangan po natin ‘yan sa prevention. May emphasis rin po tayo sa active surveillance maliban ‘dun sa tracing at testing po natin. Hindi na natin hihintayin magkaroon ng mga contact trace – dapat lahat po tayo binabantayan po natin ito. Dapat ina-isolate po talaga ‘yung mga nagpositive, and as much as possible wala pong nagho-home quarantine para at least walang hawahan. At the same time, we are also improving our healthcare system sa treatment po natin at pagreintegrate sa community. Ang nakikita po natin dito, ‘yung sa vaccine po natin, ang projection po is three to five years. Kaya yung PDITR strategy po natin ay continuous. Hindi pwede na dahil may vaccine na ay magrerelax na po tayo. Kailangan bantayan pa rin po natin ang ating situation at kailangan tayong magtulungan. At kailangan natin iangat ang ating ekonomiya. Napakahirap po talagang i-balance ‘yan kasi kung mag-open ka naman ng ekonomiya nang biglaan tulad ng kinekwento kanina sa Divisoria, kung hindi prepared ‘yung sistema po natin, magkakaroon po tayo ng problema. So, dapat po may gagawin ‘yung mga LGUs natin, mga tao at mga opisyales. Iyon po ang nakita natin pero ang magandang balita ay nandiyan na po ang vaccine kaya malaki ‘yung opportunity natin dit. Pero sabi nga po ni Dr. Dans ay gawin nating tama. Kasi hindi naman natin pwedeng biglain na ma-vaccinate ‘yung buong sambayanang Pilipino.

Dr. Dans (HPAAC) – Ang tanong is post-pandemic rin. I am very optimistic that we will come out of this a better country. I think ‘yung history ng mundo ganyan: after every disaster, something happens to make the world better and to avoid future disaster. Noong 1800s merong fire na sumunog ang buong Chicago to the ground. At doon lumabas yung steel structures, and that became the beginnings of the development of skyscraper, the Chicago fire. The New York Storm in the 1800s that paralyzed the whole of New York – nagkaroon sila ng snowstorm, nagutom ang mga tao, walang nakabiyahe for several days. Diyan nagsimula ang modern subway system. At tiyaka ‘yung plague in London na libo-libo ang namatay, diyan nadevelop ang modern sewage system. Dito sa pandemic na ito, marami rin ang magbabago after in the Philippines. Our transportation system will develop– baka magkakaroon na ng bike lanes, and mass transport will improve in efficiency. Mag-iiba po ang anyo ng ating mga cities--magiging cleaner and less polluted and less crowded. Ang ating heathcare system will improve. Alam niyo, nandiyan na ‘yung UHC law. Kung nahuli lang ng isa o dalawang taon ‘yung pandemic at naisagawa na natin ‘yung law agad, ang ganda-ganda sana ng ating response. Pero ngayon nakikita natin na kulang tayo ng healthcare workers, kulang tayo ng primary care, ‘yung unang pupuntahan ng mga tao. Kulang tayo ng incentive para hindi mag-alisan ang mga healthcare workers that will improve our healthcare systems. Even the way we design our cities, alam natin that this will not be the last pandemic,wWe have to prevent the next pandemic and we need to rethink the way we build our cities, even the provinces. ‘Yung kainan, maganda kung nasa labas na para hindi na lagi sa loob ng mga nakasaradong lugar ‘yung mga restaurants and shops. We will use open air more – that’s how to avoid the next pandemic. We don’t want to live through this again. ‘Yung mga anak at apo natin, ayaw natin dumaan dito muli. So, we need to re-design the way we build the world through working with all the government agencies today. I can see all the effort that is being placed so that we come out of this stronger and better.

Kanina pala sinabi ko that the modern sewage system came out of a plague in the UK. It was a cholera epidemic. ‘Yung plague sa mga insekto ‘yon, so it has nothing to do with sewage.

Concern addressed during the Dagyawan/ Open Forum

NTF COVID-19

Para sa OPAPP, at HPAAC: Habang limitado ang stocks at may mga hindi talaga maabot ng bakuna, ano ang plano ng gobyerno pagdating sa quarantine measures? Hindi ba dapat tuloy-tuloy pa rin muna ang quarantine hanggang magkaroon na tayo ng herd immunity?

Ano ang rekomendasyon ng HPAAC pagdating sa usaping ito?

From Online Registration

Usec Purisima (NTF COVID19): Tuloy po nag PDITR strategy natin. Nandoon po yung isolation, nandoon pa rin po ‘yung quarantine. Meron rin po tayong granular lockdown na iniimplement po ng ating mga LGUs. As much as possible, kung mabilis po ‘yung response natin, ina-avoid na po natin ‘yung malawakang lockdown kasi ‘yung ekonomiya naman po nating ang maapektuhan kung tayo ay bumalik sa lockdown. Kaya nga po kailangan mabilis tayo sa tracing natin para ma-isolate natin agad sila sa quarantine facilities natin kahit mga suspect pa lang or kaya ‘yung mga close contact, or mga nag positive talaga. Kailangan talaga natin ma-isolate nang mabilisan para ma-prevent natin ‘yung pag-spread. So tulo- tuloy po ‘yung quarantine measures natin until such time na mawala talaga itong problema natin ng COVID.

Concern addressed during the Dagyawan/ Open Forum

DBM

For DBM: One of the nagging issues with our response to the COVID19 pandemic is our relatively weak support to scientific development. It was reported that our domestic laboratories would take weeks, if not months, on average to conduct a simple test that labs in other countries could do in days. This severely hindered our ability to develop testing kits as well as do significant research on COVID19

With that being the case, how does the government plan to improve our science and technology development sector? Ano po ang sinasabi ng ating 2021 National Budget at medium-term expenditure program pagdating dito?

From Online Registration

Asec. Rolly Toledo (DBM): Alam niyo po, since the COVID-19 pandemic, it has been well-recognized that research and development should be supported and to encourage new technology breakthroughs and to elevate the caliber of health services as a whole. Actually, we have provided that in Bayanihan 1 where you can see that we have allotted 52.23 Million for the production of 1300 locally produced testing kits. Kumbaga, dito na ginawa sa atin. So, we encourage also our local manufacturers. We also provided budget for the establishment of a Computational Research Lab under the UP Diliman, where we allocated 15 Million under Bayanihan I in recognition that we really need further R&D. Even in our 2021 Budget, we have supported an allocation of around 171.1 Million to DOH for their Health Sector Research and Development Agenda. Also, on that, the National Reference Laboratory is also conducting medical data analysis for scientific policy decision and assessment. And ito rin ‘yung pinakamaganda ngayon: in our 2021 budget, meron po tayong allocation para sa Virology Science and Technology Institute of the Philippines under the DOST. So basically, this will be the institution for research and technology regarding viruses, diseases and corresponding appropriate cure and prevention. So that’s for our 2021 budget. On top of these allocations, we have allocated 70 Million for the World Health Organization’s SolidarityTrial for COVID Treatment. So, along with more than 100 countries participating in the solidarity trial, the DOH will conduct trials in at least 20 hospitals that are categorized as level 3. So, meron po tayong mga pondo diyan as far as the research and development is concerned. At the same time, we are looking, of course, not only at the DOH but also for our DOST counterpart and other agencies.

Moderator: May estimated budget po ba sa vaccine? May minimum or maximum budget po ba?

Asec. Rolly (DBM): Under our 2021 budget, although sabi nga po ni Usec. Lao and Usec Purisima, hindi pa natin nadedetermine exactly magkano ‘yung kailangan given the price range. Hindi natin siya ma-fix. Given that, we have allotted in our budget 2.5 Billion pesos under FY 2021 budget. As mentioned also by Usec. Purisima, we have 10 billion standby funds for COVID Vaccine natin. In addition, we are assuring that we will provide all the necessary funds when the vaccines are ready to be purchased. In fact, according to the Department of Finance, they initially estimated a budget for 73.2 Billion for the COVID-19 vaccine for 60 Million Filipinos. So, at the same time, we have already initially discussed this with our development partners, bilateral man or multilateral, like ADB and the World Bank. Syempre, kailangan rin natin ‘yung mga domestic engagement with our GFIs to support us in this. So, if the vaccine is already available and ready for purchase, our government is also ready to purchase them for our citizens.

Concern addressed during the Dagyawan/ Open Forum

GPBB

Para sa GPPB: Ano po ang procurement policy na umiiral pagdating sa mga negotiations sa pagprocure ng mga bakuna? Ayon sa RA 9184, maaari bang magbayad in advance para sa reservations ng supply ng bakuna at maaari bang bumili / magreserba ng sabay-sabay sa iba’t ibang kumpanya?

May polisiya bang inilabas ang GPPB patungkol dito?

Anonymous Citizen from Slido

Executive Director Melissa Santiago-Yan (GPBB): Doon po sa unang tanong na “ano po ba ang procurement policy na umiiral sa pagdating sa negotiation ng pagprocure ng bakuna” – as a general rule po talaga, kapag usaping government procurement, RA9184 IRR po. So, bale po nung nagkaroon po tayo ng pandemya, nagkaroon po ng Bayanihan 1 & 2 laws enacted by congress, may mga certain COVID-19 related procurement projects na ine-exempt sa RA9184. Ang existing po ngayon na batas ay Bayanihan 2. Kung halimbawa po ay masasakop pa po ang vaccine procurement, pwede po ‘yung policy po natin or rules na in-issue under Bayanihan 2 ang applicable. Ngunit dahil sabi nga sa discussion natin ngayon ay matatagalan pa po dahil may mga registration requirements pa po,  hindi pa po tayo ready for purchase. Kung wala pa pong ilalabas na bagong batas ang congress, o kung wala pong Bayanihan 3 or extension ng Bayanihan 2, then RA9184 po would apply. So, depende rin po sa magiging procurement strategy ng IATF, especially po dahil sila ang in-charge sa COVID-19 vaccine. Nasa kanila po ang authority para tingnan or himayin ito. Sabi nga po kanina ay nasa procurement stage pa rin po sila. So, depende po sa kanila ‘yung magiging procurement strategy natin. Ang bakuna po kasi natin ay usaping government-to- government rin. So, maari po na maging bilateral ‘yung funding na nabanggit rin po ni Asec. Rolly. So, of course kung ano po yung magiging usapin, if in a nature of a treaty or executive or international agreement, ang titingnan po natin ay ‘yung terms and conditions po nila. Iyon po ‘yung magiging procurement policy natin.

Doon po sa usapin na advance payment,  pagdating sa government contracts, may prohibition po diyan for making advance payments as a general rule. Advance payments should be subject to approval of the president. Ito po ay hindi under RA 9184 but Presidential Decree 1445 or Government Auditing Code of the Philippines. Doon po kasi pinoprohibit po ang advance payment kung wala pa pong nadedeliver, unless may prior approval ng President of the Philippines. Kung ipp-procure po ang bakuna na ito under RA9184, may mga existing provisions na po tayo for advance payment that was previously approved by the President of the Philippines and embodied po siya under Annex B of the IRR of RA9184. So, kung halimbawa po under emergency ‘yung ating procurement, under a state of calamity, up to 15% of the contract ang allowed na advance payment that was previously approved by the President. Kung halimbawa po na lalagpas po doon, or magiging iba po yung governing law or agreement po, subject po siya sa approval ng President. Kaya ‘yun po siguro yung mga usapan ngayon na nababasa natin sa news regarding po ngayon sa advance payment.

Moderator: May limit po ba ang pwedeng iapprove ng president na advance payment or contract price?

Executive Director Melissa Santiago-Yan (GPBB): Nasa President po iyon kung ano ung magiging percentage po ng advance payment of the contract price. Kamukha po nung Bayanihan 1, nag-issue po ang President ng Memorandum Order No. 48 na in-increase po ‘yung 15% to 30%. So depende po iyon sa magiging approval ng President.

Concern addressed during the Dagyawan/ Open Forum

HPAAC

Bilang ina, gusto ko lamang masigurong ligtas at epektibo ang bakuna para sa COVID-19 upang maiwasan ang nangyari sa Dengvaxia controversy. Nais kong malaman kung gaano ba katagal bago umepekto ang bisa ng vaccine pagkatapos nito turukan?

Anonymous Citizen from Slido

Dr. Dans (HPAAC): Tungkol doon sa mga vaccine effectiveness, I think maraming problema noong Dengvaxia na nalutas ng ating Universal Healthcare Law. One of the problems was the Health Technology Assessment dati ay walang control sa conflicts of interest. So ang mga nagbibigay ng opinion, kung minsan, conflicted or may interested sa vaccine itself (commercial interests or other interest). Ngayon, under the UHC law, it is regulated na dapat ‘pag gumawa tayo ng recommendation, the Health Technology Assessment Council (HTAC) should declare conflicts of interest. Pangalawa, dapat independent sila. Hindi sila dapat subject to political pressures na medyo, in a way, nangyari rin nung Dengvaxia vaccine pero ngayon hindi na. They will be independent. Kasi dapat natitingnan nila yung vaccine na walang iniisip na pressure from politics here or there, ‘yung bakuna lang talaga and ung studies tungkol doon. Kaya ako, panatag ‘yung loob ko. I will have myself vaccinated if HTAC says that the vaccine is safe and effective and they have evaluated it. Doon po magkikita kita ‘yung opinion sa HTAC ng DOH that in about 3 or 4 years more will be transferred to the Department of Science and Technology according to the Universal Healthcare Law. Kami pong mga healthcare workers, hindi kami mauupo dito, at walang gagawin. Kung merong lalabas na kalokohan na hindi naman effective at ibibigay sa mga tao, magsasalita kami. Maasahan niyo ‘yan. Right now, wala kaming nakikitang problema. The vaccine seems to be effective after a month. This month, we will know the two-month effectiveness.  By January or February, baka alam na natin yung mga six-month effectiveness niya. By the time the vaccine gets here, we will know more about it at lalabas narin ang mga publication. Hindi na lang tayo sa press conference makikinig.  Lalabas na ang mga scientific journals and opinion ng scientists. The whole world will bear upon the evidence and tell us if there is something we should be cautious about. So far, we don’t see any signals except na parang bakit nagmamadali? Usually hindi naman sa press conference kaagad ang release. Mas maganda sana kung lumabas muna sa scientific journal, natingnan na ng ibang scientists at napintasan na at iyon na talaga ang lalabas. Wala nang atrasan. So, let us be patient. Let us not do it fast. Let us do it right.

At tiyaka yun din, the light at the end of the tunnel nakikita na natin. May liwanag, may katapusan na ang pandemic na ito. Pero hindi ibig sabihin magwawala na tayo. Ibig sabihin, konti na lang na tiyaga at sipag.  Protect ourselves, because it is almost here. So, let’s hang on and protect ourselves even during the Christmas holiday. 

Concern addressed during the Dagyawan/ Open Forum

HPAAC

Quick Follow-Up – ‘yung Dengvaxia Purchase, malapit po kasi sa election naganap. Baka po na déjà vu po ‘yung nagtanong. Baka po kasi pag na-procure mapulitika?

Moderator

Dr. Dans (HPAAC): We never make a statement on that kasi kami ay naniniwala sa kagandaang loob ng lahat ng tao, lahat ng politician at lahat ng policy-makers na walang silang malisya and have the best interests of people in mind. This government or any party, ayaw namin lagyan ng malisya. Kasi kung lalagyan natin ng malisya, e ‘di ‘wag na tayo mag-usap usap, kasi masama naman ‘yung intention ng kausap natin. We have in our heart na we are all speaking for the people for their best interest. So, wala kaming opinion sa influence nito on elections and other political influence. We also don’t have opinion on political influences that shaped our policies this year. Para sa amin, science lang, tao lang ang dapat pag-usapan, what is best for them.

Concern addressed during the Dagyawan/ Open Forum

HPAAC

Kamusta po ang kalagayan ng ating mga frontliners and medical professionals? Ano pa po ang kailangan nilang suporta lalo na tuloy-tuloy pa rin ang pandemya lalo na ngayong Kapaskuhan.

Anonymous Citizen from Slido

Dr. Dans (HPAAC): Sa HPAAC, we got together nung August 1 noong first press conference and napupuno ‘yung mga hospitals. Nagtawag kami ng time-out at ibig sabihin ng time-out ay tingnan na muna natin ‘yung ginagawa natin kasi napupuno ‘yung hospitals. Hindi kami nagtawag para magpahinga. Nagtawag kami para mag-isip muna tayo. Isipin muna natin kasi ‘yung plano natin hindi umuubra.

So, sa kagandahang loob ng ating gobyerno na nakipagpulong, nakinig, sari-saring meeting wala na pong tulugan with the IATF, NTF, with the DOH, DOLE, DICT – you name it, we’ve met with them and helped them. So parang ang ganda-ganda naman ng nangyari and it is going down. Ang status ngayon ng ating healthcare workers, I’m a frontliner. I’m a virtual frontliner because I’m retiring next year. All my work is done through virtual, even trainings. But I do work with my students and residents and people who are there at the frontlines. And sasabihin ko sa inyo – pagod ang mga tao. Pagod sila sa haba ng nangyayari. That’s all I can say. We should take care of them.

Concern addressed during the Dagyawan/ Open Forum

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Designation

Discussants

BilangTao Coalition

Right to Know, Right Now! Coalition (R2KRN)

Episode Replay on Youtube

https://youtu.be/nqv5PvNT6fY

Episode Replay on Facebook

https://fb.watch/2OdzAs05Zh/

PSA

[Magiging libre po ba ang pagkuha ng National ID pag ito po ay nag umpisa na?  Saan pong mga opisina maaaring kumuha ng National ID? May mga kailangan po bang mga requirements sa pagkuha ng nito? May ongoing enrollment na po ba dito sa amin sa Montalban, Rizal?

From Online Registration

(Von Philip Perez, Estudyante, Montalban Rizal)

Asec. Bautista (PSA) – Libre ang National ID. Walang bayad. Gastos lahat ito ng National Government kaya ganun kalaki ang budget.

Sa pangalawang tanong – Rizal is one of the thirty-two provinces where we rolled out but a limited scale. Rodriguez, ito ba yung formerly San Mateo, area? Mag-i-start ang Step 2 registration sa January. ‘Yung mga nacover na namin sa Step I registration in Rizal will be registered in Step 2 starting January. Matatapos itong naunang Step 1 registration by about April 15. From then on, magpoproceed na siya with the other registrations.

For the third question (bukod sa bayad, may iba pa bang requirements at saan pupunta para mag apply) – ‘yung under the current situation, wala pa kaming tinatawag na online. So, ‘yung mga nasa Step 1, merong assigned na registration centers na pupuntahan nila at pati ‘yung petsa ng pagpaparehistro ay scheduled rin. So hindi namin ineexpect na magkakagulo ‘yung mga tao unless may magbigay ng wrong information na magpunta kayo dito at doon lahat magpaparehistro. There is a schedule, time and date, and specific assignment of registration ‘yung mga dumaan sa Step 1. ‘Pag wala nang step 1, at ang umandar na ay ‘yung online step 1, bibigyan pa rin sila ng schedule on when they will go kasi the purpose of the online is to control ‘yung pagpunta ng tao sa Step 2 registration. ‘Yung supporting documents, kailangan syempre para sabihin mo na ako ito, so ano ‘yung meron ka? May mga primary documents that we encourage the registrants to bring. Primary documents ang tawag namin kasi mataas ang level ng assurance na binibigay nito kagaya ng Passport dahil well-processed na iyan at may mga verification at validation na ginagawa ang DFA. Another is birth certificate and a valid government ID if meron ka. Again, kailangan may front facing photograph ‘yung ID na ipapakita na government ID. A third one is the UMID – ‘yung mga nasa government at private sectors na naka-avail na noon ay pwede nilang gamitin ang UMID ID. Similarly, ay mahigpit ang proseso sa pagpaparehistro under the UMID. The fourth one na pwede ay Driver’s License ng LTO. These are considered as primary documents. Kung wala ka ng mga primary documents, ‘yung iba pang ID such as voter’s registration, police clearance na may picture, and other IDs that you have ay pwede rin maconsider but as secondary supporting documents. Kasi, may level ng assurance na ikakabit pagdating sa processing kung sa safety o gaano ba katootoo or kapeke. Alam mo naman sa atin magaling tayo magproduce ng mga ID. Of course, kung wala ka paring ID, kaya kami may tanong sa step 1, because we have an introducer-based system in the registration. But, we are putting a limit to it para hindi siya maabuso. So, what we did is to identify areas where you have people na walang mga birth certificates. So pag wala silang birth certificates, we are coordinating this with the LGUs so that a barangay ID with a front facing photograph can be issued for them to serve as a show of proof of identity.

Concern addressed during the Dagyawan/ Open Forum

PSA

How long is the validity of the National ID and is there a renewal fee?

From Online Registration

(Golda Mier Castelo ng Board of Investments, Department of Trade and Industry, Manila)

Asec. Bautista (PSA) – The national ID is valid for life. It’s a permanent ID issued to a person and the serial number - PSN does not change. Ang pwede lang mangyari is mag-update sa mga information na binigay mo. For example, kinasal ka at gusto mong mag appear ang iyong status doon as married then pwede mo i-update. Although, marital status is an optional information. So there is no need to renew for Filipinos. Pero for resident aliens, kasi hindi ka naman sigurado kung lagi kang nandiyan sa Pilipinas, may validity period for Resident Aliens. Pero for Filipinos, it is valid for life.

Concern addressed during the Dagyawan/ Open Forum

PSA, NPC, DICT

Para sa PSA: Ang sabi pag may National ID, kaagad ma-a-identify kung sino-sino ang dapat bigyan ng ayuda. Gaano po ba katotoo ito? Paano ito nagagawa sa ilalim ng National ID? Ang tinatanong lang naman ng mga evaluators ay mga basic lang na impormasyon tulad ng complete name and address, date of birth, place of birth and permanent address.

Pangalawang tanong para sa PSA at NPC: Gaano po ka safe ang aming personal impormasyon dito sa National ID? Hindi ba ito magagamit ng gobyerno at ibang grupo sa pamumulitika? Paano pag na-hack ang system kagaya ng nangyari sa voters’ database ng COMELEC dati? Ano ang protocols in place?

Para sa Bilang Tao Coalition, at R2KRN Coalition: Ano ang inyong mga iba pang agam-agam pagdating sa isyu ng data privacy sa ilalim ng national ID?

From Online Registration

(Ms. Jessilita Espinosa, President ng Mabini Federated Women, Mabini, Bohol)

Asec. Bautista (PSA) – Unang-una sa tanong, tama po ang kanyang iniisip na tinatanong lang po ng PSA ay basic information na gagamitin para sa pagproduce ng ID. So, hindi po PSA ang gagawa ng paraan para properly ma-distribute kunyari ang isang ayuda. Ito po ay gamitin ng ahensya na magdidistribute ng ayuda. Pwede po niyang magamit ‘yung national ID para malinis ang kanyang listahan para masigurado niya na unique, walang dodouble. Paano po? For example, meron siyang listahan, merong siyang bibigyan. ‘Pag kinuha niya, pumunta ‘yung tao para magclaim. Pwede niyang hingan ng national ID tapos imamarka na niya doon kung ano ang number nitong tao na to. Therefore, kapag habang lumalapit ‘yung mga tao, nalilinis niya ‘yung database niya. So ‘yung kanya-kanyang ahensya ang maglilinis ng kanilang database, hindi po ang PSA.

Sa pangalawa pong katanungan – ang National ID po ay sumunod sa Data Privacy Act ng 2012 kaya nakakasigurado po kami na ang kanilang data ay protektado. In fact, pagcollect ng information ay automatically encrypted na po. Wala na pong mababalikan at makikita. Ito naman po ay mapupunta sa server at hindi mababasa ng ordinaryong tao – manakaw man ‘yung ginagamit namin, wala po silang mababasa. Ang mangyayari lang is mawawala ‘yung data pero hindi po siya mapapakinabangan.

Mr. Esguera (NPC) – I agree with Asec. Rose. From the get-go, the PSA has involved NPC mula pa lang sa inception ng law ng ating RA11055 na nagpatupad ng National ID at tsaka ‘yung kanyang implementing rules and regulations. On paper, we can vouch that we indeed have the legal safeguards na nasa batas. In fact, may mga provisions nga po na specific to security and privacy sa ating IRR. Katulad po nito, sa Section 22: To ensure that the PhilSys is used appropriately and exclusively for its specified purpose, it shall not process any personal information and any data from external systems and databases. Doon pa lang, ang PhilSys po ang single source of truth. Siya po ang magcoconfirm if you are who you say you are using either demographic info mo na nasa Phil ID or using your biometrics to authenticate or kung offline, ‘yung nasa Phil ID, using QR code, ay makakapag-authenticate na ako nga ay si Jansen Esguerra na may hawak ng Phil ID na ito. So, it will not eliminate ‘yung other databases. For example, ‘yung DSWD or ‘yung DILG or LGUs po ‘yung namimigay po ng ayuda, isang case po na namention ni Asec Rose, they can authenticate ‘dun sa database ‘yung sa filing system nila and compare it kung itong set of people na ito ay existing. If hindi ba sila patay, kasi nga may biometrics to prove na buhay ‘yung tao. So, I think on paper we have good protection bukod sa RA 11055 na maraming penal provisions pagdating sa paglabag ng unauthorized access, paggamit sa ibang purpose, meron po tayong Data Privacy Act. Bukod pa po doon ay meron po tayo sa online naman. Sa cyber domain ay may Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.

Director Esguera (DICT) – In terms of hacking, even the most sophisticated systems, hindi po natin ma-guarantee na 100% na hindi ma-hahack. But importante po ay ‘yung ginawang secure na system, by design ay ginawa nating secure ang data. Tulad po ng na-mention ni Asec. Rose, hindi po ito basta-basta. Kahit na ma-hack ‘yung system, makuha ‘yung data, hindi nila mapapakinabangan ‘yung data dahil lahat ay encrypted. Meron rin po tayong ginagamit na host security module. Ito po ay parang ‘yung mga nasa bangko, mga financial institutions, meaning may highest levels of security dahil ni-classify po natin ‘yung ating data as highly confidential, highly sensitive.

Also, the DICT will regularly conduct vulnerability assessment and penetration testing sa system. In terms of business continuity, or ‘yung disaster mitigation, meron po tayong tatlong data centers. Meron tayong primary data center, secondary data center, at meron parin po tayong back-up, so if masira man ‘yung isa, meron pa rin tayong secondary at pangatlo. So lahat po iyan ay sabay-sabay po nating iniimplement para po dito sa ating PhilSys.

PSA

Para sa PSA: Kumusta po ang ating registration/enrollment rate? May mga na-issue na po bang National ID? Kailan po mako-cover ng PSA ang buong populasyon pagdating sa enrollment at issuance ng National ID?

Moderator Note: Most of question was already answered in the presentation of PSA.

From Online Registration Form

(Alex Andaya, Field Officer, USAID RenewHealth, Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro)

Asec. Bautista (PSA) – Wala pa pong naissue na National ID – kahit na isa.

Concern addressed during the Dagyawan/ Open Forum

NPC

Para sa NPC: Paano binabantayan ng National Privacy Commission na compliant ang National ID system sa mga mahahalagang probisyon ng Philippine Data Privacy Act? Anong mangyayari kapag mayroon kayong nakitang paglabag sa batas mula sa mga indibidwal o opisinang may access sa datos sa ilalim ng National ID? Napakalapit na ng eleksyon, baka magamit din kasi ang datos sa pagpapalaganap ng kung ano-anong propaganda.

From an Anonymous Citizen Via Slido

Mr. Esguera (NPC) – First and foremost, i-echo ko lang po a while ago that the PSA, sa pamamagitan po ng batas ay bumuo po ‘yan ng PhilSys Policy and Coordination Council. Na-mention ko po a while ago that while we have legal safeguards that the PhilSys shall not process any information from external databases, ‘yung council po na ito, monthly po ‘yan nag-uusap. So, nasa higit kinse na ang government agencies and I think nung binubuo namin yung IRR, kasama rin namin ang COMELEC. COMELEC was one of the regular attendees sa pagbuo ng implementation guidelines ng PhilSys. Bukod sa aming advisory role dito sa National ID, we also have our regulatory part to play. So ‘pag may nakita kaming paglabag, syempre ay we will call on the PSA as the personal information controller ng Philsys kasi sila po ang may proponent nito and ‘yun po, dahil nalalapit na ang eleksyon, while we have initially discussed ‘yung gamit ng Philsys sa pagregister ng voters, we have yet to talk about ‘yung mga ganitong bagay sa Council po na ito. But, rest assured, we will keep an eye sa special provision na namention sa Section 22. Ang National Privacy Commission ay isa sa mga nag-insert ng provision na iyan na hindi siya dapat magshare ng any information na magagamit sa election, kasi hindi siya consistent sa purpose.

Concern addressed during the Dagyawan/ Open Forum

PSA

In the law itself (Philippine ID System) – are there administrative and penal provisions for violations

From Moderator

Asec Bautista (PSA) – providing wrong information intentionally or gumamit ka ng ibang identity or ibang information, or nag-attempt kang gumamit ng PhilSys ID ng ibang tao, ganun kasimple ay meron pong penalty.

Concern addressed during the Dagyawan/ Open Forum

NICA

Para sa NICA: Paano kami makakasiguro na hindi gagamitin ng gobyerno ang aming personal na impormasyon para sa surveillance o espionage? 

From an Anonymous Citizen Via Slido

Director Abordo (NICA) – sabi nga po ng PhilSys kanina, meron po silang sistema na hindi po kayo basta-basta makaka-access ng impormasyon, kahit kami. Ngayon po, sisiguraduhin po namin sa NICA na hindi po ito magagamit for surveillance dahil unang-una po ay dapat magkaroon kami ng court order or manghihingi kami sa korte ng pahintulot na makita o makita ang impormasyon ng sino mang tao.

Concern addressed during the Dagyawan/ Open Forum

PSA

Para sa PSA: Bukod sa targeting ng low-income households, may targets din ba on gender and inclusion lalo na ng marginalized sectors pagdating sa enrollment and coverage sa National ID?

From Online Registration

(Isabella Flores, Sales Manager, HeartStrings, Las Piñas)

Asec. Bautista (PSA) – Bukod sa low-income families na priorities namin, ‘yung bagong instructions sa amin ngayon ay also to give priority doon sa prioritization para sa vaccination. Pero, we have yet to discuss and know exactly papaano namin siya i-o-operationalize. Of course, sa low-income naman kasi na families ay nandun ‘yung people who are in the agricultural sector, people who are residing in rural areas, female-led househoulds, so across sa low-income ay meron kang nandun na lahat na various sector na makocover na namin.

So, doon po between male and female, wala naman po kami talagang priorities. Pagdating sa PWDs, sa hindi makakapunta sa registration center, meron po kaming strategy na sila ang pupuntahan namin sa kanilang location kung saan sila nakatira. Ito po ay mangangailangan ng special gadget na kailangan namin bilhin pero hindi namin ito maorder dahil kailangan pa po nito magfit sa system na gamit namin ngayon. Worse comes to worst at ‘di kami makabili, dadalhin po namin ‘yung mismong ginagamit namin doon sa areas where the PWDs are if they cannot go to the registration centers. Ibang strategy ang gagamitin namin sa kanila.

Concern addressed during the Dagyawan/ Open Forum

Bilang Tao Coalition, R2KRN, PSA

Para sa Bilang Tao Coalition, at R2KRN Coalition: Paano maisusulong ang karapatan at welfare ng mga kababaihan at mga naiiwang sektor gaya ng mga maliliit na magsasaka at mangingisda, kabataan, at PWD groups, sa ilalim ng National ID?

From Online Registration

(Isabella Flores, Sales Manager, HeartStrings, Las Piñas)

Mr. Abante (Bilang Tao Coalition) – actually, ang sinusulong po namin ay ‘yung participation po talaga ng mga sector sa board para ‘yung operationalization ng mga “Use Cases” ay handang-handa po kaming tumulong. Nasabi ko po kanina na meron kaming dalawang special na subgroup na pina-prioritize po ng grupo. For example, po ay ‘yung Use Cases for financial inclusion para sa mga susunod na welfare operations. At ‘yung pangalawa po ay para rin sa civil registry.

Para po doon sa mga specific na mungkahi ng mga persons with disability sectors, nandito po si Dr. Maureen

Dr. Maureen (Bilang Tao Coalition) – just ensure na all the materials, lalo na kung digital ito, should be in accessible format. Napakaimportante po na accessible po ‘yung website, persons with visual disabilities like totally blind or low vision, for the deaf, and the hard of hearing. Maganda po yung namention ni Asec. Rose kanina na may specific gadget na gagamitin for persons with disabilities, and we hope na makakatulong rin ito para makakuha tayo ng accurate and reliable data.

Ms. Mangahas (R2KRN) – Gusto kong magrespond doon sa privacy. Actually, babalk at babalik tayo sa usapin na: Ssno ang data privacy officer, data security officer, nitong project na ito? Kasi, for one thing, the PSA seems the least political out of all the agencies and it has the civil registry records natin kaya parang tama naman na siya ‘yung magmamanage ng program. However, ang question dito is this is technology, this is a system. And this is such a big project na I think multiple tumaas ‘yung budget or pondo na hinahawakan ng PSA. So, babalik at babalik tayo doon, sabi kanina ng NPC, kasama naman sila sa council. That is well and good. However, I don’t think we have been told exactly sino si data privacy officer, sino si data security officer, at kung may tanong ka, kunyari na privacy question or surveillance concern. I’m sure hindi natin kailangan aminin na ibibigay natin or bubuksan natin ‘yung mga datos. Pasubali po sa intelligence agencies or AFP or PNP na baka may data na rin naman sila, hindi na kailangan ‘yung PhilSys. Ang problema ko lang is, sa totoo lang, ‘yung technical management, ‘yung admin management ng program ay critical. And apparently, PSA was given a task so big and complicated. I know tumutulong ang DICT, ang NPC pero sa totoo lang ay maraming usapan na beyond the very good track record that the PSA has. As a statistics agency, napakagaling ng PSA diyan. Ito ay technology. Sa mga nakita naming budget documents and bid documents, ang daming tanong. ‘Yung mga basic questions like ilan ang magkakaroon ng access? Mga 100+ raw. Tama po ba Asec, across the Philippines? So, ano ba, hybrid ba ang system ng connection diyan at preserving ng data? Hybrid raw, cloud as well. So, some people might think that it is well and good para may access tayo sa data pero may technology solution rin doon. Baka ‘yun ‘yung simpleng naisip ng PSA, pero hindi naman talaga totally safe or unsafe ‘pag onground naman ‘yung premise. Pwedeng buksan, kahit hindi pinapayagan, ng mga lokal na opisyal, kasi you know that agencies na maliit ang pondo are at the mercy of LGUs. COMELEC, ‘yung COA, walang sariling fax machine.

The reality is, hindi lang simpleng target agencies ang malaki ang tulong na kailangan natin pagsama-samahin. ‘Yung lakas ng government agencies na iba-iba. ‘Yung sistema rin, we have to adapt. It is too big a project for PSA alone to carry.

Follow-up Answer:
Asec. Bautista (PSA) – unahin ko muna ‘yung tanong kanina. Meron kaming designated data privacy officer. Ito ay si Assistant National Statistician Edith Orcilla. Pagdating naman sa Data Security Officer, meron din kaming designated – si Director Benjamin Navaro. Parehong director level positions ‘yung dalawang designated namin.

Concern addressed during the Dagyawan/ Open Forum

PSA

Para sa PSA: Ano ang kailangang tulong at kooperasyon ng gobyerno mula sa mga iba't ibang sektor para masiguro ang maayos at epektibong pagpapatupad ng National ID System?

From an Anonymous Citizen from Slido

Asec. Bautista (PSA) - Pagdating sa tanong na ano ang kailangan, marami kaming hiningi doon sa council. Lahat ng member ng PhilSys Council ay tumutulong para mapadali at mafacilitate ‘yung implementation of the National ID. For example, aside from the NPC, DICT, and the NEDA which are playing very critical roles, ang DOF ay tumutulong rin po sa amin kagaya ng pagpapahiram ng kanilang mga technical staff kagaya po sa BAC Secretariat. Sa aming BAC ay hindi lang purely PSA ang nandoon kasi alam po namin na lagi namang merong kumukontra, laging may negative na sinasabi so in-anticipate na po namin iyon. We have provided black and white in written responses to questions that have been raised to us, actually we believe by one organization, but has gone through personalities like the Senate at Congress. Pero available po ‘yung written reply po namin doon. Line by line sinagot po kung ano ‘yung mga iyon. Meron rin po ‘yung DND o Department of National Defense, ano ang naging role nila sa amin? Tinulungan po nila kaming siguraduhin na makarating ‘yung mga biniling registration kits to the areas of destination securedly. So local government units, napakarami rin pong tulong na binigay at binibigay hanggang ngayon ng LGUs. Through the DILG Secretary and Usec, they have issued two memorandum circulars encouraging LGUs to support the implementation of the PhilSys. Itong mga registration centers na gagamitin namin itong darating na January ay provided po ng LGUs sa kanilang mga facilities at pati rin po ang private sector. Ang SM malls and Robinsons Malls have contacted us to offer spaces. ‘Yung Makati Business Club has also communicated with us in how they can help in the implementation of the National ID. Hindi po kakayanin na isang ahensya lang ang implementation ng National ID. Kaya po kasama namin sila. Sila po ang umaalalay sa amin. Sa amin po ay operational implementation, kami ang nakikipag-usap ngayon sa vendors pero kasama po namin sila sa council at over and above, these government agencies and development partners. We have consultants from the World Bank and the ADB who are also assisting in the implementation of the National ID. Pati po sa Comms, meron po kaming inter-agency committee on communications na ang chair po namin dito ay si Asec. Tony Lambino of the DOF na ngayon ay lumipat na sa Bangko Sentral. So, talaga pong whole-of-government and the whole-of-PSA, hindi lang po na PRO lang. Mahirap at very complex po ang project kaya ganun kami karaming nagtutulungan.

Concern addressed during the Dagyawan/ Open Forum

PSA

Anong edad raw po ba ang kailangan para sa National ID?

Question from Participants

(Cecilia Aguilar)

Asec. Bautista (PSA) – Ang priority po namin sa registration ay ‘yung five years old and over. Sila po ‘yung nakatarget po ngayong 2021 pero ang priority po namin na i-step 1 ay ‘yung mga household heads. So bakit household heads? Dahil sila po ‘yung ineexpect namin na makakapag-open ng bank account at kung magkakaroon po ng ayuda ay doon po idadaloy through the bank accounts. Pero ireregister rin po namin ang less than 5 years old pero may recapture ng kanilang biometrics when they reach the age 15. Ganun rin po ang mangyayari for between 5-15 years old na magreregister. Magre-recapture rin po sila ng biometrics when they reach age 15. Priorities po talaga ‘yung working at ‘yung low income para po sila ‘yung matulungan ng gobyerno at recent po na instruction, sabi ko nga, gagamitin ang National ID para sa distribution ng vaccine.

Concern addressed during the Dagyawan/ Open Forum

PSA

Nakareserve po ba ang unang numero ng National ID for a particular person – yung ID 01 po ba ay reserved for any person?

Question from Participants

Asec. Bautista (PSA) – wala po tayong ID number one. Yung PSN po, serial number, is 12-digits kaya wala po tayo niyan. Randomly generated po. So ‘yung probability na meron kang 0001 ay very minimal. Dahil po ang pagdasa po ng uploaded information registration ay sunod-sunod at sunod-sunod din ang pagprocess. Ang capacity po namin na magprocess ng validation ay 200,000 a day. Pagkatapos po ma-validate ay mapupunta na siya for card production, so ‘yung unang mapiprint na card ay random na ‘yung machine ang magdedetermine ‘nun. Pero ang sinasabi po namin ay, of course, the President will not be exempted from doing the registration. Si President Duterte po ay magreregister rin pero dahil siya ang ating pangulo, kami po ang pupunta sa kanya para iregister siya, unless sabi po ng ating Pangulo na hindi, gusto ko magregister doon sa registration center. So, para po ‘yung pagboto, pumupunta ‘yung Presidente, ‘yung Vice President, pwede po namin ‘yung gawin.

Concern addressed during the Dagyawan/ Open Forum

PSA

Questions from Bilang Tao Coalition’s presentation on Procurements: ‘yung contracts and issues ng mga contractors, and contracts and data privacy requirements when it comes to the contractors.

Question from Bilang Tao Coalition

Asec. Bautista (PSA) – Hindi ko po mabibigay ‘yung detalye mga kasagutan, pero kung i-allow po kami na sagutin namin ‘yung mga information na iyon, the fact po na doon sa mga binanggit ni Ma’am Malou ay mukhang tama naman ‘yung mga information naman niya lahat, so ibig sabihin po ay accessible po ‘yung mga information na iyon kasi ‘yoon ay nakapost. Posted ‘yung issue sa mga contractor at nakarating na nga po ‘yun sa amin. Nasagot na namin sila officially. We can also provide them ‘yung gusto po nila.

Concern addressed during the Dagyawan/ Open Forum

PSA

‘Yung sa national ID, tinanong po kanina ni Ma’am Malou Mangahas (R2KRN), paano po siya makakapagfoster ng trust? If one of the objectives or uses of the National ID is to promote financial inclusion, what steps are being done so that trust is developed and that the ID is seen not just as a piece of document but also something that facilitates other things?

Question from R2KRN

Asec. Bautista (PSA) – Hindi lang po DOF ang kasama sa PhilSys Council but also the Bangko Sentral. In connection to the financial inclusion, para masigurado namin na magkaroon ng opening of bank accounts or encourage the opening of bank accounts by our registrants, ang Land Bank po has been given instructions to coordinate with us during the registration of Step 2. So, ang mangyayari po ay maglalagay rin po ng personnel mismo si Landbank or their banking partner agents. If hindi po mismo personnel ng Landbank ang nandoon ay ‘yung kanilang banking partner agent ang magiging kasama para po makausap ‘yung ating mga karerehistro pa lang ng Step 2, at wala pa ‘yung kanilang ID. Meron pa lang sila is ‘yung transaction slip. O-offeran na po sila ng bank accounts ng Land Bank. ‘Yun po ‘yung pagkaintindi ko. Pero siguro po, Land Bank ang makakapagbigay ng mas detalyadong explanation kung paano po mangyayari ‘yung kanilang issuance of bank accounts or accounts para doon sa mga magreregister ng step 2.

Concern addressed during the Dagyawan/ Open Forum

R2KRN, PSA

Meron po bang puwang ang Civil Society Organizations or ang taumbayan sa National ID Board or meron po bang grievance system sa National ID System?

Question from Bilang Tao Coalition

Ms. Mangahas (R2KRN) – Sa tingin ko ay dapat bantayan hindi lamang ng Civil Society Organizations kung hindi pati lahat ng grupo: business, mga teacher, mga propesyon kasi napakahalaga nito moving forward para sa lahat. Gayunman, maraming mahalagang ibalanse rin. Mawalang-galang na po sa PSA. Kasi sa simpleng financial inclusion, very good sila.  Pero ang pagsisimulan natin ay napakatalamak na situation. Dalawa lang sa bawat sampung Pilipino ang may bank account. Apat lang sa sampu ang may savings. At doon sa apat na iyon, anim sa bawat sampu ay hindi naman nagbabangko, nasa bahay ang pera. At pag mangungutang ay hindi sa gobyerno. Iyon po ang mga bagay na mahirap gawin. Even if you have an ID and it doesn’t work to your benefit, may ID ka nga wala namang saysay.

Pangalawa ay ‘yung problema ng privacy at security. Tunay pong may pangamba ang mga tao kasi ngayon ay ang dali-dali kang mabansagang pula--hindi mo naman alam kung bakit. Kulay ng pag-ibig, kulay ng dugo, kulay ng kampanya ni Pangulong Duterte ay pula. Pero ‘pag sinabing pula ka ay parang death warrant po. So hindi ko tinatawanan ‘yung data at privacy security concerns. Kasi hindi naman po talaga biro-biro ‘yung napapatay or ‘yung nasasaktan dahil simpleng nabansagan. We owe it to the PSA that they took this project. Magaling na statistical agency ang PSA--sa research, sa mga activities niya--pero I think it’s really an overreach for PSA to get into it na sila ang magma-manage. They really need the help of DICT and NPC. Maraming pwedeng potholes along the way–doon ako worried. Dahil mag- e-election, it may be na hindi intention pero pwedeng buksan ‘yung database sa field.

Asec. Bautista (PSA) – meron kaming tinatawag na Grievance Management Division and while this is not yet officially created, meron na kaming existing. At meron rin po kaming mga call centers or various channels by which we will be able to address complaints, questions and queries by the registrants and anyone. Meron kaming call center para po talagang may comms team to address all complaints. Nakahanda po talaga kami for that.

Concern addressed during the Dagyawan/ Open Forum

PSA

May plano po bang i-expand ang National ID System for OFWs?

Question from Participant

For follow up

PSA

Integration and Useability:

How might we use and integrate the National ID across government databases to prevent the national ID from becoming a redundant ID?

Question from Bilang Tao Coalition

For follow up

PSA

Privacy /

Proportionality:

Are there ways for users of the national ID to view the history of how their personal data is being shared across other agencies?

Will there be privacy measures in place to define which PhilSys data can be viewed by all agencies, and which ones would need consent of registrants?

Once integrated, will researchers be able to publicly use files data sets?

Question from Bilang Tao Coalition

For follow up

PSA

Security and Data Privacy:

How might the National ID system build systems of accountability to protect against leaks and unauthorized sharing of personal information?

How might these security measures ensure that the data will not be used for weaponization, red-tagging and/or persecution of those with different political opinions/beliefs?

Question from Bilang Tao Coalition, R2KRN

For follow up

PSA

Security and Data Privacy

How might the National ID system build systems of accountability to protect against leaks and unauthorized sharing of personal information?

How might these security measures ensure that the data will not be used for weaponization, red-tagging, and/or persecution of those with different political opinions/beliefs?

Question from Bilang Tao Coalition, R2KRN

For follow up

PSA

Availability, Accessibility of Guidelines:

Will there be local translations of the national ID manuals for use by the public

Question from Bilang Tao Coalition

For follow up

PSA

Civil Society Participation:

Is a citizen representative currently in the national ID board discussions? This may help monitor and give timely feedback, to set up grievance mechanisms as the National ID system is implemented.

Question from Bilang Tao Coalition

For follow up

PSA

Issue 7: Inclusivity and Accessibility of National ID:

How can the National ID be linked with the National PWD IDs?

How will the registration process be more accessible and inclusive especially for the vulnerable sectors? Accessibility and reasonable accommodation (providing support without any additional cost)

Question from Bilang Tao Coalition

For follow up

PSA

Do we know what we want to do and achieve with the National ID System? Is the intent merely to coalesce all of the multiple IDs currently available?

Question from R2KRN

For follow up

PSA

Question on National ID Contracts:

Were NEDA rules applied on 60-40 equity of Filipino and Foreign Firms?

Question from R2KRN

For follow up

PSA

Did the PSA review:
The NFCC of contractors, “bad contracts” and track record of bidders?

Question from R2KRN

For follow up

PSA

Is there a provision in the contracts on exclusive claim and ownership of government over data, databases, and IP rights to the systems to be developed by contractors?

Question from R2KRN

For follow up

PSA

Are there provisions for complaints/appeals/redress, “opt-out” options for citizens?

Question from R2KRN

For follow up

PSA

Philsys seems to want to reinvent the wheel and start from scratch. That is a very good first step of financial inclusion for majority of the poor.  But what is the value to Philsys of other public databases, i.e.:

·        Social Security System

·        Government Service Insurance System

·        Comelec

·        Philhealth Passports/Department of Foreign Affairs

·        Land Transportation Office, etc.

Can these databases assist philsys (balance, scientific efficiency, less cost), even as psa tries to manage the risks posed by bad data?

Question from R2KRN

For follow up