senators

CAREGIVERS: What are you waiting for? A Letter from Caregiver Attorney Daniel Chaleff

I RECEIVED a call the other day from a caregiver who has been reading my articles in Weekend Balita for over 3 years. I was so happy to receive this call. I am sure many of you reading this advertisement now have cut out and saved my articles or read them over the years and thought “I have that exact claim.” Many caregivers have valuable claims for unpaid overtime but are fearful of moving forward with a claim. Now is the time to take action and learn more about caregiver overtime law. I want to hear from you.

I want to assure you that all communications with me are confi dential and all consultations are free. I understand many caregivers work long hours with little free time. I am available for free consultations early in the morning before your patient awakens or late at night after your patient is asleep. I also work weekends if you have a 24/5, Monday to Friday job. I do not pressure caregivers to make a claim. If I simply educate you about the law and give you some free advice that would make me very happy. Even if you are not ready to make a claim now, you should reach out and speak with me about your claim. I can provide valuable advice about your situation and talk with you about the best time to make a claim.

If you are a 24/7 caregiver, working for a day rate (i.e. $160 to $240 per day), with no overtime, for several years, your claim may be worth several hundred thousand dollars. Many of my clients have claims that exceed $500,000. One key to a successful claim is your employer needs to be wealthy to aff ord to pay for a large settlement. If I am provided information about your employers, I can research public records and get a snapshot of your employer’s wealth and evaluate your potential claim. If you are interested in a detailed explanation of claim values, you can visit my website at www.caregiverovertime.com/pa/ worth/ for an article that calculates a hypothetical claim’s value. I know many caregivers are fearful of moving forward with valid claims due to their immigration status, a failure to pay taxes, or fear of the legal system. While all of these are valid concerns, in my opinion, the risks associated with these concerns are minimal versus the potentially lifechanging reward that awaits caregivers with the courage to move forward with claims. So many of my clients had recovered life changing settlements allowing them to retire to their home countries, make a down payment or build a home, help a child with education expenses, or send money to their families. If you would like to review an article that addresses common concerns caregivers have in pursuing an overtime claim, please visit my website at www.caregiverovertime. com/pa/concerns/.

I understand that the decision to move forward with an overtime claim can be diffi cult. Many caregivers I speak with are simply not ready to move forward at this time. That is okay. Even if our call does not result in your making a claim, I can provide valuable insight into your rights, educate you on the evidence needed to pursue your claim, and help you understand the powerful laws that can protect you from wage theft.

I want to hear from you now. Please call me at (818) 807-4168, this is my personal cell phone. I have a passion for helping caregivers and provide confi dential and free consultations.

Sincerely,

DANIEL CHALEFF DANIEL CHALEFF

This article is an attorney advertisement written by Daniel Chaleff, employment law attorney at Chaleff Rehwald Peterson. Our office is located at 5855 Topanga Canyon Blvd., Suite 400, Woodland Hills, California. We accept cases throughout all of Northern and Southern California. Our examples are of a general nature and are not a guarantee regarding the outcome of your individual matter. The law firm focuses on caregiver rights. Please call us at (818) 807-4168 for a free and confidential consultation. Please visit us at www.caregiverovertime.com/ to learn more about caregiver overtime law. We also offer a 24-hour chat line on our website.

House panel adopts reso urging DSWD to release poor senior citizens' pension every 3 months

MANILA (Mabuhay) — The House Committee on Senior Citizens adopted on Thursday the resolution urging the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to release the monthly social pension of indigent senior citizens every three months instead of the current six months.

In a committee hearing, the resolution, introduced by Deputy Speaker Rufus Rodriguez, was swiftly adopted since no discussions were made due to the absence of a representative from the DSWD's central office.

According to the committee secretary, a representative from the central office was invited but no replies were made. Some DSWD regional officials, however, were present in the meeting.

Irked, Deputy Speaker Lito Atienza said the committee should have been informed on the matter. This prompted him to make a motion for the approval of the resolution. "Kung hindi po sila a-attend, pakisabi po sa amin para 'di po kami nag-aaksaya ng panahon, naghihintay sa kanila. This is not a good manner of getting government to move in essential matters," Atienza said. "Failure on their part, I will move for the approval of this resolution of Deputy Speaker Rufus Rodriguez, with no participation from the social welfare people who don't seem to be interested in the subject anyway," he added.

At the later part of the virtual meeting, the committee secretary said she was just informed that a representative from the DSWD central office would be attending the meeting.

However, Atienza said, "Congress should not be made to wait for their convenience. Whether they are coming or not is immaterial since the resolution is already approved."

Resolution

Rodriguez's resolution cites DSWD's Memorandum Circular 4-2019, noting that the release of the monthly social pension at P500 per beneficiary will be done every six months or P3,000 per semester.

For Rodriguez, the period of waiting is too long.

The resolution further states that due to the lockdowns implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic, many businesses have struggled and this resulted in a number of Filipinos losing their jobs, including senior citizens. "Six months wait for our senior citizens and indigent pa certainly is not the proper way to be of help to our senior citizens. That is why I have to file this," Rodriguez said. (MNS)

Children not required to attend pilot run of face-to-face classes — senators

MANILA (Mabuhay) — Children will not be required to participate in the proposed pilot run of face-to-face classes, at least two senators said Thursday.

The Senate has adopted a resolution recommending the conduct of face-to-face pilot classes in areas with low to zero COVID-19 cases, said Senator Joel Villanueva.

‘We need the experience’: Senators want dry run of face-to-face classes "Hindi ito (It's not) mandatory. The parents can make the decision of allowing their children to go to classes," he said.

The pilot tests can begin in some 200 towns that have zero COVID-19 cases, according to Villanueva.

The local government, local health officials, and school board must approve the conduct of the pilot run of face-to-face classes before it can begin, he added. "We are one of the 14 out of 190 countries in the world that maintained this full closure of our schools and its not sitting well with the data we've been receiving. Even pre-pandemic we don’t get good international assessment," he said. "We really have to start the ball rolling in this particular issue."

The conduct of the pilot run is eyed in 1,000 schools nationwide, said Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Basic Education. "Walang pilitan ito. Kung ang ating mga magulang ay di komportable sa pagpapadala ng kanilang anak sa eskuwelahan, hindi ho pipilitin," he said.

Face to face classes are important for children to develop their socio-emotional skills and to those who get their nutritious meals at school and face difficulties and abuse at home, the senator added. "Hindi lang pag-aaral ang pinakaimportante sa mga bata. Ang pinakamahalaga sa kanila ang paghahalubilo, pakikipagkapwa-tao dahil ito ay nadedevelop ang kaniyang communication," he said.

President Rodrigo Duterte has twice rejected holding of pilot testing of in-person classes, saying "I am not ready to lose the lives of our young people." (MNS)

Raya and the Last Dragon

Finds Inspiration in the Cultures & People of Southeast Asia

Walt Disney Animation Studios’ new animated film “Raya and the Last Dragon” is an exciting, epic journey about the fantasy world of Kumandra, where humans and dragons lived together long ago in harmony. But when an evil force threatened the land, the dragons sacrifi ced themselves to save humanity. Now, 500 years later, that same evil has returned and it’s up to a lone warrior, Raya, to track down the legendary last dragon to restore the fractured land and its divided people. However, along her journey, she’ll learn that it’ll take more than a dragon to save the world—it’s going to take trust and teamwork as well.

Inspired by the various cultures and people of Southeast Asia, the imaginary lands of Kumandra in “Raya and the Last Dragon” each has its own customs and geography. Although the fi lm is a fantasy, Disney sought to ensure that the portrayals of the cultures that inspire the fi lm are accurate and respectful. The creative team visited multiple countries in the region, including Laos, Indonesia, Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Singapore, to conduct research.

Disney also enlisted experts to its Raya Southeast Asia Story Trust, who had a strong infl uence on all elements of the fi lm. Dr. S. Steve Arounsack, professor of anthropology at California State University, Stanislaus, guided the creative team through the cultural inspiration behind the story. Husband and wife team Emiko Saraswati Susilo and I Dewa Putu Berata of Çudamani collaborated closely with the animators to create character movement inspired by the philosophies of Balinese dance and gamelan. Dr. Rebecca S. Hall, a curator at the University of Southern California’s Pacifi c Asia Museum, used her expertise in textiles to inform the design and colors of the characters’ clothing, like the sabai top and sampot pant, found in Laos, Cambodia, and Thailand. Dr. Juliana Wijaya, a linguist at UCLA’s Indonesian Studies Program, helped craft the characters’ names to have special meaning inspired by diff erent Southeast Asian languages. Laos Angeles, an organization serving the Laotian community in Southern California, hosted a Baci ceremony to bless the production.

The attention to detail pays off in the rich portrayal of Kumandra. “You can see the inspiration in the terrain, the shapes in the movie, the fabrics people are wearing, and the colors used,” said Vietnamese American actress Kelly Marie Tran who voices Raya. “Disney is very meticulous about wanting to accurately represent the parts of the world their movies are about.”

In the fi lm, characters sharing food together symbolizes trust and harmony. The scenes of Raya and her friends sitting around a table to enjoy meals together commemorates the way food is shared familystyle in much of the region. In many Asian cuisines, there are fi ve disparate fl avors– spicy, sour, sweet, salty, and bitter– that come together to create delicious meals. Communal meals also advance the characters’ journey towards becoming a team and the sense that if they trust each other and work together, they can achieve anything.

Southeast Asian martial arts are front and center in “Raya and the Last Dragon.” As a warrior princess and daughter of the chief of Heart, Raya's fi ghting styles are inspired by Pencak Silat of Malaysia and Indonesia and Kali and Arnis of the Philippines. Other fi ghting techniques featured in the fi lm are inspired by Muay Thai and Krabi Krabong of Thailand, multi-limbed attack styles from Muay Thai of Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos, and the fl ying scissor-leg takedowns of Vietnam. Co-screenwriter Qui Nguyen acted as one of the film’s fight reference choreography consultants. “It was really important to me that the fi ghting styles were grounded in physics that are real," he said.

Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Raya and the Last Dragon” will be released simultaneously in theaters and on Disney+ with Premier Access on March 5, 2021.

Most LGUs oppose removal of several travel protocols, requirements — League of Provinces

MANILA (Mabuhay) — Most local government units (LGUs) are opposing the removal and easing of several health protocols and requirements amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the League of Provinces of the Philippines (LPP) said Thursday.

LPP president and Marinduque Governor Presbitero Velasco Jr. said most LGUs want to keep the RT-PCR COVID-19 test as a requirement for travel.

“Karamihan po ay hindi. Meron pong ilan na puwede na pong tanggalin. Pero karamihan po gustong i-impose yun, 'yung RT-PCR na pre-travel requirement,” he said.

“Yung iba naman po gustong gamitin, mag-impose upon arrival mismo 'yung PCR test, provided may laboratoryo na po doon 'yung LGU of destination kaya kailangan mabilis ang resulta,” he added.

Under the recent Resolution No. 101 of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, travelers do not need to undergo testing unless required by the LGU prior to travel.

Only RT-PCR test is allowed.

Velasco, who also chairs the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP), said they are requesting to also allow antigen test, which is faster and more affordable for most of the LGUs.

Travel authority, which was previously issued by the Joint Task Force COVID Shield, as well as health certificates will no longer be required.

Also, travelers will no longer be subjected to quarantine unless they exhibit symptoms at the destination upon arrival.

“Tinanggal na po ‘yung quarantine kaya nga po wala na kaming line of defense e. Tinanggal po ‘yung travel authority, health certificate, tinaggal din po ‘yung quarantine,” Velasco said.

“Ang nire-require lang po ngayon ay ‘yung clinical and exposure assessment na baka hindi supisyente kung yung gagamitin lang ay ‘yung temperature gun. Tatanungin lang sa health checklist,” he added.

Velasco said they prefer to have a thorough physical examination in the screening of travelers.

“Ang nire-request po namin ay mas thorough po ang physical examination. Hindi lang po ‘yung tinatanong dahil hindi naman po lahat nagsasabi ng totoo,” he added. (MNS)

Phivolcs raises Alert Level 1 on

MANILA (Mabuhay) — The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) on Thursday raised the Mt. Pinatubo alert status on Mount Pinatubo, from normal to Level 1 (low-level unrest).

The increasing number of volcanic earthquakes observed has prompted Phivolcs to raise Mt. Pinatubo's alert status, said Director Renato Solidum, Jr. in a radio interview Thursday.

Since January 20, 2021, Phivolcs has recorded 1,722 imperceptible earthquakes, with magnitudes 0.5 to 2.8, beneath the Pinatubo edifice. The daily volcanic quake average in alert level 0 is below five.

Imperceptible earthquakes are volcanic seismic activities that are not felt, according to Solidum. Phivolcs' Pinatubo volcano bulletin issued on Thursday said all earth- MT. PINATUBO quakes recorded are associated with rock-fracturing processes. natubo could erupt again, the public canic eruption to happen in the past "Measurements at Pinatubo Crater must not be complacent. 100 years. lake in February 2021 yielded a total Phivolcs continuously monitors The volcano emitted bursts of gasCO2 flux of 378 tonnes/day which is its volcanic activity, including other charged magma into umbrella ash still within the background range of factors like a strong earthquake that clouds. Hot flows of gas and ash de1,000 tonnes/day recorded in the past could strike near Mt. Pinatubo, as this scended the volcano and lahar swept decade," it added. could affect the volcano. down the valleys.

Slight increases in the temperatures "We will see whether we need to For centuries, it had been quiet priof monitored fumaroles or gas vents raise or lower the alert status of the or to its 1991 eruption. were recorded but other characteris- volcano," he said. Solidum said in April of that year, tics such as acidity (pH) remain un- Meantime, Solidum urges the local the volcano showed early signs of changed, Phivolcs also mentioned in government in the area to review their activity. the bulletin. disaster risk reduction and manage- "'Yung 1991, mabilis ang mga pang-

Solidum said that while Mt. Pina- ment plans. yayari. Nagkaroon ng phreatic eruptubo would not erupt soon, residents As of Thursday, other active volca- tion in April then June nag-erupt na. must take precautions as this data noes -- Taal, Mayon, and Kanlaon -- Buwan lang ang pagitan (In 1991, only shows there is volcanic activity. are still under alert level 1. everything went so fast. There was "Take extra caution when entering Solidum reiterated that residents phreatic eruption in April and then the Pinatubo crater, and one should near those volcanoes must not enter the volcano erupted in June, it was only go there when necessary," he the Permanent Danger Zones. only a few months)," he said. said. Mt. Pinatubo's last eruption was on Phivolcs said Mt. Pinatubo is under

He also pointed out that while it June 15, 1991, and back then it was Alert Level 0 since January 1996. may take many years before Mt. Pi- described as the world's largest vol- (MNS)

Navy prepping up assets, personnel for ongoing vax rollout

Duterte urges Pinoys to join advocacies empowering women

MANILA (Mabuhay) — President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday encouraged Filipinos to join advocacies that empower women.

Duterte made this call in a pre-recorded speech aired during an online forum organized by the Philippine Commission on Women to celebrate National Women’s Month.

“I urge the people to participate in advocacies that promote women empowerment,” he said.

He also recognized women’s important contribution to unifying the Filipino people.

“The government recognizes the role of women in nation-building and upholding the fundamental equality before the law of both genders,” he added.

Duterte, meanwhile, urged the public to join hands to ensure that the needs and rights of women are protected.

“Let us all work hand-in-hand to address the needs of women and honor their immense contribution to society. Mabuhay ang ating kababaihan,” he said.

In March last year, Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo touted the various efforts initiated by the Duterte administration for women empowerment in the country.

He said the Duterte government has pushed for measures not only to promote the welfare of women but also to “fill the gaps” in upholding gender equality.

“The Duterte administration has made significant strides to empower our women. Some of these are giving them more financial, health and medical benefits or assistance, better work opportunities and improved working conditions,” he said.

On Jan. 9, 2017, Duterte signed Executive Order signed Executive Order 12, which seeks to at12, which seeks to attain and sustain "zero unmet need for modern family planning" through the implementation of the Republic Act 10354 also known as the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act. RA 10398 de- PRESIDENT RODRIGO DUTERTE clares November 25 of every year as National Consciousness Day For The Elimination Of Violence Against Women And Children.

Meanwhile, Proclamation 1172, series of 2006, declares November 25 to December 12 as the 18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women.

International Women’s Day is celebrated every March 8 of each year. It was first officially commemorated by the United Nations in 1977. (MNS) MANILA (Mabuhay) — The Philippine Navy (PN) on Thursday said it is now preparing all its assets and personnel to assist in the government's ongoing rollout of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccines. "The PN will continue to prepare our personnel and assets to assist in the national vaccine rollout as directed by higher headquarters," PN chief Vice Admiral Giovanni Carlo Bacordo said in a message.

The Navy earlier said it will mobilize its brand-new landing docks, BRP Tarlac (LD-601) and BRP Davao Del Sur (LD-602), for vaccine transport missions now that the first batch of the Sinovac Biotech CoronaVac is in the country. The AstraZeneca vaccine is also arriving Thursday night.

He added that the PN is anticipating the utilization of the two ships if they will be needed for the roll-out. "Nonetheless, with the small number of vaccines available at this time and the requirement for a more expeditious distribution of the same nationwide, the national leadership deems it more appropriate to transport the vaccines via aircraft," Bacordo said.

Both ships have an overall length of 120 meters, breadth of 21 meters, a draft of five meters, and can carry a payload of 2,800 tons.

Both BRP Tarlac and BRP Davao Del Sur are also equipped with cold storage reefers making them ideal to transport the life-saving vaccines.

The following are initial information on the volume and sustained temperatures of these reefers aboard the two landing dock vessels:

*Meat and fish reefer: 60 cubic meters / -20°C *Vegetable room: 50 cubic meters / 3°C *Lobby: 12 cubic meters / 10°C. (MNS)

VP Robredo says woman in viral vaccination photo not her

MANILA (Mabuhay) — Vice President Leni Robredo on Tuesday night clarified that she is not the woman shown in a viral photo getting vaccinate d against COVID-19 in Marikina City.

Robredo posted the clarification on Facebook after ification on Facebook after administration supporters insinuated that it is her on the photo. "This is ridiculously funny. ulously funny. Hindi po ako Hindi po ako yan," Robredo yan," Robredo said. "Ayoko na sanang patulan sanang patulan pero ang dampero ang daming nagpapadala n g n g mga screenshots. Kung hindi kayo busy, pa report nalang please," she urged her followers.

Administration supporters pounced on Robredo after Sass Rogando Sasot, a proDuterte blogger, shared the photo on her Facebook page. This, despite Sasot's clarification that the woman in the photo was not Robredo.

Most of the comments in Sasot's post, however, were critical of Robredo.

In the same Facebook post, Robredo said she was told the woman in the picture is Dr. Flordeliza Grana, a pediatric surgeon at the Amang Rodriguez Memorial Medical Center (ARMMC).

President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday night lashed at Robredo for urging him to get vaccinated on public to allay the public's apprehension over the vaccine.

In a televised address, Duterte accused Robredo of "baiting" him after she urged him to be among the first to get inoculated against COVID-19. (MNS)

PH economy seen growing 9.6% this year despite delayed vaccination program

MANILA (Mabuhay) — The Philippine economic recovery post-COVID is expected to start off with a near 10 percent rebound in GDP growth this year, but there are few roadblocks to growth.

According to credit ratings agency S&P Global Ratings, there are still "relatively broad COVID-19 epidemic in the Philippines which itself can, and will also have and continue to, have a cooling impact on economic activity." "That is part of the story too though but perhaps not as large a component as the containment measures themselves," said Andrew Wood, Director for Sovereign ratings at S&P Global.

Vincent Conti, Senior Economist for Asia-Pacific at S&P, said prolonged lockdowns and high inflation would also be a serious downside risk.

“If restrictions are in place much longer than what we are currently seeing, that does put a big dampener on the growth prospects of the economy. The other risk that would compound this, would be currently the inflation that Andrew mentioned," Conti explained. "They are supply side in the sense they are driven by food pretty much, pork and vegetables, and they are transitory. But they do weigh on the disposable income that is left for households to spend on other types of consumption at a time when things are already very difficult," he said.

Wood noted the inflation in the Philippines is actually quite high compared to other countries.

“There are inflationary concerns all around the world at the moment, and these are at time roiling financial markets, and if we look at this chart, we are seeing a bit of an interesting trend around the world where some indices are starting to pick up. But perhaps the most notable uptick here amongst these peers, is really that line for the Philippines," he said.

S&P Global still expects the Philippine economy to do well this year. "The good news is we see a strong recovery kicking off in 2021. In terms of how our forecasts are shaping up, we are looking at 9.6 percent growth this year. I think it is very clear that it's almost a mirror image of the contraction we had last year, of just over 9.5 percent," Wood said.

The Philippines' gross domestic product contracted anew in the fourth quarter shrinking 8.3 percent to bring the full year 2020 growth to -9.5 percent, the Philippine Statistics Authority said earlier.

PH posts worst GDP contraction since World War 2 with -9.5 pct growth rate in 2020 "We see growth remaining somewhat above potential even in 2022 and 2023 as well as the economy catches up somewhat," he added.

The Philippines' central bank meanwhile said inflation in the country might have hit over 5 percent last February.

Philippine economy seen contracting again in Q1, return to positive growth in Q2

The PSA will release the February inflation data on Friday, March 5. (MNS)

BSP: Public now more aware of mechanisms vs. cybercrime

MANILA — Filipinos are now more aware of the mechanisms against cybercrime as shown by the number of complaints submitted to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).

In a virtual briefing Thursday, BSP Governor Benjamin Diokno said the central bank’s Consumer Protection and Market Conduct Office received about 20,000 complaints last year alone.

Diokno said around 13 percent of these complaints involve fraudulent or unauthorized transactions of various financial products and services like deposit, credit card, electronic money (e-money), and remittance.

“We think that the volume of complaints we received is an indication that more people are now more aware of the BSP’s consumer assistance mechanism,” he said.

Diokno said “these complaints were referred to in the respective financial institutions for appropriate handling and response.”

He said these cases are among the reasons why monetary officials are related to financial conpushing for the passage sumers,” he added. of the proposed meas- In 2020, more people ures that will further used electronic channels protect consumers. for their financial trans-

These measures in- actions, among others, clude the proposed after the government imFinancial Consumer posed quarantine measProtect Act (FCPA), a ures to address the rise of consolidated version of coronavirus disease 2019 Financial Products and (Covid-19) infections. Services Consumer Pro- BSP data earlier retection Act which was leased showed that volpassed on third reading ume of PESONet transon June 2, 2020 in the actions jumped by a House of Representa- whopping 376 percent tives. year-on-year to 15.3 mil-

Diokno said this bill lion in 2020, while Insta“enhances the authority Pay transactions surged of regulators to protect by 459 percent to 86.7 the interest of financial million. consumers.” These two facilities are

“This is seen to instill clearing houses under discipline among finan- the central bank’s Nacial service provid- tional Retail Payment ers, boost public System (NRPS) proconfidence in gram, launched in our financial 2017 and 2018, remarkets, spectively, tarand pro- geted to help mote finan- accelerate the accelerate the cial stabili- BSP’s digital BSP’s digital ty. We hope payments bid. payments bid. that this criti- (PNA) cal bill (will) be passed into law, especially with the prevalence of fraudulent activities BSP GOVERNOR BENJAMIN DIOKNO