Speaker hails PBBM’s successful US visit

n By MARICEL V. CRUZ

SPEAKER Ferdinand Martin Romualdez on Saturday hailed President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.’s successful five-day official visit to the United States that generated, among others, billions of dollars in investment pledges seen to create thousands of jobs for Filipinos. In his post-visit report, the President said he will return to the Philippines with over US 1.3 billion in investment pledges that have the potentials to create around 6,700 new jobs for Filipinos who need not find employment abroad. “I have personally witnessed how the

President tirelessly pursued his mission to promote the interest of the Philippines. He wasted no time and seized all opportunities to engage with US government officials and key business leaders to secure meaningful benefits for our people,” Romualdez said.

Romualdez was among the Filipino delegation that accompanied President Marcos in his various engagements during the fiveday official visit to the US.

“I am confident the lives of many of our Filipino brothers would soon be touched and transformed by the fruits of his official visit to the US,” Romualdez said.

“These tangible benefits are won by our President’s indefatigable work coupled with his honesty and the sincerity of his intention to enhance Philippine-US relations for the good of both countries,” he added.

President Marcos noted that during his engagements with numerous American business groups, he was able to entice many of them to expand their operations or create new ventures in the Philippines. He said that when realized, these investments from the US will support our country’s economic recovery efforts and further strengthen the foundations of our economic environment.

“We expect even more investment that will materialize once these companies firm up their plans,” President Marcos added.

Solon eyes passage of barangay health workers measure

A PARTY-list congressman on Saturday appealed to fellow legislators to support a measure providing higher compensation and better benefits for barangay health workers (BHWs) “who are in the forefront of delivering healthcare services in communities.” receive their social pension benefits from the local government unit. Norman Cruz

"While our medical practitioners and other who belong to the health care profession are protected by laws and receive proper compensation for their services, our Barangay Health Workers who provide accessible and quality medical assistance to our constituents in the grassroots do not enjoy the same rights and protection from the law," said Rep. Ray Reyes of the AnaKalusugan party-list.

BI rescues10 women from cyber sex ring

THE Bureau of Immigration (BI) has rescued 10 women believed victims of human trafficking who were about to depart for Singapore where they would work as sexual entertainers.

BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco said the 10 women, 20 to 30 years old, were intercepted moments before they could board a Cebu Pacific flight to Singapore.

“We received information earlier this month from the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) that these women were being trafficked abroad and were recruited as entertainers, but will end up as sex workers,” Tansingco said.

He said that upon receipt of the information, they immediately included the group in their monitoring records to be able to intercept them.

The BI chief said after including the information from IACAT on their records, they also received information from the Office of Senator Risa Hontiveros on the women, further validating their suspicions on their actual purpose of travel.

The women claimed that they were traveling as tourists with friends. However, a closer inspection of their records revealed valid working permits as entertainers in Singapore. Vito Barcelo

Reyes, vice chair of the House Committee on Health, was referring to the proposed Magna Carta of Barangay Health Workers (BHWs) which provides higher pay and other benefits, including a monthly honoraria of not less than P3,000.

Reyes lamented how the BHWs did not enjoy the same rights and protection from the law unlike other professionals in the healthcare sector.

"The health and well-being of all is an inalienable right granted to all citizens of our country and we must ensure quality of health care is readily available to all," he added.

Reyes is one of the principal authors of the measure -- House Bill 1829 -- which seeks to empower BHWs and provide them with additional health benefits, compensation, and incentives. The bill under consolidated HB 6557 has already been approved at the lower house. Maricel V. Cruz