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Rep. Mercado-Revilla reminds schools of ‘no permit, no exam prohibition’ law

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COURTESY VISIT. Cavite Rep. Lani Mercado-Revilla pay her courtesy visit to Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez on Tuesday (May 14). Mercado Revilla was in Tacloban City on her way to Merida for the town’s founding anniversary.(TCIO)
COURTESY VISIT. Cavite Rep. Lani Mercado-Revilla pay her courtesy visit to Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez on Tuesday (May 14). Mercado Revilla was in Tacloban City on her way to Merida for the town’s founding anniversary.(TCIO)

TACLOBAN CITY – Schools should be reminded that there is a law mandating them not to prohibit students from taking their examinations even if their tuition fees are unpaid. Cavite Rep. Lani Mercado-Revilla (2nd district) referred to Republic Act 11984, known as the ‘No Permit, No Exam Prohibition Act,’ authored by her husband, Senator Ramon ‘Bong’ Revilla.
”This is very timely, especially since it is examination week, and many of our young students will be graduating,” she said in a brief interview on Tuesday (May 14).
“The examination of the children should continue despite the non-payment yet of their tuition fee by their parents,” the Cavite lawmaker added.

However, she emphasized that parents are still required to pay their children’s fees.
“What is being prohibited under the law is barring the students to take their examinations,” Mercado-Revilla clarified.
The lawmaker mentioned reports that some students, unable to take their examinations due to unpaid fees, are forced to stop their studies or, worse, develop depression.
Mercado-Revilla was in Tacloban City on her way to attend the 157th founding anniversary of Merida town, Leyte, on Tuesday (May 14). She also visited Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez.

RA 11984, signed into law by President Marcos on March 11, 2023, directs schools to allow students to take their examinations even if their tuition is unpaid.

The law covers all public and private basic education institutions, higher education institutions, and technical vocational institutions.

Failure to comply with the law can result in administrative sanctions imposed by the Department of Education (DepEd), Commission on Higher Education (ChEd), and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).

JOEY A. GABIETA

10 electric cooperatives in Eastern Visayas start power supply procurement process

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NAVAL, Biliran– Some 10 electric cooperatives in Eastern Visayas, which are members of the Federation of Rural Electric Cooperatives in Region 8 (FRECOR 8), have started the power supply procurement process for their long-term aggregate base load demand.

The Region VIII Joint Competitive Power Supply Procurement (R8-JCPSP) Joint Bids and Awards Committee, chaired by Engr. Janet L. Notarte, conducted the pre-bid conference held in Tacloban City on April 23, 2024.

According to Engr. Notarte, chairperson of R8 JCP, the rationale of the bidding for the member-electric cooperatives of FRECOR 8 is to secure a power supply contract.

This came after the expiration of the Emergency Power Supply Agreement (EPSA), which is only good for one year relative to the order of the Energy Regulation Commission (ERC) for the termination of the provisional authority relative to the application for approval of the Power Purchase and Supply Agreement for long-term power supply agreement based on the Supreme Court decision in the case of Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas versus Energy Regulatory Commission, Notarte added.

“We are bound to provide our MCOs the least cost or the minimum rate impact. We are also bound to follow the Competitive Selection Process (CSP) issued by the ERC which is the ERC Resolution No. 16-2023,” Notarte emphasized.

She said the R8 JCPSP Bids and Awards Committee still has to choose whichever is the lowest and that can provide the least cost rate to MCOs because the ERC will be basing the approval of PSA on the rate impact to consumers.

The subject bids are composed of Lot 1 with a contract year starting 2024 to 2033 with the following list of electric cooperatives (ECs) with the respective contracted power capacity, as follows: DORELCO-12MW (October 8, 2024-December 25, 2033), LEYECO III-8MW (September 9, 2024-December 25, 2033), LEYECO IV-18MW (September 15, 2024-December 25, 2033), LEYECO V-40MW (September 22, 2024-December 25, 2033), SOLECO-14 MW (September 26, 2024-December 25, 2033), SAMELCO I-14MW(October 7, 2024-December 25, 2033), SAMELCO II-17MW (August 26,2024-December 25, 2033), ESAMELCO-15MW (September 26, 2024-December 25, 2033), NORSAMELCO-16MW (September 26, 2024-December 25, 2033), and BILECO-8MW (August 26, 2024-December 25, 2033) totaling 162 megawatts.

For Lot 2 with a contract year for 2027 to 2033, the following ECs with the contracted power capacity are the following: DORELCO-6MW (December 26, 2026-December 25, 2033), LEYECO V-5MW (December 26, 2024-December 25, 2033), SOLECO-4MW (December 26, 2024-December 25, 2033), SAMELCO I-4MW (December 26, 2024-December 25, 2033), SAMELCO II-3MW (December 26, 2024-December 25, 2033), and NORSAMELCO-6MW (December 26, 2024-December 25, 2033) totaling 28 megawatts.
LEYECO II was not part of the Region 8 Joint Competitive Power Supply Procurement as the said EC was the first to receive the ERC order for the termination of the provisional authority relative to the application for approval of the power purchase agreement for long-term power supply requirement, thus LEYECO II was able to immediately proceed the procurement processes to secure power.

Ten big power supply companies, which attended the pre-bid conference, came from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

The issuance of notice of award to winning bidders after the conduct of several bidding processes after the pre-bid conference is set on July 5, 2024; power supply agreement negotiation on July 6-15, 2024; signing of power supply agreements on July 22, 2024; issuance of notice to proceed on July 29, 2024; and the joint filing of power supply agreements on August 21, 2024.
(RSV/PIA Biliran)

DOST-8 opens applications for junior level science scholarship

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With 131 slots available

TACLOBAN CITY-The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) in the region is now accepting applications from incoming third-year college students for the Junior Level Science Scholarship (JLSS) program.

The JLSS is designed for students enrolled in DOST priority courses such as engineering, mathematics, medicine-related fields, and science and technology.

A full list of eligible courses is available on the DOST-Science Education Institute (SEI) website, which can be accessed via the DOST social media accounts, including Facebook.
Application requirements are also available on the DOST-SEI website at https://jlss.science-scholarships.ph/#/.

Applicants must be enrolled in universities, colleges, or private higher learning institutions recognized by the DOST. Additionally, applicants must not have any incomplete grades or dropped subjects.

“This is open until May 31, 2024, and there is a process for application that should be followed,” said Jean Gay Ragub, DOST VIII senior science research specialist.

Scholarship recipients will receive numerous benefits, including a P8,000 stipend for 10 months per year, a tuition fee subsidy of up to P40,000 per year for those enrolled in private institutions, a P10,000 book allowance per academic year, a P1,000 graduation allowance, a P10,000 thesis allowance, health accident insurance, and a transportation allowance for students studying outside their home province.
Scholarship beneficiaries are required to fulfill a service obligation to the government after graduation.

“Once they have completed their service obligation, they just have to write to us, provide us with their certificate of employment along with other documents, and then their name will be removed from the tag at the National Bureau of Investigation,” Ragub explained.
This year, DOST-8 aims to attract 1,250 applicants, an increase from the 1,000 target last year. However, only 131 applicants qualified for the scholarship last year. The examination for the JLSS program is scheduled for July 28.

Interested students can apply through the DOST-SEI website or visit their respective provincial DOST offices for more information.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

Causes and consequences

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In our country and some parts of the world, salaries hardly increase, taking a long time to do so while the cost of commodities on the other hand is constantly soaring high—a growing concern for the majority of families and individuals. This issue reflects a significant imbalance between people’s income and the prices of essential goods and services.

The stagnant salaries in relation to the rising cost of commodities can understandably be attributed to various factors such as inflation, globalization, and technological advancements. Inflation, for instance, leads to an increase in the prices of goods and services, thereby lessening the purchasing power of individuals. Globalization meanwhile enables companies to outsource labor to lower-cost countries, resulting in reduced wages for workers in highly developed nations. Technological advancements, on the other hand, led to automation and job displacement, further contributing to the stagnation of salaries.

The impact of this phenomenon goes beyond mere financial constraints for individuals. It can also have far-reaching consequences on the overall economy and social welfare. With the failure of salaries to keep pace with the cost of living, individuals struggle to meet their basic needs and maintain a decent standard of living. This, in turn, leads to decreased consumer spending, lower economic growth, and increased income inequality.

Such disparities between salaries and the cost of commodities aggravate the existing social inequalities and hinder social mobility. Those with higher incomes may be able to bear the rising prices more easily, but low-income individuals and families are forced to make difficult trade-offs and sacrifices. This perpetuates the cycle of poverty and limits opportunities for upward mobility, ultimately stifling economic progress and social cohesion.

This issue of salaries hardly increasing while the cost of commodities soar high requires immediate solutions. Hungry stomachs cannot wait. We already cited some causes and consequences of this trend, and the government must advocate for policies and initiatives that promote fair wages, economic stability, and social equity.

Crab mentality

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DOMS PAGLIAWAN
DOMS PAGLIAWAN

We have probably heard about this kind of mentality a million times already. It’s a prevalent phenomenon that describes the behavior of individuals who try to pull down others who are successful or have achieved something noteworthy, much like crabs in a bucket pulling each other down. This behavior is often rooted in jealousy, insecurity, and a competitive mindset.

One common manifestation of crab mentality is when individuals engage in gossip or spreading rumors about others in an attempt to undermine their reputation or credibility. This behavior is often driven by a desire to elevate themselves by bringing others down. By spreading negative information, the individual hopes to tarnish the target’s image and diminish their success or accomplishments. This can create a toxic environment of mistrust and discontent among colleagues or peers.

Another manifestation of crab mentality is when individuals resort to sabotage or undercutting others in order to maintain their own superiority or dominance. This can be seen in competitive work environments where individuals engage in unethical practices, such as stealing credit for others’ work, sabotaging projects, or withholding information. With such behavior, individuals can preserve their own position and prevent others from excelling or surpassing them.

Crab mentality can also manifest in the form of passive-aggressive behavior, such as backhanded compliments or subtle put-downs. Individuals may use subtle and indirect means to undermine others’ confidence or self-esteem, making it difficult for them to succeed or excel. This behavior can be insidious and difficult to detect, as it is often disguised as harmless banter or jest.

In some cases, manifestations of crab mentality can escalate to more overt forms of aggression and hostility, such as bullying or intimidation. Individuals who feel threatened by others’ success may resort to belittling, humiliating, or harassing them in an attempt to assert their dominance and control. This behavior can have serious consequences for the target’s mental and emotional well-being, as well as their ability to perform effectively in their roles.

Another insidious manifestation of crab mentality is when individuals engage in self-sabotage or destructive behavior due to feelings of inadequacy or envy. Instead of focusing on improving themselves and striving for success, these individuals may actively work against their own interests in order to prevent others from outshining them. This self-defeating behavior can be damaging not only to the individual’s own prospects but also to the overall team or organization.

Such manifestations of crab mentality ought to cease in order to promote a healthy and supportive environment. Through a culture of trust, respect, and mutual support, individuals can overcome the destructive tendencies of crab mentality and work together towards common goals. Leaders and managers play a crucial role in setting the tone for positive behavior and addressing any instances of jealousy or competitiveness that may arise within their teams.

Sadly, crab mentality causes a detrimental impact on relationships, productivity, and overall well-being. Unless the root causes of this behavior are addressed, individuals cannot create a more positive and inclusive work environment that allows everyone to thrive and succeed. Why not cultivate a culture of collaboration, empathy, and respect, so we can overcome the destructive tendencies of crab mentality and build a more cohesive and supportive community?

Pittance (First of two parts)

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AL ELLEMA
AL ELLEMA

Always at the mercy of employers, workers do not have any choice but accept pity increase in their wages. The situation is iniquitous against the poor workers whose labor is always inadequately priced. Here is where the gap between the rich and poor emanates. Those with the capital are able to build economic wealth and power through the labor of underpaid workers.

The working man is not given fair compensation for his labor keeping him captive to the caprice of the employer. With low wages that fall short to support the basic needs, the working man is trapped in advanced wages and debts that go beyond his earning capacity. The dire situation is aggravated by the constant rise in the prices of goods and services without a parallel increase in wages.

In the guise of alleviating the impoverished condition of workers, government facilitated the pegging of wage increases through the wage board in every region. The board sets the figure of the wage increase for the workers in the region. But the consideration in setting the amount is more for business and employers than the poor workers.

With demanded wage hikes set by workers at levels that could afford decent support of their basic needs, business and employers would readily counter the proposal with direr scenarios that will send workers to unemployment. The demands could hardly be met for it will result in retrenchment of workers and the worse case of closing businesses. The saving option is always for the workers to bow down with rumbling stomachs and abide by the offer of the employers.

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