Double pay for work on Day of Valor, Eid’l Fitr
By Gerard Naval
EMPLOYEES who report for work today, Tuesday, and tomorrow will receive double pay after April 9 (Araw ng Kagitingan) and April 10 (Eid’l Fitr) were declared regular holidays, according to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).
Based on Labor Advisory No. 05-2024, additional wages are required to be given to workers going to work during regular holidays.
“For work done during the regular holiday, the employer shall pay a total of 200% of the employee’s wage for that day for the first eight hours,” said DOLE.
“For work done in excess of eight hours, the employer shall pay the employee an additional 30% of the hourly rate on said day,” it furthered.
The labor department said that for work done during a regular holiday that also falls on the employee’s rest day, the employer shall pay the employee an additional 30 percent of the basic wage of 200 percent.
For overtime work during a regular holiday that also falls on the employee’s rest day, the employer shall pay the employee an additional 30 percent of the hourly rate.
DOLE said that if the employee does not report for work, the employer shall pay 100 percent of the employee’s wage for that day.
That is provided the employee reports to work or is on leave of absence with pay on the day immediately preceding the regular holiday, said DOLE.
Under Proclamation No. 368 – 2023, April 9 has been declared as a regular holiday in observance of the Day of Valor.
DOLE said Proclamation No. 514 – 2024 also declared April 10 as a regular holiday in observance of Eid’l Fitr or the Feast of Ramadan.
Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri encouraged the Filipino people to apply in their lives the essence of the national anthem as the nation commemorates Araw ng Kagitingan today, Tuesday.
“We always sing Lupang Hinirang [Chosen Land], cradle of noble heroes. That’s why I am calling on our countrymen to enliven the nobility and bravery of our heroes who offered their lives to the country,” Zubiri said during his speech as he took his oath as a reserve Lt. Colonel in the Philippine Army in simple ceremonies in Camp Aguinaldo.
He urged Filipinos to join the reserve force since no one else would defend the Philippines from invaders but the Filipinos themselves.
“That’s why I’m hoping that many of our countrymen will join the reserve force of the AFP. Join us in the quest for freedom and peace,” he said.
Sen. Grace Poe said she is one with the Filipino people in commemorating the Day of Valor or Araw ng Kagitingan and in observing the Philippine Veterans Week.
“The unparalleled valor and gallantry displayed by our war veterans against expansionist ambitions have kept the Philippine flag flying supreme over our land and waters. We owe it to our veterans and their families to ensure that they receive the care and support they need,” Poe said in a statement.
To ensure the welfare of veterans, Poe said she supported the passage of a law last year increasing the pension of veterans with disability due to sickness, disease, wounds or injuries sustained in the line of duty.
“We are committed to push for more legislation that will advance their welfare. May the heroism and courage of our veterans live on in every Filipino, especially those at the forefront of defending our territory and sovereignty against present threats,” she added.
Pinoys hurt in Taiwan quake now 9
By Gerard Naval
FIVE more overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) were found to have sustained minor injuries in last week’s magnitude 7.2 earthquake in Taiwan, according to the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW).
In a statement on late Monday, the DMW reported there are now nine injured OFWs and all of them have received medical attention and “recovering in their respective company dormitories and accommodations.”
“Their health and condition are being monitored closely by the Migrant Workers Office in Taipei,” it added.
Last week, the DMW reported a four OFWs sustained minor injuries from the quake last Wednesday in Hualien county in central-eastern Taiwan.
At least 12 people were killed during the quake while more than 1,100 people had been injured.
The DMW announced the deployment of a six-member augmentation team to Hualien.
“(This is) to address the needs of the approximately 5,000 OFWs in Hualien County and surrounding counties,” it said.
The DMW said the team will also provide psycho-social and mental wellness support for OFWs.
BARMM measles vax drive reaches 500K kids
By Gerard Naval
A WEEK since launching the measles immunization activity in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), the Department of Health (DOH) has vaccinated some 500,000 children as of yesterday out of its target 1.3 million kids.
We still have ways to go. We will go after the target,” Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa said in a briefing.
But he said there will be no vaccination activity tomorrow and Thursday to give way to celebrations of Eid al-Fitr.
The DOH and the BARMM – Ministry of Health launched the measles immunization drive in the region on April 1 and it will last up to April 12. The targets are children aged 6 months to 10 years.
The vaccination drive is in response to the measles outbreak in the Bangsamoro region where 1,481 cases have been reported from January 1 to March 16. This is more than half of the 2,661 measles cases reported nationwide by the DOH during the same period last year.