Aside from observing austerity in light of the Ondoy and Pepeng tragedies, Kabataan Representative Mong Palatino today said the Department of Education should also exercise vigilance against anomalous bidding processes and purchasing overpriced goods.
Reacting to DepEd Secretary Jesli Lapus’ order among DepEd offices to stay away from lavish celebrations, the youth solon said creating an efficient and transparent bidding process should be part of their austerity measure.
“DepEd needs an improved and transparent bidding and procurement process to ensure that the government is not wasting money buying overpriced supplies and fake …

In a move seeking to protect workers of the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) industry from labor abuses, KABATAAN Representative Mong Palatino today filed a bill that would allow BPO workers to join and form unions, institutionalize an occupational safety and health policy, and ensure just compensation for BPO workers who attend work during non-working holidays.
House Bill 6921 or the BPO Workers’ Welfare and Protection Act of 2009, Palatino said, seeks to ensure the welfare and protection of BPO workers and recognize of rights as provided by the Labor Code of …

AN ACT ENSURING THE WELFARE AND PROTECTION OF BUSINESS PROCESS OUTSOURCING (BPO) WORKERS AND THE RECOGNITION OF THEIR RIGHTS AS PROVIDED FOR IN THE LABOR CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES
Download full text of bill.

Re-channel to disaster management, social services
In today’s plenary debates on the 2010 national budget, Kabataan Party-list Rep. Mong Palatino once again pushed for the re-channeling of budget of the Office of the President to social services and disaster management.
Palatino said that some items in the Office of the President’s P4.3 billion budget remain questionable, while some are deemed either unnecessary or excessive.
Palatino, for instance, questioned the President’s P150 million in intelligence funds, which only she can approve for release, and the whopping P1 billion for the Commission on Information and …

KABATAAN Representative Mong Palatino today said the Department of Education’s move to issue “teaching notes” to correct textbook errors is mere “palliative” as it does not solve the root cause of error-filled textbooks.
Instead, the youth solon said that only an improved and transparent bidding and procurement process would ensure that no error-filled books be distributed to public school students.
“DepEd cannot just issue an errata every time mistakes are found in the textbooks they procure. If anything, DepEd’s prescribed cure is ‘just another bitter and expensive pill’ as it would mean …

After natural disasters claimed hundreds of lives in Metro Manila and Northern Luzon, KABATAAN Representative Mong Palatino today said the Commission on Higher Education and the Department of Education should develop and improve science courses focusing on climate change studies.
“Aside from the issue of the government’s flawed disaster-preparedness program, the recent tragedy that struck the nation is also a climate change issue. It is only appropriate that the country’s educational system produce graduates with expert knowledge on the real causes of climate change. Through this, genuine solutions can be crafted …

Solon proposes to slash OP funds, re-channel to disaster management, social services

In light of the recent calamities that struck Metro Manila and Northern Luzon, KABATAAN Representative Mong Palatino today urged the House of Representatives to review the 2010 budget and refocus it to disaster management, environment protection and social services.
“There are many lessons to be learned from the Ondoy and Pepeng tragedies. Perhaps, the most important is that the government should know where to allocate its funds. We are a disaster-prone country, and thus, this should be a consideration for …

Typhoon Pepeng is wreaking havoc in Northern Luzon. There are reports of landslides, floods, and devastation in the Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, and the Cordilleras.
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On October 15, bloggers worldwide will speak as one on climate change. We, Filipino bloggers, have much to say and share in this global conversation.

Budget should be used to stop fee hikes-youth solon
KABATAAN Representative Raymond “Mong” Palatino slammed the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) for failing to regulate tuition as the House tackled the agency’s proposed 2010 budget in session today, citing that higher education institutions impose higher tuition rates year after year.
Data from CHED show that the average tuition rate per unit in schools went up from 312.80 in 2002 to 416.57 in 2008. “This only shows the agency’s inutility and inaction amid decreasing access to education,” the young solon said.
Palatino said that …