Atty. Christian D. Natividad, the New Optical Media Board Chairperson on DZMJ Online Season 36 Episode 8- after his term as Mayor of the City of Malolos in Bulacan he will combat optical media hooligans and pirates in a bid to protect the Filipino from counterfeit optical products.
DepEd urges PLIs, GFIs to give flexible terms for loan payment of employees
October 15, 2020 — The Department of Education (DepEd) is urging more partner Private Lending Institutions (PLIs) and Government Funding Institutions (GFIs) to provide a flexible and manageable loan payment scheme for its employees in accordance to the Bayanihan Act 2 (BA2), according to Undersecretary for Finance Annalyn M. Sevilla.
In addition to the loan moratorium provision of the BA2 where borrowers are granted a 60-days grace period for loans due on or before December 31, 2020, DepEd has coordinated with its partner PLIs and GFIs to grant a loan moratorium to its employees that will extend the deadline of the payments to an additional 60 days, as well as waiving the accrued interest.
“What is the best possible term for our employees? The Secretary has written to all of the GFIs and PLIs, strongly urging them to go beyond the 60-day grace period,” said Usec. Sevilla in a Handang Isip, Handa Bukas press briefing on Monday.
DepEd is seeking loan moratorium agreement with PLIs and GFIs to help its employees financially recover from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Out of the 173 lending institutions offering services to DepEd personnel, 89 agreed to the negotiation of DepEd to not only adhere to BA2 but to also extend the payment period to another two months in the payroll and completely waive the accrued interest for the 60-day grace period on payment of loans. The guidelines and list of these institutions were issued through Memorandum OUF-2020-0552 (https://www.deped.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/INTERNAL-GUIDELINES-Bayanihan-Act-2-FINAL-1.1.pdf)
“We thank the 89 PLIs and GFIs na hindi magpapataw ng accrued interest. We would like for our media partners to know na karamihan po dito, maliban sa GSIS at MTMASI/MTLSAI, ay maliliit na PLIs pero they really understood the welfare of our teachers and employees,” said Usec. Sevilla.
Meanwhile, 30 of these lending institutions, comprised mostly of banks, have agreed to adhere to the 60-day grace period set by the BA2 and also extend another 60 days to the payment deadline at the end of the term of the loan in the payroll. These institutions, though, are still requiring the accrued interest to be paid on or before December 31, 2020, or as agreed between the PLI and the borrower.
“Alam po natin na ang implementation ng loan moratorium ay meron din economic impact for both the borrowers and the lenders, and we do understand the 30 PLIs na hindi po nagbigay ng waiver because they also have their own borrowings and investments to fund, they have employees to compensate, and they also have other clientele aside from DepEd,” explained Usec Sevilla.
Lastly, 50 of these lending institutions have not yet expressed their decision to waive accrued interest on the loan moratorium. Usec. Sevilla said that for these institutions, the basic guidelines of the BA2 will be applied.
The Automatic Payroll Deduction System (APDS) of DepEd that automatically deducts and remits the loan amortizations of the employees to the PLIs and GFIs will adapt the policies and adjustments of the BA2.
As of August 2020, DepEd has recorded 933,697 filled positions, and 70.21% of this number, or roughly 655,582 personnel, are borrowers from PLIs and/or GFIs.
END
DepEd, DOH and UNICEF unite to bring Clean Hands for All this October 15
Manila, 15 October 2020 — As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, the world turns to a simple age-old solution to reduce the risk of disease transmission – handwashing with soap and water.
On October 15, 2020, this year’s celebration of Global Handwashing Day will be its most significant yet. For the first time, two of the most crucial government agencies in shaping the future and well-being of a generation are coming together to mark the beginning of a stronger partnership.
“DepEd has been celebrating Global Handwashing Day in schools since 2008, in recognition of the importance of building the habit of handwashing among children to ensure their health. Through our WASH in Schools Program, DepEd has institutionalized actions to improve handwashing facilities and instill handwashing behavior among learners. And now under the new normal, our Basic Education-Learning Continuity Plan also integrates handwashing practice as part of the required health standards. With the children continuing their learning at home because of the pandemic, we call on families to make their homes a safe environment to live and learn; and teach their children to make handwashing a habit. And when we do return to school, handwashing will be key in ensuring safety of our children,” says DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones.
With the theme “Clean Hands For All”,the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Department of Health (DOH), with support from UNICEF, unite various development partners, sector representatives and local chief executives in an online symposium on October 15 and 16, 2020. The event aims to identify key directions for sustaining the handwashing habit beyond the COVID-19 pandemic and promote sustainable proper hand hygiene culture in the Philippines.
“The DOH Bida Solusyon sa COVID-19 campaign aims to reinforce and enable four key preventive behaviors. One of these is hand hygiene or cleaning of hands through handwashing with soap and water or sanitizing with alcohol-based hand rub. Together with DepEd, we are calling on everyone to do their share to beat the COVID-19 virus today and ensure better health outcomes beyond the pandemic. To achieve our objectives, we need all sectors to renew our efforts and commitment – local officials and authorities, local health workers, teachers, parents and community members. To save lives and reduce illness, it is vital that we combine our expertise in health, education, communication and community knowledge to raise awareness and promote hygienic and safe practices,”says DOH Secretary Francisco Duque III.
Handwashing with soap is key in the fight against COVID-19. It destroys the outer membrane of the virus and thereby inactivates it. One study found that regular handwashing with soap can reduce the likelihood of common coronavirus infection by 36%. However, based on 2019 data, over 7 million Filipinos are unable to wash their hands due to lack of access to a handwashing facility, water, and/or soap. This is found to be highest among poorest households and those living in rural areas. From school year 2018-2019 data, only half of schools have at least one group handwashing facility with soap.
“Handwashing is critical to children’s health and development. Yet, handwashing is still out of reach for so many children and families—especially the most vulnerable. Sustained investments are needed to make hand hygiene a practice beyond the pandemic. The partnership of DepEd and DOH in bringing together a national handwashing roadmap is a critical step towards a safer future for children in the Philippines,” says UNICEF Philippines Representative Oyunsaikhan Dendevnorov.
The lack of access to hand hygiene facilities is not just in homes and schools but can also be found in workplaces, healthcare facilities, and public spaces as well. Even when awareness and knowledge around handwashing is high – actual practice is often found to be much lower. In a study in 2018 by the Department of Education and UNICEF among school children, observations demonstrated that less than 8% did actually wash their hands after using the toilet even when a handwashing facility with soap and water was available. The issue is a detriment to public health and safety and requires structural change from the whole of society and the government, acting together.
The Clean Hands for All: Learning and Partnership Symposium will be streaming for free on October 15 and October 16, 2020, from 9:30AM to 12NN. Held entirely online, various organizations will be sharing new and innovative ideas that can spark behavioral change as well as sustain handwashing practice in various sectors and settings. This activity is part of the support of UNICEF to the Philippine Government in developing a National Handwashing Campaign that will be rolled out in 2021.