When Did the Expanded Maternity Leave Law Become Effective?

The Expanded Maternity Leave Law became effective on March 11, 2019.

This is according to Senator Risa Hontiveros, who was the main sponsor of this law in the Senate. It was also confirmed by SSS Benefits Administration Division Vice President Normita Doctor during a media interview.

Ibig sabihin lahat ng SSS members na nanganak noong March 11, 2019 or after ay covered at makaka-avail ng lahat ng benefits na nakasaad sa Expanded Maternity Leave Law.

This is a copy of a Senate press release on May 2, 2019 about the effectivity of the Expanded Maternity Leave Law.

Press Release from the Senate of the Philippines
May 2, 2019

Hontiveros: Mothers who delivered on Mar 11 onwards can now avail of Expanded Maternity Leave Law

Akbayan Senator Risa Hontiveros today said that all working mothers who gave birth on March 11 or after are now entitled to the full benefits of the Expanded Maternity Leave Law.

Hontiveros, who is the principal sponsor and author of the law in the Senate, made the announcement a day after the Executive signed and released the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the said measure.

This was also confirmed by Social Security System (SSS) Benefits Administration Division Vice President Normita Doctor in a media interview.

"I have wonderful news for all working mothers. All those who gave birth on March 11 and after can now avail of the full benefits of the law. I urge my fellow women to coordinate with our labor department, women advocates and labor groups to get all the necessary information and seek assistance in how to access the law's benefits," Hontiveros said.

Hontiveros said that aside from working women, full-time mothers can also avail of the law through voluntary contributions to the Social Security System (SSS).

"This law is not only confined to the offices and factories, but also covers the many homes where women do reproductive labor. By including them, the law clearly recognizes the productive and reproductive work of women," Hontiveros said.

According to the country's legislative process, after the President signs a measure into law, the law takes effect 15 days after publication in the Official Gazette or at least two national newspapers.

President Rodrigo Duterte signed the new maternity leave law last February 20. The law was published in newspapers on February 23.

After President Rodrigo Duterte has signed the 105-Day Expanded Maternity Leave Law on February 20, 2019, it was published by major newspapers on February 23, 2019.  Fifteen days after, on March 11, 2019, the law became effective.

Photo credit: Photo by Anthony Tran from Unsplash 

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How to Get a Student Permit at LTO Muntinlupa

By KD

This is How to Get a Student Permit at LTO Muntinlupa

Please bring the following:

A.      Original and one (1) photocopy of NSO Birth Certificate

B.      Additional money for medical

C.      Payment for student permit

BREAKDOWN OF PAYMENT for STUDENT PERMIT
Application Fee	100.00Php
Student Permit Fee	150.00Php
Comp Fee	67.63Php
TOTAL	317.63Php

1.       Proceed to customer assistance or helpdesk and request for a form for student permit.

2.       They will ask you to have your medical just outside the office. Mine was worth 200Php.

3.       Fill out the application form.

4.       Attach the photocopy of your NSO Birth certificate and medical after your application form.

5.       Submit it to the customer assistance personnel for checking and you will be asked to recite an oath.

6.       Once done, hand your requirements to the evaluation counter.

7.       Wait for your name to be called for picture taking and affixing of signature.

8.       Afterwards, you will be sent to the cashier for payment.

9.       After payment, proceed to the releasing counter and give your requirements and receipt.

10.   Wait for your name to be called and viola! You will receive your Student Permit ID.

NOTE:

A.      Cut-off for accepting applications is at 4:00P.M. 

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Are there how many Chinese in the Philippines?

Are there how many Chinese in the Philippines? 

The term "Chinese" can mean many things: long-time pure or ethnic Chinese residents, pure Chinese immigrants who have immigrated recently, or Filipinos of Chinese descent.

We can also further consider Chinese citizens who are here for vacation, employment and business.

The latest Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) data on foreigners is so old it no longer represents or even to just give a hint of the actual trend at present. 

Based on the 2010 Philippine Census, the Chinese were the second-biggest foreign group in the Philippines, with a total of 28,750.  Americans were the biggest group, with a total of 29,959. Third and fourth were those from Japan and from India. 

These days, in 2019, just based on news entities, social media and word of mouth, it is now the Chinese nationals who comprise the biggest foreign group in the Philippines.

According to a statement by the late Senator Edgardo Angara in 2013, as of that year, there were about 1.35 million ethnic or pure Chinese residing in the Philippines, in addition to about 22.8 million who are of Chinese descent.

According to a June 2018 article by Ian Nicolas Cigaral on Philstar.com, a total of 3.12 million Chinese citizens have entered the Philippines over the period from January 2016 to May 2018, based on data given by the Bureau of Immigration to Philstar.com. A total of 2.44 million came from mainland China while the rest came from Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan.

The BI data also showed that a total of 4,486 Chinese nationals were denied entry over the same period, from 2016 to May 2018.

With a big number of Chinese nationals continuously coming in, it's expected that the total number of Chinese in the Philippines will shoot up quickly to an overwhelming number.

I cannot yet find data on the current number of Chinese nationals in the Philippines, but we can see the big influx of Chinese citizens into the Philippines through the following news releases from the Philippine Bureau of Immigration.

-  A total of 1,129 Chinese nationals were denied entry at Philippine airports in the first half of 2019 after they were found to be unfit for admission due to various reasons. Other foreign nationals who were denied entry were 106 Indians, 87 Americans, 52 Taiwanese, and 67 Koreans.

-  The Bureau of Immigration (BI) said that they will implement changes so that only properly-documented and legitimate foreigners are allowed into the country. In reply to concerns about the rising number of Chinese nationals in the Philippines, the BI cited the Chinese tourism boom which is also happening in other countries, and the employment of Chinese workers in the emerging Philippine online gaming industry.

-  In reply to concerns about the visa upon arrival (VUA) program, which was implemented by the Department of Tourism (DOT) in 2017 to attract more Chinese tourists and investors, the BI said they're only giving VUA to pre-checked Chinese citizens and those endorsed by a DOT-accredited travel agency.

-  The BI said that in June 2019, only around 6,000 Chinese nationals were given VUAs, which is just 5% of all the Chinese nationals coming to the Philippines.

-  The BI said that many Chinese nationals living in the Philippines, both immigrants and non-immigrants, visit their homeland for the Chinese New Year.
In the year 2018 alone, a total of 1,309,289 Chinese citizens were recorded to have left the country for their homeland's New Year celebrations.

References:

Foreign Citizens in the Philippines (Results from the 2010 Census, Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA)
Household Population by Country of Citizenship: Philippines, 2010, Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA)
BI Steps Up Campaign Against Illegal Aliens, August 1, 2019, Bureau of Immigration (BI)
2,300 aliens denied entry in 1st half of 2019, July 29, 2019, Bureau of Immigration (BI)

Departing Sino Travelers Told: ‘Process Your Reentry Fees in BI Offices,’ January 23, 2019, Bureau of Immigration (BI)
More than 3 million Chinese allowed entry into Philippines since 2016 -- Immigration data, June 9, 2018, Philstar.com

Senate declares Chinese New Year as special working holiday, January 21, 2013, Senate of the Philippines

Photo of woman:

Image by shaomi454 from Pixabay

Photo of men:

Image by binaryscalper from Pixabay

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Is there BDO Kabayan savings account expiration?

No, there's no BDO Kabayan savings account expiration.

Your Kabayan account does not expire. But it can automatically be CLOSED if you don't maintain it.

If you fail to comply with the account maintenance rule, your Kabayan account will be converted into a regular savings account, and then later on closed.

The thing that has an expiration date is your new BDO debit card, the one with Visa or Mastercard logo. Your account will not expire, but your debit card/ATM card will expire. See VALID THRU on the front side of your debit card. You will need to request for a new replacement card about one week or 2 weeks before the expiration date.

Why and when will a Kabayan savings account be converted into a regular savings account?

It will be converted into a regular savings account after 24 months of no remittance into the account from abroad.
Remember na hindi required ang maintaining balance sa Kabayan account kasi it was designed to attract OFWs. Ang requirement lang is dapat merong remittance from abroad at least once every 24 months.

Notice:

Starting October 1, 2018, na-extend na sa 24 months ang chance for BDO Kabayan account owners to remit from abroad at least once to their Kabayan accounts para ma-maintain ang account na Kabayan pa rin, na walang maintaining-balance requirement.

At ibinaba na rin from 10,000 pesos to 2,000 pesos ang maintaining balance ng anumang account na hindi naka-remit from abroad after 24 months at na-convert into a regular savings account, at hindi na Kabayan ang account.

 Ang new rules na ito ay para sa mga BDO Kabayan accounts na:
1.  Active as Kabayan account as of October 1, 2018
2.  Opened on or after October 1, 2018
3.  Opened in 2018 and has at least one foreign remittance

So after 24 months of no foreign remittance, your Kabayan account will automatically be converted into a regular passbook savings account. This time, meron nang maintaining balance requirement na 2,000 pesos.

This means na dapat meron kang 2,000 pesos sa account mo everyday as maintaining balance. Puede namang hindi everyday na andon yong 2,000 pesos basta lang sa ibang araw meron kang nakadeposit na more than 2,000 pesos at nang sa ganon, pag mag-compute na ang BDO ng average daily balance for the month, 2,000 pesos or more pa rin ang lumalabas na balance.

I asked my relative to deposit money to my Kabayan account so it will remain a Kabayan account. Why was my Kabayan still converted into a regular account?

Dapat remittance from abroad. Ang deposit over the counter or online money transfer from another BDO account ay hindi considered remittance from abroad.

Why was my account closed after it was converted?

It was closed because your balance was only 300 pesos or less. When the 300-peso penalty was deducted, your balance became ZERO or NEGATIVE, so automatically, your account was closed.
Ang rule is: After 2 consecutive months that your account is below maintaining-balance status, your account will get a penalty of 300 pesos every month until your balance is used up, or until you restore it to good status.

Once na naging zero o negative ang bank account, automatically ay nako-close ito. Naka-program yan, so automatic.

Can I reactivate my closed account?

BDO does not reactivate closed accounts.
But you can open a new BDO account after 6 months.

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What are the licensed HMOs in the Philippines?

Here below are the licensed HMOs in the Philippines as of October 2018

Licensed by the Insurance Commission for the years 2017 to 2019.

Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs)

1.    Asalus Corp.
2.    Asiancare Health Systems, Inc.
3.    Avega Managed Care, Inc.
4.    Carehealth Plus Systems lnternational, Inc.
5.    Carewell Health Systems, Inc.
6.    Caritas Health Shield, Inc.
7.    Cooperative Health Management Federation
8.    Dynamic Care Corp.
9.    Eastwest Healthcare, Inc.
10.  Fortune Medicare, Inc.
11.  Getwell Health Systems, Inc.
12.  Health Care & Development Corp. of the Philippines
13.  Health Maintenance, Inc.
14.  Health Plan Philippines, Inc.
15.  IMS Wellth Care, Inc.
16.  Insular Health Care, Inc.
17.  Kaiser lnternational Healthgroup, Inc.
18.  Life & Health HMP, Inc.
19.  Mazan Health Care, Inc.
20.  Maxicare Healthcare Corp.
21.  Medicare Health Systems, Inc.
22.  Medicard Philippines, Inc.
23.  MedicarePlus, Inc.
24.  Metrocare Health System, Inc.
25.  Optimum Medical and Healthcare Services, Inc
26.  Pacific Cross Health Care, Inc.
          (Formerly Blue Cross Health Care Inc- name change effective January 2016)
27.  PhilhealthCare, Inc.
28.  Stotsenberg Healthcare System, Inc.
29.  Transnational Medical & Diagnostic Center, Inc.
30.  Ultima Health Systems, Inc.
31.  Value Care Health Systems, Inc.

The supervision and regulation of HMOs was transferred from the Department of Health (DOH) to the Insurance Commission by President Benigno S. Aquino III through Executive Order No. 192 on November 12, 2015.

HMOs Licensed by the DOH for the years 2015 to December 31, 2017

1.   Asian Care Health Systems, lnc.
2.   Cooperative Health Management Federation
3.   Transnational Medical & Diagnostic Center, Inc.

HMOs Licensed by the DOH for the years 2014 to December 31, 2016

1.    Avega Managed Care, lnc.
2.    Coopcare
3.    Dynamic Care Corp.
4.    Eastwest Healthcare, Inc.
5.    Getwell Health Systems, lnc.
6.    Maxicare Healthcare Corporation
7.    Medicard Philippines, Inc.
8.    Medicare Plus, lnc.
9.    Metro Care Health Systems, lnc.
10.  Optimum Medical& Health Care Services
11.  Philippine British Assurance Company, lnc.
12.  Stotsenberg Healthcare Systems, lnc.

HMOs Licensed by the Insurance Commission for the year 2016

1.   Asalus Corp. (popularly known as Intellicare)
2.   Carehealth Plus Systems lnternational, lnc.
3.   Carewell Health Systems, lnc.
4.   Caritas Health Shield, lnc.
5.   Fortune Medicare, lnc.
6.   Health Maintenance, lnc.
7.   Health Plan Philippines, lnc.
8.   IMS Wellth Care, lnc.
9.   lnsular Health Care, lnc.
10. Kaiser lnternational Healthgroup, lnc.
11. Life & Health HMP, lnc.
12. Medocare Health Systems, lnc.
13. Pacific Cross Health Care, lnc.
           (formerly Blue Cross Health Care, lnc.;
             was renamed January 1, 2016)
14.  PhilhealthCare, lnc.
15. Value Care Health Systems, lnc.

Warning !!! Goldmed not licensed as HMO

The IC has advised the public that MCN Global Holding Corp. also known as Goldmed has not been issued a license by the IC to operate as an HMO.
Based on above DOH list, Goldmed has not also been issued a license by the DOH to operate as an HMO.
Source: IC Advisory issued on September 2, 2016

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