The four-day work week for government workers might be a good concept, but it has already met a lot of criticism. For one, guidelines were not properly prepared, and the parties involved – the private sector, the workers themselves, and heads of agencies like the local government units (LGUs) – were not consulted. In other words, there were no concerted, coordinated efforts by the authorities concerned, especially the minions designated to implement the presidential directive, to assure that there would be a smooth, effective mode of implementing the concept.
The headline of the
Manila Standard issue of April 2 told it all. The headline quoted Interior and Local Government Secretary Jose Lina as saying that the directive does not cover LGUs. On the other hand, Labor Secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas stated a different position: that LGUs are included. And then, the headline added that President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo stated that the four-day work week was "optional." Which is which?
One can just imagine how the government’s accounting and administrative units are going to compute overtime work. Or how to monitor which employee is going to be take the day off on a particular day. There are indications that, even now, administrative nightmares are being met by the government employees assigned to monitor the working man-hours – absences, tardiness, day-offs, sick and vacation leaves, etc. – of the workers under their administrative turf.
Fortunately, the innovative program is going to last for only two months. That will give the government policymakers a chance to determine whether the program is really worth it. And there is always the chance to shorten the period of the four-day work week project should it cause a lot of chaos and confusion.
Ver C. Tolentino has just come back to the Philippines, after working as an expat for two years in Papua New Guinea, as representative of G. E. Lighting Philippines. There, he said, there are about ten thousand OFWs combined, showing their individual skills and dexterity, with exceptional level of confidence competing with other foreign expatriates.
During his two years’ stay in PNG, he noticed only a single Filipino television channel. And he observed that what are usually shown in that TV channel are negative images of the Philippines, such as the stinking garbage dumping sites, disabled children with unusual figure and defect from birth, criminality, and political squabbles among the politicians. "Watching these programs daily made me suffer mental diarrhea, anxiety and stress because they reminded me of what my family and countrymen are suffering," he said.
"While TV channels from other countries promote tourism industry in PNG, here we are practically destroying our own tourism industry which is very competitive in terms of global standards. After watching these TV shows, I cannot help but ask so many questions, like why our politicians have crab mentality, instead of supporting a distressed government," Tolentino said. He also could not understand why some lawyers are so vocal about their negative perceptions of our justice system, and yet they are still allowed to practice their profession.
"I cannot understand why the legislative branch of government takes up so much time investigating instead of legislating, why some people choose to oppose a government that is trying hard to improve our impoverished economy," he said. And he listed down many other questions that disturb him and, of course, many other concerned Filipinos. "Inspite of all these things, I am still hopeful and positive about the great recovery that will come," Tolentino concluded.
In answer to the need of the people, especially the businessmen and foreign investors, to know what is happening in the Philippines, and to correct the misconceptions about the political and economic landscape, Bonzer Business Management & Consultancy, which specializes in PR forums and is headed by Ber Pacheco, is coming up with a seminar-workshop on the theme, "Creating Effective Plan and Image Building Program for National Government and its Institutions." The forum is set on April 16-18, 2002 at the Galleria Suites Hotel, Ortigas Center, Pasig City. Interested parties may call Tel. Nos. 892-2561 and 759-2064 & e-mail: bonzer@netasia.net.
Resource persons in the forum are Raul Contreras, a veteran PR & Marketing Consultant; Lito Gagni, communications specialist & former business editor, Ernie R. Evasco, president, FSR & Public Relations; Rey Anthony David, Jr., president, Great Wall Advertising; Jimmy Gil, senior reporter & radio commentator, GMA 7; and Renato Nieva, president, Perceptions, Inc. and national chairman, Philippine Chapter of the International Public Relations Association. PR/information officers from different government agencies are invited to act as reactors in the forum module.
Lea T. Gonzales, now 24 years old, had a sad plight to relate. A Physical Therapy graduate of Quezon City Medical Center and Colleges, she flunked the board exams. "I was also a victim of the unemployment epidemic that continues to grow almost every six months," she said, forcing her to enter into ventures far different from the PT course she had taken up. "As I was reading your column, I was touched by the fact that what you wrote may open up opportunities and build confidence among the unemployed," she added.
As she struggled to survive, depression and boredom became her daily ordeal. It was then that she decided to "practice" the profession she truly loved: PT. What she did was to gather other unemployed physical therapy graduates who were willing to do home service jobs. And her main job was to look for possible clients or patients, then assign a specific therapist nearest the patient’s homes. Through this home service, she was able to help give a job to her fellow unemployed PT graduates.
Right now, Lea and her team are trying to save enough money to put up a charity clinic. In this way, more jobs are provided and the poor who need PT sessions can be given a helping hand.
Lea is asking for my help by giving her group’s corporation – Physical Therapy Incorporated, of which she is president and chief executive officer – referrals to people who may want PT sessions in their homes. She also gave thanks for my column’s reminder to readers that people like her are not decreasing but continuously increasing. Her contact address is 17 Zaragoza St., Araneta Subdivision, Quezon City, and her telephone number is 715-6852. She has also a fax number (716-3230) and cell phone number (920)223-1490. Her e-mail address is pt_ink@yahoo.com.
Thoughts For Today:
Mornings do not mean getting up and
working again.
But it is God’s way of saying He loves you so much
to let you live another day. When you can’t put
your prayers into words,
God hears your heart. My e-mail addresses:
jaywalker@pacific.net.ph and
artborjal@yahoo.com