CPA bares Holy Week 2021 preparations

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The Cebu Port Authority (CPA) has convened all port management officers, port security heads, representatives of the maritime and enforcement partners from Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Philippine Navy, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), Bureau of Customs (BOC), Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA), Philippine National Police (PNP) - Regional Maritime Unit, Office for Transportation Security (OTS), other agency partners and port stakeholders today, March 25, 2021 to finalize all preparations for the anticipated surge of passengers during the observance of the Holy Week.

“As the government continues to ease travel restrictions, we are working closely with our partner agencies and port stakeholders to double our efforts in ensuring the safety, security, order and convenience of the public and prevent overcrowding and heavy queuing inside our ports especially with the ongoing threat of COVID-19,” said Cebu Port Authority (CPA) General Manager Leonilo Miole.

GM Miole ordered the activation of Oplan Biyaheng Ayos: Semana Santa 2021 and placed all ports in Cebu under heightened alert to step up all security and safety measures in response to the directive issued by the Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur Tugade.

GM Miole also urged the public anew to strictly observe and follow the safety and health protocols within the port premises at all times and encouraged all outbound passengers to coordinate in advance with their receiving local government units (LGUs) or with the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) for the travel requirements they need to comply before coming to the port area.

“There have been cases that passengers booked their tickets online without prior coordination with the receiving LGU, and sad to say, they were not given clearance to board a vessel by the PCG and were denied entry into the port for failure to present the required travel documents,” said GM Miole.

For receiving LGUs with no imposed travel requirements, all passengers are encouraged to book their tickets in advance.

Starting March 29, 2021 to April 6, 2021, CPA will deploy additional Safe Distancing Marshals and Port Police Officers in ports with high passenger traffic to enforce port health and safety protocols such as the mandatory wearing of face shield and face masks, temperature check and physical/social distancing. Appropriate markers were placed on the floors and seats for proper guidance.

For added prevention and safety measures, disinfecting foot baths were placed at the entrance and exits of the passenger terminals and offices. Likewise, sanitizing hand rub dispensers and lavatories for hand washing are placed in prominent places of the passenger terminal.

Persons who refuse to comply with any directives of the Authority and other law enforcement agents inside the port premises are sanctioned with fines and penalties.

Fines ranging from P200 to P1,000 await individuals who are caught violating health and safety protocols. First-time offenders will be asked to pay a fine of P200, P500 will be imposed on second-time violators and P1, 000 will be imposed for the third offense.

In accordance with the COVID-19 Inter-Agency Task Force and Department of Health (DOH) protocols, passenger capacity in ships and other passenger vessels are still reduced to fifty percent (50%). Likewise, passenger terminals in both public or private ports shall only be allowed to accommodate at fifty percent (50%) seating capacity and to prevent undue queuing or crowding of passengers, CPA in close coordination with shipping companies will make necessary adjustments of the Estimated Time of Departure (ETD) of vessels. Direct boarding of passengers to the vessel shall be allowed as may be deemed necessary in order to avoid crowding, inconvenience, or delay of the vessel’s departure provided that security, safety, and health protocols shall be observed.

Any person manifesting noticeable common symptoms of an infectious disease shall be urgently placed in the designated port isolation area and shall be referred to the Cebu City Government Emergency Operation Center (EOC) or nearest health and medical facilities.

GM Miole also assured all port users that daily disinfection activities are being conducted in all Port Passenger Terminal Buildings, port entry and exit points, shuttle buses and all other areas within the port that are highly exposed to passenger traffic.

Cebu Port Pier 1 and Pier 3 gates are still closed for vehicles as it now serves as screening stations of PCG personnel for outbound/embarking passengers.

Further, all ports were directed to ensure that all booths / counters / centers serving passengers are properly manned during operating hours. Passenger Help Desks are also put in place to provide passenger assistance and support for a wide range of travel needs.

The public were also urged to report individuals who are selling fake RT-PCR Test Results to passengers outside the port area, this after the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) 7 conducted an entrapment operation last March 18, 2021 which led to the arrest of two individuals for selling these falsified documents.

Passengers can lodge their concerns, complaints and reports to CPA Police Operations Center at (032) 402-4160 or via CPA Official Facebook Page @cebuportauthorityofficial.

Sportification and its impact on nutrition

Wazzup Pilipinas!


Now, more than ever, health has become an utmost priority. When the pandemic hit, people became more concerned with eating healthier to boost their immunity as they have realised the close link between nutrition and overall health.

Even before the pandemic, we saw a new breed of sports enthusiasts who have fuelled a new ‘sportification’ trend, which has created new markets and brands in categories from clothing, technologies like smart activity trackers, to food. With this trend on the rise, there has been a similar increase in the number of products carrying a sports claim, and many manufacturers are making moves to help consumers meet their desire to lead healthier, more active lives. Such products are appealing to the full-time athletes, those who exercise for leisure (regular actives), as well as those who — while less dynamic — define their sporty image through their lifestyle choices.

 

Moving beyond protein

When thinking about “food for the active”, protein is the first macronutrient that comes to mind. However, within the available range of active nutrition, there should be more room for innovative ingredients — like smart-carbohydrates — to help cater to the needs of the active consumers better.

Optimum energy supply is key for sports nutrition, and especially relevant when fuelling an active lifestyle. A wise carbohydrate choice can make all the difference.

Having a balanced and sustained energy can help active consumers maintain endurance in training, while allowing regular active people to stay fuelled for their busy days. High-glycaemic carbohydrates are not ideal, as they are quickly digested, giving you a short boost of energy but also triggering a significant increase in blood sugar that may result in a sugar crash. Thus, it is important to look at the quality of the carbohydrates we consume.

Low glycaemic carbohydrates that provide sustained energy are the way to go, in order to keep our blood glucose response under control. At the same time, they also ensure a balanced energy supply for our fitness routines, or for us to go about our day without feeling tired.

Palatinose™ is derived from pure beet sugar and is also found in honey and sugar cane as a natural component. With a mild sweetness, its sensory profile is very similar to sugar, without any aftertaste. Palatinose™ not only acts as an energy source during activities, it is also fully yet slowly digested, providing energy in a sustained manner. This lower and more balanced blood glucose response results in less insulin release and an improved metabolic profile, without the significant drops in blood glucose that are often associated with conventional higher glycaemic sugars. In addition, balanced blood sugar levels help to support an improved fat burning rate.



But how exactly can slow-release carbohydrates such as Palatinose™ help both athletes and sports enthusiasts go the distance without the risk of the sugar crash?

There is such a thing as a healthy carb

Various studies[1] have established that Palatinose™ increases the proportion of energy that is derived from fat in overall energy consumption. This applies to both professional athletes, those leading dynamic lifestyles for health, as well as those who are less active. While the energy balance (the ratio of calorie intake to expenditure) is important, Palatinose™ does not increase the basal metabolic rate — which is, the total number of calories that your body needs to perform basic, life-sustaining functions.

Instead, Palatinose™ acts by increasing the fat burning rate, or the proportion of overall energy production that comes from fat oxidation. An increased fat burning rate means that active consumers can draw on their carbohydrate reserves for longer, and at the same time, burn fat more effectively.

This also indicates that Palatinose™ can play a decisive role in body composition and weight management. Athletes and sports enthusiasts can derive dual benefit from the functional carbohydrate — energy in the form of glucose is available for a longer period during endurance sports, while a greater proportion of energy can be released from body fat. This prevents total depletion of carbohydrate reserves, and contributes to sports performance.

Slow-release carbohydrates to get through the day

Consumers are becoming more aware of the importance that sustained energy release plays in their overall sense of well-being and energy levels. Take breakfast for example, which is often said to be the most important meal, as it replenishes the body’s supply of glucose and helps one get energised for the day. However, with many people facing increasing time constraints on morning routines, breakfast-on-the-go is becoming a growing trend. There is a slew of products and formulations that can cater to these needs like a low-glycaemic breakfast drink with carbohydrates, or cereal bars as mid-workout snack. Experts at the BENEO-Technology Center have developed recipes in which Palatinose™ replaces high glycaemic sugars, while maintaining good taste and texture.

There is no better time than now for manufacturers to address the needs of this rising consumer group looking for better and sustained energy. With alternative carbohydrates such as Palatinose™, manufacturers can offer products that are more aligned with the fitness and health goals of athletes as well as sports enthusiasts and can also support active people who are coping with their busy lifestyles.

Labor market reform and protecting migrant workers in the State of Qatar

Wazzup Pilipinas!


The law on uniform minimum wages, housing and food allowances will come into effect on March 20, 2021

The State of Qatar is so far the only one in the region that applies the law.

Introduction:

The rapid development of infrastructure and economic growth in Qatar has attracted hundreds of thousands of expatriatesand immigrant workers who seek to improve their living conditions and lives of their families. The State of Qatar is currently providing nearly two million job opportunities. One of the first priorities of The State of Qatar is to secure a decent life for expatriate workers, therefore the government is committed to reforming labor laws and all practices related to it in order to achieve a system appropriate to the needs of both workers and employers.



Appreciation & commitments:

And based on the moral and human values believes in, The State of Qatar appreciated the important role of expatriate workers in supporting the economic development in the country, and committed - to provide a fair and effective work system that provides protection for all workers, and based on that The State of Qatar has undertaken many reforms in the labor market,



Historic Step:

In a historic step, The State of Qatar the pioneer in this field, has introduced major changes to the labor market, and also became the first country in the region to adopt a unified minimum wage, the step was praised by the International Labor Organization and other labor institutions>



Workers’ Free Movement & Abolition of “Kafala”:

after the adoption of Law No. 19 of 2020 on August 30 2020, migrant workers can now change their jobs before the end of their contracts without the need to obtain a no-objection certificate from the previous employer, and in addition to canceling the exit visa, the law effectively abolishes the sponsorship system “Kafala” and marks the beginning of a new era for the Qatari labor market.



Minimum Wage & Allowances of Food and Accommodation:

Established a basic minimum wage of 1,000 Qatari riyals ($ 274) that applies to all workers, regardless of nationality or sector, to replace the temporary basic minimum wage of 750 riyals ($ 205). Under the new legislation, if the employer does not provide food or accommodation, he must provide allowances of 300 riyals ($ 82) for food and 500 riyals ($ 137) for accommodation, with a total of a minimum of 1,800 riyals ($ 494)



Protection from Exploitation:

The State of Qatar has worked to protect workers from exposure to exploitation by setting up a wage protection system, which seeks to end the culture of paying salaries in cash, which exposes the expatriate workforce to the risk of exploitation around the world. In addition, the new system enables Qatari authorities to monitor the payment of wages, and to ensure that migrant workers receive their full salaries on time without delay as stipulated in their contracts.

The State of Qatar is never complacent in enforcing labor laws and is committed to holding accountable employers who abide by the laws. Qatar also introduced amendments to the Labor Law, imposing stricter penalties on employers who do not pay their workers' wages, and increasing the number of labor dispute settlement committees, to give workers an easier and faster way to pursue their grievances against employers.

Establishing workers insurance and support fund aimed at disbursing financial dues to workers as approved by the Labor Dispute Settlement Committee, in the case of the company’s bankruptcy and inability to pay their dues.

Enhancing economic development efforts:

• According to one of the objectives of Qatar National Vision 2030, which is to attract workers, take care of their rights and ensure their safety, the new law will enhance economic development efforts and open horizons for investors, employers and employees alike, thus increasing competition in the labor market in The State of Qatar by permitting employees to change employers, and allow employers to attract the best skills in the local market, employees will be able to search for new job opportunities in The State of Qatar and boost the economy through local and international companies.

• Employees will be able to terminate their contracts by submitting a written notice of at least one month in case they have worked for the employer for two years, or more.

• Employees may be placed under probation for a period to be agreed upon with the employer, provided that the probationary period does not exceed six months from the date of their work commencement.

• In case that employees had the access to sensitive information, the employer may stipulate in the employment contract that the worker, after the end of the contract, not compete with him in any competing project in the same economic sector for at least one year from the termination of the contract.



Administrative decisions, to ensure the quality of implementation:

• On January 16, 2020, Interior Minister Decision No. 95 of 2019 was issued, which revokes exit permits for all expatriates who are not subject to Qatar's labor law.

• The State of Qatar has employed inspectors “males & females” who speak several languages and have specialized skills in labor inspection. The Ministry of Administrative Development, Labor and Social Affairs has provided the latest technologies for labor inspectors, including GPS systems, allowing them to submit reports online and in the due time.



Complaints Hotline:

• In order to facilitate the complaints system for expatriate workers, • The State of Qatar has worked to provide and increase the means available for reporting complaints against employers. A hotline has been established throughout the day, seven days a week, so that workers can communicate through it to submit complaints, and the state has provided 11 self-service complaints machines (operating in 11 languages) in the Labor Relations Department of the Ministry of Administrative Development, Labor and Social Affairs located in 11 regions in the country. Through these devices, the worker can file a complaint against the employer without disclosing his/her name.



Free Quality Healthcare:

• The State of Qatar provides free health care for expatriate workers, distributes masks, vaccinations and free treatment in the event of infection with Covid 19, and allocates a hotline to answer all questions about the Corona virus in several languages, and publishes videos that include tips for preventing the virus in several languages.



Organizing World Cup:

• After The State of Qatar won the organization of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, the Supreme Committee for Projects continues to develop and improve standards related to the welfare of workers. The Workers’ Welfare Unit’s responsibility has been expanded to include services associated with hosting major global and regional events.

Electronic medical records:

• Medical records for workers were launched in an initiative that is the first of its kind for workers in Qatar, which is to allocate a medical record to every worker that doctors can view, and to provide health services, including examinations and treatment, according to the diagnosis.

Nutrition program:

• A nutrition program, the first of its kind, was implemented to improve workers' nutritional habits and raise their awareness of the importance of maintaining their health.

Mental health:

• The Supreme Committee in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Hamad Medical Corporation to provide mental health care to workers, and to allocate clinics for them. So far, more than 4,000 workers have been examined.

Study of heat stress:

• The Supreme Committee in coordination with the International Labor Organization and the Ministry of Administrative Development to study the effect of heat stress on workers in Qatar, by providing cooling technologies such as jackets and masks, specially designed for that purpose.



Qatar is the favorite for Filipinos:

Preferred to stay in Qatar despite the Pandemic:

As witness to that, what was published in the press last Oct 2020 , “The Embassy of the Philippines in Qatar halted repatriation efforts as more Filipino expatriate workers are choosing to stay and work in Qatar despite the epidemic. Philippine Ambassador to Qatar Alan Tambayan said the embassy had been unable to fill the required seats on the last three charter flights it arranged to bring workers back abroad. We have suspended registration via the Internet, he added, ,and in the last three flights, we failed to fill 354 seats”

It is important to mention that, The State of Qatar is now hosting almost 300 thousand Filipino worker.