PHL Post Office urges students to participate in the UPU Letter Writing Contest

Wazzup Pilipinas!?





The Philippine Post Office (PHLPost) and the Universal Postal Union (UPU), through the International Bureau, invites youth ages 9 to 15 to join its 51st International Letter Writing Competition for Young People, to strengthen literacy through the art of letter-writing.

"The contest is designed to develop the young people's skills in composition and the ability to express their thoughts clearly, to foster their enjoyment of letter-writing and to help strengthen the bonds of international friendship – one of the basic missions of the UPU," the Post Office said in a statement.

Supported by the Department of Education (DepEd), participants from public and private schools nationwide will have to write a letter to an “influential person about why and how to take action on climate change”.

Entries to the competition must be written in English, and should be handwritten with no erasures.

Submissions should not exceed 800 words and must contain the basic elements of a letter – heading, salutation, body of the letter, complimentary close and signature.

The Post Office reminded participants to indicate in a separate sheet of paper the following information: number of words of the letter composition, participant's complete name and home address, gender of the participant, age and date of birth, colored photo of the participant (300 dpi minimum), name and address of school including year or grade level of participant, and contact number of the school and the participant.

Entries should be placed in a brown envelope and be submitted strictly through Domestic Express Mail Service (DEMS) – UPU 51st International Letter Writing Competition for Young People (2022), Post Shop, Philately and Museum Division, Philippine Postal Corporation, 3/F Manila Central Post Office Building, Magallanes Drive Liwasang Bonifacio, Barangay 659-A, Ermita 1000 Manila. Entries sent via private couriers will be automatically disqualified.

Judging will be based on relevance to the theme of the composition (30 percent), imagination and originality of the contents (20 percent), demonstrates a good style of writing and communication (20 percent), demonstrates an extensive vocabulary (20 percent), and youthfulness of the tone (10 percent).

Submissions will be accepted until April 25, 2022, and the final winner will be determined on May 2, 2022.

First prize for the contest is P25,000 cash with medal and presentation frame, second prize will receive P15,000 with medal and presentation frame, and third prize will receive P10,000 with medal and presentation frame.

Interested participants may call Ms. Joy Edralin-Cacho at Tel. No. 8527-01-32 or visit the official website of the Philippine Postal Corporation at phlpost.gov.ph, Facebook pages @PHLpost and @Pilipinas Philately, or twitter account @phlpostofficial for updates on the letter-writing competition.

SM Supermalls partners with GSP to boost DOH's 'Resbakuna Kids' campaign

Wazzup Pilipinas!?



Laging Handa! SM Supermalls, the PH government’s single biggest private entity partner, together with Girl Scouts of the Philippines (GSP) launched Resbakuna Kids to vaccinate Girl Scouts aged 5-17 and adult members for booster shots at SM Megamall's Kids wonderland-themed vaccination site. The event was attended by SM Supermalls Senior VP for Marketing Joaquin San Agustin, SM Supermalls Asst. VP for Operations Ian Mathay, Mandaluyong City Hospital Director Cesar J. Tutaan and GSP National President Nina Lim-Yuson.



SM Supermalls teams up with the Girl Scouts of the Philippines (GSP) to boost the Department of Health’s ‘Resbakuna Kids’ nationwide vaccination campaign.

SM Supermalls’ ongoing vaccination efforts will now also welcome over 700,000 members of the GSP to get inoculated against COVID-19 starting April 2.

“We remain devoted to supporting the ‘Resbakuna Kids’ campaign of the Department of Health, and I think what’s more important is being able to administer the vaccinations particularly to the Girl Scouts of the Philippines who have not been vaccinated yet,” said Joaquin San Agustin, Senior Vice President of Marketing at SM Supermalls.

San Agustin also urged those who are still hesitant to get jabbed to safeguard the public’s health and safety.

“We encourage everyone to get vaccinated and for those who were vaccinated to get their boosters. It is not only for the safety of the person [but it is also] for the safety of their families and we, at SM Supermalls, will always welcome everyone for vaccinations here in our malls nationwide,” San Augstin said.

GSP National President Nina Lim-Yuson also echoed the need for children to get vaccinated so they can fulfill their duty of serving their communities.

“We know the Girl Scouts [of the Philippines] made their promise to serve God and our country and to help people at all times. You cannot help others if you are sick. We want everybody to be healthy and well, and that is why we hope they will all get vaccinated at SM Supermalls,” Yuson said.

This initiative led by SM Supermalls is encouraging members of the GSP who have not been vaccinated yet, especially children aged 5 to 11, 12 to 17 and senior citizens to get jabbed at their nearest SM mall vaccination site.

 

Prior to the vaccination day, GSP members must register in their respective local councils. Parents and guardians must also secure copies of any of the following documents: birth certificate, health records, school registration or ID, or baptismal certificate.

The collaboration between SM Supermalls and the GSP aims to speed up the vaccination rollout in the Philippines in order to achieve herd immunity in the country as soon as possible.

As the single biggest entity to vaccinate Filipinos in the country, SM Supermalls has already administered over 9.4 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines nationwide in its 78 mall vaccination sites. The mall chain remains dedicated in its commitment to ensuring a safe malling experience for the public through its staunch support of the government’s nationwide vaccination campaign.

Regino directs resumption of RACE operations in Metro Manila

Wazzup Pilipinas!?




Social Security System (SSS) President and CEO Michael G. Regino announced that the Run After Contribution Evaders (RACE) operations has been resumed in the National Capital Region (NCR) starting April 1, 2022.

Subject to the first operations in the NCR are 10 non-compliant employers in Manila City with combined contribution delinquencies estimated to be about P26.26 million composed of P9.12 million past-due contributions and P17.14 million penalties, affecting around 95 SSS members.

“These employers were found to be delinquent in the payment of contributions even prior to the pandemic. As a general rule, we have given them 15 calendar days from the date of the SSS’ visit to settle their obligations,” Regino said.

The campaign in Manila is part of a series of RACE operations nationwide, which aims to exact the continuous compliance of delinquent employers with their statutory obligations under Republic Act No. 11199 or the Social Security Act of 2018, ensure the social security coverage of members, and enhance SSS’ collection efficiency.

“This time, we are giving non-compliant employers the option to settle their delinquencies through our Pandemic Relief and Restructuring Programs (PRRPs), which provides more amicable and flexible payment terms,” Regino said.

In November 2021, the SSS launched PRRPs to alleviate the burden of employers and members adversely affected by the pandemic.

Among these programs is the PRRP 2, a social security contribution penalty condonation program for employers, which covers the applicable month of March 2020 and onwards. Qualified employers can settle their delinquencies through full payment or installment with the condonation of accrued penalties. This program will run until May 19, 2022.

Another is the PRRP 3 or the Enhanced Installment Payment Program, which allows qualified employers to settle their past-due SS and Employees’ Compensation contributions in installment with payment terms ranging from nine to 60 months, depending on the total amount of delinquency. It will run until November 22, 2022.

The complete details of PRRPs 2 and 3 can be accessed at https://bit.ly/SSSCI2021-015, and https://bit.ly/SSSPRRP3, respectively.

“We urge delinquent employers to voluntarily fulfill their obligations under the Social Security Law. They should be our partners in providing meaningful social security protection to our private-sector workers,” Regino said.

Under RA No. 11199, an employer who fails or refuses to register their employees, deduct contributions from them, and/or fails to remit the same, including the employer's share to the SSS, will be penalized by a fine of P5,000 to P20,000, and/or be imprisoned for six years and one day to 12 years, at the discretion of the court.

The SSS has so far conducted 15 RACE operations in different areas nationwide this year. It plans to carry out more in the coming days and months as it aims to conduct at least three operations for each of its Branch Operations Divisions. Other measures to ensure employers’ compliance with the Social Security Law are also continuously implemented.