DOLE chief: DOLE is exerting effort to get to the bottom of the sex-for-fly allegations

It is the DOLEthrough the investigating committee that I have createdthat is getting to the bottom of the sex-forfly allegations. This is the statement of Secretary of Labor and Employment Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz yesterday after she received an update report on the status of the investigation she ordered on the allegations. Baldoz, who is in Milan together with Secretary of Agriculture Proceso Alcala for the Agribusiness Investment Forum for the National Reintegration Program for OFWs (overseas Filipino workers), said DOLE has an understanding with the Department of Foreign Affairs that the parallel investigation the two agencies are doing will be thorough and complete.

There is such a thing as due process, and we would like to abide by it. The allegations came public on 12 June. On June 13, I issued Administrative Order No. 239, series of 2013, creating a team that will investigate the allegations. But until now, there has not been a single person who had filed a formal complaint against the DOLE personnel named in the allegations that continues to play out in the media, said Baldoz.

The facts are that Welfare Officer Mario Antonio, who was assigned in Jordan, is already in the Philippines when the allegations came out and has been required by the investigating committee to submit his explanation. On the other hand, Blas Marquez, the local-hire employee in POLO Kuwait, has already been suspended on June 14; and the investigating panel has identified and contacted three OFWs who have said they have no knowledge of the allegations, explained Baldoz.

The head of the DOLE investigating panel, Atty. Leah Fortuna, has reported to Baldoz that the team has identified the three who were part of the 48 alleged victims, but they said they have no personal knowledge of or information on the allegations. She said the investigating panel is looking for the remaining OFWs through the DOLE, Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) regional offices. dfIt is our people who are being accused in the media, but isnt it ironic that it is us who are looking out for complainants? asked Baldoz, as she appealed for cooperation so that the investigating team, whose main task involves gathering information and pertinent documents and to interview the concerned OFWs, can conclude its work fast.

Baldoz also expressed appreciation over the concern of some members of Congress for the fast resolution of the matter, including Rep. Walden Bello and Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, and she appealed to them to provide the DOLE any information available to them to fast track the work of the investigation team.

We are determined to get into the bottom of this issue as the DOLE does not condone any inappropriate act of any of its official and personnel, most especially if it involves the performance of their official duties, particularly those mandated to protect our OFWs. Integrity and sincerity in public service are among the core values that we in the DOLE have sworn to uphold and abide by in everything we do, Baldoz reiterated.

MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR NO. 48 June 14, 2013 MALACAAN PALACE MANILA

MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR NO. 48

DIRECTING ALL CONCERNED GOVERNMENT AGENCIES TO ADOPT THE GENDER EQUALITY GUIDELINES IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THEIR RESPECTIVE MEDIA POLICIES AND IMPLEMENTING PROGRAMS IN ORDER TO PROMOTE GENDER MAINSTREAMING

WHEREAS, Section 14, Article II of the 1987 Constitution provides that the State recognizes the role of women in nation-building, and shall ensure the fundamental equality before the law of women and men;

WHEREAS, Section 24, Article II of the 1987 Constitution provides that the State recognizes the vital role of communication and information in nation-building;

WHEREAS, Section 16, Chapter 4 of Republic Act No. 9710, otherwise known as The Magna Carta of Women, mandates the State to formulate policies and programs for the advancement of women in collaboration with government and non-government media-related organizations and to raise the consciousness of the general public in recognizing the dignity of women and the role and contribution of women in the family, community, and the society through the strategic use of mass media;

WHEREAS, the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act No. 9710 provide that the Office of the Press Secretary [now the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO)] and its attached agencies shall ensure formulation of policies and implementation of programs pursuant to the Republic Act No. 9710 and its IRR;

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 19 (B) of the IRR of Republic Act No. 9710, the PCOO, together with the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW), convened the Gender Equality Committee (GEC) mandated to promote gender mainstreaming and to formulate the gender equality guidelines and Code of Ethics for media;

WHEREAS, after conducting consultations with various stakeholders and representatives from the government and private media entities and the public sector, the GEC approved the following gender equality guidelines for media: Gender Equality Guide, Code of Ethics for Media, and Guidelines to Protect Women against Discrimination in Media and Film;

WHEREAS, Section 36, Chapter VI of Republic Act No. 9710 provides that all departments, including their attached agencies, offices, bureaus, state universities and colleges, government-owned and -controlled corporations, local government units, and other government instrumentalities shall adopt gender mainstreaming as a strategy to promote womens human rights and eliminate gender discrimination in their systems, structures, policies, programs, processes, and procedures;

WHEREAS, Section 28 (General Provisions) of Republic Act No. 10352, otherwise known as the General Appropriations Act of 2013, provides that all agencies of the government shall formulate a Gender and Development (GAD) Plan designed to address gender issues within their concerned sectors or mandate and implement applicable provisions under Republic Act No. 9710 and other laws, and that the GAD Plan shall be integrated in the regular activities of the agencies, which shall be at least five percent (5%) of their budgets;

NOW, THEREFORE, all concerned government agencies are directed to adopt the gender equality guidelines for media, namely: Gender Equality Guide, Code of Ethics for Media, and Guidelines to Protect Women against Discrimination in Media and Film, as frameworks in developing media policies and implementing programs in order to promote gender mainstreaming.

Expenses related to the implementation of this Memorandum Circular may be charged to the GAD budget, which is at least five percent (5%) of the total agency budget, and/or other available funds of the concerned agency.

This Memorandum Circular shall take effect immediately.

DONE in the City of Manila, this 30th day of May, in the year of Our Lord, Two Thousand and Thirteen.

By Authority of the President: (Sgd.) PAQUITO N. OCHOA, JR. Executive Secretary