MEMBERS OF TASK FORCE ON HANJIN RESIGN

Iba, Zambales. Members of Task Force on Hanjin resigned yesterday afternoon personally to Zambales Governor Amor D. Deloso.

The said task force headed by former Zambales Vice Governor Ramon Lacbain II was created by virtue of Executive Order No. 1-07 signed by Governor Deloso on July 16, 2007.

Aside from Lacbain, those who signed the resignation letter were vice chairman Atty. Carlos Castillo, Jr., Andres Sazon, Belen Figueras, Engr. Dave Maceda, Mario Llenares, Mark Figueras and Divina Castillo.

Former Subic Councilor Ruben Gaduang did not sign the resignation letter while Geronimo Ramos Jr. resigned to Chairman Lacbain three months ago.

“We believe that after one year since you created the task force on Hanjin under your office that there is a need to mobilize the people from various sectors either individually or through civil society organizations so that they will be involved in finding and acting on solutions to various issues and concerns affecting their families, their livelihood, their basic human rights and their environment brought about by the Hanjin shipbuilding project” according to their resignation letter.

Lacbain clarified that although they resigned but they will continue their advocacies, programs and projects for the good of the people of Zambales and Olongapo City through the People’s Task Force on Hanjin & Subic Bay Inc. which is a newly registered non-stock and non-profit corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

“The power of this new task force shall come from the people and it shall oversee not only Hanjin but the entire Subic Bay which we believe also needs the attention and monitoring of the people most especially with the influx of so many investors to the detriment of the environment and the people”, according to Lacbain who is also the chairman of the board of this new task force.

Among the members of the board of trustees of this new task force include vice chairman Atty. Carlos Castillo, Jr.; secretary Myrna Matira; treasurer Jewin Rivera; auditor Edgar Picache; pro Andres Sazon; legal counsel Olongapo City councilor John Carlos delos Reyes; and directors Alex Hermoso, Dr. Adorable Castor, Aurora Flores and Wifredo Borcena.

The task force aims to recruit about 5,000 individual members and build alliances with various socio-civic and civil society organizations within the city of Olongapo , the towns of Zambales including the towns of Morong and Hermosa in Bataan which are both part of the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

Among the many issues which the people’s task force would like the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority and Hanjin corporation to address immediately include the full compensation of 94 unpaid settlers of Sitio Agusuhin which became the site of Hanjin project, the establishment of new relocation site and livelihood assistance for the families of Sitio Agusuhin who were made to live the worst relocation site on top of the mountain, the full payment of compensation to 32 members of Agusuhin Community Reforestation Association, the completion of Nagyantoc relocation site and livelihood assistance to the families.

The new people’s task force will also fight for the rights and welfare of the workers of Hanjin shipbuilding project in Subic Bay and demand the company’s strict compliance with occupational health and safety standards of the Philippines to ensure that zero death and accident is achieved.

Zambales governor Amor Deloso has committed to support the new task force to forge a strong partnership with his office for the sake of the people of Zambales.

"With the provincial government and the people working together there is no doubt that we can achieve our goal of maximizing the benefits for the people and the province from the Hanjin project as well as from other businesses in the freeport" acccording to governor Deloso. .

AKBAYAN Solon Welcomes Filing of Homicide Case Against Hanjin Driver

AKBAYAN Representative Risa Hontiveros welcomes the resolution of Assistant Provincial Prosecutor Joy Bayona recommending the filing of Reckless Imprudence Resulting in Homicide against the truck driver of Hanjin's Korean sub-contractor who caused the death of Reynan Loquinario, a worker in the shipbuilding facility.



Loquinario died last December 28, 2008 when he fell from a truck driven recklessly by Korean national Jang Jong Dae.



"The filing of a homicide case against the Korean driver is the necessary first step in holding Hanjin responsible for the more than 12 death in theshipyard since 2006," Rep. Hontiveros said.



The AKBAYAN solon called for continued vigilance against Hanjin and its subcontractors. "Hanjin's Subic shipyard is a killing field for Filipino workers. Even if they claim that they observe safety standards, the reality of the deaths and accidents will prove otherwise."



Rep. Hontiveros also encouraged families of victims and worker-victims to immediately file charges against Hanjin and its subcontractors before the courts. "Their failure to observe occupational health and safety standards has killed and hurt so many Filipino workers. The government, particularly DOLE and SBMA, continues to fail in holding Hanjin responsible for the accidents and enforce safety standards. So the victims and families must take their case to court"



"We will continue to monitor health and safety standards in Hanjin. They cannot get off the hook by merely putting the blame for the accidents on their subcontractors."



Rep. Hontiveros reiterated the call for the immediate passage of HB 2453, an anti-contractualization legislation. "This would prevent companies from further abusing permissible subcontracting in order to evade paying workers benefits and prevent workers from acquiring regular employment status." By: Belen Figueras

Hanjin stopped from hiring local labor in Zambales

The Zambales provincial government has stopped Korean shipbuilding firm Hanjin from recruiting local labor due to its refusal to bear the hospital or burial expenses of workers who figured in accidents or work-related illnesses at Hanjin.

At least eight work-related deaths prompted Governor Amor Deloso on Wednesday to stop Hanjin from recruiting workers in the province.

"Every time a Hanjin worker dies, regardless of whether he or she is directly hired or subcontracted, the provincial government shoulders the medical or funeral expenses. That's P50,000 for every case," Deloso told the Philippine Daily Inquirer, parent company of INQUIRER.net.

"As a lawyer, I cannot file a case against Hanjin because it always passes the liability to the subcontractors. The subcontractors tell me, on the other hand, that it was Hanjin's liability. What do you do?" he said.

Deloso said he would lift the labor recruitment ban only if Hanjin owned the responsibility for the safety of workers.

Another worker at the shipyard of the Hanjin Heavy Industries & Construction Phil. Inc. in Subic, Zambales, died of malaria on May 20, the Task Force Hanjin of the provincial government said on Thursday.

Rodel Endalaga, 28, was the second Hanjin worker who had died of the mosquito-borne virus since last week, the task force said in a report. A blood smear test confirmed he had the virus P. falciparum, according to task force co-chair Ramon Lacbain II.

Malaria was also the confirmed cause of death of Mark Anthony Daan, 28, on May 14. His six co-workers in the subcontracting firm Less Builders survived.

Endalaga's identification card showed he was working at Hanjin's motor pool as a "helper mechanic" for already a year. He lived in the village of Aningway-Sakatihan in Subic town where malaria is "endemic," according to a report released by the Department of Health (DoH) last January.

Lacbain said the first aid medical slip issued by the Hanjin clinic to Endalaga on May 16 showed him to be suffering from fever for 10 days. The nurse, identified only as "D. Gonzales," recommended medical examination.

"Hanjin's health care workers did not bring [Endalaga] to the Subic municipal health clinic. He went there by himself," Lacbain said, citing the accounts of Endalaga's co-workers.

His family took him to the San Marcelino District Hospital on May 18 and transferred him to the James L. Gordon Memorial Hospital in Olongapo City where he died. He has three children aged 5, 3 and 2.

Endalaga's wife, Gemalyn, said Hanjin did not extend help in paying for hospitalization or funeral service costs.

Pyeong Jong Yu, Hanjin general manager, did not reply when sought for comment on Thursday.

Dr. Rio Magpantay, director of the DoH in Central Luzon, said his office has been investigating recent malaria cases.

In January, DoH officials declared the malaria outbreak to be "under control." The DoH's National Epidemiology Center counted 321 malaria cases among workers and residents around Hanjin's shipyard from January to June 2007, a report showed.

The center's investigation showed that "the village with the highest attack rate was Barangay Cawag where Hanjin's construction site is situated."

Of the 201 cases monitored from January to May 2007, at least 183 originated in Cawag, five in Naugsol, five in Mangan Vaca, two in Calapacuan and six in other villages.

The figures rose to 321 in June 2007.

Subic town reported 85 malaria cases in 2003, 68 in 2004, 151 in 2005, and 261 in 2006. By Tonette Orejas - Inquirer Central Luzon Desk

MANGAGAWA NG HANJIN SA SUBIC, PATAY SA MALARIA

Isa na namang manggagawa ng Hanjin shipbuilding project sa Subic Bay Freeport Zone ang namatay sa sakit na malaria noong isang araw.

Nakilala ang panibagong biktima ng sakit na malaria na si Rodel Dulay Ednalaga, 28 taong gulang, may tatlong anak at naninirahan sa Brgy. Aningway-Sakatihan, Subic, Zambales.

Ayon sa kanyang identification card mula sa Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction Co. Ltd., siya ay isang taon nang nagtatrabaho bilang helper mechanic sa motorpool nito.

Pinauwi si Rodel mula sa kanyang trabaho noong Mayo 13 dahil sa kanyang lagnat at muling ipinatawag sa trabaho noong Mayo 16 para maekasamin sa clinic ng Hanjin.

Ayon sa First Aid Medical Slip ng Hanjin Clinic na may lagda ni D. Gonzales, isang registered nurse ay 10 araw na pala siyang nilalagnat kaya inirekomenda ang karagdagan pang pagsusuri.

Sa kibila ng karamdaman ni Rodel at sa halip na ihatid siya ng Hanjin Clinic ay mag-isang nagtungo si Rodel sa Municipal Health Center ng Subic. Doon nga ay nalaman sa isinagawang blood examination na siya ay may malaria.

Noong Linggo Mayo 18 ay saka pa lamang siya dinala ng kanyang pamilya sa San Marcelino District Hospital at dahil lalong lumalala ang kanyang karamdaman ay nagpasya ang pamilya na ilipat siya sa James Gordon Memorial Hospital noong Mayo 20 at doon na siya namatay.

Hanggang sa mga oras na ito ay wala pa ring anumang naibibigay na tulong ang Hanjin sa asawa ni Rodel na si Gemalyn Pahayahay at sa kanyang tatlong anak na sina Rodelyn, 3, Anthony, 5 at Hazel Rose, 2. Kasalukuyang nakaburol ang kanyang mga labi sa kanilang tahanan sa Brgy. Aningway, Subic, Zambales.

Ayon kay Fidel Ednalaga ay panganay si Rodel sa kanyang tatlong anak sa kanyang ikalawang asawa. Ang kanilang buong pamilya ay nagmula sa Brgy. Baloganon, Masinloc, Zambales.

Noong nakarang linggo lamang, dahil din sa sakit na malaria ay namatay si Mark Anthony Daan, 29 taong gulang at naospital naman ang anim na iba pa na pawang mga taga Brgy. Sta. Rita, Masinloc, Zambales at mga nagtatrabaho sa Less Builders na isang sub-contractor ng Hanjin.

Dahil dito ay nanawagan na si Ramon Lacbain II, Chairman ng Task Force Hanjin sa mga opisyales ng Hanjin, ng Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, mga lokal ng pamahalaan ng Subic, Olongapo City at lalawigan ng Zambales kasama na ang Department of Health na magsagawa ng mga agarang hakbang upang maiwasan ang susunod pang mamatay o magkakasakit dahil sa malaria.

“Nakakaawa din ang mga pamilya ng mga namamatay o nagkakasakit na mga mangagawa ng Hanjin sapagkat hindi nila alam kung saan sila kukuha ng pera o tulong mula sa Hanjin o sa mga subcontractors nito para sa pampagamot o pampalibing.

Masyadong maliit ang kanilang sinusweldo tapos magkakasakit pa sila at mas matindi pa kung sila’y mamamatay. Minsan nag-iisip na ang mga tao kung talaga bang tulong ang pagdating ng Hanjin dito sa Subic Bay o perwesyo lamang”, ayon kay Lacbain.

Mabuti na lamang at may ibang mga pamilya ang nagpapaabot sa kaalaman ng Task Force Hanjin tungkol sa pagkamatay o pagkakasakit dahil sa malaria ng kanilang mga kapamilya na nagtatrabaho sa Hanjin shipbuilding project, paano na lamang yong hindi na nagpapasabi baka mas marami pa palang maiiulat na apektado ng malaria.

Ayon sa ulat ng National Epidemiology Center ng Department of Health ay talagang endemic ang lamok na may dalang malaria sa tatlong mga barangay sa Subic, Zambales kagaya ng Naugsol, Aningway-Sakatihan at sa Cawag kung saan naroroon ang Hanjin shjipbuilding project na mayroong mga 13,000 mangagawa at patuloy pang dumarami.

Inirekomenda ng nasabing DOH sa Hanjin ang patuloy na pagbibigay kaalaman sa mga mangaggawa nito kung paano makakaiwas sa malaria at gayundin naman ang palagiang pagmomonitor at agarang paggagamot sa mga apektado ng malaria na mga mangagawa nito. Mon Lacbain - Task Force Hanjin

CONSTRUCTION WORKER SA HANJIN SHIPBUILDING PATAY

ISANG CONSTRUCTION WORKER SA HANJIN SHIPBUILDING PATAY AT 6 NA IBA PA
NAOSPITAL DAHIL SA MALARIA

Masinloc, Zambales, Isang construction worker sa Hanjin shipbuilding project sa Subic, Zambales na si Mark Anthony Daan, 28 taon gulang ang namatay dahil sa sakit na malaria noong Mayo 14.

Maliban kay Mark Anthony ay naospital naman ang 6 pang kasamahan niyang construction workers ng Less Builders na isang sub-contractor ng Hanjin Heavy Industries & Construction Company. Ito ay sina Aron Ebuen, Bernard Efe, Noel Esman at Jojo Estella na nakalabas na ng Iba provincial hospital matapos na gamutin sa sakit na malaria.

Samanatalang kasalukuyan pang nasa nasabi ring ospital sina Juven Pindon at Jano Elardo. Ang namatay na si Mark Anthony at ang 6 pang naospital ay pawing mga residente ng barangay Bani sa Masinloc, Zambales.

Ayon kay Grace ay umuwi sa kanilang bahay ang kanyang asawang si Mark Anthony noong Mayo 4 at ng sumunod na araw ay nagsimula na itong makaramdam ng sakit ng tiyan, lagnat at matinding pagka-ginaw.

Kaya’t noong Mayo 6 ay dinala nila si Mark Anthony sa Candelaria District Hospital at doon nga ay nakonpirma na ang kanyang dugo ay positibo sa virus na p. falciparum na nagdudulot ng sakit na malaria kaya sya ay agad namang inilipat sa Iba provincial hospital. Subalit makalipas ng ilang araw ay namatay si Mark Anthony.

Nakatakdang magsagawa ng inspeksyon ang Task Force Hanjin sa sinasabing barracks ng mga construction workers ng Less Builders at iba pang sub-constractors na nasa labas ng Hanjin shipbuilding compound na sinasabing wala sa maayos na kalagayan na maaring dahilan upang kumalat ang mga lamok na may dalang malaria.

Makikipag-ugnayan din naman ang Task Force Hanjin sa Department of Health para sa mga agarang gawain para maiwasan ang pagkalat ng sakit na malaria sa mga manggagawa ng Hanjin at mga residente ng apektadong barangay ng Cawag sa Subic, Zambales. By Mon Lacbain - Task Force Hanjin

PAGKAMATAY NG MGA MANGGAGAWA GINUNITA SA OLONGAPO

Olongapo City- “ Jobs should provide workers with a living—not cause deaths”, ito ang mensahe ng mga mangagawa, NGO’s, people’s organization at progresibong mga pulitiko na dumalo sa paggunita ng International Memorial Day for Dead and Injured Workers sa Olongapo City kahapon.

Sa mensahe ni Atty. Ernesto Arellano, National President of the National Union of Building and Construction Workers, binigyan niya ng diin na mahalagang ipagdiwang gunitain ang araw na ito sapagkat meron ng 2 milyong manggagawa ang namatay, 1.2 milyong ang nasugatan at 160 ang nagkasakit taon-taon sa buong mundo dulot ng hindi ligtas na kalagayan sa trabahop.

Ang pag-gumita ay ginanap sa lunsod ng Olongapo upang bigyan halaga ang kalagayan ng mga manggagawa sa loob ng Korean-owned Hanjin shipbuilding company sa Subic.

“Ang pangakong trabaho dulot ng pagtatayo ng Hanjin sa Subic ay nagdulot ng di maayos na kalagayan sa ating manggagawa, pagkamatay ng mga mangagawa bunsod ng tahasang paglabag ng dayuhang kumpanya sa batas ng paggawa, sa kalusugan at kaligtasan ng mga manggagawa”, pahayag ni Ruben Gaduang, Chairperson ng Kilusan para sa Pambansang Demokrasya (KPD).

Ayon kay Task Force Chairman Ramon Lacbain, ang pagkamatay ng mga manggagawa sa kumpanyang hanjin ay dulot ng ibat-ibang uri ng paglabag sa “Occupational Health and Safety standards” na pinatunayan ng notice of violations na inihain ng SBMA sa Hanjin. Ayon sa kanya, may 11 na ang namatay sa hanjin mula lamang noong 2007 hanggang March 2008, hindi pa kasama dito ang mga nasugatan at ang mga hindi nai-record.

“Because of Hanjin 450 families were displaced from from their home in Sitio Agusuhin. While they are building plush luxury condominiums for Koreans, the displaced families are languishing in sub-humane living condition. If Hanjin can subject its workers to precautious conditions, then it could tolerate the inhumane treatment of those displaced its operations,” dagdag pa ni Lacbain.

Nanawagan naman si AKBAYAN Representative Risa Hontiveros- Baraquel sa kanyang mga kasamahan sa kongreso sa umalalang kalagayan ng pagwawalang bahala sa kalusugan at kaligtasan ng mga manggagawa sa hanjin. “it is extremely appalling that Filipino workers are subjected to such danger by a foreign company enjoying the graces of Malacanang.” Diin ni Hontiveros.

Ang kongresista ng AKBAYAN ay nag-file ng Resolution 430 para sa pagsisiyasat ng kalagayan ng mga manggagawa sa Hanjin. Siya rin ay nag file ng House Bill 2453 upang limitahan ang sub-contracting ng labor sa 10% ng kabuan ng workforce ng kumpanya. “ we strongly believe that almost 90% of workers are sub-contracted and Hanjin uses this as an excuse when accidents happen. They pass on the responsibility to the sub-contractors by simply claiming that it is sub-contractors’ fault and not theirs.” Pagpapaliwag ni Hontiveros.

Naging madamdamin at puno ng galit sa Hanjin ang mga mensaheng binigkas ni Leticia Grateja Loquinario, ina ng mangagawang namatay sa hanjin na nagsampa rin ng kadong kriminal laban sa Hanjin at sa DMK sub-contractor ng Hanjin. “Napakabait ng anak ko upang dumanas ng walang katarungang kamatayan sa kumpanyang Hanjin, ilan pa ang buhay na mawawala dahil sa kanilang kapabayaan, hindi kayang bayaran ang buhay ng anak ko.. ang kailangan naming ay katarungan!” habang umiiyak na bigkas ni Mrs. Loquinario.

Ang grupo ay ngsagawa ng “symbolic candle lighting ceremony” upang alalahanin ang lahat ng namatay at nasugatan sa paggawa. “This should be a reminder of the pressing and urgent need for government and employers to take the health and safety of workers seriously. We cannot allow our labor force to continue to suffer because of dangerous work and dangerous workplaces. Deaths in the workplace must stop now,” pagwawakas na pananalita ni Atty. Arellano.

A symbolic candle lighting ceremony to commemorate those who have perished and have been injured in the workplace culminates the commemoration of the International Worker’ Memorial Day in Olongapo City yesterday. (L-R) Chester Amparo, Secretary-General of the Shipyard and Construction Workers’ Association; Atty. Ernesto Arellano, National President of the National Union of building and construction Workers; AKBAYAN Representative Riza Hontiveros-Baraquel; Task Force Hanjin Chairman Ramon Lacbain II; Ruben Gaduang, Chairperson of Kilusan para sa Pambansang Demokrasya (KPD); Leticia Loquinario,mother of dead Hanjin worker Reynan Loquinario and Mrs. Adamos, mother of Jeremias Adamos , victim of explosion at Hanjin job site. ni Belen Quintana-Figueras

WORKERS COMMEMORATE MEMORIAL DAY FOR THOSE WHO DIED IN THE WORK PLACE

Highlights Workers’ Plight in Subic Korean Company

A ceremony and press conference will be held on Sunday, 27 April 2008 10am at Max's Restaurant, Olongapo City

“Jobs should provide workers with a living, not cause deaths”

For the International Commemoration Day for Dead and Injured Workers, activists and workers will reiterate the call for safe working environments. The Philippine commemoration will focus on the unsafe and “deadly” working conditions in the ship-building facility of Hanjin-Philippines in Subic where accidents and deaths are prevalent.

Panel:

AKBAYAN Rep. Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel
National Union of Building and Construction Workers (NUBCW)
Ship-builders and Construction Workers Association (SCWA)
Kilusan para sa Pambansang Demokrasya (KPD)
Task Force Hanjin (TFH)