MANILA – Despite the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic, the various quarantine levels still being implemented in many parts of the country and other challenges, the Philippine Association of Legitimate Service Contractors (PALSCON) will still push through with the 10th edition of the PALSCON National Conference 2020, to be held from November 24 to 25 via Zoom.
Restrictions in the holding of mass gatherings such as conferences and other events, as mandated by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF), are still in place. This is why PALSCON decided to hold its 10th National Conference under a “virtual” environment to avoid face-to-face meetings between conference attendees.
Vice President of the Republic of the Philippines, Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo, and Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III are expected to grace the event as keynote speakers on the first day.
On the second day, Senator Sherwin “Win” Gatchalian and Rep. Enrico Pineda, Chairman of the House Committee on Labor and Employment, will be the guests of honor.
“Survival is innate among us. So many natural calamities such as typhoons, earthquakes and other catastrophic disasters, including this current pandemic, has taught Filipinos to become more flexible and resilient, especially during these trying times,” said Froilan Florendo, Chairman of the 2020 PALSCON National Conference, which carries the theme “Leading. Transforming. Service Contracting.”
PALSCON, as defined by lawyer Giovanni Melgar, Chairman of the 2011 PALSCON National Conference, is an association composed mainly of responsible and law-abiding service contractors, all managed by business professionals who advocate good governance.
For Rodolfo Enriquez, chairman of the 2013 PALSCON National Conference, the association’s prime objective is not only to provide jobs to the unemployed, particularly to the new graduates who year in and year out add on to the country’s growing labor force, but also make sure that its members all abide by the country’s labor laws.
Over the years, Florendo says PALSCON has been continually advocating for responsible service contracting by ensuring the legitimacy of the services it provides, to make sure that workers are all well trained and equipped with the necessary skills that principals look for.
The group also sees to it that employees are protected through the payment of correct wages and other benefits as mandated by the country’s labor laws, ensure security of tenure, and that they are also in a safe working environment.
PALSCON also ensures that working in the service contracting industry can be an effective training ground for employees to further hone their skills and knowledge to prepare them for a better future and be contributors to national economic growth.
Over the years, PALSCON has been relentless in its efforts to educate the public about the service contracting industry, spread awareness about its contributions to the national economy through the taxes its members pay and the millions of jobs they help provide to Filipinos, and to erase misconceptions or false perceptions about our industry.”
Melgar said the pandemic also opened the eyes of many of PALSCON’s members to look for ways on how to adapt and solve the challenges currently facing them.
Among them is how to improve their operations and services by going online and digitizing their services so clients or principals will still avail them. But despite the pandemic, the jobs lost and the layoffs, PALSCON still managed to deploy workers to factories, provide work-from-home jobs, and even online training, says 2018 PALSCON National Conference Chairman Alexander Chichioco.
And the vaunted “bayanihan” trait of Filipinos is also alive in PALSCON, added Chichioco.
At the onset of the crisis, PALSCON implemented its TLC or “Tulong Laban sa COVID” project, where they donated more than PHP1.2 million to medical front-liners in 12 government hospitals nationwide, and facilitated a financial assistance program to more than 500,000 Filipino workers.
PALSCON believes that everything that is happening is just temporary because the government continues to find solutions. Raffy Chico, Chairman of the 2014 PALSCON National Conference, says PALSCON should re-tool and re-invent itself, to adapt and bounce back together.
“We are in a very precarious situation so we need to adapt and pivot. Perhaps this will be the perfect time to learn more and even unlearn new things to propel our industry forward,” retorts Arturo Guerrero III, Chairman of the 2016 PALSCON National Conference.
Aside from the inspirational messages from guests, there will also be interesting panel discussions such as “Leading Service Contracting to a Better Normal” on Day 1, featuring DOLE Undersecretary Benjo Benavidez, Greg Chen from the World Employment Federation, Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP) President Sergio Ortiz-Luis, Jr. and Guerrero III on service contracting in the Philippines, and moderated by RJ Ledesma. There will also be a Learning Session, “Visionary Leadership in Business and Service Contracting Business in a Pandemic Economy” featuring session speaker Vivian Fuentes, President of Global Mode Manpower Services, with Lorenzo Consulta, Vice President of the Romac Group of Companies from PALSCON Region 3 as a reactor.
The panel discussion in Day 2, “Transforming Service Contracting Across Industries” will feature Arthur Lopez, President of the Hotel Association of the Philippines, Rosemarie Ong, Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Wilcon Depot, Engr. Michael Magpusao, Vice President of Ayala Land, Inc., and Atty. Giovanni Melgar, Chairman of the Melgar Brothers Holding Corporation. The panel discussion will be moderated by Freddie Marquez. The learning session for Day 2, “Strengthening Mental Health Wellness and Prevention of COVID Anxieties,” will feature session speaker Ging Igual, who will talk of “Recalibrating Quality of Life: Creating Balance in Challenging Times,” with Sarah Deloraya-Mateo, President of SP Deloraya Management Consultancy and Job Contracting Services and also PALSCON National Past President and President of PCCI-QC Chapter, as a reactor.
Lawyer Josephus Jimenez, former DOLE Undersecretary, Labor Arbiter, and Labor Attaché to Malaysia, Taiwan and Kuwait, will deliver the closing keynote.
For information on how to register for the 10th PALSCON National Conference 2020 and other details, visit https://palscon.org/news-manager/2020/31/10th-national-conference-november-12-to-13-2020-via-zoom/. (PR)
