LOCAL BUSINESSES FAVOR TELECOMMUTING PRACTICE, CITE BENEFITS
Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry vice president Steven Yu said that by giving people “that extra convenience,” you can increase efficiency, spur productivity and innovativeness
BUSINESS leaders in Cebu say telecommuting is a viable option to help workers avoid the traffic but such system can only apply to certain jobs.
Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry vice president Steven Yu said the worsening traffic gridlocks strengthen the case for telecommuting work.
But while the business sector is open to adopt this work system, Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Virgilio Espeleta said this work practice is only applicable to jobs that don’t require physical presence at work.
“It really depends on the nature of work,” he said.
Yu believes telecommuting is now even more viable, thanks to technological advances.
“Our current traffic congestion also strengthens and supports the case for telecommuting work,” Yu said.
While such is bound to happen, he noted it doesn’t necessarily apply to all types of work.
“Certain jobs require physical presence to get the work done,” Yu said.
Espeleta cited jobs in sales as among those that can be done via telecommuting.
Jobs in manufacturing, services and retail, however, require physical presence of workers.
“The business sector has to be open to such kind of doing business,” the CCCI official said, stressing on its applicability amid the traffic problem. “Today, it’s more stressful to commute than actually work,” he added.
Yu said that giving people “that extra convenience” can increase efficiency, spur productivity and innovativeness. It can also give them a work-life balance which could translate to lesser employee turnover.
“These trends are unthinkable before, but are now unstoppable,” he said.
The Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) 7 earlier urged local businesses to implement telecommuting.
Dole 7 Director Salome Siaton said the agency doesn’t have yet a database on Cebu companies allowing this system for their workers.
But the agency sees telecommuting as a way to help lessen road congestion, especially in the key cities of Metro Cebu, where economic activities are concentrated and the influx of workers is generally felt.
This work practice though would require a set of clearly defined guidelines and rules that would govern its implementation in various companies.
THE Philippines ranked 67th out of 129 countries in the 2019 International Property Rights Index (IPRI) Report.
This is an improvement from rank 70 out of 125 countries in 2018. The country scored 5.31 in 2019 and 5.22 in 2018.
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez reiterated the government’s commitment in providing protection on physical and intangible properties during the launch of the IPRI on Oct. 16, 2019.
According to the Trade chief, the government is actively pursuing the eradication of corruption in every aspect of society as well as pursuing the implementation of state policies on intellectual property.
High IPRI scores show high income and high development levels in a country and indicates a positive relationship between property rights regime and quality of life.
Lopez conveyed the importance of the IPRI as it focuses on one of the most important assets of humanity—the right to own, control, sell, donate and transfer one’s property.
Present during the launch were Foundation for Economic Freedom chairman Roberto De Ocampo, president Calixto Chikiamco, and Romy Bernardo, Minimal Government Thinkers president Bienvenido Oplas Jr, Hernando de Soto, Sary Levy-Carciente, Property Rights Alliance executive director Lorenzo Montanari and Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines director general Josephine Santiago.