Volume 18 v Number 6 June 2014www.nwpc.dole.gov.ph

The Offi cial Newsletter of the National Wages and Productivity CommissionT

ED Sy participates in 103rd Session of the International Labour Conference

Executive Director Maria Criselda R. Sy joined the worker, employer,

and government delegates in the 103rd International Labour

Conference - the International Labor Organization’s highest decision

making body - to discuss labour migration, employment strategies,

ways out of informality and strengthening ILO Convention 29 on force

labour in Geneva, Switzerland last 27May to 12 June 2014.

Secretary Baldoz served as the Philippine government’s

minister in the conference while Undersecretary Rebecca C. Chato

headed the delegation composed of Executive Director Sy, NCMB

Executive Director Reynaldo R. Ubaldo, NCR Regional Director Alex V.

Avila, Legal Service OIC-Director Romeo B. Montefalco, Jr. and ILAB

OIC-Dir. Saul De Vries.

In her statement, Secretary Baldoz highlighted fair migration

as one of the signifi cant agenda of the conference. According to

her, the Philippines is one of the few countries that ratifi ed the UN

Convention on the Rights of Migrants and their Families.

“The UN Committee on Migrant Workers recently affi rmed

our role as a model in migration management with commitment to

protect migrant workers’ rights , demonstrated by a strong legal,

social, and institutional framework, broad domestic and foreign policy

agenda, and leading role in advancing migrant workers’ rights at

the international, regional, and bilateral levels,” the Secretary said

during the morning plenary sitting of the Conference.

The tripartite constituents of the 2014 Conference critically

reviewed actions taken by the member states and ILO in assessing

the effectiveness of responses and the options for the future of labor

markets.

ED Sy was tasked to sit in the Technical Committee on

Transitioning Informal to Formal Economy. The issue is a signifi cant by Jerome P. Lucas

June 2014News

Minimum Wage Ratesas of June 30, 2014

Reg i on ’s Wage Order

N o n -Agriculture

Effectivity Date

Wage Order No. NCR-18

P466.00 October 4, 2013

Wage Order No. RB CAR-16

P280.00 February 3, 2014

Wage Order No. RB I-16

P253.00 February 05, 2014

Wage Order No. RB II-16

P255.00 January 05, 2014

Wage Order No. RB III-17

P366.00 October 11, 2012

Wage Order No. RB IVA-15

P362.50 May 1, 2014

Wage Order No. RB IVB-06

P275.00 February 1, 2013

Wage Order No. RB V-16

P260.00 January 10, 2014

Wage Order No. RBVI-21

P287.00 November 29, 2013

Wage Order No. RB VII-17

P340.00 March 21, 2014

Wage Order No. RB VIII-17

P260.00 October 16, 2012

Wage Order No. RB IX-I8

P280.00 June 10, 2013

Wage Order No. RB X-17

P306.00 June 20, 2013

Wage Order No. RB XI-18

P312.00 June 01, 2014

Wage Order No. RB XII-17

P270.00 April 18, 2012

Wage Order No. RB XIII-12

P268.00 May 21, 2013

Wage Order No. RB ARMM-15

P250.00 February 1, 2014

Lourdes M. SecillanoJulie Callope-LlorenteJerome P. Lucas

The NWPC Bulletin is published by the Information and

Publication Division of the National Wages and Productivity

Commission. Our address is 3rd Floor Dy International Building,

No. 1011 Gen. Malvar corner San Marcelino Streets, Malate,

Manila. Tel. Nos. 5275519, 5278011 to 17; Fax No. 5275139.

For comments, suggestions, and contributions, please write to

the Editor-in-Chief or e-mail us at web.nwpc@yahoo.com. You

may also visit our website at www.nwpc.dole.gov.ph.NWPCBulletin

Editor-In-ChiefManaging Editor

Layout Artist

Executive Director Maria Criselda R. SyDeputy Executive Director Patricia P. HornillaDeputy Executive Director Jeanette T. Damo

Director Elvira P. Jota Director Welma T. Sicangco

OIC-Director Jamie-Lyn J. Garcia

Elvira F. MangubatGladys S. Gatpandan

agenda in developed and developing countries, constitute 40 to

80% of its labor force. Since this item has been subjected under the

double discussion procedure, it will again be taken up during the 104th

Conference in 2015.

The Committee members agreed on adopting a framework

establishing the framework for facilitating the transition to formal

economy with the following purposes: 1) to reduce decent work

defi cits; 2) to reduce unfair competition between enterprises; and 3)

to protect revenue to build national social protection fl oors.

To effectively facilitate the transition, ED Sy believes that

the adoption of policy-based approach should be applied considering

the fact that in most cases, informality is an “issue of governance.”

That is through establishing legal and regulatory framework, stable

macroenomic environment, and the provision of incentives for the

informal enterprises.

As part of the DOLE’s commitment to pursue the global

initiative in the transition of informal to informal economy, the

following recommendations may be undertaken: 1) simplifying/

reviewing the processes for availing livelihood and training programs;

and 2) facilitating the easy access of livelihood benefi ciaries and

MSMEs to available DOLE training and capacity-building programs

including convergence programs.

The ILC also discussed the Force Labour Convention (No.

29) considering many people in the world are forced to do work or

service against their will. The Convention has been ratifi ed by 170

states and obliges governments to “suppress the use of forced or

compulsory labour in all its forms within the shortest possible period.”

The ILC is held every June and participated by 185 ILO

member states.

(Below L-R) Sec. Baldoz, Ambassador Cecilia B. Rabong (Philippine Permanent Representative to the United Nations Offi ce), Usec. Rebecca C. Chato, and Exec. Dir. Maria Criselda R. Sy. (Above L) Labor Attache Ma. Celeste Valderrama.

Secretary Baldoz proudly describing the Philippine government’s agenda for inclusive growth (Photo credits: Pouteau/ Crozet/ Albouy, retrieved from ILO Philippines Facebook account).

103rd Session of the ILC Plenary Sitting of the Conference: World of Work Summit. (From L-R) Moderator Mr. Andrew Walker (BBC), Hon. Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz, Secretary of the Philippine Department of Labor and Employment; Mr. Alfonso Navarrete Prida, Secretary of Labour and Social Welfare of Mexico; Mr. Ahmed Ammar Younbai, Minister of Social Affairs; Mr. Nicolas Schmit, Minister of Labour, Work and Social Economy; Mr. Erol Kiresepi, CEO of Santa Farma Pharmaceuticals; and Ms. Sharan Burrow, General Secretary, International Trade Union Confederation (Photo credits: Pouteau / Crozet/ Albouy, retrieved from ILO Flickr account).

ED Sy together with ASEAN delegates

RTWPB-NCR conducts...from page 3

by Board Sec. Aida T. Andres

The challenge for the NCR board is to “Clean and Green” the regional offi ce by taking training and monitoring and documenting the improvements. The Board also aims to showcase the best practices in the implementation of the program.

are: Baguio Kayang Cosmos Merchandising, New Luzon General Merchandise, Wi-Al Construction Builders, Hillstation Restaurant, Tuvera Pension House, Gemma’s Pancit and Spices Grocery Wilconstruct Enterprises, Union Construction, Good Taste Restaurant-Otek, Good Taste Restaurant-Dagohoy, Housemind Enterprises, Carpentrade Hardware, Phythos Technology Philippines Inc., 5 Cents Up Supermart Inc., Ivy Colors, Power Plus Store, The Manor at Camp John Hay or Camp John Hay LeisureInc., Pines Home Finishing, Kesyo Store, Naduma Enterprises Inc., South Drive Manor. Pancit and Spices Grocery Wilconstruct Enterprises, Union Construction, Good Taste Restaurant-Otek, Good Taste Restaurant-Dagohoy, Housemind Enterprises, Carpentrade Hardware, Phythos Technology Philippines Inc., 5 Cents Up Supermart Inc., Ivy Colors, Power Plus Store, The Manor at Camp John Hay or Camp John Hay Leisure Inc., Pines Home Finishing, Kesyo Store, Naduma Enterprises Inc., South Drive Manor.

The eff ects of giving...from page 6

by Board Secretary Ogie Aquillo

Board Secretary Aquillo with the representatives from the companies implementing the second tier.

The Philippines’ ranking dropped four (4) notches

from 38th in 2013 to 42nd in 2014 out of 60 countries in the latest World Competitiveness Yearbook (WCY), a Switzerland-based global business school International Institute of Management Development (IMD) released last 23 May 2014. Among the Asia-Pacifi c countries, the Philippines dropped to 12th this year from 11th last year. The WCY measures a country’s competitiveness using four broad factors: economic effi ciency, government effi ciency, business effi ciency, and

Indicator 2011 2012 2013 2014

Business Effi ciency 31 26 19 27

Sub-factors

a. Productivity and Effciency

43 55 41 42

b. Labor Market 5 1 1 4

c. Finance 29 26 26 37

d. Management Practices

27 24 24 33

e. Attitude and Values

20 9 9 15

2011-2014 IMD-WCY Ranking, Business Efficiency, Philippines

PH dropped four notches in World Competitiveness Ranking

by Maria Corazon P. Caritativo

Indicator 2011 2012 2013 2014

Overall performance 41 43 38 42

Among Asia-Pacifi c Nation

13 13 11 12

Factor Rankings:

a. Economic Performance

29 42 31 37

b. Government Effi ciency

37 32 31 40

c. Business Effi ciency

31 26 19 27

d. Infrastructure 57 55 57 59

2011-2014 IMD-WCY Ranking, Business Efficiency, Philippines

June 2014 News June 2014News

infrastructure. A m o n g others, the c o u n t r y ’ s ranking for b u s i n e s s effi ciency went down eight (8) notches from 19th in 2012 to 27th in 2013 due to the decline in the productivity and effi ciency sub-factor by one notch ranking, in the fi nance sub-factor by 11 notches, labor market sub-factor by 4 notches.

T h e c o u n t r y ’ s ranking also slipped in the area of economic e f f i c i e n c y by six (6) notches (31st to 37th) due to the decline in international trade sub-factor by 10 notches and prices sub-factor by 23 notches.

Government effi ciency ranking also declined from 31st in 2013 to 40th in 2014 due largely to the decline in societal framework sub factor and in institutional framework. The Infrastructure sub-factor slipped two (2) notches this year, consistently making it the lowest-ranking factor for the country. Based on the WCY report, the major challenges for the Philippines are: infrastructure, corruption, unemployment and underemployment, underdeveloped fi nancial system, and natural disasters.

Representatives of the Development Academy of

the Philippines (DAP) met the offi cials of NWPC to discuss DAP’s proposed agenda to the NWPC Productivity Committee last 22 May 2014. Mr. Carlos A. Sayco, Jr., Vice President for International Relations, Innovation and Strategic Partnership, explained the intention of DAP’s proposed agenda particularly on the framework and methodology for estimating labor productivity (LP), database on LP for specifi c industry groups, promotion of Labor Management Cooperation (LMC) for productivity and competitiveness and review of labor laws and related policies that impact on LP. He also advised NWPC to explore studies on Total Factor Productivity (TFP) and LP authored by Dr. Cesar B. Cororaton and Dr. Gilberto M. Llanto of the PIDS, respectively. He added that NWPC could also seek the assistance of Asian Productivity Organization (APO) through DAP relative to

Development Academy of the Philippines

clarifi es its proposed agenda to the NWPC

Productivity Committeeits undertakings. Prior to this, the Employers’ Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP) submitted its proposed agenda to the NWPC Productivity Committee which were the review of Productivity Incentives Act, implementation of the productivity-based pay of two-tiered wage system, review of Productivity Olympics, and upgrading of the NWPC productivity training modules.

Similarly, the Federation of Free Workers (FFW) proposed the following priority agenda: 1) relationship between productivity and absenteeism, tardiness, and occupational health and safety, 2) relationship between productivity and work habits and skills, 3) relationship between productivity and precarious employment arrangement, 4) comparative study of productivity agreements as practiced in other countries, and 5) relationship between high performance working practices (HPWP) and high performance working organization (HPWO).

by Rosemarie P. Villaplaza

“I learned that there is innovation whenever improvements or changes are introduced on almost anything that a person currently possesses. However, innovation does not happen with a snap of a fi nger or a wink of an eye. Rather, it involves an unending cycle of planning, implementation, and review/assessment.

On enterprise development, I learned that it is important to involve enterprises as early as the planning stage in order to identify their needs. The success of programs largely depends on their support and patronage of the same, hence, it is imperative that enterprises are consulted.”

Productivity Insights

says NWPC Policy and Research Service OIC-Dir. Atty. Jamie-Lyn D. Jamias, participant to

the Innovation and Enterprise Development Management

Programme

RTWPB-V conducts marathon trainings

by Board Sec. Aurora Prades

Eighty seven (87) participants from MSMEs

attended the series of training on ISTIV Bayanihan, Service Quality, and 5S conducted by RTWPB-V at the regional board’s training room in Legazpi City last May 15-22, 2014. At the end of the program, participants were made to prepare action plans/productivity improvements programs, which shall be monitored and evaluated by the Regional Boards. Most of the PIPs were improvements in marketing management, housekeeping and service delivery.

“Productivity is a personal commitment. From a personal parlance, productivity needs to radiate and infl uence others to do the same. It is a constant effort, a modelling thing, not merely a fad. Productivity has to start with me that I need to duplicate practicing it. It is defi nitely fun in the Philippines but it’s more fun if the culture of discipline, productivity, quality, competitiveness, and profi tability be integrated. That the end of productivity is innovation. As an agent and advocate, I need to exert more effort together with my co-workers and our customers from within and outside our workgroup to make a jumpstart. It’s never to late to start today.”

says RTWPB-X Board Secretary Estrella Uy-Pahalla, participant to

the Productivity Manager Program

RTWPB Board Secretary Aurora Prades and staff together with the participants of ISTIV Bayanihan (above) and 5S

training (below).

NWPC participates in Congress, Senate deliberations

The NWPC participated in the deliberation

of Senate Bill No. 2193 otherwise known as “An Act Strengthening the Productivity Incentives of 2009” in Senate and Go Negosyo Bills and Barangay, Micro Business Enterprises (BMBE) Measures in Congress last May 21 and 27, respectively. The Commission supports the goals of the Go Negosyo Bills to support the growth of micro, small and medium enterprises. However, in its position

paper submitted to Congress, the NWPC further proposed the inclusion of DOLE as part of the MSMED Council considering its vital role in the development of MSMEs which compromise the 61% of the total establishments in the country. Relative to the provision in the bills exempting microenterprises from minimum wage coverage, the NWPC proposes to either (i) put a ceiling or cap on the number of times

by Meropil Apple A. Mandia

that a microenterprise may be issued a Certifi cate of Authority (which entitles a microenterprise to incentives including exemption from minimum wages) or (ii) limit the period within which a microenterprise may be exempted from payment of the minimum wage. Further, the NWPC proposed to include a statement that workers in microenterprises shall be entitled to all mandatory wage-related benefi ts.

June 2014 News

new Wage Order and other information education materials on wages to the participating employers and jobseekers during the job fair. Wage Order No. RB XI-18 which took effect on June 1, 2014, mandated an increase in the basic wage of P11.00 per day and integration to the basic wage of the P15.00 Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) under Wage Order No. RB XI-17. A new COLA of P5.00 per day will be granted effective December 1, 2014.

by Arlene Tuboro

RTWPB-XI beefs up info campaign on new

wage order at Kalayaan Job Fair

The Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board-XI

(RTWPB-XI) embarked on an intensive info dissemination of the new wage increase under Wage Order No. RB XI-18 at the Kalayaan Job Fair on June 12, 2014 at the NCCC Mall, Matina, Davao City. The Kalayaan Job Fair was conducted by the Department of Labor and Employment–XI in collaboration with NCCC Mall and ABS-CBN Davao.

To increase awareness on the new minimum wage rates, the Regional Board distributed copies of the

Thousands of jobseekers line up to fi le their application for job vacancies from local and overseas fi rms in Thursday’s Kalayaan Job Fair at NCCC Mall of Davao, sponsored by the regional offi ce of the Department of Labor and Employment (Source of left photo: Seth delos Reyes, Sunstar Davao).

Ms. Maris Tabusares, Labor and Employment Offi cer III of RTWB-XI, distributing brochures on Wage Order No. RB XI-18 to jobseekers lining up for interview at the 2014 Kalayaan Job Fair at the NCCC Mall of Davao (Photo Source: RTWPB-XI).

NWPC participated in the celebration of 116th

Philippine Independence Day with the theme “Pagsunod sa Yapak ng mga Dakilang Pilipino, Tungo sa Malawakan at Permanenteng Trabaho” held at Rizal Park, Manila on June 12, 2014.

The traditional fl ag-raising and wreath laying ceremonies were held at the Rizal monument followed by activities such as Kalayaan booksale, diskwento caravan, free medical and

NWPC commemorates 2014 Philippine Independence Day

by Jerome P. Lucas

dental services,

As its contribution to the celebration, the DOLE conducted a Kalayaan 2014 Job Fair participated by 103 local employers and 21 overseas licensed employment agencies held at the Southdrive of Rizal Park where a total of 579 were hired on site and 1,952 near hires who were required to submit necessary documents for their employment.

June 2014News

New DOLE Senior Offi cials take oath

Last 21 June 2014, Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz

administered the oath taking of the new senior offi cials of the Department. Former Labor Attache to Taipei Reydeluz D. Conferido was appointed as the new Undersecretary for Employment Facilitation and Manpower Development cluster. Former Assistant Secretary Rebecca J. Calzado

was sworn in as the new OWWA Administrator. Regional Director IV Sisinio B. Cano of Region IX together with NWPC Deputy Exec. Dir. Jeanette T. Damo and ILS Dep. Exec. Dir. Grace L. Riguer also took their oath, respectively. The new members representing Employers and Workers Sector of RTWPBs also took their oath namely: RTWPB-CAR by Jerome P. Lucas

“Provide incentives to best performing employees

and they shall be encouraged to excel further. For the non performing ones, this shall serve as a challenge for them to improve and do their best too, lest they shall be branded as an example of ineffi ciency, a tag no employee would like to be associated with.”

These are words of encouragement from Director Henry John Jalbuena of DOLE-CAR, in one of the Productivity Based Pay Orientations offered to the public by the RTWPB-CAR.

Since the 3rd quarter of 2013, twenty-one (21) companies have adopted and implemented the Productivity Based Pay in accordance with Advisory No. 02-14 (Advisory on the Second Tier, the Productivity Based Pay of Wage Order RB CAR-16. Four (4) more are fi nalizing their PBP schemes and are set to submit their agreements to the Board.

The establishments who are implementing PBPs

The effects of giving incentives to productive workers

RTWPB-NCR conducts “Green Productivity and 5S of Good

Housekeeping” training-workshops for DOLE-NCR

More than 100 employees composed mostly of newly

hired Labor Law Compliance Offi cers (LLCOs) and project based employees of DOLE NCR attended the training on Green Productivity and 5S of Good Housekeeping. The training-workshop is in line with the Regional Offi ce’s efforts towards ISO certifi cation. The training primarily aims to create a more comfortable and productive workplace; maintain a clean, safe and orderly surroundings; and implement waste management and other green initiatives.

turn to page 8

(L-R) Board Secretary Aida T. Andres, Assistant Regional Director Nelson C. Hornilla, and Regional Director Alex V. Avila.

(below) DOLE NCR employees l i s t e n i n g attentively to the speakers.

Employers Representative Juan Johnny R. dela Cruz; RTWPB-CAR Employers Representative Alfonso T. Lao; RTWPB-CAR Workers Representative Renerio C. Lardizabal Jr.; RTWPB-RO 3 Workers Representative Raul C. Remodo; RTWPB-RO 4-B Employers Representative Osias C. Navarro; RTWPB-RO 11 Employers Representative Rulfo V. Asis; and RTWPB-RO 11 Employers Representative Bienvenido D. Cariaga.

The newly appointed senior offi cials of Department of Labor and Employment: (L-R) Undersecretary Reydeluz D. Conferido, OWWA Administrator Rebecca J. Calzado, ILS Deputy Executive Director Grace L. Riguer, NWPC Deputy Executive Director Jeanette T. Damo with Secretary Baldoz, and the RTWPBs’ members of the workers and employers sector.turn to page 8

June 2014News

by Julie Callope-Llorente

A small hostel gained big from small improvements

Ms. Josefina Lucille C. dela Cruz is the General Manager and productivity champion of Ati-Atihan Festival Hostel & Conference Center.

AFHCC employee conducting audit for continuous improvement of the

company.

The asset of the hostel is the clean and comfortable facilities aof AFHCC.

June 2014 News

Just around 40 miles en route to Boracay Island is a

budding hostel located at the heart of Kalibo, a municipality known for its white sand beaches, mangroves, majestic panoramas and festivities notably the Ati-Atihan Festival. Taking pride in their heritage, the owners named this lodge after the town’s gaily and popular feastival, Ati-Atihan Festival Hostel & Conference Center.

With 29 well-maintained rooms for a reasonable rate of P700.00 each, the hostel welcomes young professionals and vacationers on a budget looking for a comfortable accommodation.

Its strategic location and customer-friendly services buoyed up its reputation in the industry. Now, the hostel is one of the most sought after haven for travelers, businessmen, and tourists in Kalibo. Up close, however, the hostel is still one of the many small businesses in the country wrestling with drawbacks due to low productivity.

Being a new player in the business When Ati-Atihan Hostel opened its doors three years ago, its owners, the Dela Cruz family, was convinced of the growing demand for accommodations en route Boracay in Kalibo. However, little did they know about the challenges and diffi culties of running a hostel. “Every time the fi nancial statement is presented to us, we noticed huge expenditures, prompting us to think that we could have maximized or optimized the use of our resources—human and

facilities. Pero na-overlook na namin sa dami ng concerns—fi nancial, structures and all,” Dra. Cynthia Dela Cruz, the family matriarch and President of Ati-Atihan Hostel related. This was affi rmed by her daughter Cindy dela Cruz who is the hostel’s assistant general manager. “We are inexperienced in this fi eld. We don’t have a professional manager. How we run the

business is only based on our experience, gut feel, the books we read and what we learn from other players in the fi eld.” This and other problems such as absence of defi ned operational standards, the unorganized processes, and untrained staff contributed to recurring unresolved problems like customer complaints long check-in and out processes and unkempt surroundings.

Opening its doors to productivity RTWPB in Region VI offered Ati-Atihan Hostel assistance in addressing its

problems primarily through productivity training and consultancy. In May 2012, a team from NWPC visited the hostel and conducted the Service Quality (SQ) training aimed at raising the consciousness and sensitivity of its workforce towards providing excellent and error-free service to its customers and guests. This was followed by training on Green Productivity to complement quality customer service with business practices that promote safer, cleaner and more environment-oriented services. After just one year of implementing improvements in their services, Ati-Atihan hostel was chosen participate in a productivity training organized by the NWPC, in coordination with Singapore’s Nanyang Polytechnic International and the Temasek Foundation. This multi-sector, multi-level training was called Developing Productivity Professionals in the Philippines.

The family’s matriarch, Dra. Cynthia dela Cruz attended the one-week training for CEOs and senior government offi cials last April 1-5, 2013 and a week after, Cindy, daughter and the hostel’s Manager, joined the 2-week training for managers. Finally in September, the

hostel’s productivity specialist, Maycel attended the more intensive 5-week training.

Bringing back the lessons Back from their Singapore experience, the team, Dra. Cynthia, Cindy and Maycel, immediately gathered the hostel’s staff to launch its journey towards productivity and excellence. Aptly called Project PUSO, it stands for Passion for learning, Universal innovation, Service excellence, and One family enterprise, representing the hostel’s core culture. After sharing the lessons from Singapore, the group identifi ed the major problems of the hostel, recommended effective solutions, and prepared for the implementation.

First, the group went through a training on 5S of Good Housekeeping, recognizing the importance of maintaining order and cleanliness in a business that provides food and accommodation services. Regular audits were conducted and a reward system for the best maintained work stations was adopted. In time, the hostel took pride in the safety and cleanliness of its premises, boosting its attractiveness and marketability to local and foreign visitors. Second, Ati-Atihan launched its Productivity Month in July 2013 to celebrate and emphasize the

importance of productivity improvement through talks, audit, competitions, and merriment. “We had poster and jingle making competition which we replicated in our other businesses. The staff composed jingles on 5S and productivity. It was a fun and enjoyable activity,” Dra. Cynthia said. Her family is also the owner of Bread and Butter chains of bakery, manufacturing houses, real estate, and clinic. They also developed a manual of operations, initially, for front desk, housekeeping, and fi nance divisions. “We timed the processes, identifi ed lags and delays, standardized procedures and set expectations to meet management’s expectations,” Cindy quipped. This shortened the check-in time from 9 minutes to 2-5 minutes, . “Dati ay problema din namin ang pag-assist sa guests. Kapag dumating ang guest, tatakbo ang front desk offi cer namin para hanapin at tawagin ang room attendant para naman tulungan ang aming mga guests sa mabibigat nilang bagahe. Pero ngayon, may radyo na kami kaya madali na lang. Kapag may parating na guests, naka-stand-by na agad sila,” Maycel reported during the evaluation visit conducted by NWPC team. Housekeeping services were also improved. By providing stock rooms, strategically located in each building, the housekeeping staff can readily respond to guests’ requests for linens, pillows, beds and other articles. A suggestion box was also installed in the front desk for guests’ comments/feedback, which are discussed during their general monthly meetings.AFHCC productivity boardAFHCC frontline service

“We value the experience and feedback of our guests. All the guest reviews — positive and negative are posted at the bulletin board to constantly remind and inspire us to do better.” Cindy said. To keep up with the demand during peak months, the hostel bought a bigger washing machine, piled extra stocks of linens, beds, etc., and employed seven additional staff. To help curb the effects of global warming, the hostel launched its green productivity program. As an initial project, they replaced the lighting facilities with CFL light bulbs, put environment-awareness messages and signages and minimized the use of plastics bags. As part of its human resource development program, Ati-Atihan Hostel management sent a team to attend a seminar on customer service and basic food hygiene and safety in Boracay. It also organizes employee welfare activities like team building, outings, and parties for its employees, using earnings from the sale of waste materials. In recognition of their employees’ contribution, Ati-Atihan Hostel management gives performance bonuses to deserving employees. To this day, Ati-Atihan Hostel continues to provide one of the best accommodations to travelers and visitors en route Boracay.