Senator Charles Schume wants disclosure on outsourced calls

In a bid to reduce outsourcing of U.S. jobs, a Democratic senator said on Sunday he will push legislation to make companies inform customers when their calls were being transferred outside the United States and charge companies for those transferred calls.

"This bill will not only serve to maintain call center jobs currently in the United States, but also provide a reason for companies that have already outsourced jobs to bring them back," Senator Charles Schumer said in statement.

Customers calling 800 numbers are often transferred overseas, and in such cases the bill would mandate that callers be told where their calls were rerouted.

Companies would also be required to certify to the Federal Trade Commission annually that they were complying with the requirement, and face penalties if they did not certify.

Schumer's bill would also impose a $0.25 excise tax on any customer service call placed inside the United States which is transferred to an agent in a foreign location. The fee would be assessed on the company that transferred the call.

Customer service call centers have become increasingly popular with businesses in recent years to deal with questions ranging from billing to technical support.

But the practice brings frequent complaints from customers who say their issues are not resolved or that representatives are merely providing scripted responses.

Schumer said the most popular countries for outsourcing of U.S. call centers included India, Indonesia, Ireland, the Philippines and South Africa, places where workers generally receive lower wages and work longer hours than their U.S. counterparts.

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National Election Results Tally

PRESIDENT
1	AQUINO, Benigno Simeon III C.	13,842,049
2	ESTRADA EJERCITO, Joseph M.	8,758,675
3	VILLAR, Manuel Jr B.	5,014,237
4	TEODORO, Gilberto Jr. C.	3,674,832
5	VILLANUEVA, Eduardo C.	1,026,270
6	GORDON, Richard J.	467,658
7	ACOSTA, Vetellano S.	163,764
8	PERLAS, Jesus Nicanor P.	48,956
9	MADRIGAL, Jamby A.	42,192
10	DE LOS REYES, John Carlos G.	40,070

VICE PRESIDENT
1	BINAY, Jejomar C.	13,492,375
2	ROXAS, Manuel A.	12,680,050
3	LEGARDA, Loren B.	3,809,022
4	FERNANDO, Bayani F.	937,480
5	MANZANO, Eduardo B.	706,911
6	YASAY, Perfecto R.	330,773
7	SONZA, Jose Y.	57,702
8	CHIPECO, Dominador Jr F.	47,385

SENATORS
1	BONG REVILLA, Ramon, Jr. B.	17,834,240
2	ESTRADA, Jinggoy E.	17,426,122
3	DEFENSOR SANTIAGO, Miriam P.	15,935,263
4	DRILON, Franklin M.	14,599,610
5	ENRILE, Juan Ponce -.	14,412,083
6	CAYETANO, Pilar Juliana S.	12,616,984
7	MARCOS, Ferdinand, Jr. R.	12,163,443
8	RECTO, Ralph G.	11,401,735
9	SOTTO , Vicente III C.	10,958,520
10	OSMEÑA, Sergio III D.	10,700,162
11	LAPID, Manuel M.	10,071,112
12	GUINGONA , Teofisto III D.	9,475,804
13	HONTIVEROS-BARAQUEL, Ana	8,418,317
14	BIAZON, Rozzano Rufino B.	7,955,653
15	DE VENECIA, Jose III P.	7,714,392
16	REMULLA, Gilbert Cesar C.	6,899,943
17	LIM, Danilo D.	6,750,900
18	ROCO, Sonia M.	6,235,815
19	QUERUBIN, Ariel O.	6,039,860
20	PIMENTEL, Gwendolyn D.	5,852,480
21	ACOSTA, Jr. Nereus O.	5,446,263
22	LACSON, Alexander L.	4,800,980
23	TAMANO, Adel A.	3,720,382
24	OSMEÑA, Emilio Mario R.	3,602,080
25	MAZA, Liza L.	3,561,245
26	OCAMPO, Saturnino C.	3,271,714
27	TATAD, Francisco S.	3,069,136
28	LOZADA, Jose Apolinario Jr L.	2,517,796
29	MITRA, Ramon B.	2,510,653
30	LANGIT, Rey M.	2,467,966
31	BELLO, Silvestre III H.	2,249,492
32	LAO, Yasmin B.	1,881,734
33	PAPIN, Imelda A.	1,796,092
34	OPLE, Susan V.	1,778,000
35	BAUTISTA, Martin D.	1,725,342
36	PLAZA, Rodolfo G.	1,387,303
37	BAUTISTA, J.V. L.	1,293,263
38	GUICO, Ramon, Jr. N.	1,124,641
39	LAMBINO, Raul L.	1,038,319
40	VILLANUEVA, Hector L.	884,988
41	OCAMPO, Ramoncito P.	857,649
42	INOCENCIO, Ma. Katherine L. R.	811,159
43	PALPARAN, Jovito Jr S.	743,376
44	TINSAY, Alexander B.	666,841
45	ALONTO, Zafrullah M.	628,797
46	TAMAYO, Reginald B.	618,894
47	ESPINOSA, Nanette M.	543,986
48	MAAMBONG, Regalado E.	485,157
49	DAVID, Rizalito Y.	451,089
50	ALBANI, Shariff Ibrahim H.	441,637
51	VIRGINES, Israel N.	411,134
52	PAREDES, Zosimo Jesus II M.	394,866
53	SISON, Adrian O.	378,130
54	PRINCESA, Reynaldo R.	328,201
55	IMBONG, Jo Aurea M.	324,108
56	NIKABULIN, Adz G.	310,355
57	CAUNAN, Henry B.	214,817
58	VALDEHUESA, Manuel Jr E.	181,870
59	TARRAZONA, Hector M.	150,629
60	RIÑOZA-PLAZO, Maria Gracia D.	138,189
61	LOOD, Alma A.	114,362

PARTY-LIST
1	AKO BICOL POLITICAL PARTY	1,402,002
2	COALITION OF ASSOCIATIONS OF SENIOR CITIZENS IN THE PHILIPPINES, INC.	1,193,010
3	BUHAY HAYAAN YUMABONG	1,177,914
4	AKBAYAN! CITIZEN'S ACTION PARTY	986,924
5	GABRIELA WOMENS PARTY	938,936
6	COOPERATIVE NATCCO NETWORK PARTY	847,190
7	BAYAN MUNA	695,283
8	ABONO	693,746
9	1ST CONSUMERS ALLIANCE FOR RURAL ENERGY	675,807
10	AN WARAY	640,761
11	CITIZENS' BATTLE AGAINST CORRUPTION	608,711
12	ADVOCACY FOR TEACHER EMPOWERMENT THROUGH ACTION COOPERATION AND HARMONY TOWARDS EDUCATIONAL REFORMS	565,998
13	AGRICULTURAL SECTOR ALLIANCE OF THE PHILIPPINES, INC.	482,370
14	BUTIL FARMERS PARTY	470,408
15	ALLIANCE FOR BARANGAY CONCERNS PARTY	439,717
16	ANAKPAWIS	412,166
17	KABATAAN PARTYLIST	389,091
18	LPG MARKETERS ASSOCIATION, INC.	386,102
19	ABANTE MINDANAO, INC.	353,390
20	ACT TEACHERS	338,477
21	ANG ASOSASYON SANG MANGUNGUMA NGA BISAYA-OWA MANGUNGUMA, INC.	316,794
22	YOU AGAINST CORRUPTION AND POVERTY	288,238
23	ASSOCIATION OF PHILIPPINE ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES	282,797
24	BAGONG HENERASYON	274,302
25	KASANGGA SA KAUNLARAN, INC.	268,392
26	ALLIANCE FOR NATIONALISM AND DEMOCRACY	255,415
27	ANG GALING PINOY	250,778
28	ARTS BUSINESS AND SCIENCE PROFESSIONALS	241,028
29	PUWERSA NG BAYANING ATLETA	239,251
30	AGBIAG! TIMPUYOG ILOCANO, INC.	237,682
31	TRADE UNION CONGRESS PARTY	226,659
32	ALYANSA NG MGA GRUPONG HALIGI NG AGHAM AT TEKNOLOHIYA PARA SA MAMAMAYAN, INC.	224,981
33	DEMOCRATIC INDEPENDENT WORKERS' ASSOCIATION, INC.	217,267
34	ALAGAD PARTY-LIST	214,814
35	KALINGA-ADVOCACY FOR SOCIAL EMPOWERMENT AND NATION BUILDING THROUGH EASING POVERTY, INC.	212,307
36	KAPATIRAN NG MGA NAKULONG NA WALANG SALA	208,490
37	1-UNITED TRANSPORT KOALISYON	205,545
38	ANG LABAN NG INDIGONG FILIPINO	201,056
39	ALLIANCE OF VOLUNTEER EDUCATORS	198,832
40	UNA ANG PAMILYA FORMERLY ALLIANCE OF NEO-CONSERVATIVES	198,394
41	ADHIKAING TINATAGUYOD NG KOOPERATIBA	160,740
42	AANGAT TAYO	155,247
43	KASOSYO PRODUCER-CONSUMER EXCHANGE ASSOCIATION, INC.	153,703
44	ALAY BUHAY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION, INC.	153,040
45	AKSYON MAGSASAKA PARTIDO TINIG NG MASA	149,083
46	KATIPUNAN NG MGA ANAK NG BAYAN ALL FILIPINO DEMOCRATIC MOVEMENT	147,864
47	ASSOCIATION OF LABORERS AND EMPLOYEES	146,376
48	VETERANS FREEDOM PARTY	142,579
49	ANAK MINDANAO	141,849
50	ALLIANCE FOR RURAL AND AGRARIAN RECONSTRUCTION, INC.	135,534
51	PILIPINO ASSOCIATION FOR COUNTRY - URBAN-POOR YOUTH ADVANCEMENT AND WELFARE	132,869
52	ATONG PAGLAUM	132,724
53	ANGAT ATING KABUHAYAN PILIPINAS, INC.	130,491
54	PARTIDO NG MANGGAGAWA	130,039
55	ABANTE TRIBUNG MAKABANSA	129,513
56	ALYANSANG BAYANIHAN NG MGA MAGSASAKA, MANGGAGAWANG-BUKID AT MANGINGISDA	126,449

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Our Platform

The Bloggers Party-list has the following specific objectives:

1. To provide an institutional vehicle for its members to promote causes of concern to bloggers, such as blogger's benefits and the state of the environment;

2. To develop and institute national programs that seek, maintain, and improve the physical, mental, spiritual being of its members;

3.To promote, encourage, and undertake civic, cultural, social, and economic activities for its members;

4.To sustain the devotion and loyalty of its members to the noble traditions of the service professions;

5. To help its members organize the expertise acquired by them in various professional disciplines and

propagate the best practices in these disciplines to the interested public;

6. To develop and implement programs to allow its members to apply their knowledge and experience in helping educate the nation’s future generations;

7.To assist government and non-government agencies in developing, advocating, and implementing plans, policies, and programs that relate to educational development, environmental preservation, and energy conservation;

8.To raise funds to finance the programs and projects of the Association.

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PARTY-LIST SYSTEM ACT, Republic Act No. 7941

AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE ELECTION OF PARTY-LIST REPRESENTATIVES THROUGH THE PARTY-LIST SYSTEM, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

Section 1. Title. – This Act shall be known as the “Party-List System Act”.

Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. – The State shall promote proportional representation in the election of representatives to the House of Representatives through a party-list system of registered national, regional and sectoral parties or organizations or coalitions thereof, which will enable Filipino citizens belonging to the marginalized and underrepresented sectors, organizations and parties, and who lack well-defined political constituencies but who could contribute to the formulation and enactment of appropriate legislation that will benefit the nation as a whole, to become members of the House of Representatives. Towards this end, the State shall develop and guarantee a full, free and open party system in order to attain the broadest possible representation of party, sectoral or group interests in the House of Representatives by enhancing their chances to compete for and win seats in the legislature, and shall provide the simplest scheme possible.

Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. – (a) The party-list system is a mechanism of proportional representation in the election of representatives to the House of Representatives from national, regional and sectoral parties or organizations or coalitions thereof registered with the Commission on Elections (COMELEC). Component parties or organizations of a coalition may participate independently provided the coalition of which they form part does not participate in the party-list system.

A party means either a political party or a sectoral party or a coalition of parties.

A political party refers to an organized group of citizens advocating an ideology or platform, principles and policies for the general conduct of government and which, as the most immediate means of securing their adoption, regularly nominates and supports certain of its leaders and members as candidates for public office.

It is a national party when its constituency is spread over the geographical territory of at least a majority of the regions. It is a regional party when its constituency is spread over the geographical territory of at least a majority of the cities and provinces comprising the region.

A sectoral party refers to an organized group of citizens belonging to any of the sectors enumerated in Section 5 hereof whose principal advocacy pertains to the special interests and concerns of their sector.

A sectoral organization refers to a group of citizens or a coalition of groups of citizens who share similar physical attributes or characteristics, employment, interest or concerns.

A coalition refers to an aggrupation of duly registered national, regional, sectoral parties or organizations for political and/or election purposes.

Sec. 4. Manifestation to Participate in the Party-List System. – Any party, organization, or coalition already registered with the Commission need not register anew. However, such party, organization or coalition shall file with the Commission, not later than ninety (90) days before the election, a manifestation of its desire to participate in the party-list system.

Sec. 5. Registration. – Any organized group of persons may register as a party, organization or coalition for purposes of the party-list system by filing with the COMELEC not later than ninety (90) days before the election a petition verified by its president or secretary stating its desire to participate in the party-list system as a national, regional or sectoral party or organization or a coalition of such parties or organizations, attaching thereto its constitution, by-laws, platform or program of government, list of officers, coalition agreement and other relevant information as the COMELEC may require: provided, that the sectors shall include labor, peasant, fisherfolk, urban poor, indigenous cultural communities, elderly, handicapped, women, youth, veterans, overseas workers, and professionals.

The COMELEC shall publish the petition in at least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.

The COMELEC shall, after due notice and hearing, resolve the petition within fifteen (15) days from the date it was submitted for decision but in no case not later than sixty (60) days before election.

Sec. 6. Removal and/or Cancellation of Registration. – The COMELEC may motu proprio or upon verified complaint of any interested party, remove or cancel, after due notice and hearing, the registration of any national, regional or sectoral party, organization or coalition on any of the following grounds:

It is a religious sect or denomination, organization or association organized for religious purposes;

It advocates violence or unlawful means to seek its goal;

It is a foreign party or organization;

It is receiving support from any foreign government, foreign political party, foundation, organization, whether directly or through any of its officers or members or indirectly through third parties for partisan election purposes;

It violates or fails to comply with laws, rules or regulations relating to elections;

It declares untruthful statements in its petition;

It has ceased to exist for at least one (1) year; or

It fails to participate in the last two (2) preceding elections or fails to obtain at least two percentum (2%) of the votes cast under the party-list system in the two (2) preceding elections for the constituency in which it has registered.

Sec. 7. Certified List of Registered Parties. – The COMELEC shall, not later than sixty (60) days before election, prepare a certified list of national, regional, or sectoral parties, organizations or coalitions which have applied or who have manifested their desire to participate under the party-list system and distribute copies thereof to all precincts for posting in the polling places on election day. The names of the party-list nominees shall not be shown on the certified list.

Sec. 8. Nominations of Party-List Representatives. – Each registered party, organization or coalition shall submit to the COMELEC not later than forty-four (45) [sic] days before the election a list of names, not less than five (5) from which party-list representatives shall be chosen in case it obtains the required number of votes.

A person may be nominated in one (1) list only. Only persons who have given their consent in writing may be named in the list. The list shall not include any candidate for any elective office or person who has lost his bid for an elective office in the immediately preceding election. No change of names or alteration of the order of nominees shall be allowed after the same shall have been submitted to the COMELEC except in cases where the nominee dies, or withdraws in writing, his nomination, becomes incapacitated in which case the name of the substitutes nominee shall be placed last in the list. Incumbent sectoral representatives in the House of Representatives who are nominated in the party-list system shall not be considered resigned.

Sec. 9. Qualification of Party-List Nominees. – No person shall be nominated as party-list representative unless he is a natural born citizen of the Philippines, a registered voter, a resident of the Philippines for a period of not less than one (1) year immediately preceding the day of the election, able to read and write, bona fide member of the party or organization which he seeks to represent for at least ninety (90) days preceding the day of the election, and is at least twenty-five (25) years of age on the day of the election.

In case of a nominee of the youth sector, he must at least be twenty-five (25) but not more than thirty (30) years of age on the day of the election. Any youth sectoral representative who attains the age of thirty during his term shall be allowed to continue until the expiration of his term.

Sec. 10. Manner of Voting. – Every voter shall be entitled to two (2) votes. The first is a vote for candidate for member of the House of Representatives in his legislative district, and the second, a vote for the party, organization, or coalition he wants represented in the House of Representatives: provided, that a vote cast for a party, sectoral organization, or coalition not entitled to be voted for shall not be counted: provided, finally that the first election under the party-list system shall be held in May 1998.

The COMELEC shall undertake the necessary information campaign for purposes of educating the electorate on the matter of the party-list system.

Sec. 11. Number of Party-List Representatives. – The party-list representatives shall constitute twenty percentum (20%) of the total number of the members of the House of Representatives including those under the party-list.

For purposes of the May 1998 elections, the first five (5) major political parties on the basis of party representation in the House of Representatives at the start of the Tenth Congress of the Philippines shall not be entitled to participate in the party-list system.

In determining the allocation of seats for the second vote, the following procedure shall be observed:

The parties, organizations, and coalitions shall be ranked from the highest to the lowest based on the number of votes garnered during the elections.

The parties, organizations, and coalitions receiving at least two percent (2%) of the total votes cast for the party-list system shall be entitled to one seat each: provided, that those garnering more than two percent (2%) of the votes shall be entitled to additional seats in proportion to their total number of votes: provided, finally, that each party, organization, or coalition shall be entitled to not more than three (3) seats.

Sec. 12. Procedure in Allocating Seats for Party-List Representatives. – The COMELEC shall tally all the votes for the parties, organizations, or coalitions on a nationwide basis, rank them according to the number of votes received and allocate party-list representatives proportionately according to the percentage of votes obtained by each party, organization, or coalition as against the total nationwide votes cast for the party-list system.

Sec. 13. How Party-List Representatives are Chosen. – Party-list representatives shall be proclaimed by the COMELEC based on the list of names submitted by the respective parties, organizations, or coalitions to the COMELEC according to their ranking in the said list.

Sec. 14. Term of Office. – Party-list representatives shall be elected for a term of three (3) years which shall begin, unless otherwise provided by law, at noon on the thirtieth day of June next following their election. No party-list representatives shall serve for more than three (3) consecutive terms. Voluntary renunciation of the office for any length of time shall not be considered as an interruption in the continuity of his service for the full term for which he was elected.

Sec. 15. Change of Affiliation Effect. – Any elected party-list representative who changes his political party or sectoral affiliation during his term of office shall forfeit his seat: provided, that if he changes his political party or sectoral affiliation within six (6) months before an election, he shall not be eligible for nomination as party-list representative under his new party or organization.

Sec. 16. Vacancy. – In case of vacancy in seats reserved for party-list representatives, the vacancy shall be automatically filled by the next representative from the list of nominees in the order submitted to the COMELEC by the same party, organization, or coalition, who shall serve for the unexpired term. If the list is exhausted, the party, organization, or coalition concerned shall submit additional nominees.

Sec. 17. Rights of Party-List Representatives. – Party-list representatives shall be entitled to the same salaries and emoluments as regular members of the House of Representatives.

Sec. 18. Rules and Regulations. – The COMELEC shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations as may be necessary to carry out the purpose of this Act.

Sec. 19. Appropriations. – The amount necessary for the implementation of this Act shall be provided in the regular appropriations for the Commission on Elections starting fiscal year 1996 under the General Appropriations Act.

Starting 1995, the COMELEC is hereby authorized to utilize savings and other available funds for purposes of its information campaign on the party-list system.

Sec. 20. Separability Clause. – If any part of this Act is held invalid or unconstitutional, the other parts or provisions thereof shall remain valid and effective.

Sec. 21. Repealing Clause. – All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and regulations, or parts thereof, inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed.
Sec. 22. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved:

(Sgd.) EDGARDO J. ANGARA (Sgd.) JOSE DE VENECIA, JR.
President of the Senate Speaker of the House of Representatives

This Act, which is a consolidation of House Bill No. 3043 and Senate Bill No. 1913, was finally passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate on February 28, 1995.

(Sgd.) EDGARDO E. TUMANGAN (Sgd.) CAMILO L. SABIO
Secretary of the Senate Secretary General
House of Representatives

Approved: March 3, 1995

(Sgd.) FIDEL V. RAMOS
President of the Philippines

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