Guidelines on the Issuance of Accreditation for Eligible Beneficiaries/Proponents for Social Amelioration and Welfare Program for Workers in the Biofuel Industry Utilizing Molasses as Feedstock

August 9, 2018

SRA MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR NO. 010, S. 2018

 

Pursuant to the Guidelines on the Implementation of Socio-Economic Projects under the Social Amelioration and Welfare Program for Workers in the Biofuel Industry, Utilizing Molasses as Feedstock issued and prescribed by virtue of Section 11 (e) of Republic Act No. 9367, otherwise known as The Biofuels Act of 2006, Its Implementing Rules and Regulations Joint Administrative Order No. 2008-1, series of 2008, this Guidelines on the Issuance of Accreditation for Eligible Beneficiaries/Proponents for Social Amelioration and Welfare Program for Workers in the Biofuel Industry Utilizing Molasses as Feedstock are hereby issued and prescribed:

I. SCOPE

The guideline provides information and prescribes the rules and regulations for the accreditation of eligible beneficiaries/proponents for Social Amelioration and Welfare Program (SAWP) for workers in the Biofuel Industry Utilizing Molasses as Feedstock.

II. DEFINITIONS

For purposes of this Guideline, the following definitions shall apply:

1. Beneficiary — refers to bioethanol workers eligible to receive SAWP Socio-Economic projects.

2. Bioethanol — refers to ethanol (C₂H₅OH) produced from feedstock and other biomass that shall be technically proven and approved by the Department of Energy (DOE) for use in gasoline-fed engines, including hydrous ethanol, with quality specifications in accordance with the Philippine National Standard (PNS), and for higher blends beyond 10% blend, the DOE shall issue appropriate PNS.

3. Bioethanol Distillery/Plant Worker — refers to rank and file worker or employee, employed in any manner and working in a bioethanol plant, who are directly involved in the production of bioethanol.

4. Bioethanol Producer — refers to any person or entity accredited by the DOE to engage in the production of PNS compliant bioethanol. This also includes plants or facilities directly related in the production of PNS compliant bioethanol. ATICcS

5. Dependent — refers to spouse and legitimate, legitimated, legally adopted or acknowledged children of the bioethanol worker, who are not gainfully employed and below twenty-one years old or those over but are unable to fully take care of themselves or protect themselves from abuse, neglect, cruelty, exploitation or discrimination because of a physical or mental disability or condition. For bioethanol workers who act as head of the family or guardian, qualified dependent may include immediate family members, such as parent/s or sibling/s who are below twenty-one years of age.

6. DOE — refers to the Department of Energy created by virtue of Republic Act No. 7638 otherwise known as the Department of Energy Act of 1992, as amended.

7. Grantee — refers to the Bioethanol worker who or whose dependent is approved for or given college assistance or technical/skill training. The same definition shall be construed for student grantee.

8. Molasses — refers to the viscous, dark and sugar-rich by-product of sugar extraction from the sugarcane, used as feedstock in the production of bioethanol.

9. Plant Workers' Association or Union — refers to any workers' association, union or cooperative composed of plant workers duly registered with DOLE or any registering government agencies.

10. Proponent— refers to individuals or groups of individuals, plant workers' association or union and Bioethanol plants/companies who are eligible to propose socio-economic projects in behalf of the bioethanol workers or their worker-members. The same may also become proponent-beneficiary if covered by the definition as contained in the Guidelines on the Implementation of Socio-Economic Projects under the Social Amelioration and Welfare Program for Workers in the Biofuel Industry, Utilizing Molasses as Feedstock.

11. SAWP — refers to the Social Amelioration and Welfare Program under DOLE Department Order No. 144-15. Pursuant to Section 17 (e) of Republic Act No. 9367 or the Biofuels Act of 2006.

III. ACCREDITATION

The following are qualified proponents and beneficiaries which may be issued SRA accreditation:

A. Proponents

a. Duly registered Plant Workers' Associations or Unions;

b. DOE accredited and SAWP lien contributing bioethanol producers/facilities/plants.

B. Beneficiaries

a. Workers of bioethanol producing plants directly involved in the production of molasses, except managerial-level employees; TIADCc

b. Members of Plant Workers' Association or Union from DOE accredited and SAWP lien contributing bioethanol producers/facilities/plants; and

c. Dependents of bona fide members of plant workers' of DOE accredited and SAWP lien contributing bioethanol plants/facilities/distilleries.

IV. REQUIREMENTS

A Letter of Intent addressed to the SRA Administrator must be submitted together with the original or certified true copy of the following documents, whichever is applicable, before accreditation may be issued:

A. For Proponents

a. Proof of Registration of the Plant Workers' Associations or Unions;

b. Proof of Accreditation from DOE and of latest contribution to SAWP lien for bioethanol producers/facilities/plants.

B. For Beneficiaries

a. Proof of employment to a bioethanol producing plant;

b. Proof of membership in a Plant Workers' Association or Union from DOE accredited and SAWP lien contributing bioethanol producers/facilities/plants;

c. Proof of relationship to bona fide members of plant workers' association or union and/or workers of DOE accredited and SAWP lien contributing bioethanol plants/facilities/distilleries.

V. ISSUANCE OF ACCREDITATION

a. The Office of the Research, Development and Extension Department shall receive and process the applications for accreditation and endorse the same to the Sugar Board for approval.

b. Upon approval, the proponent/beneficiary shall be issued a non-transferable Certificate of Accreditation which shall state that the requesting proponent has been accredited by SRA to propose any of the socio-economic projects for bioethanol distillery/plant workers or that the requesting beneficiary has been accredited by SRA to avail any of the SAWP benefits under the Guidelines on the Implementation of Socio-Economic Projects under the Social Amelioration and Welfare Program for Workers in the Biofuel Industry, Utilizing Molasses as Feedstock.

c. Upon the issuance of the corresponding billing statement by SRA for this purpose, a processing fee of P1,000.00 shall be collected from duly accredited proponents. No processing fee shall be collected from duly accredited beneficiaries.

d. SRA Accreditation shall be valid for five (5) years from the date of issuance. The expiration of the accreditation shall not prejudice any projects undertaken or benefits granted by virtue of the same. AIDSTE

VI. EFFECTIVITY

These Guidelines shall become effective immediately upon approval of the Sugar Board.

VII. AMENDMENT, REPEAL OR MODIFICATION

Any amendment, repeal or modification of these provisions shall be effective immediately after approval of the Sugar Board of such amendment, repeal or modification and will be prospective only and would not affect any projects undertaken or benefits granted prior to any such amendment, repeal or modification.

By Authority of the Sugar Board:

(SGD.) HERMENEGILDO R. SERAFICAAdministrator