Wage protections will apply to Guam buildup contractors' workers

PACIFIC DAILY NEWS • NEWS@GUAMPDN.COM

The fiscal 2010 defense spending bill, as approved by a House-Senate conference committee yesterday, would extend the Davis-Bacon wage protections to all military construction projects on Guam.

Under the Davis-Bacon Act, federal contractors and subcontractors must pay their laborers and mechanics no less than the locally prevailing wages and fringe benefits for corresponding work on similar projects in the area, according to the U.S. Labor Department. The Davis-Bacon Act directs the U.S. Department of Labor to determine such locally prevailing wage rates, according to the federal Labor Department.

The federal law also requires federal contractors to pay workers weekly.

Bordallo’s office states the defense spending bill, as agreed upon by the House-Senate conference committee, would require contractors performing work on military construction projects on Guam to develop a recruitment plan that is submitted to the U.S. Department of Labor that details their efforts to hire local and other U.S. citizens and nationals.

It also requires that the contractors submit a follow-up report that details why any U.S. citizen or national was not hired for a specific project, according to Bordallo’s office.

The bill maintains the governor of Guam's ability to certify the need for H-2B workers, but he must submit an additional certification to the Secretary of Defense for military construction projects only.

Buildup Bump: Guam Lawmakers Take Aim As Feds Rush Environmental Impact Process

By Jeff Marchesseault - http://guamnewsfactor.com

GUAM - News Monday that the public would have a mere 45 days to respond to a complex 8,000-page Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on the island's massive military buildup has at least two local lawmakers scrambling to make up for lost time.

After taking a moment to shake off their initial 'shock' and frustration, Vice Speaker BJ Cruz and Military Buildup Chairperson Judi Guthertz are getting the word out that the 30th Legislature isn't about to be bowled over in a rush to comply with minimum environmental standards at the risk of overlooking legitimate local developmental concerns.

Straining Out Gnats, Swallowing Camels

In a radio interview with Newstalk K57 Breakfast Show Host Ray Gibson on Tuesday morning, Cruz said there was no way he could read, let alone understand, 8,000 pages of abstruse, federal officialese inside a month and a half. The Vice Speaker insisted that before local lawmakers can be expected to get up to speed and contribute meaningfully to the conversation, federal officials must provide funding for the legislature so senators can hire a qualified consultancy to wade through the Sanskrit, interpret federal findings, and, presumably, make recommendations that advance the interests of Guam's residents.

Getting To The Bottom Of It

In an October 7th request for help addressed to key divisions of the U.S. Departments of Interior and Defense, Guthertz' (who has consistently fought for a buildup that benefits Guam while meeting the Pentagon's regional objectives) tells Interior Assistant Secretary for Insular Areas Tony Babauta and DOD/Office of Economic Adjustment Program Manager Gary Kubarawa that the Joint Guam Program Office (JGPO) briefed local senators on Monday regarding the status of environmental impact studies.

And she explains that JGPO "informed us that the draft EIS will be released to the public on November 20, 2009, triggering a 45 day window for public comment. It will be ten volumes and run about 8,000 pages."

A Damper On The Holiday Cheer

Dousing in a dose of reality, Cruz asked K57's Gibson point-blank, "do you know how much work gets done on Guam between November 20 and January 5?" Cruz explained that Guam shifts into holiday mode before Thanksgiving straight through the New Year and insinuated that the federal M.O. on the buildup borders on conspiracy.

At this point, push has come to shove. Ten volumes in 45 days feels an awful lot like a force feeding -- especially at a time when everyone needs a little extra room for cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie.

In her letter to Assistant Secretary Babauta and OEA's Kuwabara, Guthertz asserts that although the Office of the Governor may have the resources it needs to respond to the EIS, the Legislature is sorely lacking similar information and funding:

"We think that our Governor intends to use funds provided by the Office of Economic Adjustment (OEA) to provide expertise for his review and comment on the draft EIS. However, the Legislature will not have access to those funds."

So, who within the territory might these national authorities want to talk to next?

Clue: On Guam They Make The Rules And Divvy Up The Cash

Although federal officials may be forgiven for their tendency to deal at the executive-to-executive level, the reality is this. The sooner the Department of Defense and representatives of the Obama Administration begin engaging Guam's legislative branch of government, the sooner our local lawmakers will be enabled to act in the spirit of Guthertz' win-win buildup philosophy.

Given its policymaking and appropriation authority, the Guam Legislature is a critical component to the military buildup. A project of this scale and magnitude will require a great deal of legislative input and flexibility -- from the development of port, road, utility and facilities infrastructure to the expansion of social programs -- in order to support a ballooning population, regulate the economy and handle exponential new loads of vehicular traffic.

Think of Guam as a mid-level American municipality. And say you're playing a computer-simulated game of 'community development'. You wouldn't foist a $15 billion federal master plan (the Guam Buildup) on the city council (the Guam Legislature) without their input -- would you?

We've said it before here at the Factor. And we'll say it again. A buildup that is good for the military must also be good for Guam. It's hard to coexist peacefully without mutual respect for one another's needs. Especially when two groups must coexist within a remote island not much bigger than a couple of hundred square miles.

The Rising Action

To expedite buildup matters on the homefront, Senator Guthertz has called an October 15th oversight hearing on "Draft EIS input" and "Military Build-up Funds from All Sources" and is asking pertinent GovGuam agency heads and experts to attend and to update the Legislature on their individual input and comments on sections of the federal government's draft EIS.

John Dela Rosa contributed to this report.

Here is a media release from Senator Guthertz' office updating voters on her response to the draft EIS -- and the tight timeline to respond:

Oversight Hearing On Draft EIS Is Now Set

Senator Guthertz Seeks Expert Assistance And Demands "Full Disclosure" On Draft EIS And Buildup Funding

Hagåtña - Senator Judi P. Guthertz has scheduled an Oversight Hearing to gather details on the Administration's input regarding the draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) presented by the Joint Guam Program Office (JGPO).

Sen. Guthertz also wrote to Assistant Secretary of the Interior Tony Babauta and Mr. Gary Kuwabara from the Office of Economic Adjustment seeking assistance in acquiring an expert to help the Committee on the Guam Military Buildup and Homeland Security with digesting the technical points of the Environmental Impact Statement in its working and final form.

"We haven't time to waste, the more information we learn about regarding the EIS for the buildup the better. Knowledge of what is contained in the EIS will aid us in formulating policy and planning for our people," explained Sen. Guthertz. "The military buildup is too vast a program to compartmentalize."

The lawmaker added, "It is all about transparency, accountability and preparedness. The Committee has committed to these tenets and will endeavor to hold the federal government and our local agencies including the Administration to the same. It just makes sense to keep

our people informed and aware."

As well, Sen. Guthertz will query the Governor's office on all funding received from the federal government in support of the military buildup on Guam. In late July, the senator advised the governor's office to be prepared for an Oversight Hearing on all military buildup

funding.

The Oversight Hearing is scheduled on Thursday, October 15, 2009 at 9:00 a.m. at the Public Hearing Room of the Guam Legislature.

Click here to read Senator Guthertz' letter to Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Insular Areas Tony Babauta and Office of Economic Adjustment staffer Gary Kuwabara.

Click here to read Senator Guthertz' letter to Guam Governor Felix Camacho.

JIGPO Briefs Lawmakers On Military Buildup EIS

Guam - Guam lawmakers were briefed on the military’s buildup environmental impact concerns Monday.

The sum result of the meeting was that members of the island community should have more to say about the EIS.

With long announced plans to officially break ground for the first phase of the Guam military buildup set for early 2010, a variety of government and military environmental experts as well as consultants have been putting together the environmental impact assessment required by both federal law and the planning process. However, it was only today that the Joint Guam Program Office shared details of what was being found and how it might affect the final shape of the $15 billion buildup and its impact on ordinary Guam citizens.

“It’s the first solid information we’ve had on the EIS,” said Senator Judi P. Guthertz. At a legislative briefing with more than half the senators represented, JGPO’s John Jackson, Director, JGPO (Forward), was grilled by legislators eager for information and unhappy with the short amount of time that the public will have to comment on the EIS.

Presented to the lawmakers was the outline of a ten volume document that is expected to be thousands of pages long. JGPO said that the draft of the EIS would be out on November 20th. At that time the public and other interested parties would have just 45 days to offer further comments or objections.

Some material from the preliminary report already suggests impacts on non-military Guam residents: Plans are to drill deep wells to ensure water supplies on base. On the other hand, the military expects to pay part of the costs of expanding the northern GovGuam sewage treatment plant to cover its expanded requirements.

Access to information about the military buildup has been a source of frustration in local government circles. While some government agencies have received copies of EIS drafts, the most recent version apparently did not go to the governor’s office. On the other hand, governor’s staffers who were not provided with copies have been invited to a session in Hawaii later this week to help drafters of the EIS review it.

In the short run, senators were most unhappy about the limited time they’ll have to review the EIS. Senator Matt Rector complained, “We’ve got no expertise to analyze an EIS…There’s no way in hell we can do this in 45 days…” Senator Guthertz agreed, but promised, “I’ll go through the EIS word by word.”

Guthertz urged that all citizens and particularly government officials with environmental expertise be prepared to lend a hand to review of the EIS, which she said is “vital” to the future of everyone making their home on Guam.

[Present at the EIS briefing were: Senators Guthertz, Speaker Won Pat, Senator Ada, Senator Pangelinan, Telo Taitague, Matt Rector; Senators Cruz, Palacios and Respicio were represented by staff]. Pacific News Center

Buildup's start may be late

Completion of environmental study delayed

BY DIONESIS TAMONDONG • PACIFIC DAILY NEWS

A draft study of the military buildup's potential environmental impact to the island may be completed by November -- several months later than the date federal officials had previously announced.

While the delay may push back the expected start of military construction projects, they're still scheduled to begin next year, according to federal and local officials. The start of those projects was targeted for early 2010.

The Environmental Impact Statement is a detailed study of the consequences that the projects may have on the environment. It must be approved before any military construction projects can break ground.

The target date for the draft EIS study to be completed is November, Guam Buildup Office Deputy Director Nora Camacho said during a meeting yesterday at the Guam Economic Development Authority.

The draft statement was supposed to be issued in January this year, then it was pushed back to spring, according to Pacific Daily News files. In July, retired Marine Maj. Gen. David Bice, executive director of the Joint Guam Program Office, said more time was needed to prepare the study, which consisted of more than 8,000 pages.

Camacho said JGPO officials continue to work with certain local agencies to reconcile inconsistencies found in the voluminous study.

Sen. Frank Aguon Jr., chairman of the legislative committee on economic development, said large construction projects, particularly those that require significant digging, will likely be affected by delays. But the senator, who was at yesterday's GEDA meeting, said he also believes the buildup shouldn't be rushed.

"I don't think (major delays) bode well for local businesses who are ready to start breaking ground within the next couple of months, but the reality is the EIS is critical so the community knows and understands exactly what the impact will be to Guam's environment," Aguon said.

Aguon said he thinks any major delays to large construction projects might affect the military's goal of relocating 8,000 U.S. Marines and their 9,000 dependents to Guam from Okinawa by 2014.

Guam Contractors Association President James Martinez said it's no big deal if projects are held back by a few months.

"We're all very anxious and excited to start, but there's also a lot of preparations involved and a little more time to do so might help," he said.

Marine Capt. Neil Ruggiero, JGPO public information officer, reiterated yesterday that they are on track with the environmental impact study and the goal for construction to start is still within fiscal 2010. He wouldn't say whether it would be in the early or later part of the year.

After the final EIS study is approved, a record of decision will be issued, detailing which projects will move forward.

Respicio And Guthertz Assure Guam Jobs For Filipinos

By Michael Rudolph - Guam News Factor

GUAM - Yesterday, Senators Rory Respicio and Judith Gurthertz met with Philippine Overseas Employment Administration officials in Mandaluyong, Philippines. The discussion points revolved around the recruitment of manpower for the Guam military buildup. During their visit the Senators expressed their positive sentiments of the Filipino labor force on Guam.

That, according to reports filed by the Philippine Star and GMA Television News.

Guthertz stated that "Filipinos are hardworking, they're loyal, and they're very, very industrious." Senator Respicio also shared his personal thoughts when he said "we have affinity for foreign workers, especially for Filipinos."

The two senators made assurances that the projected 15,000 to 20,000 job openings on Guam in 2010 related to the military buildup will be open to Filipinos, as potential employment opportunities for Filipinos will not be stymied by the efforts of Hawaii Congressman Neil Abercrombie (D).

"We do not believe it will pass. He will not get everything he is wishing for," said Guthertz commenting Abercrombie's prevailing wage provision. The prevailing wage provision or Kalua Pork Provision would require that the minimum wage standard for all construction workers on Guam will be at the prevailing wage level for similar construction projects in Hawaii. In addition, foreign workers will be allowed to do no more than 30% of the work on the project. According to the Congressional Budget Office, Abercrombie's provision would increase the cost of the buildup by $10 billion.

Filipinos should know that they have advocates in their corner, as evidenced by Senator Guthertz and Recpicio's comments and efforts to ensure that our fellow Pacific Islanders do not get left out in cold by Abercrombie's Kalua Pork Provision.

Read the Philippine Star article, "20,000 jobs up for grabs in Guam", September 2, 2009.

Read the GMA News.TV story, "Filipino workers assured of more jobs in Guam", September 2, 2009.

Guidelines on Guam out in Nov.

THE Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) chief said on Thursday the guidelines for the deployment of 15,000 to 20,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to Guam would be released in November or December this year.

POEA Administrator Jennifer Jardin Manalili said in a press conference the agency is finalizing the rules and regulations for the deployment to craft a standard contract for workers who will be hired to work in Guam.

“The guidelines will hopefully be out by the end of the year, around November or December. We foresee that there will be a surge of OFWs who would want to go to Guam,” Manalili said.

Guam is offering construction work to foreign workers who could earn as much as $17 an hour, Guam senator-adviser Alfredo Antolin Jr. said.

No recruitment fee will be collected from aspiring workers but a service fee of up to $1,000 will be collected from the construction companies that will hire foreign workers.

However, recruitment consultant Emmanuel Geslani said the standard employment contract of the POEA, which insists on free food and accommodation for the OFWs, is contrary to Guam labor laws.

The Guam labor laws, which are patterned after the US mainland laws, state that food and accommodation should be shouldered by workers, similar to what is practiced in all the US states.

Geslani expressed the fear that if the contractors from Guam will shoulder the $400 airfare and a visa fee of $1,000 for a H2-B temporary working visa, the companies might be “turned off” and hire Americans instead.

“Therefore, it would be easier to hire jobless American nationals or other foreign workers who are from the mainland or can fly in on their own airfare and without the need of a visa and no service fee is involved. So, no additional costs are involved if the contractor hires [jobless] American nationals who now number 2.5 million mostly in the construction and home industry,” Geslani said.

“The hiring rules are the same as in the US, which [pay] on a per hour [basis] and Filipinos will receive the same pay as the Americans. So why hire a Filipino if you can hire an American at no cost to you? This is what recruitment leaders are saying. There is no advantage in hiring Filipinos. In fact, it is a disadvantage to contractors or subcontractors who will work on the expansion of the Andersen Air Force Base in Guam,” he added.

A proposed bill, the 2010 National Defense Authorization Act, to the United States House Representatives, 70-percent of jobs in Guam are reserved for American citizens. Written by Sara Fabunan / Business Mirror Correspondent

RP needs labor attaché in Guam

HAGATNA, Guam—Guam Sen. Frank Aguon Jr. asked Philippine Labor Secretary Marianito Roque to send a labor attaché to Guam to oversee the needs of Filipino workers expected to fill thousands of jobs that will be generated by the impending US military buildup on the island with the relocation of thousands of US Marines from Okinawa.

Aguon last week wrote to Roque on the heels of a complaint filed by nine H2 workers who left Guam on August 27 after reluctantly accepting a meager amount of cash from Base Corp., their former employer. The United States H2 visa is issued to unskilled workers and is the most commonly used for workers in farming or construction.

They filed a complaint against the company at the local and federal labor departments for wage theft and maltreatment.

“It is critical that a Philippine representative with labor and welfare expertise assist workers in their need as they adjust to their new living and working environment,” said Aguon, chairman of the Committee on Economic Development, Health and Human Services and Judiciary.

The nine Filipino construction workers came to Guam early this year with hopes of earning good salaries to send back home to their families. But they flew back to the Philippines and decided to abandon their labor complaint after receiving $1,500 each from Base Corp.

“They could have stayed to see their case through because the federal labor department offered to give them immigration relief that would allow them to stay legally,” said Felix Aguon, a local labor-rights activist who assisted the Filipino workers. “But they wouldn’t take chances. They just wanted to leave.”

Danilo Navarette, spokesman for the group, signed a contract with the company to work as a carpenter. His contract stipulated a minimum wage of $13.56 an hour, but he only made $11.70 an hour. The employer deducted $200 from his monthly pay checks.

“We didn’t know the purpose of the deduction,” Navarette said in Pilipino in an interview before he left Guam. “We spent more for the recruitment than the amount we saved.”

The complaint was filed by Navarette, Victor Cortez, Ruben Enriques, Vergilo Enriques, Arnulfo Ruiz, Ferdinand Lubong, Rolando Aquino, Leonardo Paulino and Roberto Fabian, who all came to Guam in January.

Their contracts were supposed to be good until October but Base Corp. fired them after they filed the complaint.

“More Filipino workers with H2 visa will be coming here. We don’t want them to suffer what we had experienced,” Fabian said in Pilipino.

Guam will need about 30,000 foreign workers to pick up the construction jobs that will be generated by the relocation of 8,000 US Marines from Okinawa.

The island is dependent on the federal guest-worker program to fill its huge labor gap. The Philippines is a main source of manpower for Guam’s construction industry. Written by Mar-Vic Cagurangan / Special to the BusinessMirror

OFWs assured in Guam

Filipino workers assured of more jobs in Guam’

KIMBERLY JANE T. TAN, GMANews.TV

Despite an American lawmaker’s recent proposal to cut down the number of foreign workers in Guam, the US territory’s officials said Wednesday that the projected 15,000 to 20,000 job openings there will still be up for grabs – preferably to Filipinos – come 2010.

“We have affinity for foreign workers, especially for Filipinos," said Guam Senator and Majority Leader Rory Respicio during a press conference held Wednesday at the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) office in Mandaluyong.

Respicio made the assurance after US Representative Neil Abercrombie filed a bill that would cut down the percentage of work for foreign workers in the Guam labor market to only 30 percent.

But Guam Senator and Assistant Majority Leader Judith Guthertz said that their Senate will have to pass a similar proposal as Abercrombie’s before it can even take effect. “We do not believe it will pass. He will not get everything he is wishing for," she said.

‘Hard-working, loyal’

Guam officials had also earlier expressed their intention to hire Filipino workers for thousands of jobs that would open up during the transfer of the US military bases from Okinawa, Japan to the island in 2010. (See: Pinoys eyed to fill up 15,000 job vacancies in Guam)

“The most likely source of non-US workers for us would be the Philippines," said Guthertz. This, said Respicio, was because “Filipinos are hardworking, they’re loyal, and they’re very, very industrious."

Alfredo Antolin Jr., senior adviser of both Respicio and Guthertz, said that Filipino workers should find this opportunity very promising. “In Guam, they will be making good money, there won’t be exploitation," he said.

For the relocation project, Guam is willing to pay foreign workers at least $12 or almost P590 per hour or about $1,920 a month equivalent to about P94,000.

Moreover, Guthertz said prospective hires will not have to worry about any placement fees because they will be charging the annual $1,000 service free to their contractor. She said the fee collected will go to their manpower development fund used to train their local workers.

“That (the service fee) is something they have to monitor pero magpupulis din naman tayo dito sa atin (but we will also monitor that on our side)," said POEA Administrator Jennifer Manalili on the possibility that the burden of the service fee might be passed on to the worker.

Manalili said recruitment for the Guam relocation project will not begin until 2010. She added that they have yet to determine the modes of recruitment.

POEA records showed that as of June 2008, a total of 14, 497 Filipinos were residing and working in Guam. A total of 2,352 Filipino workers have been deployed there since 1998. - GMANews.TV

50K Philippine Workers 'Set To Be Hired' For Guam Buildup. But U.S., Japan Still Coming To Terms

Written by Jeff Marchesseault, Guam News Factor Staff Writer

GUAM - The Philippine government's optimism about Guam's massive military buildup and the island's arguable 'need' for qualified Filipino labor is refreshing. But the reality among the powers that be says it'll be awhile before Washington, the Department of Defense, and the government of Japan -- much less the Government of Guam -- will know when housing and other construction can start in order to begin accommodating the arrival of U.S. troops eventually to be resettled here from Okinawa.

Let's Not Jump The Gun

This morning's edition of the Philippine Star reports:

At least 50,000 Filipino construction and other skilled workers are set to be hired in Guam to construct a large military base in that US territory, the government said yesterday.

Augusto Syjuco, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority director general, said Guam will hire carpenters, welders, masons, heavy equipment operators, and cooks and waiters who will serve those construction workers.

While more than 50,000 may stand willing, ready and able for hire from across the Philippine Sea, several key issues must be settled within Washington and between the U.S. and Japan before labor can be identified and construction can begin.

A Seismic Undulation

Over the weekend Japan experienced a major power shift after a nationwide election ended the more than five-decade reign of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) to make way for the much-favored Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) in a landslide victory that may only embolden the DPJ's resolve to carry through on its scrutinous intentions with regard to traditional U.S.-Japanese relations. Chief among sticking points in these relations is the Guam buildup.

Still On The Table

If the DPJ carries through on its stated resolve to stop following the U.S. lead in foreign affairs and start implementing cost controls on Japan's investment in American protection, then the Guam buildup could conceivably receive less than the $6.09 billion in financing earlier promised by the LDP for Japan's part of the deal. And an LDP-brokered deal to move a Marine air base from metropolitan to remote Okinawa to help relieve military congestion as part of the Okinawa-to-Guam transfer will be reexamined. Furthermore, the U.S. Congress has yet to settle on a bicameral version of the 2010 Defense Authorization Act, which means foreign labor quotas and wages for Guam's buildup remain unknown, right along with other defense spending on Guam.

As Guam News Factor reported on August 23, independent news sources had found that, owing to various delays including a lack of clarity on when (and how many) troops will leave Okinawa for Guam, Guam's military housing construction timetables were already six months behind schedule.

Buildup Terms Depend On America And Japan

The Republic of the Philippines is doing the right thing by remaining vigilant about vouchsafing Guam jobs for its skilled workers. However, along with this vigilance must come an appreciation for the U.S.-to-Japan bilateral relations guiding the Guam buildup, outside the control of the governments of Guam and the Philippines.

Today's Philippine Star also states:

Syjuco said two senators from Guam are arriving in Manila this week for the preparatory hiring of Filipino skilled workers.

"The two senators will be staying from Sept. 2 to 4 to discuss preparations for the deployment of Filipino workers, and soon afterwards we expect the interviews and recruitment to start," he said.

Syjuco said TESDA has now sufficient manpower to fill up the requirement in Guam.

Even if two senators from Guam are planning to visit Manila to help ease the way for the hire of Filipino workers, it must be realized that, ultimately, both houses of the U.S. Congress and the President of the United States must agree on the terms and makeup of Guam's buildup labor before any hiring can begin. And it also must be expected that a victorious DPJ might also have something to say about it.

Read the Philippine Star story,"50,000 OFWs set to be hired in Guam", August 31, 2009.

Read the Guam News Factor analysis, "Guam Buildup Housing Delays: There's A Much Bigger Picture At Play", August 23, 2009.

Read the Guam News Factor analysis, "Guam Better Brace For New Buildup Hurdles: Exit Poll Shows New Leadership In Japan", August 30, 2009.

Read the Guam News Factor analysis, "Guam's Fall-2010 Buildup Launch Could Hinge On Japan's Election This Sunday", August 29, 2009.

Americans are priority in Guam jobs

There had been discussions lately about OFWs losing jobs in Guam due to the possibility that many Americans who are unemployed now going to Guam for work.

Actually this writer had been repeatedly stating that indeed . . . Americans, Guamenians, Hawaiian and the other islanders have the first crack of the jobs to be offered during Guam Buildup or any other Guam job offer for that matter.

Guam Governor has to certify that in fact, either no one from the above priorities applied or qualified for the job before it can be offered to other nationalities.

There is no question however that more or less 20,000 jobs are expected to be generated by the project.

At the current situation... if you will go to Guam, the reality is that there are now substantial number of OFWs presently working in various fields.

What does this mean...?

That the locals... (Guamenians, Americans... etc) are simply NOT interested to take the job!

Because if they are... all the jobs there should have been taken and nothing left for the OFW!

And we are just talking about the regular construction work in Guam... not yet the Guam buildup which will need 20,000 workers or so.

The point of the matter that made this issue prominent is due to the proposal by Hawaiian representative to make salaries in Guam (specially during buildup) comparable to Hawaii or even mainland rate...

If that happens... maybe this discussion can change shape..

Below if the comparison of WAGES: GUAM VS. HAWAII
Wages determined by the Department of Labor for federal projects under the Service Contract Act (all figures are rates per hour) versus Hawaii's:
Jobs ..........................In Guam >> In Hawaii %Change
Carpenter, maintenance . $13.00 >>$30.88 +137.5%
Electrician, maintenance .$14.99 >>>$28.25 +88.5%
Heavy equipment mechanic $14.81 >>$26.98 +82.2%
Heavy equipment operator $13.73 >>>$29.54 +115.1%
Painter, building maintenance $13.55 >$23.09 +70.4%

But by the way things are going in the US Congress.... the possibility is not that promising because if this adjustment gets implemented, an additional USD 10B budget is required to complete the project... and we all know that funds are not easy to come-by these days.

In the mean time... this writer (who happens to be the Head of Task Force Guam) finds it prudent to continue with the preparations... manpower registry ... training needs assessment ... continous open communication with both applicants and employers ... document preparation and go ahead with good relationship with the people of Guam! I don't see us loosing anything by being friendly and prepared!

Hafa Adai!

Related Articles:

http://guam-ofw.blogspot.com/2009/07/wage-proposal-being-debated.html

http://guam-ofw.blogspot.com/2009/08/bad-news-good-news-on-guam-jobs.html

http://guam-ofw.blogspot.com/2009/08/subcontracts-manpower-philippine.html

http://guam-ofw.blogspot.com/2009/07/mayor-gordon-believes-guam-wage-ok.html

http://guam-ofw.blogspot.com/2009/08/guam-wage-most-likely-to-stay.html

http://guam-ofw.blogspot.com/2009/07/washington-post-10B-guam-buildups-too-costly.html

http://guam-ofw.blogspot.com/2009/07/proposal-adds-10b-to-cost-of-buildup.html

http://guam-ofw.blogspot.com/2009/07/guam-governor-expects-filipinos-to-fill-jobs.html

Now here's the latest article on this issue.... you be the judge.

OFWs may lose jobs in Guam to Americans

By Jerome Aning

Philippine Daily Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines -- The 15,000 up to 20,000 job openings in Guam being eyed by the Philippine government for overseas Filipinos workers are imperiled by a United States legislator who wants most of the jobs given to US citizens, according to a consultant for overseas job recruitment.

Emmanuel Geslani, a consultant of several Manila-based recruitment agencies, said the US Senate and House of Representatives have been reconciling the final version of the proposed 2010 National Defense Authorization Act, which would specify the budget and expenditures of the US defense department for 2010.

According to Geslani, however, the US Congress might move to prioritize Americans for such jobs.

Various online news have reported that the House version of the bill contains an amendment by Hawaii 1st district Rep. Neil Abercrombie, which, among others, reserved to US citizens up to 70 percent of the jobs to be generated by the US$15 billion worth of construction and infrastructure projects for the planned move of 8,000 Marines and their 9,000 dependents from Japan to Guam.

Abercrombie’s amendment to the House version of the bill also required that the wages for the jobs match the level in Hawaii for similar work.

Reports said that US Navy Secretary Ray Mabus opposed the Abercrombie amendment, which he said would add another US$10 billion to the Guam military-buildup, which centered on the expansion of the Andersen Air Force Base on the island.

The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration announced last month that OFWs would be preferred in the buildup jobs resulting from the transfer of the US military bases and personnel from Okinawa, Japan, to Guam, a US territory.

The POEA had even started negotiating with job providers in Japan on the wages the OFWs would be getting, adding that OFWs were preferred for their professionalism and hard work.

Geslani said a delay in the passage of the bill by the US Congress would “certainly” affect the timetable for the withdrawal and the POEA’s expected mobilization of OFWs by the first quarter of 2010.

“OFWs are advised to wait until the POEA clears up the situation and accredits selected agencies for this huge project, according to the criteria being drafted by the POEA for licensed recruitment agencies interested in gaining access to the Guam labor market,” he said in a statement.

He also warned OFWs that the POEA has not been processing any job orders for Guam. He urged them not to listen to illegal recruiters who have been going around provinces, recruiting applicants for Guam and telling them that licensed agencies have been listing up possible workers for Guam.

Geslani said the negotiations for OFW deployment have been affected because of the disputes and deadlocks in the processing and procedures for the construction of the new military and housing facilities for the US soldiers.

The consultant, quoting Filipino and Guamanian labor experts familiar with the negotiations, said differences over the selection of contractors for the projects could lag up to a year, upsetting the timetable for the completion of the military transfer by as much as three to four years.

He said another unresolved issue has been the POEA contract containing provisions contrary to Guam labor laws, which have been patterned after those in the US mainland.

“POEA insists that OFWs’ food and accommodation should be free but under Guamanian labor laws, food and accommodation are to be shouldered by the workers, similar to what is practiced in all the US states,” he said.

He said manpower agencies in Guam and the Philippines have also bee also “turned off” by projected costs of sending an OFW to Guam. These costs include the $400 airfare, service fees amounting $1,000 to $2,000, and visa fees of about $1,000.

“Therefore, it would be easier to hire jobless American nationals from the mainland who can fly on their own airfare without the need of a visa, no service fee involved, and no additional costs. Probably the contractors would hire jobless Americans from the construction and home industry who now number 2.5 million,” he said.

He noted that hiring rules were the same as in the US, which would be per hour, and this meant that OFWs would receive the same pay as Americans.

“’So why hire an OFW if you can hire an American at no cost to you’ -- this is what recruitment leaders are saying. There is no advantage in hiring Filipinos. In fact, it is a disadvantage to contractors or sub-contractors for the military project,” Geslani said.

Japan has agreed to provide $6.09 billion of the projected $10.27-billion relocation costs, a figure that includes the base housing as well as infrastructure improvements.

The US has already proposed using part of that money for improving other military facilities not directly connected to the transfer of the Okinawa-based Marines.

Proposed Guam wage change debate heats up

Jobs plan called a threat to Marines' Guam move

Navy secretary says measure may make transfer too costly

By William Cole - Advertiser Military Writer

Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus, in Hawai'i on his first Pacific tour, yesterday said a jobs requirement added to a defense bill by U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie would jeopardize the planned $15 billion move of 8,000 Marines and their families from Japan to Guam.

"It's no secret that we oppose his (Abercrombie's) amendment to do that," Mabus said. "For one thing, we don't think we can afford to make the move if that happens."

Abercrombie yesterday said defense authorization bills passed by the U.S. Senate and House are in conference committee "and we're talking over what some of the (jobs amendment's) implications are."

The Hawai'i Democrat said the Obama administration is "open to discussion" over the amendment.

"So I have a lot of confidence that our point of view is going to get a fair hearing," Abercrombie said. "Now, whether we prevail, or prevail exactly the way I'd like to prevail, I don't know."

Abercrombie's amendment to the House version of the 2010 National Defense Authorization Act requires that 70 percent of jobs for the Guam buildup go to Americans and that wages be set at levels for similar projects in Hawai'i.

A Congressional Budget Office report estimated the measure would double the $10 billion construction cost for the move by 8,000 Marines and 9,000 family members from Okinawa to Guam, where labor costs are much lower than in Hawai'i.

Madeleine Bordallo, Guam's delegate to the House of Representatives, previously predicted Abercrombie's measure would be heavily altered or omitted.

Mabus, a Democrat and former Mississippi governor, is the 75th secretary of the Navy. He took over the job in May. As secretary of the Navy and Marine Corps, he is responsible for an annual budget of more than $150 billion and 900,000 people.

Mabus said the February grounding of the cruiser Port Royal is a concern.

"Anytime you've got a ship that runs aground it raises concern," Mabus said. "But we've taken a good look at what caused that. I think we understand it and I don't think it speaks of a big training and readiness concern across the Navy."

Mabus recently traveled to Iraq and Afghanistan, and he said 12,000 to 14,000 sailors operate on the ground in the region — more than the 9,500 at sea. He said he visited a Provincial Reconstruction Team in eastern Afghanistan headed up by a Navy submariner.

Real Estate up as Guam buildup nears

Real estate sales up 55%

BY GAYNOR DUMAT-OL DALENO • PACIFIC DAILY NEWS •

Overall real estate sales on Guam increased 55 percent to $56.1 million during the second quarter this year compared to the same period last year, announced local market tracker The Captain Real Estate Group.

"The good news confirms that the worst is over," according to the company, which compiles residential and commercial real estate transactions on Guam and issues quarterly statistics. Without timely government statistics, Captain's figures are looked to as an indicator of the industry's health.

"The overall market reflected strong gains during the second quarter of 2009 and expectations remain high that significant growth will occur over the next 12 to 24 months," according to the company.

At the same time, Captain confirmed there are certain sectors in the local real estate market that remain weak.

According to the company, some of the signs of a rebounding market include:

The median price of a house rebounded 25 percent to $199,500, the strongest quarterly gain on record, but still 16 percent below the $238,000 median price high set in the third quarter of 2008.

Guam saw 158 houses sold in the second quarter, up 40 percent from the five-year low of 115 sales in the first quarter. However, the 158 sales are relatively weak compared to the 210 average units sold during the same period from 2006 to 2008.

The more volatile condominium sector reflected 38 sales, up 52 percent, and a $131,000 median price per unit, down slightly from first-quarter statistics.

The U.S. military buildup, when it starts to go into full swing next year, is expected to raise real estate values, as well as sales activity, according to Captain.

Captain also noted "the bad news" that overall sales activity fell short of expectations -- 2009 sales volume reflects $225 million, down 42 percent from 2008.

Captain added "the ugly news" -- that Guam's real estate market lacks foreign investment.

South Korean investment "has shifted from acquisition into construction, which is positive, but we need foreign capital injections to push real estate to the next level," according to Captain.

Bad news, good news on Guam jobs

The bad news: As next year’s scheduled relocation of the United States military base from Okinawa, Japan to Guam gives Filipinos seeking overseas employment hope, they may not get priority for construction jobs, a recruitment specialist said Sunday.

Although Filipinos are preferred in Guam, the huge unemployment situation in the US, particularly mainland-based construction workers, may get in the way of getting Filipinos hired for jobs created by the planned construction of various buildings and infrastructure in the new site of the US Marine and Air Force units, said Emmanuel Geslani.

Quoting Guam Governor Felix Camacho, he said construction workers in the US may compete with the prospective Filipino workers.

Among those that will be built are new barracks, dependents’ housing, new roads, and infrastructure like electrical power, water facilities, waste treatment, commissary and other buildings necessary to accommodate the transfer and relocation of the additional 23,000 persons, he said.

He said the demand for construction workers for the Guam build-up will start by the first quarter of 2010, when the bids for the new US Marines headquarters will be awarded. Actual construction will start in July 2010 after all bids have been awarded. The 18-month project is scheduled for completion by 2012 for the total relocation of US military personnel from Okinawa by 2014.

At the same time, there are no still job orders approved by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, said Geslani.

He said the employment contract acceptable to both Guam labor officials and the POEA is still being finalized, although the basic issues have already been agreed on—the hourly wages start at $12 and US labor laws will be followed.

Camacho was in the country last month and met with members and officials of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce, the Philippine Association of Service Exporters Inc. (Pasei), and the Philippine Construction Association.

The good news

But once Guam is transformed into a major US military base in the Pacific, Filipino health care personnel will be in demand, the Guam governor said.

“Guam is substantially underserved in health care services. Filipino nurses who have passed the requisite US licensure examinations and Filipino doctors that have US board certifications are qualified to apply,” the Guam official said.

Guam, which is only three hours away from the Philippines, will become home to 8,000 more US Marines and 15,000 more dependents starting 2012.

Actual demand for healthcare workers will start in 2012 when the relocation of the US Marines and their dependents will start so aspiring Filipino nurses and doctors can now prepare by taking the necessary US exams like NCLEX, CGFNS, IELTS, and US Board certifications, Geslani said.

Medical technicians in radiology, cardio laboratories, and CT scan; occupational and physical therapists, as well as medical transcriptionists and medical administrative personnel will be needed to staff the expanded naval hospital in Guam, he said.

The US Department of Defense anticipates that the transfer would double the total patient capacity of the US Naval Hospital, now the primary medical provider for the 14,000 military members and their dependents in Guam.

The US Naval Hospital offers a broad band of medical services that include family practice, OB-GYN, pediatrics, general surgery, internal medicine, occupational health and preventive medicine, physical therapy, health promotions, and social work services.

Japan will fund $8 billion of the $12-billion move, the rest by the US.

Altogether, Geslani said, the relocation of the US military base is expected to generate 20,000 jobs.

Veronica Uy

Guam Senators send letter inviting Obama to buildup conference

OBAMA Senators send letter inviting Obama to buildup conference

Two local senators have sent a second letter to President Obama, urging him to visit Guam.

According to a press release, Sens. Judith Guthertz and Rory Respicio sent a letter over the weekend asking Obama to attend a conference on the coming military buildup.

The two-day conference — “Island Conference on the Guam Military Buildup: the Guam Perspective” — starts on November 19, the letter states. The previously invited Obama in July.

“… Guam is so much more than just a set of military bases and tourist

hotels,” the letter states. “It would be a tremendous honor for us if you could make room in your very crowded schedule to visit our tiny island; and it would be our great privilege to show you the real Guam.”

Respicio said in a press release that it would be most likely that Obama would visit Guam during a trip to Asia. Obama plans to attend an economic summit in Singapore days before the conference in Guam, the letter states.

Obama, the 44th president of the United States, took office in January.

Although residents of Guam cannot vote for president, a local straw poll held on Election Day overwhelmingly supported Obama. PACIFIC DAILY NEWS • NEWS@GUAMPDN.COM

Guam - Olongapo City sister-city relationship

Calvo advocates for Olongapo City sister-city relationship

PACIFIC DAILY NEWS

Gubernatorial candidate Sen. Eddie Baza Calvo yesterday introduced a resolution authorizing Speaker Judith Won Pat to enter Guam into a sister-city relationship with Olongapo City, Philippines.

Resolution No. R170-30 (LS) is co-sponsored by Sens. Rory Respicio, Judith Guthertz, Ray Tenorio and Jim Espaldon.

“Guam and Olongapo City can benefit greatly from each other,” Calvo said. "We can learn a lot from their experience as a former host community to one of the largest U.S. military installations in the region," Calvo said.

Olongapo City Mayor James “Bong” Gordon Jr. visited Guam in April and met with Calvo.

Sangguniang Panlunsod of Olongapo earlier passed resolution 2009 R - 60 - A RESOLUTION EXTENDING AN INVITATION TO GUAM, U.S.A. TO BECOME TWIN-PARTNER OF OLONGAPO CITY AND PARTICIPATE IN THE PHILIPPINE INTERNATIONAL SISTERHOOD AND TWINNING PROGRAM (PHISTA) AND AUTHORIZING THE HONORABLE MAYOR, JAMES “BONG” GORDON, JR.TO ENTER INTO AGREEMENTS RELATIVE THERETO

And resolution 2009 R - 62 - A RESOLUTION DESIGNATING HONORABLE MAYOR JAMES GORDON, JR. AS “AMBASSADOR OF GOODWILL” OF THE CITY OF OLONGAPO TO GUAM ,USA IN CONNECTION WITH THE GUAM MARIANAS PROJECT

In the mean time Guam Mayors' Council officers and members are in Olongapo City in preparation for the Pacific Mayors' Conference to be held in Olongapo City next year. Arrangements pertaining to the upcoming Guam build-up project is also part of the agenda.

Guam Wage most likely to stay

Bordallo Expects Abercrombie Amendment To Be Removed From Defense Authroization Act

Guam - Rep. Bordallo briefed Chamber members on the progress of the Marine realignment and said she expected the controversial “Abercrombie amendment” in the National Defense Authorization Act to either be heavily changed or “omitted altogether.”

“I will be advocating for balance… we are working toward ways to boost the interests on Guam without compromising the larger industries,” Congresswoman Bordallo said. “We also will continue our work to support labor training programs so that every local professional has an opportunity for secure jobs.”

Meanwhile, Senator Ray Tenorio in a release says he maintains his confidence in the Guam buildup after Congresswoman Madeleine Bordallo addressed the Guam Chamber of Commerce during a lunch meeting held at the Hyatt Regency Guam today.

Senator Tenorio has been a staunch and vocal opponent of the amendment, which seeks to raise construction wages to a rate that would double the cost of the military buildup and set an unrealistic cap on H2 workers for buildup projects.

“I’m so relieved that our Congresswoman, who has her hand on the pulse of Washington D.C., has told the island that the success of this buildup will not be compromised by a man with a vested personal interest,” Senator Tenorio said. “An amendment of this nature must only be implemented if it serves the best interests of our people – our workers – first and foremost. I am confident in the strong congressional support fighting for a buildup that benefits of all of Guam and I thank the members of this delegation for being our voice during this critical time.”

Congresswoman Bordallo is part of a delegation visiting the island from the House of Representative’s Natural Resource Committee. Chairman Nick Rahall also shared his support for Guam and the need for additional assistance in funding the projects necessary to ensure the buildup’s success in what he called an “environmentally sensitive, socially responsible” manner.

“We have to make this buildup right for Guam – not only on the inside of the fence but on the outside of the fence a well,” Chairman Rahall said. “ www.pacificnewscenter.com

Subcontracts, Manpower: The Philippine Pipeline To Guam?

By Jeff Marchesseault - Guam News Factor

GUAM - Subcontracting and overseas labor present a best-fit window of opportunity for Philippine businesses who want a piece of the action during Guam's multi-billion-dollar military buildup.

According to the Manila Bulletin, a government study concluded that since the U.S. and Japan are financing the buildup, firms from these two nations "will be given priority."

The Bulletin goes on to quote the report as stating:

"But since the projects are big, it is expected that the main contractors will sub-contract some portions of the projects. This is where Philippine contractors could come in as sub-contractors or manpower service providers."

Opportunity in the service sector may be ripe for foreign investors, but that doesn't mean they won't face competition from Guam-based businesses.

KUAM and the Marianas Business Journal report that a new company with deep local ties called Guam Manpower Resources is already doing business on island and is gearing up for buildup-related work.

Read the Manila Bulletin story, "Guam offers big opportunities for contractors", July 31, 2009.

Read the KUAM story, "MBJ: Manpower maneuver New group steps into HR field", August 3, 2009.

GMA cancels Guam Trip

GMA Cancels Trip. Guam Hopes For November Visit

By Jeff Marchesseault - www.guamnewsfactor.com

GUAM - Her visit to Guam will simply have to wait. Perhaps till November for a planned military buildup summit.

Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo cut short her four-city U.S. tour (DC, NY, Chicago, GU) on news of the death of former Philippine President Corazon Aquino over the weekend.

Having called for ten days of national mourning and declaring August 5th a nonworking Philippine holiday, President Arroyo will miss prescheduled trips to Chicago and Guam and return home early to attend memorial services.

BusinessWorld Online quoted Arroyo's announcement to her nation in its hour of bereavement on Saturday:

"Today, the Philippines lost a national treasure. Cory Aquino helped lead a revolution that restored democracy and the rule of law to our nation at a time of great peril," said Pres. Gloria M. Arroyo in a message televised from Washington, D.C., where she met with United States President Barack Obama.

"I am announcing today that we will officially observe [a] 10-day period of national mourning. Our hearts go out to the family in this hour of grief and sorrow. The nation prays for Cory and her family."

Arroyo had been slated to meet with Guam officials and the local Filipino community over the course of about eight hours during a stopover on the island on the way back to Manila. August 5th is the day of Aquino's internment and the day that Arroyo had previously planned to visit Guam.

Meanwhile, Guam officials are anticipating that there'll be room in Arroyo's schedule for a visit to Guam this November. That is the month that Senator Judi Guthertz is planning to hold a military buildup conference on island. Last month Guthertz announced plans to invite both President Obama and President Arroyo, among others, to the summit.

The Business Mirror reports that Arroyo was scheduled to depart New York for refueling in San Francisco today. From there she will fly directly to Manila for an early-morning Wednesday arrival.

Read the Business Mirror story, "GMA: August 5 nonworking holiday", August 2, 2009.

Read the BusinessWorld Online story, "A nation mourns", August 3, 2009.

Read the Guam News Factor story, "Guthertz Invites President Arroyo To Guam", July 17, 2009.

Read the Guam News Factor story, "Senator Guthertz Invites President Obama To Guam", July 6, 2009.

Guam Manpower Resources

MBJ: Manpower maneuver New group steps into Guam HR field

A new company - a local partnership with international relationships - is positioning itself as a player in the labor market for the coming military buildup. Equally, partners told the Journal, the company is bringing its resources to bear in the local human resources area and arranging strategic partnerships. Guam Manpower Resources' partners are Manu P. Melwani and Paris J.M. Blas.

Melwani is president of Pacific American Title Co. and has other business holdings that include Bedrock Construction, Safety 1st and Rainbow Paint Supply; Sherwin Williams Paint and Frazee Paint & Wall Coverings, part ownership of United Pacific Collection Agency, and the Star Building. Blas, previously the office manager at Executive Typing and Employment Services, said the buildup was a factor in the partners' decision to launch the company.

They will draw on the resources of InterAsia Outsource Inc. in the Philippines and ACS Global of Perth, in Western Australia. Guam Manpower opened its doors on July 1 in the Eva Building, which Melwani owns.

The business already has clients, varying in size from Continental Micronesia to Guam Copy Center. It has about 60 registered potential employees and has placed seven individuals in employment as of July 24.

The company has discussed a placement service with a Guam organization and is preparing to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with that organization for its graduates.

Frank Whitman with the Marianas Business Journal contributed to this report. watch "Business Confidential with the MBJ" Mondays on KUAM News Primetime. KUAM.COM

Guam offers big opportunities for contractors

Local contractors could take advantage of the subcontracting business opportunities that Guam can offer over the next few years.

A government report showed that Guam's construction activities for the operational training housing and other infrastructures relating to military build-up will go full blast in 2010.

“Since the US and Japan are funding the buildup, their contractors will be given priority. But since the projects are big, it is expected that the main contractors will sub-contract some portions of the projects.

This is where Philippine contractors could come in as sub-contractors or manpower service providers," the report said.

The government is confident that Filipino firms could get these contracts owing to the country’s proximity with Guam and previous experiences of US and Japanese contractors working with Filipino contractors, engineers and workers. By EDU LOPEZ - Manila Bulletin