NLRC SUMMONS FAP OFFICIALS

The Film Academy of the Philippines was summoned to a mandatory conciliation/mediation conference by the National Labor Relations Commission in connection with the complaints filed by three former employes who were terminated last December.

The termination of the employes—bookkeeper Lea Maria B ernardez, liaison officer Rolando T. Calanog and driver Marcelo Vivero, Jr. --was
in line with the academy’s retrenchment policies brought about by
the slashed shares of the academy from the amusement taxes derived
from the Metropolitan Manila filmfest.

According to NLRC labor arbitration associate Lorna M. Consolacion,
the hearings will be held on April 16 and 23 at 10:30 .a.m. at Rm. 314, third floor, PPSTA building on Banawe street, Q.C.

Ms. Consolacion stressed that failure of FAP to appear on these two scheduled conferences shall cause “termination of the mandatory conference, waiver to present evidence and submission of the case on the basis of evidence on record.”

In her complaint, Ms. Bernardez alleged that there was underpayment of the separation pay as well as a failure to convert into cash unused leave credits of the three terminated employes.

Speaking for the academy, Director-General Leo G. Martinez explained
that the board of governors of the FAP complied with all legal requirements in paying the separation pays of the three complainants and three other employes who were terminated at the same time. He added that the standing loans of some of the terminated employes were even condoned and were not deducted from the separation pays.