The month of August is declared as the annual National Lung Month by virtue of Presidential Proclamation No. 1761, series of 1978.

The theme for the 2024 commemoration is “Closing the Gap: Breastfeeding Support for All,” urging both governments and the private sector to reevaluate and enhance policies and workplace arrangements that assist breastfeeding mothers. The Expanded Breastfeeding Promotion Act of 2009, or Republic Act 10028, requires all establishments, whether public or private, to provide support for breastfeeding in the workplace.

“Employers shall require their officials and employees to undergo a random drug test in accordance with the company’s work rules and regulations for purposes of reducing the risk in the workplace. Strict confidentiality shall be observed with regard to screening and the screening results.” (Section C, par. b, subpar. I, DOLE D.O. No. 53, s. 2003)

For a dismissal on the ground of disease to be considered valid, two requisites must concur: (a) the employee suffers from a disease which cannot be cured within six months and his/her continued employment is prohibited by law or prejudicial to his/her health or to the health of his/her co-employees, and (b) a certification to that effect must be issued by a competent public health authority.

Lack of documentary evidence is not fatal to a claim for the deceased’s lost earning capacity. Testimony from a competent witness familiar with his salary is a sufficient basis to determine the deceased’s income before his death. (Vivian Torreon v. Generoso Aparra, Jr., G.R. No. 188493, December 13, 2017)

xxx a de facto government is one wherein the said government is in control of the political affairs in the state; lacking one or more of the legal requisites of government. (Nachura, 2016)

In the Philippines, August is celebrated as National History Month, a period dedicated to reflecting on and understanding the rich and complex history of the archipelago. This 2024, the theme of the National History Month is “Salaysay ng Bayan, Saysay ng Bansa”.

In illegal dismissal cases, the burden of proof is on the employer in proving the validity of dismissal. However, the fact of dismissal, if disputed, must be duly proven by the complainant. (Italkarat 18, Inc. v. Juraldine Gerasmio, G.R. No. 221411, September 28, 2020)

Preponderance of evidence is the weight, credit, and value of the aggregate evidence on either side and is usually considered to be synonymous with the term “greater weight of the evidence” or “greater weight of the credible evidence.” Preponderance of evidence is a phrase that, in the last analysis, means probability of the truth. It is evidence that is more convincing to the court as it is worthier of belief than that which is offered in opposition thereto.Xxx In civil cases, the burden of proof is on the plaintiff to establish his case by preponderance of evidence, i.e., superior weight of evidence on the issues involved.