KAKAMMPI News

By GMA Integrated News Published November 28, 2022 9:01pm Eighty-five percent of Filipino adults said "yes" when asked the question of whether the Philippines was headed in the right direction based on the policies and programs of the Marcos administration. According to OCTA Research's latest Tugon ng Masa survey conducted from October 23 to 27, only six percent said "no" when asked the question. Nine percent said didn't know or refused to answer. "Across the major areas, it is in the Visayas where 91% of adult Filipinos think the country is headed in the right direction," OCTA said. "Meanwhile, only 70% of adult Filipinos in NCR think the country is headed in the right direction," it added.

Fr. Shay Cullen 28 October 2022 When I hike into the hills and mountains of Zambales with the Aeta indigenous farmers, their children and families, we are usually on a trek with the Preda fair trade team to plant grafted mango saplings, calamansi or rambutan trees. This is on the mountains where the mangoes are certified organic according to EU standards. This is a great achievement for the indigenous people. The Aeta people claim the mountains as their ancestral lands but around the world the rights of the indigenous peoples to the ancestral lands are challenged by mining companies and land grabbers supported by corrupt politicians and officials. These mountains were once lush rainforests where the ancestors of the Aeta people (once called Negritos, their DNA traced them back to Africa) lived and survived in peace as self-sufficient hunters and gatherers. They loved and respected their forests, they cared for the natural world and the birds and animals. The climate was secure,

POPCOM: Around 70 million working-age Pinoys can provide much-needed boost to national economy Strength in numbers: More productive workers will fuel the country’s socio-economic development. POPCOM FILE PHOTO The increasing number of employable Filipinos can further revitalize the Philippines’ socio-economic development, which is still reeling from the effects of the pandemic—that is, if their numbers are fully maximized and harnessed, according to the Commission on Population and Development (POPCOM). The Philippine Statistics Authority’s (PSA) 2020 Census of Population and Housing revealed that out of the said year’s total number of 109,035,343 individuals, more than half—or 69.40 million—are within the 15 to 64 years old working-age bracket. For POPCOM, this huge segment provides an opportunity to elevate the country’s socio-economic conditions. “To fully tap this significant quantity of workers, the national government needs to provide steady streams of quality jobs, whi

By JOVILAND RITA, GMA Integrated News Published November 23, 2022 8:55am Around 100 recruitment agencies have been approved so far for the deployment of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said Wednesday. Interviewed on GMA News’ Unang Balita, DMW Secretary Susan “Toots” Ople said the approval of more agencies is still ongoing. “Nag-approve na kami ng 100 na recruitment agencies dito tsaka sa Saudi Arabia. Patuloy 'yung pag-aapprove namin,” Ople said. (We approved 100 recruitment agencies here and in KSA. We continue to approve more agencies.) Ople added that labor attachés are now screening job orders.

By JOVILAND RITA, GMA Integrated News Published November 11, 2022 4:28pm The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) on Friday allayed fears that thousands of seafarers may lose their jobs due to the Philippines’ alleged failure to comply with international standards. At a public briefing, MARINA chief of staff Jabeth Dacanay said that concerned government agencies continue to intensify their efforts to improve seafarers' education, training, and certification. “Sana huwag po tayong mabahala dahil patuloy naman pong ginagawa ng mga ahensya ng gobyerno gaya ng MARINA, [Commission on Higher Education], at ibang ahensya ng gobyerno na tayo ay makatupad sa obligasyon natin dito sa [International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers],’ she said. (We do not have to worry because government agencies like MARINA, CHED, and other agencies are meeting our obligations under this Convention.) On Tuesday, Senator Risa Hontiveros sought an inquiry

At least 32 Filipinos and ten other passengers were rescued from a ship that caught fire in the northern Pacific Ocean on Sunday, November 6. According to a report on “24 Oras” on Wednesday, the Chinese Embassy said the survivors were crew members of a fishing vessel named “Hsiang Ching.” A nearby fishing vessel named “Yong Fa 1” immediately provided humanitarian rescue. The embassy said a Filipino is still missing. Crew members of Yong Fa 1 tried to look for him but to no avail. Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian extended his sympathy and offered prayers for the missing victim. -- Sundy Locus/BAP, GMA News

Published November 8, 2022 2:23pm Updated November 8, 2022 2:36pm Senator Risa Hontiveros has sought an inquiry into improving the standards of maritime education in the country over fears that around 50,000 Filipino seafarers are at risk of losing their jobs. These came about after findings showed that the Philippines did not comply with the European Union's standards on seafarers' education, training, and certification. In filing proposed Senate Resolution 279, Hontiveros said the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) has been flagging the Philippine maritime training since 2006. She added that EMSA had reported that the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) did not ensure that all training and assessment met the standards provided under the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) Convention. "Labing-anim na taon na pala tayong binibigyan ng warning. It’s hig

By GMA Integrated News Published November 15, 2022 2:42am The Philippines should take action to protect and promote human rights, including addressing killings of the war on drugs and ensuring access to justice for victims, some member-nations of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) have said. The UNHRC states made the recommendations on Monday during the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), which assessed the human rights record of a countries. The Philippines took part in the process, sending a delegation led by Department of Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla who told the body that impunity was not tolerated and that the government provided a democratic space for rights activists in the country. A number of member-states called for the solution of the cases of killings and the protection of human rights defenders. France said the incumbent administration should take necessary measures to effectively combat impunity for perpetrators of summary execution in the a

The Amador County Sheriff's Office in Plymouth, California confirmed that a body part found in a wide area on Jackson Road belonged to missing Filipino-American Alexis Gabe. In a statement, the sheriff's office said it received an anonymous tip in the afternoon of November 3 about the discovery of the remains in the county's west end. Forensic examination showed that the remains matched the dental records of Gabe. “After the search was completed, a board certified Forensic Odontologist, utilizing known dental records from the victim, was able to identify the remains as belonging to missing person, Alexis Gabe. All evidence collected by the Amador County Sheriff's Office was turned over to Oakley Police Department detectives and Coroner jurisdiction has been turned over to the Contra Costa County Coroner's Office to determine manner and cause of death," the sheriff's office said. Crime scene investigators, assisted by a K-9 unit and local authorities com

DMW: OFW protections included in new Saudi-specific employment contract By SHERYLIN UNTALAN, GMA Integrated News Published November 5, 2022 4:13pm After the Philippines and Saudi Arabia agreed on reforms in labor policies for migrant workers, a country-specific employment contract for overseas Filipino workers bound for the kingdom will include protections for OFWs, Department of Migrant Workers Secretary Susan Ople said on Saturday. “For the first time magkakaroon na tayo ng country specific employment contract. Yung contrata na ito specific sa OFWs bound for Saudi," said Ople on Super Radyo dzBB. "Nandoon na yung insurance coverage para sa domestic workers. Ang magbabayad n’yan ‘yung Saudi employers. Yung insurance coverage din para sa skilled at construction workers ang magbabayad n’yan Saudi government. Ang covered insurance, kung sakali na bankrupt yung kompanya, sagot ng insurance ‘yung unpaid salaries,” she added. “Hindi na mangyayari 'yung katulad na noon

Philippine economy grows faster by 7.6% in Q3 2022 By TED CORDERO, GMA Integrated News Published November 10, 2022 10:11am Updated November 10, 2022 10:44am The Philippine economy accelerated in the third quarter of the year, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported on Thursday. The economy as measured by gross domestic product (GDP) — the total value of goods and services produced in a specific period — grew by 7.6% during the July to September period, faster than the upwardly adjusted 7.5% GDP growth in the second quarter of 2022. This is also higher than the 7% GDP growth posted in the third quarter of 2021. The third quarter economic growth also surpassed the median analyst forecast of 6.3%, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary and National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) chief Arsenio Balisacan said at a press briefing. Balisacan said the Philippine economy is on track to hit the government’s target band of 6.5% to 7.5% growth for 2022. “Given the latest

Senator Risa Hontiveros has sought an inquiry into improving the standards of maritime education in the country over fears that around 50,000 Filipino seafarers are at risk of losing their jobs. advertisement These came about after findings showed that the Philippines did not comply with the European Union's standards on seafarers' education, training, and certification. In filing proposed Senate Resolution 279, Hontiveros said the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) has been flagging the Philippine maritime training since 2006. She added that EMSA had reported that the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) did not ensure that all training and assessment met the standards provided under the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) Convention. "Labing-anim na taon na pala tayong binibigyan ng warning. It’s high time we summon MARINA and CHED to the Senate, para

PH labor offices in Saudi to accept offers for OFWs starting Nov. 7 By SUNDY LOCUS, GMA News Published November 4, 2022 6:23pm Philippine Overseas Labor Offices (POLO) in Riyadh, Jeddah and Al-Khobar will resume accepting job offers for Filipinos who want to work in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) starting November 7, Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Susan Ople said Friday. Ople made the remarks after the Philippine government announced in September it will lift the worker deployment ban in the kingdom. “On Monday, our overseas labor offices in Riyad, Jeddah and Al-Khobar shall resume sending offers of employment for Filipino migrant workers of all skills who wish to work in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” Ople told reporters in a hybrid media briefing. “Hindi tayo basta lang magbubukas ng Saudi deployment nang walang malinaw at matibay na pundasyon para sa proteksyon ng ating mga manggagawa,” she said. (We will not hastily lift the Saudi deployment ban without

Tensions rose at a warehouse in Bulacan over the weekend, following unclear directions on the release of balikbayan boxes following the months-long delay in the delivery of the shipments from the Middle East. advertisement Several families who expected to collect their packages from overseas Filipinos flocked to a warehouse in Balagtas, Bulacan operated by FR Agbay, but a representative of the operator said they were told not to release them. “Pinapapigil sa atin ni Director [Michael] Fermin ng Bureau of Customs (BOC). Hindi ko alam bakit nila pinipigil,” Roberto Uy, representative of FR Agbay, said in Vonne Aquino's report on “24 Oras Weekend” on Sunday. (Director Fermin of the BOC ordered a halt [to the release]. I do not know why they are stopping this.) This comes as thousands of balikbayan boxes — mainly from the Middle East — have been abandoned by foreign courier services at the BOC, with local delivery services working to have them shipped. With recipients adamant that