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...