KAKAMMPI News

An online registration was launched for Filipinos in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as part of the Philippine government’s contingency plans for them. The link to the online registration is available on the websites of the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh and the Philippine Consulate General in Jeddah. “The Embassy encourages all Filipinos to register with the Embassy, and assures that the information on the database shall not be shared with the public," the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh said. It said Saudi-based Filipinos can access the form at the Embassy and the Consulate General in Jeddah. According to the Embassy, the online registration system was done with the help of Global Pinoy Solutions (GPS), a Filipino community organization in the Eastern Region led by president Rodrigo Madrid Jr. The online registration form will help Philippine officials build a database of Filipinos in the Kingdom and contact them in times of emergency. The information requested in the registration forms ...

High school graduates going to college next school year should break away from the herd mentality and instead consider taking courses in line with the needs of the market, Labor Sectretary Rosalinda Baldoz said in a briefing Monday. “Decide on career choices on the basis of what the labor market needs – and not on what is popular – to enable you to land jobs after graduation," Baldoz said during the launch of her department’s website on jobs. The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has launched a career guide website – www.JobsFit.com – to help high school graduates decide on specific courses to take in college or in technical and vocational schools. "My advice to them is to decide on a course or study that will land them jobs after graduation. They should go for careers that the labor market needs, and not because a career is in vogue or popular," Baldoz further said. On top of DOLE’s list of recommended courses are those in connected to the agriculture, industry ...

Despite intensive repatriation efforts in recent months, the government will be facing a tough challenge protecting those in conflict-torn countries of Libya, Syria and Bahrain since many of the migrant workers there go undocumented, a Cabinet official said Wednesday. In Syria, for instance, only 837 OFWs are registered with the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), according to Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz. The stock estimate of OFWs in Syria, however, is around 20,000, many of which are female household service workers according to a DOLE report. "This is a country where we have so many undocumented workers but our OWWA members are only 837," Baldoz said during a press briefing at the First National Labor and Employment Summit. Under the law, only OWWA documented migrant workers are entitled to repatriation and other benefits during job displacements abroad. But DOLE's Philippine Labor and Employment Plan (PLEP), set to ...

Jobseekers and overseas Filipino workers who will register with the government’s job portal will be using "digital resumes" during the Labor Day job fair in Manila on May 1, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said. Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said the jobseekers who will register online will receive at the job fair in Luneta, Manila Phil-JobNet cards containing their digital resumes. Workers may register and encode their profile online at www.phil-job.net. They will get a confirmation slip, which they will present to the Processing/Verification Booth at the May 1 Job Fair in Luneta. After that, they will be issued the Phil-JobNet cards. Those who cannot print the confirmation slip have to present an ID card to the Processing/Verification Booth for them to be issued the Phil-JobNet card. During the fair, the jobseekers will present these cards to the companies they want to apply in. The participating firms and recruitment agencies will then download the applica...

Police in Manila secured the Department of Labor and Employment in Intramuros Thursday in anticipation of Labor Day protests by militant groups. The Manila Police District said the security stemmed from information that some of the protesters may hurl paint at the DOLE building, radio dzBB's Manny Vargas reported. A group of militant laborers arrived at the DOLE past 10 a.m. but no violent confrontation was initially reported. Earlier, militant workers bared a wish list for Labor Day after Malacañang hinted at "good news" for the labor sector on May 1. The Kilusang Mayo Uno said it will not settle for anything less than a "significant" wage hike, and the junking of the 12-percent value-added tax on oil products. "This is the good news that the Filipino workers and people want: a significant wage hike and the junking of the 12% Expanded Value-Added Tax on petroleum products. Anything less won’t quell our protests," KMU chairman Elmer Labog said in an ar...

Despite intensive repatriation efforts in recent months, the government will be facing a tough challenge protecting those in conflict-torn countries of Libya, Syria and Bahrain since many of the migrant workers there go undocumented, a Cabinet official said Wednesday. In Syria, for instance, only 837 OFWs are registered with the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), according to Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz. The stock estimate of OFWs in Syria, however, is around 20,000, many of which are female household service workers according to a DOLE report. "This is a country where we have so many undocumented workers but our OWWA members are only 837," Baldoz said during a press briefing at the First National Labor and Employment Summit. Under the law, only OWWA documented migrant workers are entitled to repatriation and other benefits during job displacements abroad. But DOLE's Philippine Labor and Employment Plan (PLEP), set to ...

Philippine officials in Rome warned overseas Filipino workers in Italy on Wednesday against bogus email offers for jobs in L'Aquila in Italy. The Philippine Embassy in Rome said that the bogus email uses the address projecto_laquila@rome.com and the office address "Via Sicilia 162/C." "There is no Committee for the Reconstruction of L'Aquila at the Ministry's official address in Via Sicilia 162/C cited in the email, and the Italian Ministry of Development Public Works and Housing does not correspond to any Italian office," the Embassy said in a news release posted on the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) website. L'Aquila, a mountainous city in Central Italy, had been hit by a 6.2-magnitude earthquake in April 2009, killing over 260 residents, injuring over 1,000 and leaving 28,000 homeless. No such project Citing information reaching it, the Embassy said that the supposed project proponent in the email claimed to be the "Ministry of Developme...

A militant advocacy group for migrant workers started over the weekend an online petition asking the government to lift a deployment ban on overseas Filipino workers to Bahrain. Migrante-Middle East said its petition stemmed from numerous requests for assistance from OFWs in Bahrain, especially the returning workers or "Balik Manggagawa." "There are several new hires as well requesting us to make representation to the concerned Philippine authorities to allow them to travel in Bahrain so that they could report to their respective work amid high rate of unemployment in the Philippines and spiraling prices of goods and services," the group said in its blog Saturday. As of 11:24 a.m. Saturday, at least 32 have signed the online petition, which can be accessed by clicking on this link. Meanwhile, Migrante-Middle East asked Philippine ambassador to Bahrain Corazon Bahjin to consider scrapping the waiver requirement imposed by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administra...

Philippine officials in Saudi Arabia have issued a warning against an email scam using the Philippine Embassy's name to victimize overseas Filipino workers. The Philippine Embassy in Riyadh said the latest scam used the name of the embassy in Muscat (Oman), asking for the target OFW's personal data. "All Filipinos under the jurisdiction of the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh are therefore cautioned and reminded not to give out personal information or follow instructions as stated in such kind of emails, especially those that are purportedly promising cash prizes and using Philippine government offices as channels, without verifying their authenticity with the help of the proper authorities," it said. It said that in the Oman incident, an OFW approached the Philippine Consulate General in Saipan after receiving an email allegedly from the Philippine Embassy in Muscat. The supposed email claimed the OFW won a bonanza of 500,000 pounds (P35.596 million) and asking him to se...

To respond to the brain drain from the exodus of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), the government is planning a “brain-gain" program for returning OFWs, enhancing their skills and providing them with entrepreneurship opportunities. Tentatively dubbed “Balik-Trabaho sa Pilipinas," the project will provide OFW returnees with the option to stay in the Philippines to work for better-paying jobs or to set up a lucrative business at home, according to Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz. “The DOLE will also link up with labor, business, and other partners in providing an enabling and conducive environment that will encourage the return of our OFWs," said Baldoz. She added that the program will also provide OFWs with real-time information on available jobs and labor market developments, accreditation, and permits for reemployment. Baldoz said the measure belongs to the strategies outlined in the Philippine Labor and Employment Plan — which seeks...

At least 110 Filipinos are living in the conflict-affected area in troubled Syria, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Wednesday. But DFA spokesman Eduardo Malaya said there has been no report of any of Filipinos being hurt there so far because they are not being targeted by the warring parties. “Yung sentro ng kaguluhan ay nasa Daraa, ito ay southern part ng Syria ... Hindi naman karamihan ang mga Filipino doon mismo sa Daraa, ang nasa ating talaan mga 110," he said in an interview on dzBB radio. He also maintained the government has enough funds to repatriate them if the need arises, noting the DFA’s Assistance to Nationals (ATN) fund has been recently replenished. The DFA estimated some 17,000 Filipinos are living in Syria. “Walang Pilipinong nasugatan, nasawi at hindi naman tina-target ang mga Pilipino (So far there has been no report of any Filipino being killed or injured. They are not being targeted)," he said. Last Tuesday, the DFA raised the crisis alert lev...

At least 110 Filipinos are living in the conflict-affected area in troubled Syria, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Wednesday. But DFA spokesman Eduardo Malaya said there has been no report of any of Filipinos being hurt there so far because they are not being targeted by the warring parties. “Yung sentro ng kaguluhan ay nasa Daraa, ito ay southern part ng Syria ... Hindi naman karamihan ang mga Filipino doon mismo sa Daraa, ang nasa ating talaan mga 110," he said in an interview on dzBB radio. He also maintained the government has enough funds to repatriate them if the need arises, noting the DFA’s Assistance to Nationals (ATN) fund has been recently replenished. The DFA estimated some 17,000 Filipinos are living in Syria. “Walang Pilipinong nasugatan, nasawi at hindi naman tina-target ang mga Pilipino (So far there has been no report of any Filipino being killed or injured. They are not being targeted)," he said. Last Tuesday, the DFA raised the crisis alert lev...

GARAPAN, Saipan — A United States lawmaker has introduced a bill seeking to grant a new immigration status to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and other foreigners with US citizen children in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) as of May 8, 2008. These OFW parents and other immediate relatives of US citizens are among the four specific groups of individuals who will qualify for a proposed “CNMI-only resident status." Non-voting CNMI delegate Gregorio Kilili Sablan’s HR 1466, once signed into law by President Barack Obama, will allow these groups of individuals to lawfully remain in the CNMI even after their so-called umbrella permits expire on Nov. 28, 2011. The bill is now under review by the US House Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans, and Insular Affairs that has oversight on US territories such as the CNMI and Guam. It has yet to pass the US House and Senate, and be signed into law by Obama. Hailing the bill OFWs with US citizen children in the CNM...

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) raised to "2" the alert level in Syria, discouraging unnecessary travel in the conflict-torn Middle East country. With Alert Level 2, the DFA called for a restriction of movements around Syria, and avoiding large crowds and areas of protest. It also encouraged Filipinos to voluntarily relocate or leave the country at their own cost if they have no pressing need to remain. "Non-essential and non-urgent travel is discouraged, including travel for tourism purposes, and only returning workers will be allowed to go back," the DFA said. “We have asked our nationals in Syria to actively monitor developments, keep their communication lines open with the Embassy and their community coordinators and inform them of their whereabouts, as well as restrict their movements only to those which are necessary," Philippine Ambassador to Syria Wilfredo Cuyugan said in a news release posted on the DFA website. “We also asked them to also stoc...

Five months before a devastating magnitude-9 earthquake and tsunami hit Japan in March this year, GMA News Online visited the city of Sakai, a low-key metropolis near Osaka. GMA featured the everyday lives of Filipinos and Japanese in Sakai, one of the country's oldest cities which has 800,000 residents but around one million bicycles, making it the unofficial biking capital of Japan. On Tuesday, GMA News Online reconnected with Filipinos in Sakai to ask how the tight-knit community of Filipinos is coping after the earthquake. The community gathers every Sunday for mass at Sakai City's only Catholic church, St. Joseph's. GMA News Online producer Pia Faustino and photo editor Joe Galvez attended Sunday mass with Sakai City's Filipino community last October 2010. This video provides a glimpse into how church life helps some OFWs feel more at home in Japan. Video produced by Pia Faustino Cecilia Yamauchi, one of the group's most active members, was happy to report that...

At least 882 more overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) displaced by the fighting in Libya are being processed for redeployment abroad, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said. Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said this brings to 1,671 the number of OFWs who have expressed interest in working in countries other than Libya. "Majority (of the) OFWs in Libya are skilled technical people and professionals whose expertise is highly in demand abroad," Baldoz said in a news release posted on the DOLE website. She added the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) and concerned local recruitment agencies (LRAs) are prepared to assist in the redeployment process. Citing a report from the DOLE’s Task Force Middle East, Baldoz said the 882 OFWs are preparing for re-deployment to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar, Algeria, and Papua New Guinea. Last week, the task force reported at least 789 OFWs from Libya have been lined up for work in Kuwait, Qatar, Kingdom of Sa...

At least 882 more overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) displaced by the fighting in Libya are being processed for redeployment abroad, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said. Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said this brings to 1,671 the number of OFWs who have expressed interest in working in countries other than Libya. "Majority (of the) OFWs in Libya are skilled technical people and professionals whose expertise is highly in demand abroad," Baldoz said in a news release posted on the DOLE website. She added the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) and concerned local recruitment agencies (LRAs) are prepared to assist in the redeployment process. Citing a report from the DOLE’s Task Force Middle East, Baldoz said the 882 OFWs are preparing for re-deployment to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar, Algeria, and Papua New Guinea. Last week, the task force reported at least 789 OFWs from Libya have been lined up for work in Kuwait, Qatar, Kingdom of Sa...

At least 112 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who availed of amnesty from the Kuwaiti government arrived home on Wednesday afternoon. Vice President Jejomar Binay welcomed the OFWs upon their arrival at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, radio dzBB's Nimfa Ravelo reported. Binay had facilitated the repatriation of the Filipinos, who stayed at the Filipino Workers Resource Center (FWRC) in Kuwait. He helped secure amnesty for the OFWs from Kuwaiti Amir Sheik Sabah Al-Ahmed A-Jaber Al Sabah. Binay said he expects the repatriation of other OFWs to commence once the required travel documentation is completed, and the concerned OFWs acquire plane tickets. Earlier, Binay hand-carried an appeal from President Benigno Aquino III seeking amnesty for the OFWs, who were charged with minor offenses. The appeal, which also sought pardon for those detained, was made when Binay attended Kuwait’s celebration of its 50th year of Independence, the 20th anniversary of its Liberation from Saddam’...

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) assured the public that the government has enough funds to repatriate Filipinos from areas in Japan threatened by radiation from a quake-crippled nuclear plant there. DFA spokesman Eduardo Malaya said the funds will come from the DFA’s Assistance To Nationals (ATN) unit, and may be replenished by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM). “Yung cost ng isang chartered flight ay nasa $200,000. At may pera pa naman tayo sa DFA para sa halagang ito. At occasionally nagkakaroon tayo ng replenishment galing sa DBM," Malaya said in an interview on dwIZ radio. (The cost of a chartered flight is $200,000. We in the DFA have the funds for it. Occasionally, the DBM will replenish our ATN fund.) Mandatory repatriation After the Japanese government raised the crisis or severity level in the Fukushima area from "5" to the highest level of "7," DFA on Tuesday announced that it will implement a mandatory repatriation for Filipinos w...

Despite the continuing political tension in their host country, Filipinos in Bahrain received a presidential request to send text or online votes in favor of including the Palawan underground river as one of the new seven wonders of the world. Philippine Ambassador to Bahrain Corazon Bahjin said President Benigno Aquino III is seeking the help of Bahrain-based Filipinos for the Philippines’ international bid. “I need your help. I need text votes so that the Palawan underground river will be proclaimed as one of the new seven wonders of nature," she quoted Aquino as saying in a letter addressed to Filipinos in the Middle East country. Aquino had issued the call for help to Filipinos during a speech at the St. Paul University in Manila earlier this week. The text of the letter was posted on the website of the Philippine Embassy in Bahrain. Bahjin said text votes for the underground river can be made through typing “PPUR" and sending the message to 2861. Filipinos in Bahrain can...

The Philippine government will repatriate Filipinos in Japan as the radiation leak in that country has become widespread. During a press briefing on Tuesday, Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario said upon the instruction of President Benigno Aquino III "we are repatriating on mandatory basis Filipinos within the 50-km radius of the Fukushima Dai-ichi power plant." "As a precautionary measure the Philippines would be additionally be declaring a voluntary repatriation for those in 50 km to 100 km radius," he added. Some 2,000 Filipinos are being targeted for repatriation, not counting children, Del Rosario said. "In both cases, the Philippine government will absorb full cost of the repatriation to the Philippines," Del Rosario said. Each flight with a capacity of 400 passengers would cost the government $200,000 per trip. The Philippine government intends to charter an aircraft that will originate from the Nigata airport in northwest Japan, he said. ...

abs-cbnNEWS.com MANILA, Philippines – A former drug mule was among those who sympathized with the Ordinario family for the death of their kin in China. “Abigail” went to the Ordinario home in Batasan, Quezon City to condole with the family of Sally Ordinario-Villanueva who was found guilty and executed for drug trafficking charges in Xiamen, China last March 30. Abigail does not personally know Villanueva but they have the same experience of becoming drug couriers. She said she became a drug courier in 2009 and was sent to many countries to smuggle the illegal drugs. However, like many Filipinos victimized by drug syndicates, she was initially offered a different job, but ended up as a drug mule. “Ang sabi po magbabantay lang daw po kami ng isang shop which is a garments shop. At saka 'yung isang shop nila sa sapatos. Kapag naubos po 'yun, ibabagsak po namin dito sa parteng Asia,” said Abigail. She said it was too late when she found out that the products she was deliveri...

abs-cbnNEWS.com MANILA, Philippines – Some overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from Japan have begun arriving here, carrying with them the horrors they saw and experienced when a major earthquake and tsunami hit the country. Yolanda Ouchi, Loida Dabue and Ricardo Pesino were among the OFWs from Japan who arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport early Sunday. They told ABS-CBN News that they were glad to be home unscathed after Friday's 8.9 magnitude quake, one of the largest ever recorded, unleashed a terrifying tsunami that engulfed towns and cities on Japan's northeastern coast. Ouchi was teary eyed as she narrated their experience in Japan. She said their house was located 4 hours away from Honshu island, one of hard hit areas, but they were still traumatized. She said when the major earthquake and tsunami struck, she thought they were going to die. "Iba na siya, biglang lumindol tapos ang lakas… Sabi ko, ‘Huli na yata namin ito,’" Ouchi said. Dabue said she...