KAKAMMPI News

By:  InterAksyon.com S AirAsia Inc. CEO Maan Hontiveros, Pamama president Salvador Curameng, Pamama chairperson Cristina Edquiban sign an agreement to provide low airfare to overseas Filipino workers in Malaysia    MANILA - AirAsia Inc. and Philippine Association of Manpower Agencies for Malaysia Affiliates Inc. (Pamama) signed a memorandum of agreement to provide “low cost, high value travel service” to overseas Filipino workers in Malaysia. InterAksyon.com The online news portal of TV5 The agreement signed by AirAsia Inc. CEO Maan Hontiveros, Pamama chairperson Cristina Edquiban, and Pamama president Salavador Curameng at the Aloha Hotel specifies that AirAsia will be the preferred carrier of OFWs deployed by Pamama to Malaysia. “This partnership affirms our commitment to provide low cost travel to Filipinos especially for our overseas workers while ensuring that they enjoy only the best quality se...

By:  Romsanne Ortiguero OTHER SPECIAL FEATURES STORIES •   Study finds similarities between ovary, breast cancers •   ANALYSIS | Dangerous and deepening divide between Islamic world, West •   CSA teen on bully's gun-toting Dad: 'I really thought he'd shoot my brains out' •   In half century, Brazil lost 80% of coral reef - study •   FOCUS ON SYRIA | Eyes wide shut, world watches Syria bleed OTHER NATIONAL STORIES •   Chiz rejects Trillanes' beef with CamSur division •   CIDG: IRR should clarify several provisions of Cybercrime Prevention Act •   Over 3,000 troops to join PHIBLEX in October •   Senate panel okays DWPH, NTC, Philpost budgets but defers MMDA's •   No more Northrail project, PH tells China; part of loan to be paid in 2 years InterAksyon.com The online news portal of TV5 MANILA, Philippines – Returning Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) are increasingly being linked to the rising in...

By:  Ronaldo A. Motilla, Psychological Association of the Philippines June 25, 2012 12:19 PM Interaksyon.com recently reported the  ordeal of OFWs battling cancer and other illnesses . Leaving loved ones behind to seek employment in other countries can be lonely. This loneliness can be aggravated and can lead to sickness when one feels emotionally isolated. How can migrant workers cope with this feeling of loneliness? In my work with seafarers, here are some suggestions I give: 1. Recognize that you are lonely and express your feelings. Admitting that one is lonely is healthy. One can only find creative ways of dealing and coping with his or her loneliness by recognizing and accepting this feeling of emotional isolation. Denial only leads to problems because it can lead to unhealthy behaviors (e.g., overeating, promiscuity, too much drinking or drugs). When possible, share these feelings with a trusted friend. Writing down one's thoughts in a securely guarded d...

By:  Tricia Aquino, InterAksyon.com MANILA, Philippines -- While there have been many stories about overseas Filipino workers, those of their children, who go with them from place to place, have not been heard too often. The Philippine Embassy in Muscat, Oman, through its Sentro Rizal  cultural center, is giving these young overseas Filipinos in the Middle East the chance to tell their own stories through an art and literary competition, “Art as reality: Young lives in transition.” “Paint or draw, write an essay or poetry, choose any creative form of medium that would best illustrate your personal story of transition and adjustment in a new country. You may also describe your own different ideas of transition and how they relate to your experience as OFW children,” the instructions on the Philippine Embassy’s  website  say. The contest is open to Filipino students in Philippine Schools Overseas-listed institutions in Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi...

By:  Pots de Leon, InterAksyon.com MANILA, Philippines -- Another batch of 580 overseas Filipino workers is returning home from strife-torn Syria this week, Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario said Monday. Del Rosario said 400 of the returning OFWs have completed their contracts while the remaining 180, from war-torn Aleppo, have had all their requirements waived by the Syrian government. The Philippine government has been negotiating with Syria to allow OFWs to be repatriated even without completing their work contracts. Syria has waived the full payment of immigration fees -- a requirement for the issuance of an exit visa and which employers there do not pay to prevent workers from running away. A rapid response team composed of officers and personnel from the Departments of Foreign Affairs, Labor and Employment, and Interior and Local Government, along with the Philippine embassy in Damascus, is handling the repatriation of OFWs from Syria. The...

By:  InterAksyon.com The online news portal of TV5 MANILA, Philippines – There is no need for an immediate evacuation plan for Filipino workers in Mideast areas now gripped by protests despite violent attacks on embassies of some Western countries over an anti-Islam film, according to Vice President Jejomar Binay. First, the attacks zero in on United States facilities and nationals; second, many Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs)---over a million of whom are in the Middle East---are professionals working in facilities “out in the desert” or far from cities where the riots took place, and  they work in well-secured facilities, Binay explained. In a separate development, however, the Migrante-Middle East, a support group for OFWs, advised Filipinos to take all precautions, avoid hot zones and above all, continue to show respect for their host country’s culture and beliefs. The vice president,  concurrently the presidential adviser on OFW concerns, has ...

By:  Lira Dalangin-Fernandez, InterAksyon.com September 24, 2012 1:30 PM InterAksyon.com The online news portal of TV5 MANILA, Philippines - Families of some 200 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) stranded in Saudi Arabia are asking President Benigno Aquino III to facilitate their return to the country. Some of the workers have been without jobs for close to a year now and have been forced to stay at the Polo-Owwa (Philippine Overseas Labor Office-Overseas Workers Welfare Administration) shelter after they refused to renew their contract with their employers due to labor violations, maltreatment, and abuse. May Balmeo said her father, Juanito, had called them to narrate their woeful condition in their shelter, and ask for government intervention on their case. “They just want to get home, they don’t care anymore if they would not get anything from the company,” Balmeo said. Balmeo’s father, Juanito, has been a driver in Saudi Arabia for nine years. Garry Martinez, Migra...

MANILA – The Philippines’ leading mobile provider announced that it is waiving the service charge on money sent home by overseas Filipino workers in Saudi Arabia on Sunday using Smart Money and its Middle East remittance partner, the National Commercial Bank. In a statement, Smart Communications Inc. said it is offering the service as part of the National Day celebrations in Saudi Arabia. This promo comes on the heels of a similar offering on June 12, when the Philippines commemorated its Independence Day.  Smart Money and NCB’s money-transfer arm, QuickPay, have provided remittance services to more than a million OFWs in Saudi Arabia since 2008. For this Sunday’s promo, OFWs in Saudi Arabia can send money to the Smart Money accounts of relatives in the Philippines using NCB’s phone and Internet banking services. OFWs also can tap NCB’s remittance centers and ATMs or transact over the counter in any NCB branch. “Smart Money users may encourage their relatives in Saudi...

  There is another venue for Filipinos within Metro Manila area that needs to take care of their  passport requirements. The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) recently opened another mall-based consular office, this time at Robinsons Galleria in Quezon City . This is the sixth consular office of the DFA that is mall-based.   The consular office in Robinsons Galleria is called the DFA’s Central National Capital Region Office or DFA NCR-Central. This development is a result of an  agreement  between DFA’s Public-Private Partnership (PPP) and Robinsons Land Corporation. The formal inauguration of the new consular office was led by Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Rafael Seguis together with Quezon City Administrator Victor Endriga, representing Mayor Herbert Bautista, and Robinsons Land President and Chief Operating Officer (COO) Frederick Go. The launching was also attended by officials of DFA, Quezon City Government and Philippine Overseas Employmen...

The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) tracks down illegal recruiters in Metro Manila and finally padlocks their offices due to multiple complaints of illegal recruitment from applicants. According from a text message received by Philippine Daily Inquirer, POEA close down six recruitment agencies namely: Northwest Placement, Inc., KPM Hotelier Consultancy Services and CPG Services International, all operating in Ermita, Manila; Reajent Manpower Services, Inc. and International Progress, Inc., both based in Quezon City; and Wisepro Outsourcing Services in Pasay City. According to POEA Administrator Hans Leo Candac, “the number of complainants in illegalrecruitmentcases has actually declined. But that does not prevent us from intensifying further our campaign against illegalrecruitment.” He also added that applicants for abroad should be vigilant about the activities of certain agencies. “Those planning towork abroadshould deal only with licensed jobrecruitment agen...

The Social Security System (SSS) has drawn support from Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) Administrator Hans Leo Cacdac, who cited the need to ensure SSS coverage of millions of Filipino seafarers and land-based OFWs.          Administrator Cacdac noted that the POEA is currently "working on the technical implementation of the standard employment contract for seafarers with respect to mandatory SSS coverage" in light of the Philippines’ ratification of the Maritime Labor Convention.        "We are also looking at stronger and better ways in which land-based workers can have access to the (social protection) system. This also will be the subject of future---near future discussions, or ongoing discussions, I should say, between POEA and the SSS," Cacdac said. "We are more than willing to partner with SSS and to throw our full support in SSS endeavors as it concerns OFWs."   ...

In light of the recent diarrhea outbreak in San Fernando , Romblon where at least 112 cases were recorded, the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) emphasized that confinements due to diarrhea are compensable. Diarrhea, which is one of the top causes of confinement among PhilHealth members in 2011, can affect anyone especially young children and the elderly. It can quickly deplete the body’s supply of water and electrolytes which can lead to dehydration and kidney malfunction, coma and even death. Parasites, bacteria and viruses can cause diarrhea. According to PhilHealth President and CEO Dr. Eduardo P. Banzon,  “in 2011, PhilHealth paid more than one million pesos for 246,999 claims due to diarrhea and gastroenteritis,”  adding that “members and their qualified dependents may avail themselves of P6,000.00 when confined in any PhilHealth accredited hospital.” With news about flooding in different parts of the country, Banzon reminded PhilHealth members that ...

                      "We will make possible the impossible" THE Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) recently launched PhilHealth Express sites at Robinson's Land Corporation Malls in Metro East, Otis and at SM Sucat Hypermart in addition to the existing 8 PhilHealth Express in key areas of Robinson’s at Ortigas, Manila, Novaliches Market, Dasmariñas Cavite, Starmills Pampanga, Luisita, Tarlac, Tacloban, Leyte and Sta. Rosa, Laguna. The launching ceremony was led by PhilHealth President and CEO Dr. Eduardo P. Banzon and Board Member for Filipino Overseas Workers Jane M.N. Sta. Ana together with other key officers. On the side of Robinson’s Land Corporation, present were its President Mr. Frederick Go and General Manager Ms. Arlene Magtibay. PhilHealth Express provides services such as PhilHealth Identification Number (PIN), ID and Member Data Record (MDR) generation, data amendment, premium collection and informat...

The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) today denied having deprived overseas Filipino worker-members and their legal dependents of their benefits due to the alleged slow encoding services at its satellite office at the POEA in Mandaluyong City. "We would like to correct the impression that 250,000 OFWs are being deprived of their benefits because of our encoding services. While there might indeed be backlogs in the number of membership applications that have to be encoded, the number is way smaller than the figure they posted,"  said PhilHealth President and CEO Dr. Eduardo P. Banzon. He added that the rising number of membership applications and requests for renewal of coverage is brought about by the increasing membership, but he assured the OFW members that the availment of their PhilHealth benefits  "have not been stopped nor compromised. We assure all our OFW-members that they have been and will continue to be covered by PhilHealth,"  Banzon...

- 31 August 2012 09:51 AM The Model Overseas Filipino Worker’s (OFW) Family of the Year Award (MOFYA) is an annual event of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA). This 2012 will be its 8th year.  The objective is to give recognition to OFWs and their families who have demonstrated financial stability, steady and enduring family ties, outstanding community service and success in business venture. The MOFYA focuses on OFWs and their families who have maintained strong family relations, properly harnessed the financial gains from the OFWs’ overseas employment, have educational achievements and exemplary performance in their respective professions, and at the same time have a positive impact in the community where they reside. Model families will be chosen from each of the country’s seventeen (17) regions, one each in the land-based and sea-based categories.   The National Awardees are then selected from 17 sets of regional awardees.  Two more awardees ...