KAKAMMPI News

ADB Delegates Visit Pag-IBIG Fund During Cross-Regional Forum on Remittance Pag-IBIG Fund was one of the three key institutions in the country recently visited by around 37 delegates of the international forum on Promoting Remittance for Development Finance of the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The event was the first cross-regional forum on remittance attended by delegates from development member countries (DMCs) of the ADB. The site visit, as indicated in the program, is on “remittance innovations in the Philippines.” “We are honored that ADB has chosen Pag-IBIG Fund as one of the three government institutions in the Philippines to be visited by the delegates of the cross-regional forum on remittance,” said Pag-IBIG Fund President and Chief Executive Officer Atty. Darlene Marie Berberabe during her presentation of Pag-IBIG Fund Benefits for Migrant Workers before the delegates at the Pag-IBIG office in Justine Bldg., Makati City.  Atty. Berberabe presented to the ADB delegates...

The Social Security System (SSS) officials led by President and Chief Executive Officer Emilio S. de Quiros, Jr. visited the cities of Moscow, Rome, Milan, Luxembourg and Paris from May 9 to 19, 2015 as part of its coverage drive to reach out to Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and meet with the Filipino Communities in Europe to brief them on the importance of various SSS programs and services. First photo above shows President de Quiros (2nd from left) with Philippine Ambassador to Belgium and Luxembourg Victoria S. Bataclan (3rd from left) together with Minister Romain Schneider after the two parties signed the Philippines-Luxembourg Social Security Agreement (SSA). SSS Senior Vice President for Accounts Management Group and Concurrent Head for International Operations Division Judy Frances A. See (left) and Inspection Generale de la Securite Sociale Head Claude Ewen (right) witnessed the event. The Social Security Agreement includes the equality of Filipino nationals i...

Even with the nationwide rollout still a few weeks away, the Social Security System’s (SSS) new retirement savings program for local workers has already drawn over 100 enrollees, with total investments now past the P1-million mark since its limited launch in 10 SSS branches in Metro Manila last May 2015. Agnes San Jose, SSS Vice President for Benefits Administration, said a total of 163 members to date have invested P1.4 million in the SSS Personal Equity and Savings Option (PESO) Fund, a voluntary provident program enabling local workers to save for retirement in a tax-free facility with guaranteed earnings. “Since regular SSS contributions only cover a maximum income of P16,000, members with the capacity to save more now have an additional option to augment their retirement savings thru the SSS PESO Fund program. It is a risk-free investment that offers better returns as compared with bank deposits,” San Jose explained. SSS branches that began accepting PESO Fund applicatio...

As part of its coverage and collection efforts, the Social Security System (SSS) led by SSS President and Chief Executive Officer Emilio S. de Quiros, Jr. recently visited Rome, Italy and other countries in Europe to encourage Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in the continent to register as SSS members so that they can enjoy social security benefits upon their retirement in the Philippines. Left photo shows President de Quiros, Jr. together with the members of the Filipino communities in Rome after a briefing conducted about OFW coverage and the SSS Flexi-fund Program. SSS Flexi-fund Program is a voluntary provident fund program exclusive for OFWs which gives them an opportunity to save a bigger portion of their salary as a pension-savings plan to receive a bigger pension as well as become part of their investment in the future. Right photo shows President de Quiros with CBN Grupo Director Ben Javellana. CBN Grupo is one of the active partner remittance companies of SS...

KHOBAR, Saudi Arabia - Fire swept through an oil workers' residential compound in Saudi Arabia on Sunday, killing 10 people, the Civil Defence agency said.   Saudi national oil company Saudi Aramco did not identify the nationalities of those killed from the fire at the compound in the town of Khobar, some distance from its oil and gas production areas.   However, the Civil Defence agency said in a new statement that three Canadians from Asian origins, one Pakistani and one Nigerian woman were among the 10 killed. It had earlier reported 11 deaths.   In the new statement, the Civil Defence said 259 people were injured from 219 reported earlier. However, 179 people left the hospital while 80 people from various nationalities remained in the hospital for treatment.   Saudi Aramco said 83 people were injured and 10 were killed in a statement.   "At 5:45 today a fire was reported in the basement of the Radium residential compound in Al Khobar whic...

OFWs may vote however they please, even if it robs presidential picks of essential votes, Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte stated on Saturday.   Valte explained in a radio briefing on DZRB radio that Filipinos were welcome to their "zero-vote" campaign against candidates of the Liberal Party as part of their rights as citizens.   "Karapatan po nilang mamili kung sino po iyong gusto nilang iboto sa darating na eleksyon. Ang inaasahan lang po natin ay, siyempre, mababase po ito sa plataporma, mababase po ito doon sa ano po ba iyong ikagaganda pa ng ating bansa, at iyong ikabubuti pa ho ng buhay ng ating mga pamilya," she said.   Migrante International asked OFWs to refrain from voting for LP candidates  on Thursday due to the government's alleged lack of concern for Filipino workers abroad.   The plea was made a day before their  "zero-remittance" protest  against the Bureau of Customs' halted physical inspections of ba...

Several remittance centers in the Philippines on Friday felt the effects of the "zero-remittance" protest by overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) condemning recent actions by the Bureau of Customs (BoC). A report on "24 Oras" said several remittance centers in Quezon City and Ilocos Norte reported little to zero transactions Friday morning. "Local pa lang kami ngayon, wala pang na-encounter this day na galing abroad," Tambunting appraiser Lea Gatmaytan said. Cebuana Lhuillier branch manager Jam Pascual said there were fewer transactions on Friday compared to regular days. "Ngayong araw na 'to, wala masyado, siguro mga sampu lang. Active kaninang umaga. [Pag regular days] marami talaga, 17," she said. Despite this, Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma stated that it was unrealistic to expect all Filipinos to participate in the protest, as not all OFWs are convinced of the protest's efficacy. "Realistiko bang isipin na lahat ng halos 1...

Customs Commissioner Alberto Lina on Friday assured overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) that no additional taxes will be imposed on balikbayan boxes to recover the government's P6 million daily losses due to smuggling. "Wala namang dagdag na buwis. Hindi pupwedeng may dagdag na buwis," Lina said at a press event. At present, shipment with contents worth P10,000 and below are exempted from taxes. "'Di naman magbabago 'yun unless... aakyat tayo sa Congress para humingi tayo ng additional o dagdag," Lina said. Several bills have been filed in Congress seeking to increase the current allowed value of the contents of balikbayan box exempt from taxes. "Leave it to our Congress people to set those limits. Mahirap naman kung kami [ang] mag-implement. Let them do it," Lina said. The Bureau of Customs, reputed as one of the most corrupt government agencies, has to recently scrapped its plan to manually and randomly inspect balikbayan boxes — supposedly to c...

An overseas Filipino worker (OFW) who has been in comatose in the United Arab Emirates for four years has finally arrived home. Amie Briones Emuslan, 54, left Dubai on board Philippine Airlines flight PR659 at 7:45 p.m. on Thursday and arrived in Manila at 8:55 a.m. on Friday. Information from the Philippine Consulate General in Dubai said Emuslan has been confined at the Rashid Hospital since February 25, 2011 due to acute ischaemic stroke. Before that, she had been working in Dubai for six years. Emuslan, who was from Kalibo, Aklan, was brought to the Philippine General Hospital after arriving in the Philippines. Also coming home with Amie Emuslan was Ramon Carascoso, a 61-year-old OFW who has been on a wheelchair after suffering a stroke and was also confined at Rashid Hospital. The two OFWs were sent home through the help of the consulate, according to Rey Angulo, a social welfare volunteer.  —KBK, GMA News  

Customs Commissioner Alberto Lina on Friday asked groups of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) to assign a representative in his office to help in the implementation of a "pre-cleared" system they are planning to put in place in dealing with balikbayan box shipments.   At a presser, Lina reiterated his invitation to OFW groups "so I can really be at your side eight hours a day."   He said the pre-cleared system is an "add-on" to President Benigno Aquino III's directive to stop the random physical inspection of balikbayan boxes.   The said process would approve packages even before they reach the ports here, he said.   "If you can kindly provide me an OFW representative by my side [para] pagtingin pa lang ng dokumento, kapag OFW 'yan, check. Hindi na bubuksan, hindi na dadaan sa X-ray... Ang tawag namin diyan, pre-cleared," Lina said.   He added: "Pagpirma ko ng pre-cleared, kasama 'yung tao n'yo sa pipirma....

Overseas Filipino workers on Friday gathered a few meters from Malacañang in Manila as part of the simultaneous "zero remittance day" protest on Friday.   Led by the group Migrante, overseas Filipino workers held placards condemning the Bureau of Customs' (BOC) plan to conduct random manual inspection of balikbayan boxes during their protest in Mendiola.     Migrante had said that OFW groups in Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia and Italy will join the protests.   "Iba't-ibang bahagi ng mundo ay magkakaroon ng paglunsad ng zero remittance day," said Connie Bragas-Regalado, chairperson of Migrante International, on Tuesday.   Regalado made the statement a day after President Benigno Aquino III ordered the BOC to drop the planned balikbayan box inspection.   "Ito ay isang political action, bilang pag-rehistro na ang mga OFWs ay patuloy na lalabanan kung anuman yung mga anti-migrante, anti-people na mga patakaran ng gobyernong Aquino," s...

A Filipino domestic helper in Singapore was hurt after her Indian ex-boyfriend attacked her with a penknife, reports said. A  report on The Straits Times  said Singapore police charged Palaiyan Murugadas, 41, a construction worker, with causing "grievous hurt" to Allen Remedios Adolfo, 38, last Sunday. A  separate report on Singaporean Stomp  said Murugadas left deep cuts on Remedios's throat, wrist, and palm, and left her to stumble back to her employer's second floor apartment after the incident. Remedios managed to ring the doorbell and alert her fellow maid and employer, Jose Mari Camacho, before passing out, the report said. "It was a very deep cut and I could see her trachea (windpipe) coming out from her throat, where blood was spurting out... There were also deep cuts on her wrist and palm. I could see her bones and ligaments. Her thumb and finger were hanging just by the skin," Camacho told Stomp. Remedios was taken to Changi General Hospital, where...

The Department of Foreign Affairs on Thursday said it respects the decision by a Singapore court on a Filipino nurse who was convicted of sedition for his anti-Singaporean comments on social media.   Ed Mundsel Bello Ello, 28, was fired from his job at the government-run Tan Tock Seng Hospital for insulting Singaporeans on Facebook and calling for a takeover of Singapore by Filipinos.   “Mr. Ello and his lawyer respect the judgment of the court and have done all that is possible to defend his actions,” Foreign Affairs spokesman Charles Jose said. “We await the sentence to be handed out by the court [on] September 16.”   Ello, who was out on bail, was  convicted on Aug. 26 of one charge of sedition “for promoting feelings of ill-will and hostility.”   He also pleaded guilty for lying to the police when he insisted that his social media account was hacked and that the posts were made by someone else.   Under Sinagpore laws, maximum penalt...

Another female Filipino nurse is now under isolation after she was suspected to have contracted the deadly MERS Coronavirus in Saudi Arabia, the Department of Foreign Affairs said Thursday. “This is a female nurse, no age was given and she was placed under isolation,” Foreign Affairs spokesperson Charles Jose said. “We are monitoring a total of four cases of Filipinos with MERS in Riyadh,” he added. Jose, however, declined to provide the identity of the new suspected Filipino MERS victim.   Earlier this week, two female nurses, aged 29 and 32, were reported to be in the Intensive Care Unit, one male nurse in isolation and another female was under observation, but later on tested negative for MERS.   Jose said one of the four health workers, a 50-year-old nurse, has been discharged from the hospital based on the negative result from the series of tests conducted on her.   The two nurses in the ICU, on the other hand, were already conscious, Jose said, addin...

Julius with his wife, Veronica. “Basta para sa pamilya, gagawin mo ang lahat.” Julius Bartolome, 41 years old, a real estate broker, and father of two lovely daughters is a resident of Mandaluyong City. He graduated at the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. Owing to his educational background, he easily found a job. His wife Veronica, describes him as a hardworking and loving father to his children. A good provider is the perfect word to describe Julius as the head of his family.  “Napakabait talaga niyang ama sa kanyang dalawang anak. Lahat gagawin upang maibigay ang kapritso ng mga anak,”  narrated Veronica. Julius discovered that he has a left kidney problem when he was 32. However, his physician told him that it can still be cured through medication. Although medicine cannot reverse chronic kidney disease, it is often used to help treat symptoms and complications and to slow further kidney damage. Re...

Information.....is a difference that makes a difference - Gregory Bateson THE Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) recently conducted the Social Health Insurance Education Series (SHInES) with various quad media organizations from the National Capital Region (NCR) at H2O Hotel, Luneta, Manila. SHInES is PhilHealth’s strategy of updating its stakeholders with the new policies, programs and benefits, as well as their roles and responsibilities as partners in implementing the National Health Insurance Program (NHIP). Resource speakers for the said activity were PhilHealth officers Maria Sophia B. Varlez, Senior Manager of the Corporate Communication Department, Dr. Israel Francis A. Pargas, OIC-VP for Corporate Affairs Group and Ramon F. Aristoza Jr., PhilHealth’s Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, who also formally welcomed the participants. Present were reporters from such media organizations as Manila Bulletin, The Philippine Star, ...

Administrator Hans Leo J. Cacdac yesterday advised Filipino workers who are presently employed overseas to be more careful about accepting offers of employment in another country. Cacdac said his office has received a report from the Philippine Embassy in Turkey on the case of a household worker who is now jobless in Ankara, after leaving her previous employer in Hong Kong. In her written statement, the household worker said she was recruited by a recruitment agency in Hong Kong, whose owner promised her a better job in Turkey. She was charged HK$19,000 for the supposed new job. She arrived in Turkey on May 2015 and was employed for a while but was terminated after 45 days. She is currently looking for a new employer who will be able to give her work permit. According to the household worker, the recruitment agency has an office in Ankara and started sending Filipino workers from Hong Kong to Turkey in November 2014. Applicants are made to pay US$3,000 each as placement fee. Cacd...

Philippine Migrant Health Network IN THE NEWS 25 AUGUST 2015   August 18, 2015 –Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz (left) and Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert F. Del Rosario sign the Joint Manual of Operations in Providing Assistance to Migrant Workers and Other Filipinos Overseas at the Labor Governance and Learning Center of the Blas F. Ople Hall at the DOLE Executive Building in Intramuros, Manila. DFA, DOLE, DSWD, DOH, POEA, and OWWA Sign Joint Manual of Operations in providing assistance to Migrant Workers and other Filipinos Overseas Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert F. del Rosario; Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz; Social Welfare and Development Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman, represented by Undersecretary Parishya Taradji; Health Secretary Janette Loreto-Garin, represented by Assistant Secretary Gerardo V. Bayugo [sic]; Philippine Overseas Employment Administration Chief Hans Leo J. Cacdac; and ...