KAKAMMPI News

Published  August 30, 2018 10:57pm  By  MICHAELA DEL CALLAR An estimated 400,000 undocumented Filipino workers will be affected by Malaysia’s nationwide crackdown on illegal migrants beginning Friday after its amnesty program ended on Thursday, the Department of Foreign Affairs said. The Malaysian government said there would be no extension to its Voluntary Deportation Program that was launched in 2016. Since the program started in January 2016, only 5,844 Filipinos availed of amnesty – a figure representing less than 1 percent of the estimated 400,000 undocumented Filipinos in Malaysia. “We are reminding our countrymen in Malaysia, particular those without legal immigration status, that the amnesty program ends today,” Philippine Ambassador Charles Jose said in a statement sent to the Home Office in Manila. “In view of this, we request our kababayans to exercise due prudence and to ensure they carry their legal documents at all times.” J...

Published  August 29, 2018 4:19pm  Photo courtesy of DFA Over 100 Filipino workers, mostly women, arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on Wednesday after they availed of the amnesty program offered by the United Arab Emirates government. The 125 OFWs — 118 women, seven men and one minor — comprised the third batch of Filipino amnesty grantees from the UAE, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said in a statement. "This brings to 341 the total number of OFWs who were repatriated by the DFA since the amnesty program began this month," the DFA said as it urged qualified Filipinos to take advantage of the amnesty program before the October 31, 2018 deadline. "[This is] to give the Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the Philippine Consulate General in Dubai ample time to process the necessary documents for their repatriation," it said. The repatriated OFWs were given P5,000.00 financial assistance each as part of the...

August 25, 2018 Written by Cristina Lee-Pisco Published in  Overseas Filipino Workers Read: 226 THE Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has so far released P4.8 million in financial assistance to at least a thousand overseas Filipino workers who were stranded in Manila as a result of the runway closure at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA). Some 403 stranded OFWs received their P5,000 cash assistance on Friday, bringing to 962 the total number of those who have been served since Wednesday. OFWs affected by the runway closure who are still in the Philippines are reminded that they may still claim the cash assistance at the Office of Migrant Workers Affairs (OMWA) at the third floor of the DFA Building in Pasay City until the end of office hours on August 31. Affected OFWs who are already abroad can file their claim at any Philippine Embassy or Consulate General until 30 September 2018. OFWs claiming financial assistance are require...

Fr. Shay Cullen 23 August 2018   Dublin, Ireland. "We showed no care for the little ones, we abandoned them,” Pope Francis says in a letter to the  entire Catholic Church in which he condemned the clericalism, the arrogance, abuse of power and position of bishops and religious superiors in the church who allow and cover up and thus perpetuate sexual crimes against children.     Pope Francis takes a stand with the victims and vows to stamp out and hold accountable those who abused children and those bishops and religious superiors who hid the truth and ignored the victims. The Pope’s letter is for all who cares to read it, but between the lines, it seems to be aimed at those powerful people in the church who oppose him and his efforts to cleanse and reform sections of a corrupt hierarchy. The Pope is attending the World Meeting of Families in Dublin that opened this week. More than 300 people will speak at forums and symposia. The Pope will celebrate...

August 23, 2018 Written by Cristina Lee-Pisco Published in  Overseas Filipino Workers Read: 274 Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who have been affected by the runway closure at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) and are now in their workplaces can still avail of the financial assistance, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) yesterday announced. The DFA said the affected OFWs can avail of the assistance at the nearest Philippine Embassy or consulate general abroad. Foreign Affairs Assiatant Secretary Elmer Cato said they expect more overseas workers to avail themselves of the P5,000 financial assistance it is extending to those affected by the recent runway accident at the NAIA. On Wednesday, the DFA Office of Migrant Workers Affairs released the cash assistance to 178 stranded overseas workers who went to the DFA Home Office in Pasay and at NAIA Terminals 1, 2, and 3. Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs...

Written by Cristina Lee-Pisco                       Published in   Overseas Filipino Workers THE Department of Foreign Affairs has repatriated 15 Filipino fishermen imprisoned by Indonesian authorities for alleged illegal fishing in their waters. The DFA said the boat captains were released to officials of the Consulate General after serving jail terms of five months to three years. “Before leaving for the Philippines, the boat captains expressed their appreciation for the welfare assistance extended to them while they were still in prison,” Consul General Oscar Orcine said. Orcine said the boat captains were given welfare assistance of P5,000 each before they boarded their flights to the Philippines. The Philippine Consulate General in Manado also repatriated on Monday five other Filipinos who were held for overstaying. The Consulate General lobbied the release of the five with Indonesian author...

Published  August 23, 2018 8:57pm  Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) affected by last week's runway mishap at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) waited in line on Thursday morning to get P5,000 in assistance from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA). According to a 24 Oras report by Maki Pulido, OFWs started to fall in line as early as 8 a.m., but DFA officials arrived at the airport past 10 a.m. as they had to withdraw money from the bank. P5,000, however, is unlikely to go a long way, especially for OFWs who have to go through the arduous and expensive process of re-applying for visas and re-booking flights. Domestic helper Silvia Guardacsa's re-entry visa to return to Saudi Arabia has expired, and she needs to borrow money to apply for another visa at the embassy. "'Yung mister ko, construction worker lang. May estudyante ako, may maliit akong anak gumagatas. Kaya kailangang kailangang makaalis," she said. Anothe...

Published  August 23, 2018 1:03pm  Some 300 to 1,000 caregiver jobs in Japan will be up for grabs for Filipinos in the next few months, according to the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA). In his report on Balitanghali on Thursday, GMA News' JP Soriano said the guidelines for the Japanese government’s Technical Internship Training Program (TITP) have been finalized and are expected to be signed for implementation in September. POEA deputy administrator Jocelyn Sanchez said applicants should keep an eye out for more job orders coming from POEA-licensed recruitment agencies. "Mag-abang and mag-prepare na rin 'yung mga tao sa mga documents niya," she said. The salary under the TITP has yet to be disclosed. However, according to the POEA, care workers in Japan are paid more compared to other Asian and European countries. The goverment agency said it was possible that the salary would start at no less than P50,000 to P70,...

FOUR PINAYS AS VICTIMS Published  August 23, 2018 11:34am  Updated  August 23, 2018 6:56pm By NICOLE-ANNE C. LAGRIMAS, GMA News The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has arrested a German national allegedly attempting to spirit away four Filipino women via Clark International Airport. The women were supposedly hired as caregivers in Germany. Herbert Joseph Vogt, 72, was intercepted Monday at the Clark International Airport in Angeles City, Pampanga as he and his alleged victims tried to board a flight to Doha, Qatar. From there, they had planned to fly to Germany, the BI said in a statement. The suspicions of an Immigration officer were aroused when the women claimed to be traveling in pairs and denied knowing each other, Immigration officer in charge Deputy Commissioner Marc Red Mariñas said. The women were “made to lie about the circumstances of their travel,” Mariñas noted. But they later admitted that they were hired to work as caregivers at...

Published  August 23, 2018 7:43am  Filipinos in Hawaii have been advised to take the necessary precautions and prepare for Hurricane Lane and the heavy rains and life-threatening winds it may cause. In an advisory on Thursday (Manila time), the Philippine Consulate General urged the Filipino community to prepare a 14-day emergency supply of the following recommended items: water, non-perishable food that does not require cooking, radio, flashlights, spare batteries, whistle (to signal for help) personal items, medicines, children’s and pet’s needs The Filipinos were also told to heed all the warnings and advice of Hawaii State and Federal government authorities concerning the hurricane and the specific warnings for their area. Filipino nationals in the affected areas were likewise advised to inform the Philippine Consulate General — which will have normal operations unless there is an announcement that it will be closed — to update thei...

Published  August 25, 2018 1:29pm  A Filipina household service worker was found dead hanging in her room in Bahrain, Philippine foreign officials in the Arabian Gulf nation said Saturday. Citing initial information from the Department of Foreign Affairs, a Super Radyo dzBB report said the 37-year-old victim, whose name has been withheld, was found hanging by rope in an apparent suicide case. Philippine foreign authorities in Bahrain are now trying to contact the victim's family in Quezon province. Also, DFA officials said they are verifying the incident while preparing for the repatriation of the remains of the Filipino worker.  —LBG, GMA News

Villar: DFA, DOLE should intercede for OFWs affected by canceled flights Published  August 20, 2018 4:41pm  Senator Cynthia Villar on Monday urged the government to intercede to ensure that overseas Filipino workers who were not able to fly out of the country and return to their work abroad would not have problems with their employers. Villar said the Departments of Foreign Affairs and Labor and Employment should help OFWs affected by the canceled fights when a Xiamen Air plane skidded off the runway of Ninoy Aquino International Airport last week. “I think it’s the problem of our government dealing with OFWs, dalawa lang iyan DFA at DOLE. They have to act to make sure (there won’t be any problem). I think it’s for our government, DFA and DOLE to help them,” she said when asked on the matter. The senator expressed hope the employers would understand the situation of their Filipino staff. “I’m sure iyong mga employer they will understand nasira i...

Published  August 20, 2018 11:43am  The viral video showing a visibly distraught Filipina who was supposedly subjected to genital mutilation by her employer in Bahrain was found to be untrue, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Monday. Because of this, the DFA appealed to Filipinos living and working abroad to avoid posting unverified information on social media. "While we appreciate the concern extended by our kababayan abroad about this particular case, we should also be careful about posting something of this kind on social media without first checking its veracity," DFA Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs Sarah Lou Arriola said. Ambassador to Manama Alfonso Ver said doctors in the Philippines examined the Filipina in the video and found that she "had no indications whatsoever of genital mutilation." Ver said DFA Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano ordered that the woman, who was already in the Philippines when the video ...

The appointment by Labor and Employment Secretary Silvestre Bello III of non-career labor attachés and deploying them as soon as they were appointed may have violated existing policies of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), leading morale among the more qualified career labor attaches to nose dive. Nicon F. Fameronag, president of the Lilac Center for Public Interest, Inc., said this in a press release yesterday, explaining that as a policy, the DOLE requires appointed labor attachés to have at least a residency period in government service of not less than three years, two of which must have been served at the Department or its attached agencies before they are allowed to be deployed for overseas posts. He was referring to DOLE Administrative Order 101 Series of 2011, which to date is still in effect for it has not been superseded. “The DOLE has a pool of seasoned labor attachés whose members could be tapped for foreign assignment. In fact, many of them are in...

ABS-CBN News Posted at  Aug 19 2018 06:47 PM ABS-CBN News Channel ✔ @ANCALERTS WATCH: OWWA Administrator Hans Leo Cacdac gives updates on the measures the agency has undertaken to help OFWs affected by flight delays and cancellations in NAIA. # ANCRecap 3:25 PM - Aug 19, 2018 6 See ABS-CBN News Channel's other Tweets Twitter Ads info and privacy MANILA - Overseas Filipino workers affected by the closure of the main runway of Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) are advised to inform officials at the labor assistance desks of their concerns. Speaking to ANC, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) administrator Hans Leo Cacdac said they have been prioritizing assistance for those whose visas are expiring soon. "We are already coordinating with PAL (Philippine Airlines). We have given priority to those whose visas are about to expire. We've come up with a list which we handed over to ...

Published  August 18, 2018 7:24pm  The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is looking into the death of a Filipina household service worker in Saudi Arabia whose body was found inside a hotel room in Jeddah three days ago. According to Assistant Secretary Elmer Cato of the Office of Public Diplomacy-DFA Home Office in Manila, the Philippine Consulate General in Jeddah only learned of the death Saturday afternoon from a concerned member of the Filipino community. “We are saddened to learn about the passing under still unknown circumstances of one of our kababayan,” Consul General Edgar Badajos said. Consul General Badajos said the Consulate General is coordinating with local authorities to determine the cause of death of the Filipina, whose identify is being withheld pending the notification of the next of kin. Initial inquiries made by the Consulate revealed that the deceased was single and 52 years of age at the time of her death. She first arriv...

Published  August 17, 2018 3:15am  A hundred OFWs made it home on Thursday morning after they were granted amnesty by the United Arab Emirates government. Some of the stories behind the tearful reunions at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 2 were featured on Athena Imperial's 24 Oras report. Amy Paz, one of the undocumented OFWs, was emotional as she is reunited with family after a long time. "Kasi salbahe ang amo ko. Salbahe. Umalis na lang ako, natrabaho-tabaho sa labas," she said. "Eh kailangan ng pera gawa ng mga anak." Lola Marilou, who works as a domestic helper in Dubai, was just thankful to be back home after 11 years. She no longer has a working visa. "Ngayon, wala na (working visa). May five years na may visa, tapos six years wala," she said. Repatriation was also timely for Joel Catamora, who said the company he was working for had closed and he had no means to pay his absconding fee...

Published  August 16, 2018 4:21pm  Some 100 OFWs who were granted amnesty by the United Arab Emirates government arrived in the Philippines on Thursday, according to a Balitanghali report by Athena Imperial. The OFWs arrived past 10 a.m. on flights sponsored by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA). Their absconding and immigration fees, as well as their connecting flights, were also paid for by the DFA. Most of the Filipinos who returned took advantage of the amnesty deal offered by the UAE for overstaying and absconding OFWs late July. From August 1 to October 31, OFWs may approach the nearest Philippine Consulate and the Philippine Embassy or visit pcgdubai.ae to avail of the amnesty offer. This offer, however, is not available to Filipinos who face legal cases other than overstaying and absconding. — Rie Takumi/KBK, GMA News