KAKAMMPI News

The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) on Wednesday said the government will soon deploy skilled workers to Germany. advertisement According to JP Soriano’s report on “Balitanghali,” POEA said the Philippines and Germany have created a technical working group for skilled workers under the Triple Win Agreement. The Philippines has previously deployed nurses to Germany under the agreement. “Kaya ngayon, pa-pattern nila ‘yung ating framework for the deployment of nurses doon sa other skills nila (This is why they are going to do the same pattern for the framework of the deployment of nurses to other skills),” POEA Administrator Bernard Olalia said. At present, the technical working group is studying the possible qualifications of skilled workers. As this is government to government, those interested may apply to POEA. “Nandyan na po lahat ng other skills like, for example, sa medical field, sa technological field, sa IT, sa accountancy, sa engineering, sa lahat pa ...

Jamaine Punzalan, ABS-CBN News MANILA — Malacañang on Thursday expressed optimism that Filipinos can ditch anti-virus masks in some public areas by Christmas this year, as the COVID-19 vaccination drive ramps up. Molecular biologist Fr. Nicanor Austriaco Jr., OP, in a Palace briefing, said Metro Manila and 8 focus areas could achieve COVID-19 containment by October, and herd immunity in November. "Kaya po 'yan," said Palace spokesman Harry Roque. "Kaya nga po we are aiming for population protection, 'yong containment na sinasabi ni Fr. Austriaco, kasi alam na natin na sa mga bansang nakamit na nila 'yong containment, hindi na sila nagmamaskara, at least sa outdoors," he said in the same briefing. (That is achievable. We are aiming for population protection, or containment as Fr. Austriaco put it, because we know that countries which have achieved containment no longer mask up, at least outdoors.) Israel and parts of the US, among others, have...

Maxxy Santiago, ABS-CBN News (2nd UPDATE) A Kuwaiti criminal court handed Wednesday a death verdict by hanging to a Kuwaiti woman who tortured to death a Filipino domestic worker, Jeanelyn Padernal Villavende, due to jealousy. Her husband, on the other hand, was sentenced to four years imprisonment for covering up and not reporting the crime. Philippine embassy lead counsel, Atty. Sheikha Fawzia Al-Sabah, said the court’s ruling is fair and in compliance with the law and Sharia. "Alhamdullilah! We got justice for Jeanelyn," said Sheikha Fawzia, a Kuwaiti human rights lawyer. In a statement, the Philippine Embassy in Kuwait welcomed the decision of the Kuwaiti court, and thanked all the officials who helped in seeking justice for Villavende. "Newly accredited Philippine Ambassador to Kuwait Mohd. Noordin Pendosina N. Lomondot wishes to sincerely thank Secretary Locsin and the DFA for all the assistance that was extended while the Embassy is fighting the case in cou...

ABS-CBN News MANILA - The Philippine Nurses Association (PNA) on Saturday said government's decision to raise the cap on the deployment of health care workers is a welcome development. “It’s a good news for us kasi at least meron pa rin made-deploy (because at least more will be deployed),” said PNA president Melbert Reyes. On Friday, the inter-agency task force leading the country's COVID-19 response said it raised the annual cap on the deployment of nurses and other health care workers who want to work abroad to 6,500. The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration earlier this month suspended overseas deployment of newly-hired medical professionals after the 5,000 annual ceiling for new hires was breached on June 1. “But then kung titingnan nating 'yung 6,500, 5,000 po dyan ay OK na, tapos na po. Wala na po. So 1,500 na lang 'yan from June to December,” said Reyes. (But the 5,000 cap has been filled. So the 1,500 cap is from June to December.) Reyes said ...

Pia Gutierrez, ABS-CBN News MANILA— Nurses will fill most of the new slots for health care workers that will be allowed to be deployed abroad, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration announced Tuesday. The inter-agency task force on COVID-19 raised last week the annual cap on the deployment of nurses and other health care workers who want to work abroad to 6,500 from 5,000 POEA administrator Bernard Olalia said in a public briefing Tuesday that 99% of the 1,500 additional slots will go to nurses. He clarified that the 1,500 slots will be given to medical workers who have already secured employment contracts abroad and work visas. "Exempted naman po sa cap 'yung mga government-to-government deployment natin, at saka 'yung mga balik manggagawa natin. Ang tanging mabibilang sa cap 'yung mga natitirang agency hires at 'yung mga direct hires," Olalia said. (Government-to-government deployment and those under the balik-manggagawa is exempted from ...

ABS-CBN News MANILA - Some 120,000 registered nurses are unaccounted for in employment records in the country, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration said Wednesday as it explained government's deployment cap on health care workers. There are nearly 602,000 nurses registered under the database of the human resources bureau of the Department of Health, according to POEA administrator Bernard Olalia. Some 183,000 nurses are employed in public or private health facilities in the country while 350,000 nurses are deployed abroad, he said. "We therefore have a gap of almost 120,000. This is exactly the reason why the IATF (Inter-Agency Task Force Against COVID-19) imposed temporary suspension of the deployment of our nurses (last year)," he told ANC's Headstart. The country had prohibited the deployment of health care workers last year as the COVID-19 pandemic began to ensure sufficient medical professionals here. It has since resumed deployment but placed ...

Agence France-Presse SINGAPORE - A Singaporean woman who starved, assaulted and ultimately killed her domestic worker was sentenced to 30 years in prison Tuesday, with the judge describing the case as "among the worst types of culpable homicide." The affluent city-state is home to about 250,000 domestic workers who mostly come from poorer Asian countries, and stories of mistreatment are common. But the abuse inflicted on Myanmar national Piang Ngaih Don, 24, was particularly awful and captured on CCTV installed in the family's home. The domestic worker was stamped on, strangled, choked, battered with brooms and burnt with an iron, according to court documents. The domestic worker died in July 2016, after her employer, Gaiyathiri Murugayan, repeatedly assaulted her over several hours. Gaiyathiri, 41, pleaded guilty in February to 28 charges including culpable homicide. Another 87 charges were taken into account in sentencing. She appeared in court on Tuesday wearin...

Stranded overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the Middle East - the visas of some of whom have already expired - are appealing to the government to lift a seven-country travel ban and allow them to go back home. advertisement JP Soriano's "24 Oras" report said repatriation requests by some Filipinos staying in Oman and the United Arab Emirates have been ignored. The Philippines banned entry from incoming travelers of Oman, United Arab Emirates, and five other nations as a precautionary measure against the Delta variant, the more contagious variant of COVID-19 that was first reported in India. This travel ban was extended until the end of June. Alexis Alcantara, a stranded OFW from UAE, became emotional after sharing that he was not able to return home for Father's Day and see her newborn daughter. "No OFW wants to infect their families. We are willing to go on quarantine for 14 days, undergo a swab test for three or five times. We just want to go home," A...

Posted at Jun 23 2021 03:10 AM BENGALURU—India on Tuesday declared a new coronavirus variant to be of concern, and said nearly two dozen cases had been detected in three states. The variant, identified locally as "Delta plus", was found in 16 cases in the state of Maharashtra, Federal Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan told a news conference. The ministry said Delta plus showed increased transmissibility and advised states to increase testing. On Monday, India vaccinated a record 8.6 million people as it began offering free shots to all adults, but experts doubted it could maintain that pace. "This is clearly not sustainable," Chandrakant Lahariya, an expert in public policy and health systems, told Reuters. "With such one-day drives, many states have consumed most of their current vaccine stocks, which will affect the vaccination in days to follow." With the currently projected vaccine supply for the next few months, the maximum daily achievable rate...

A man in Colorado, United States, has admitted to killing his 28-year-old Filipina wife who had been missing for two years. advertisement According to a Balitanghali report on Tuesday, the suspect, Dane Kallungi, was arrested in New Mexico. Police said Kallungi admitted to killing his wife, Jepsy Amaga Kallungi, by strangling her and then burying her remains. Jepsy's mother said her daughter had previously told her about her frequent fights with her husband. At present, authorities are preparing for Kallungi's extradition to Colorado. He said he will cooperate with the authorities and point them to where Jepsy's body is buried. The victim’s family also called for help from the Philippine government and the Philippine Embassy in Washington to help them retrieve the remains of the victim. —Joahna Lei Casilao/KBK, GMA News

By JON VIKTOR D. CABUENAS, GMA News The Philippines has agreed to lift the deployment ban of workers to Oman, in exchange for the country easing entry restrictions for Filipino travelers. According to Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) Administrator Bernard Olalia, officials of both parties met on Monday, June 21, to discuss the entry of Filipinos to Oman. Olalia said the government of Oman explained that they did not intend to ban the entry of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) into the country. The entry of Filipinos into the country was earlier banned. In exchange, the POEA will lift its order banning the deployment of Filipino to Oman, which the government announced last week. Olalia did not provide a timeline when restrictions would be lifted, but said this would be triggered by the removal of entry restrictions in Oman. "Sa madaling salita po, 'pag ka po nagkaroon na ng lifting sa Oman at tayo ay nag-lift na, ora mismo makakapagpadala na tayo ng ...

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Monday warned the public against advertisements on social media offering passport appointment slots and fake or tampered appointment documents amid the high demand for passport services. The DFA issued the advisory after passport applicants who have claimed to have secured appointments through social media have turned up at the DFA in recent weeks. To address the high demand for passport services caused by the implementation of strict quarantine protocols in March and April, the DFA is set to open 10 temporary satellite offices "very soon." "We want to assure the public that ten temporary satellite offices will be opened very soon to create additional passport appointment slots," said DFA Undersecretary Brigido Dulay. The DFA said while it was able to offer 13,000 passport appointment slots per day before the COVID-19 pandemic, only 6,100 slots per day are available now because of restrictions in venue capacity and stri...

Filipinos who are included in the government's repatriation programs are not covered by the travel restrictions imposed for inbound travelers from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, United Arab Emirates and Oman, presidential spokesman Harry Roque said Sunday. To recall, the government enforced a travel ban on passengers coming from India and six other countries, which was extended until June 30, 2021. The travel ban must imposed to prevent the Delta variant, COVID-19 variant that originated from India, from infecting communities. "Let it be clear, however, that Filipinos covered by the repatriation programs of the government and repatriation activities of manning / recruitment agencies cleared by the Bureau of Quarantine are not prohibited from entering the Philippines. They can enter the country, subject to testing and quarantine protocols," said Roque, in a statement. As of Sunday, the Philippines has logged 1,359,015 total virus cases including 1,277,...

By CONSUELO MARQUEZ, GMA News About 70,000 to 80,000 more pandemic-stranded overseas Filipino workers are expected to return home to the Philippines, Overseas Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) administrator Hans Cacdac said Sunday. advertisement "Isang concern natin itong new variant. Mga 70,000 to 80,000 ang darating pa na naapektuhan ng COVID-19, and then yung naapektuhan ng travel ban sa UAE (United Arab Emirates), mahigit kumulang 5,000 sila. At ang mga dumadating na regular passengers, yung uuwi talaga, magbabakasyon so ganoon," Cacdac told "Dobol B TV." (Our concern is the new variant. An estimated 70,000 to 80,000 OFWs affected by the pandemic and travel ban are arriving. Add to this the over 5,000 affected by travel ban on the UAE. We also have regular vacationing expatriates coming.) Earlier, the government extended the travel ban on incoming travelers from the UAE and six other countries until June 30 due to the threat of the Delta vari...

ABS-CBN News MANILA - Unemployment hit 8.7 percent in April, the same level compared to the previous quarter or the data from January 2021, the state statistics bureau said Tuesday. This translates to 4.14 million jobless Filipinos for the month, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said in a virtual briefing. Unemployment in January 2021 was at 8.7 percent with 3.95 million jobless Filipinos, data showed. On a month-on-month basis, April's figure is higher compared to unemployment in March which was at 7.1 percent, equivalent to 3.44 million jobless Filipinos. The Labor Force Participation for the month is higher at 63.24 percent compared to 60.5 percent in January 2021, it added. Underemployment is at 17.2 percent in April 2021, higher compared to 16 percent in January, data showed. Underemployment for the month is lower compared to 18.9 percent in April 2020. The Philippines recorded the "worst" unemployment rate in 2020 at 10.4 percent due to the COV...

By LLANESCA T. PANTI, GMA News Filipino health workers who have existing contracts abroad won't be barred from leaving the country, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) said Tuesday. advertisement POEA Administrator Bernard Olalia made the clarification after the government announced that the 5,000 cap for Filipino nurses deployed abroad has been reached and as such, there will be no new deployment amid the COVID-19 pandemic. This means that the POEA will not issue new OEC for Filipino health care workers for the time being. "The cap of 5,000 was reached last June 1 based on the overseas employment certificate issued since January. Exempted from this are those with existing contracts," Olalia said during the Laging Handa briefing. "Also exempted are those for deployment in the United Kingdom and those hired under government-to-government scheme because we have to fulfill the state obligation under such bilateral agreement. So they will be a...

By JULIA MARI ORNEDO, GMA News The Philippines has expanded its emergency use authorization (EUA) of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine to cover individuals aged 12 and above, the Department of Health (DOH) said Tuesday. Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire confirmed to GMA News Online that the Pfizer shot is “now indicated for [use on] 12 years old and above.” “While we welcome more vaccines that are approved for children and adolescents, due to limited vaccine supply, our vaccination strategy remains the same — prioritize the vulnerable and adhere to our prioritization framework,” she said. “The general consensus of our vaccine experts is to revisit pediatric and adolescent vaccination once our vaccine supply has stabilized,” she added. A report by Super Radyo dzBB's Isa Avendano-Umali said the Food and Drug Administration has amended the EUA it granted for Pfizer-BioNTech's vaccine to cover those aged 12 to 15 years old. A copy of the Pfizer EUA on the FDA website in...

PINOY ABROAD OFWs headed to Singapore not required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 — official Published June 7, 2021 11:16am Overseas Filipino workers headed to Singapore are not required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 before they are allowed entry, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said. advertisement According to Labor Attaché in Singapore Saul De Vries, the Singaporean government is currently implementing strict quarantine protocols but vaccination is not included. "It is not a condition for OFWs to be inoculated before departing for their jobs. However, the Singapore government require them to undergo a 21-day institutional quarantine and take RT-PCR test thrice," he said in a statement over the weekend. Singapore has also temporarily suspended the entry approval applications of foreign workers from high-risk countries. "Hopefully, such regulation of policy will be reviewed this coming July when cases of COVID-19 infection have slowed down,...

The 73-year-old Yllana, who hails from Naga City, is currently the Apostolic Nuncio to Australia where he served since 2015. He succeeds Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli, who was appointed Apostolic Nuncio to India last March. Yllana has represented the Holy See on four continents: Africa, Asia, Europe and Oceania. Yllana graduated as Doctor juris utriusque (Doctor of Both Laws) at the Pontifical Lateran University in Rome He completed his studies at the Ecclesiastical Academy and in 1984 entered the diplomatic service of the Holy See, serving in Ghana, Sri Lanka, Turkey, Lebanon, Hungary and Taiwan. In December 2001, Pope St. John Paul II appointed him as Apostolic Nuncio to Papua New Guinea and consecrated him Bishop on 6 January 2002 then he was assigned to the Solomon Islands. Pope Benedict XVI appointed him as Apostolic Nuncio to Pakistan in 2006 and Apostolic Nuncio to the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2010. CBCP News reported that Yllana is one of the three Filipino apostoli...