KAKAMMPI News

DMW: Be vigilant vs illegal recruitment for overseas scam jobs By RICHA NORIEGA, GMA Integrated News Published December 3, 2022 5:03pm The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) on Saturday reminded Filipinos to be vigilant against illegal recruitment for overseas scam jobs. DMW Undersecretary for Welfare and Foreign Employment Hans Leo Cacdac issued the reminder after there was a reported increase in Filipino victims of cybercrime and human trafficking syndicates in countries such as Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar. Cacdac said victims fell for social media advertisements that offered jobs such as customer representative, technical support, data encoder, and call center agent, among others. “Yung bang skills set ay fairly common to all so madali talaga makaakit ng tao na pupunta. Ipapain talaga ang libreng plane ticket o hindi kaya sasabihin hindi kailangan ng visa kasi ang mga bansang ASEAN po ito, yung mga Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar. Pagka turista po, hindi kailangan ng visa,” Cacda...

By GMA Integrated News Published November 28, 2022 9:01pm Eighty-five percent of Filipino adults said "yes" when asked the question of whether the Philippines was headed in the right direction based on the policies and programs of the Marcos administration. According to OCTA Research's latest Tugon ng Masa survey conducted from October 23 to 27, only six percent said "no" when asked the question. Nine percent said didn't know or refused to answer. "Across the major areas, it is in the Visayas where 91% of adult Filipinos think the country is headed in the right direction," OCTA said. "Meanwhile, only 70% of adult Filipinos in NCR think the country is headed in the right direction," it added.

Fr. Shay Cullen 28 October 2022 When I hike into the hills and mountains of Zambales with the Aeta indigenous farmers, their children and families, we are usually on a trek with the Preda fair trade team to plant grafted mango saplings, calamansi or rambutan trees. This is on the mountains where the mangoes are certified organic according to EU standards. This is a great achievement for the indigenous people. The Aeta people claim the mountains as their ancestral lands but around the world the rights of the indigenous peoples to the ancestral lands are challenged by mining companies and land grabbers supported by corrupt politicians and officials. These mountains were once lush rainforests where the ancestors of the Aeta people (once called Negritos, their DNA traced them back to Africa) lived and survived in peace as self-sufficient hunters and gatherers. They loved and respected their forests, they cared for the natural world and the birds and animals. The climate was secure, ...

POPCOM: Around 70 million working-age Pinoys can provide much-needed boost to national economy Strength in numbers: More productive workers will fuel the country’s socio-economic development. POPCOM FILE PHOTO The increasing number of employable Filipinos can further revitalize the Philippines’ socio-economic development, which is still reeling from the effects of the pandemic—that is, if their numbers are fully maximized and harnessed, according to the Commission on Population and Development (POPCOM). The Philippine Statistics Authority’s (PSA) 2020 Census of Population and Housing revealed that out of the said year’s total number of 109,035,343 individuals, more than half—or 69.40 million—are within the 15 to 64 years old working-age bracket. For POPCOM, this huge segment provides an opportunity to elevate the country’s socio-economic conditions. “To fully tap this significant quantity of workers, the national government needs to provide steady streams of quality jobs, whi...

By JOVILAND RITA, GMA Integrated News Published November 23, 2022 8:55am Around 100 recruitment agencies have been approved so far for the deployment of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said Wednesday. Interviewed on GMA News’ Unang Balita, DMW Secretary Susan “Toots” Ople said the approval of more agencies is still ongoing. “Nag-approve na kami ng 100 na recruitment agencies dito tsaka sa Saudi Arabia. Patuloy 'yung pag-aapprove namin,” Ople said. (We approved 100 recruitment agencies here and in KSA. We continue to approve more agencies.) Ople added that labor attachés are now screening job orders.

By JOVILAND RITA, GMA Integrated News Published November 11, 2022 4:28pm The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) on Friday allayed fears that thousands of seafarers may lose their jobs due to the Philippines’ alleged failure to comply with international standards. At a public briefing, MARINA chief of staff Jabeth Dacanay said that concerned government agencies continue to intensify their efforts to improve seafarers' education, training, and certification. “Sana huwag po tayong mabahala dahil patuloy naman pong ginagawa ng mga ahensya ng gobyerno gaya ng MARINA, [Commission on Higher Education], at ibang ahensya ng gobyerno na tayo ay makatupad sa obligasyon natin dito sa [International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers],’ she said. (We do not have to worry because government agencies like MARINA, CHED, and other agencies are meeting our obligations under this Convention.) On Tuesday, Senator Risa Hontiveros sought an inquiry...

At least 32 Filipinos and ten other passengers were rescued from a ship that caught fire in the northern Pacific Ocean on Sunday, November 6. According to a report on “24 Oras” on Wednesday, the Chinese Embassy said the survivors were crew members of a fishing vessel named “Hsiang Ching.” A nearby fishing vessel named “Yong Fa 1” immediately provided humanitarian rescue. The embassy said a Filipino is still missing. Crew members of Yong Fa 1 tried to look for him but to no avail. Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian extended his sympathy and offered prayers for the missing victim. -- Sundy Locus/BAP, GMA News

Published November 8, 2022 2:23pm Updated November 8, 2022 2:36pm Senator Risa Hontiveros has sought an inquiry into improving the standards of maritime education in the country over fears that around 50,000 Filipino seafarers are at risk of losing their jobs. These came about after findings showed that the Philippines did not comply with the European Union's standards on seafarers' education, training, and certification. In filing proposed Senate Resolution 279, Hontiveros said the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) has been flagging the Philippine maritime training since 2006. She added that EMSA had reported that the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) did not ensure that all training and assessment met the standards provided under the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) Convention. "Labing-anim na taon na pala tayong binibigyan ng warning. It’s hig...

By GMA Integrated News Published November 15, 2022 2:42am The Philippines should take action to protect and promote human rights, including addressing killings of the war on drugs and ensuring access to justice for victims, some member-nations of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) have said. The UNHRC states made the recommendations on Monday during the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), which assessed the human rights record of a countries. The Philippines took part in the process, sending a delegation led by Department of Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla who told the body that impunity was not tolerated and that the government provided a democratic space for rights activists in the country. A number of member-states called for the solution of the cases of killings and the protection of human rights defenders. France said the incumbent administration should take necessary measures to effectively combat impunity for perpetrators of summary execution in the a...

The Amador County Sheriff's Office in Plymouth, California confirmed that a body part found in a wide area on Jackson Road belonged to missing Filipino-American Alexis Gabe. In a statement, the sheriff's office said it received an anonymous tip in the afternoon of November 3 about the discovery of the remains in the county's west end. Forensic examination showed that the remains matched the dental records of Gabe. “After the search was completed, a board certified Forensic Odontologist, utilizing known dental records from the victim, was able to identify the remains as belonging to missing person, Alexis Gabe. All evidence collected by the Amador County Sheriff's Office was turned over to Oakley Police Department detectives and Coroner jurisdiction has been turned over to the Contra Costa County Coroner's Office to determine manner and cause of death," the sheriff's office said. Crime scene investigators, assisted by a K-9 unit and local authorities com...

DMW: OFW protections included in new Saudi-specific employment contract By SHERYLIN UNTALAN, GMA Integrated News Published November 5, 2022 4:13pm After the Philippines and Saudi Arabia agreed on reforms in labor policies for migrant workers, a country-specific employment contract for overseas Filipino workers bound for the kingdom will include protections for OFWs, Department of Migrant Workers Secretary Susan Ople said on Saturday. “For the first time magkakaroon na tayo ng country specific employment contract. Yung contrata na ito specific sa OFWs bound for Saudi," said Ople on Super Radyo dzBB. "Nandoon na yung insurance coverage para sa domestic workers. Ang magbabayad n’yan ‘yung Saudi employers. Yung insurance coverage din para sa skilled at construction workers ang magbabayad n’yan Saudi government. Ang covered insurance, kung sakali na bankrupt yung kompanya, sagot ng insurance ‘yung unpaid salaries,” she added. “Hindi na mangyayari 'yung katulad na noon...

Philippine economy grows faster by 7.6% in Q3 2022 By TED CORDERO, GMA Integrated News Published November 10, 2022 10:11am Updated November 10, 2022 10:44am The Philippine economy accelerated in the third quarter of the year, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported on Thursday. The economy as measured by gross domestic product (GDP) — the total value of goods and services produced in a specific period — grew by 7.6% during the July to September period, faster than the upwardly adjusted 7.5% GDP growth in the second quarter of 2022. This is also higher than the 7% GDP growth posted in the third quarter of 2021. The third quarter economic growth also surpassed the median analyst forecast of 6.3%, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary and National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) chief Arsenio Balisacan said at a press briefing. Balisacan said the Philippine economy is on track to hit the government’s target band of 6.5% to 7.5% growth for 2022. “Given the latest ...

Senator Risa Hontiveros has sought an inquiry into improving the standards of maritime education in the country over fears that around 50,000 Filipino seafarers are at risk of losing their jobs. advertisement These came about after findings showed that the Philippines did not comply with the European Union's standards on seafarers' education, training, and certification. In filing proposed Senate Resolution 279, Hontiveros said the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) has been flagging the Philippine maritime training since 2006. She added that EMSA had reported that the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) did not ensure that all training and assessment met the standards provided under the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) Convention. "Labing-anim na taon na pala tayong binibigyan ng warning. It’s high time we summon MARINA and CHED to the Senate, para ...

PH labor offices in Saudi to accept offers for OFWs starting Nov. 7 By SUNDY LOCUS, GMA News Published November 4, 2022 6:23pm Philippine Overseas Labor Offices (POLO) in Riyadh, Jeddah and Al-Khobar will resume accepting job offers for Filipinos who want to work in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) starting November 7, Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Susan Ople said Friday. Ople made the remarks after the Philippine government announced in September it will lift the worker deployment ban in the kingdom. “On Monday, our overseas labor offices in Riyad, Jeddah and Al-Khobar shall resume sending offers of employment for Filipino migrant workers of all skills who wish to work in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” Ople told reporters in a hybrid media briefing. “Hindi tayo basta lang magbubukas ng Saudi deployment nang walang malinaw at matibay na pundasyon para sa proteksyon ng ating mga manggagawa,” she said. (We will not hastily lift the Saudi deployment ban without...

Tensions rose at a warehouse in Bulacan over the weekend, following unclear directions on the release of balikbayan boxes following the months-long delay in the delivery of the shipments from the Middle East. advertisement Several families who expected to collect their packages from overseas Filipinos flocked to a warehouse in Balagtas, Bulacan operated by FR Agbay, but a representative of the operator said they were told not to release them. “Pinapapigil sa atin ni Director [Michael] Fermin ng Bureau of Customs (BOC). Hindi ko alam bakit nila pinipigil,” Roberto Uy, representative of FR Agbay, said in Vonne Aquino's report on “24 Oras Weekend” on Sunday. (Director Fermin of the BOC ordered a halt [to the release]. I do not know why they are stopping this.) This comes as thousands of balikbayan boxes — mainly from the Middle East — have been abandoned by foreign courier services at the BOC, with local delivery services working to have them shipped. With recipients adamant that...

By MICHAELA DEL CALLAR Published October 18, 2022 11:11am Canada's Saskatchewan province on Tuesday announced a plan to hire hundreds of healthcare workers from the Philippines over the next two years. The move is part of Saskatchewan's long-term scheme to recruit, train, incentivize and retain more healthcare workers to strengthen its provincial healthcare system, a Canadian Embassy statement said. Full-time jobs will be offered to registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, continuing care assistants and medical laboratory assistants. “We want to spread the word to health-care workers in the Philippines that our province is a place of great opportunity,” Saskatchewan’s Minister of Health Paul Merriman said. “We would love to welcome into our friendly Saskatchewan communities health-care workers from the Philippines who are interested in coming to work and live here along with their families,” he added. Saskatchewan is the first province in Canada to pilot an accele...

By GMA News Published October 17, 2022 8:49pm Filipinos flocked to a recruitment event in Mandaluyong where representatives from US hospitals are taking part to fill their huge need for nurses. According to Mark Salazar's report on "24 Oras", hundreds of applicants went to the event to try and be picked to fill up the reported 2 million vacancies for nurses in the US. Filipinos are reportedly preferred to be hired because of their proficiency in speaking English. One of the nurses applying for a job in the US said she was earning P30,000 a month which she said was no longer enough "for a single mother with dependents." Another said that she could earn P500,000 a month with the hourly rate of $35 an hour for nurses in Florida. It was much more than what she's earning as a call center agent in the Philippines. "We can honestly say talaga na mas appreciated ng ibang bansa yung mga nurses kaysa dito sa Pilipinas," she said. —NB, GMA News

By RICHA NORIEGA, GMA News Published October 15, 2022 4:57pm The Philippine Embassy in Italy advised Filipinos to remain vigilant following the eruption of Mt. Stromboli. advertisement In an advisory, the Philippine Embassy cautioned Filipinos in the affected areas and other nearby localities to continuously monitor the news after the Italian government issued warnings. The embassy said Mt. Stromboli erupted on Monday, October 10, at 4 a.m. as recorded by Italy’s National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV). The Italian civil protection authorities also raised the alert level from yellow to orange. “While the Italian Department of Civil Protection indicated that monitoring parameters are ‘normal with a persistent activity of the Strombolian type and of ordinary intensity,’ all Filipino nationals in the affected areas and other nearby areas are advised to continuously monitor the news,” the embassy said in a statement released on Friday. The embassy said Filipinos m...

By RICHA NORIEGA, GMA News Published October 14, 2022 2:32pm The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) on Friday said it will make its certifications verified by the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) to avoid proliferation of fake certificates. At the public briefing, TESDA Deputy Director General Aniceto Bertiz III said this was discussed in the recent meeting with the DMW officials in order to prevent Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWS) becoming victims of fake national certificates from TESDA. “Napagusapan yung mga kababayan na nabibiktima ng mga pekeng national certification ng TESDA. Kaya po we will make our certifications na pwede po siyang iverify ng POEA or ng DMW in regards the veracity of the certificate na hawak po ng mga workers,” Bertiz said. (The meeting also discussed the problems among OFWs who were victims of fake national certifications from TESDA. So we will make our certifications t...

By JOJO DASS Published October 13, 2022 11:01am DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — A single mother, working as chef here, was the latest Filipino to win in the Mahzooz weekly draw, bagging AED100,000 (approximately P1.6 million) – a part of which, she said, will be used to finish work on her house under construction and donate to a charity group for persons with disabilities back home. advertisement “Masaya siyempre. Ilang years ko ring pag-iipunan (yung ganung halaga pero) instant na andyan na,” 43-year-old “Carrol,” who hails from Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu in central Philippines, told GMA News Online. “Saka…nag-pledge ako na once na manalo ako, magdo-donate ako sa charity para sa mga PWD po sa Pilipinas,” Carrol, who’s making around AED6,000 a month in her job, added. [I’m happy, of course. I don’t know how long will it take me to raise such fund, but right now, it’s here. I’ve pledged that once I win, I will donate to a charity institution helping PWDs in the Philippines.] Carrol said ...

By SUNDY LOCUS, GMA News Published October 11, 2022 5:56pm The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) closed down on Tuesday an immigration consultancy firm in Makati City over its alleged illegal recruitment operations. advertisement DMW Secretary Susan Ople and the Makati City police went to the consultancy firm in San Lorenzo to personally issue the closure order. “[Ito ay] example ng consultation agency na nagpapanggap na recruitment agency,” Ople told reporters in an ambush interview. (This is an example of a consultation agency that poses as a recruitment firm.) “‘Di siya lisensyado ng POEA [Philippine Overseas Employment Administration], naninigil siya, nangongolekta ng resumes ng mga workers. Nagpapaasa [sa] mga worker na makapag-work sila sa abroad pero alam naman natin na ang pwede lang magpa-alis ng mga workers natin ay mga lehitimong recruitment firms,” she said. (It is not licensed by the POEA but it will charge fees, and collect resumés. It gives empty promises to w...

However, the DMW said in JP Soriano's Saturday's "24 Oras Weekend" report that everything depended on the talks with Germany. “Hintayin natin ‘yung bunga ng talks with Germany. Tinginitignan namin ibang occupational skills hindi lang ‘yung sa health workers so on-going yung talks ngayon,” said DMW Secretary Susan Ople. — Sherylin Untalan/DVM, GMA News

Nowadays, giving birth in the Philippines does not necessarily usher in new lives, or prolong them, as rising cases of obstetric deaths prove otherwise. Among Filipino babies and their mothers, the increasing rate of their mortalities in the past two years has been indicative of the difficulties in obtaining services related to maternal and newborn health, which have produced “fatal consequences,” the Commission on Population and Development (POPCOM) said. Based on a recent release from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), the number of fatalities classified under “other direct obstetric deaths,” which indicate access to maternity services, posted a notable increase in the first six months of 2022 at 468, compared to 425 in the same period last year. According to the World Health Organization, direct obstetric deaths, or direct maternal deaths, are those “resulting from obstetric complications of the pregnant state (pregnancy, labor and puerperium), and from interventions, o...

South Korea and the United States fired four ground-to-ground missiles into the East Sea, more commonly known as the Sea of Japan, the Yonhap news agency said Wednesday, citing South Korea's military. The launches were in response to North Korea firing a ballistic missile over Japan for the first time in five years on Tuesday, the South Korean military said. South Korea and the United States each fired two Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) missiles, which hit mock targets, the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff said. South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol called the North Korean launch a "provocation", and vowed a "stern response". On Tuesday, South Korean and US fighter jets had carried out a bombing drill at a target in the Yellow Sea. The last time Pyongyang fired a missile over Japan was in 2017, at the height of a period of "fire and fury" when North Korean leader Kim Jong Un traded insults with then-president Donald Trump of the United Sta...

By GMA News "Further to Public Advisory dated 24 September 2022, the Philippine Embassy in Washington DC advises Filipino Communities along the path of Hurricane Ian to continue to monitor the movements of the storm, undertake all necessary preparations, and heed the warnings of local officials," the advisory read. Hurricane Ian made landfall over South Carolina on Friday afternoon (US time) after it caused devastation in Florida as a Category 4 hurricane, according to a report by Reuters. Ian had maximum sustained wind speeds of 85 mph (140 kph) as a Category 1 hurricane, the US National Hurricane Center reported. The embassy said Hurricane Ian is expected to "move farther inland across eastern Southern Carolina and central North Carolina over the weekend." "Filipinos in the abovementioned areas are advised to monitor the developments and check local advisories on the said tropical storm," the embassy advisory read. Filipinos needing assistance may ...

Several repatriated Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) from Saudi Arabia asked President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. for help in getting their backwages, Mark Salazar reported on Friday“24 Oras.” Allen Del Rosario, a former computer programmer in Riyadh, is among the thousands of OFWs who lost their jobs in Riyadh and Jeddah which left them begging in the streets for food in 2016. They were convinced by former Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) secretary Silvestre Bello III to return to the Philippines and wait for their backwages. “Nanghihingi na lang kami sa mga NGO (non-government organization) at Filipino communities ng kaunting makakain po. ‘Yun ho ang ano, kaya napalipas namin ‘yung three months na ganun lagi,” Del Rosario said. (We were just asking NGOs and Filipino communities for their help so that we can eat. That's what happened, that's why we survived in the past three months.) “Since 2016, ni-repatriate kami na wala man lang kaming dala ni piso sa b...

Starting Thursday, September 29, 2022, Filipinos can again enjoy visa-free travel to Taiwan, according to an Unang Balita report, citing Taiwan's Bureau of Consular Affairs (BOCA). advertisement Under the scheme that will last until July 31, 2023, Filipinos can stay in Taiwan for up to 14 days. "Nationals of Philippines (effective till July 31, 2023), except those holding diplomatic or official/service passports, are eligible for the visa exemption program, with a duration of stay of up to 14 days," BOCA said on its website. The visa-free privilege covers activities that do not require permits like visiting relatives, attending social events, tourism, fact-finding missions and international exchanges. For more details, visit the BOCA website. Taiwan has included Filipinos in its visa-free policy during a nine-month trial period from November 2017 to July 2018. The scheme had been extended yearly since but was affected by the travel restrictions caused by the COVID-1...

By GMA News The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) is offering job opportunities and legal assistance to victims of illegal recruitment who still want to work abroad. advertisement According to a report by Lei Alviz on "24 Oras", over 700 job applicants have benefitted from the job fair hosted by DMW and participated in by licensed recruitment agencies. Many job seekers at the fair were victims of illegal recruiters who have been arrested by the PNP, the local government units, and the DMW. There were job orders for carpenters, housekeepers, kitchen and restaurant workers, and hairdressers in New Zealand, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Japan. The DMW also offered free legal assistance as they warned OFWs to be cautious of illegal job offers to prevent scams and human trafficking cases. "'Wag kakagat sa mga offer na mayroong libreng plane ticket at minsan pa bibigyan ng pocket money," DMW Undersecretary Hans Leo. J. Cacdac said. "Sa konting pera na matata...

By GMA News The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) is offering job opportunities and legal assistance to victims of illegal recruitment who still want to work abroad. According to a report by Lei Alviz on "24 Oras", over 700 job applicants have benefitted from the job fair hosted by DMW and participated in by licensed recruitment agencies. Many job seekers at the fair were victims of illegal recruiters who have been arrested by the PNP, the local government units, and the DMW. There were job orders for carpenters, housekeepers, kitchen and restaurant workers, and hairdressers in New Zealand, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Japan. The DMW also offered free legal assistance as they warned OFWs to be cautious of illegal job offers to prevent scams and human trafficking cases. "'Wag kakagat sa mga offer na mayroong libreng plane ticket at minsan pa bibigyan ng pocket money," DMW Undersecretary Hans Leo. J. Cacdac said. "Sa konting pera na matatanggap mo mag...

By ANNA FELICIA BAJO, GMA News Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Susan Ople on Tuesday directed the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) to extend assistance to overseas Filipino Workers in Japan who were affected by Typhoon Nanmadol. advertisement Nanmadol forced at least four million residents to evacuate from their shelters. Heavy rains and strong winds hit Japan's southern island, with nearly 98,000 households in Kagoshima, Kumamoto, Nagasak, and Miyazaki already without power. Aside from OWWA, Ople also instructed the Philippine Overseas Labor Offices (POLOs) to continue monitoring the situation of OFWs and be ready to provide aid when necessary. Citing information from POLO-Osaka, the DMW said some 13,904 OFWs have been accounted for and are unharmed and safe. Of the total number, 5,368 are in Fukuoka, 660 in Saga, 1,001 in Nagasaki, 2,520 in Kumamoto, 1,607 in Oita, 786 in Miyazaki, and 1,962 in Kagoshima. POLO-Osaka is also in contact with most...

Published September 20, 2022 5:05pm Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Susan "Toots" Ople underscored Tuesday the need for more research and published articles about the impact of climate change on labor migration around the world. advertisement Ople mentioned this during her bilateral talks with International Organization on Migration (IOM) director general Antonio Vitorino in New York City. Ople is part of the Philippine delegation in President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.'s official trip to the United States. “The Philippines is sadly very familiar with the effects of climate change and how it results in the displacement of people,” Ople said in a statement. “We are also aware of the need to enhance multi-sectoral, multi-agency, and multi-country partnerships to mitigate the negative effects of climate change on migrant workers and communities,” she added. For his part, Vitorino said the IOM is expected to tackle the need to support countri...

By HANA BORDEY, GMA News Published September 28, 2022 2:05pm Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Susan "Toots" Ople on Wednesday proposed the criminalization of the use of agents to recruit domestic helpers bound overseas. Ople made the proposal as the Senate conducted a hearing on the death of Jovelyn Tang Andres, an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) in Saudi Arabia. Andres was apparently recruited by a certain Emma Fernandez, who, according to the head of a Philippine-based recruitment agency, is a secretary of Saudi Arabia-based firm who was directed to go to the Philippines to follow up with the applicants. According to Ople, that was prohibited as only employees of a local recruitment agency could process the employment of applicants. Asked if Fernandez could be considered as an illegal recruiter, Ople answered in the affirmative. "Illegal recruiter siya dahil hindi siya empleyado ng isang licensed agency. Pangalawa, sir, malamang commission basis ...

POPCOM: Gov’t needs to set programs for ‘aging’ PHL by 2030 The Philippines should have solid programs in place to care for a graying society— and the government has less than a decade to prepare for it. In a recent radio interview, Dr. Juan Antonio Perez III, former executive director of the Commission on Population and Development (POPCOM), noted that while their number is steadily increasing, Filipinos 60 years of age and older are currently beset with health and social issues, as their quality of living is taking a downturn. Based on a recent release by the Philippine Statistics Authority, senior citizens now account for 8.5% of the population, or 9.2 million individuals. Dr. Perez represented the country in a September 30 conference in Bangkok, Thailand for the International Day of Older Persons, where he cited figures from the University of the Philippines-Population Institute (UPPI). There, he mentioned that the annual growth rate of Filipino seniors in the past 10 year...

By GMA News The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said it has repatriated 350 distressed Filipinos from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The repatriates arrived in the country on Friday, DFA Acting Undersecretary for Migrant Workers' Affairs Eduardo Jose de Vega said. Among those repatriated were senior citizens, expectant women, and children, including six infants. "As the festive season draws near, your DFA will work tirelessly to bring back to our country our kababayans so that they may partake in the joy of being with their family," De Vega said in a statement. advertisement "Seeing their smiles upon reaching our motherland is the inspiration that drives us to exert our utmost in serving our new heroes. Nandito kami para sa inyo (We are here for you),” he added. — Richa Noriega/VBL, GMA News

By GMA News Overseas Filipino workers departing the country for jobs abroad need not wear personal protective equipment or PPEs, Migrant Workers Secretary Susan Ople and the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) said. Ople, who is in the US as part of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s delegation to the United Nations General Assembly, on Friday said the wearing of PPEs is not sanctioned by the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and POEA. "I agree with the sentiments of Senator Pia Cayetano and other legislators that the PPE requirement for departing OFWs is outdated, misguided and oppressive. I regret not having issued this order much earlier to spare our OFWs the discomfort of going to the airport in full PPE attire," Ople said. The POEA thus issued Advisory No. 62 on Friday against requirements of certain agencies for OFWs to wear full PPEs upon departure. It said it has not issued nor implemented rules and guidelines requiring OFWs to wear PPEs, ...

Thousands of balikbayan boxes from the Middle East have been abandoned by foreign courier services at the Bureau of Customs (BOC), with the BOC and local delivery services working to get them to their intended recipients. advertisement In JP Soriano’s “24 Oras” report on Thursday, Jasmine Velarde Espeleta, an Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) in Abu Dhabi, said she used a new delivery business in Abu Dhabi to send her packages to her family in Leyte. Espeleta said the company promised to deliver the packages in two months. However, they ended up abandoned at the BOC. She said the company also did not pay for the processing at Customs and delivery of the packages once they arrived in the Philippines. “Matagal ka mag-ipon, pinaghirapan mong ipunan. Pagod, puyat, pawis mo. Kasi kailangan mong humanap ng pera bago ka makabili non,” she added. Both the BOC and the Door-to-Door Consolidators Association of the Philippines have begun delivering the boxes to their intended recipients, despi...

By GMA News The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) is offering job opportunities and legal assistance to victims of illegal recruitment who still want to work abroad. advertisement According to a report by Lei Alviz on "24 Oras", over 700 job applicants have benefitted from the job fair hosted by DMW and participated in by licensed recruitment agencies. Many job seekers at the fair were victims of illegal recruiters who have been arrested by the PNP, the local government units, and the DMW. There were job orders for carpenters, housekeepers, kitchen and restaurant workers, and hairdressers in New Zealand, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Japan. The DMW also offered free legal assistance as they warned OFWs to be cautious of illegal job offers to prevent scams and human trafficking cases. "'Wag kakagat sa mga offer na mayroong libreng plane ticket at minsan pa bibigyan ng pocket money," DMW Undersecretary Hans Leo. J. Cacdac said. "Sa konting pera na matata...

By ANNA FELICIA BAJO, GMA News Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Susan Ople on Tuesday directed the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) to extend assistance to overseas Filipino Workers in Japan who were affected by Typhoon Nanmadol. advertisement Nanmadol forced at least four million residents to evacuate from their shelters. Heavy rains and strong winds hit Japan's southern island, with nearly 98,000 households in Kagoshima, Kumamoto, Nagasak, and Miyazaki already without power. Aside from OWWA, Ople also instructed the Philippine Overseas Labor Offices (POLOs) to continue monitoring the situation of OFWs and be ready to provide aid when necessary. Citing information from POLO-Osaka, the DMW said some 13,904 OFWs have been accounted for and are unharmed and safe. Of the total number, 5,368 are in Fukuoka, 660 in Saga, 1,001 in Nagasaki, 2,520 in Kumamoto, 1,607 in Oita, 786 in Miyazaki, and 1,962 in Kagoshima. POLO-Osaka is also in contact with most e...

Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Susan "Toots" Ople underscored Tuesday the need for more research and published articles about the impact of climate change on labor migration around the world. advertisement Ople mentioned this during her bilateral talks with International Organization on Migration (IOM) director general Antonio Vitorino in New York City. Ople is part of the Philippine delegation in President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.'s official trip to the United States. “The Philippines is sadly very familiar with the effects of climate change and how it results in the displacement of people,” Ople said in a statement. “We are also aware of the need to enhance multi-sectoral, multi-agency, and multi-country partnerships to mitigate the negative effects of climate change on migrant workers and communities,” she added. For his part, Vitorino said the IOM is expected to tackle the need to support countries, which are more vulnerable to the ...

LONDON — Huge crowds built in central London overnight and from early morning on Monday to secure a spot to watch the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Abbey. As dawn broke over the River Thames, a steady stream of well-wishers streamed out of Embankment underground station headed for Parliament Square. But many were already there, camping in sleeping bags behind the metal barriers along the Whitehall government district, where the funeral procession will pass. "It's part of history," said Bethany Beardmore, 26, an accountant whose brother is a Grenadier Guard and part of the ceremonies. "Not in my lifetime is there going to be another queen." Beardmore arrived at 9:00 p.m. on Sunday but, fueled by too much sugar and caffeine, found it impossible to sleep in the cold. "Everyone was chatting," she said, as sporadic applause from the good-natured crowd broke out when a stream of police and military personnel passed. Former soldie...

Rattled Taiwan hit by more aftershocks TAIPEI — Aftershocks struck southeastern Taiwan on Monday, including a 5.5-magnitude earthquake that was felt in the capital Taipei, a day after a more powerful tremor killed one person and injured around 150 others. The latest quake hit around 10 a.m., 66 kilometers south-southwest of the coastal city of Hualien at a depth of 13 kilometers, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) said. Taiwan's central weather bureau put the magnitude at 5.9. Rural and sparsely populated southeastern Taiwan has been rattled by a series of jolts since Saturday. The most powerful, a 6.9-magnitude quake, struck on Sunday afternoon, tearing up roads and bringing down a handful of houses in the town of Yuli where at least one person was killed. Four others were rescued from a collapsed building, while authorities said a total of 146 suffered injuries. Taiwan is regularly hit by quakes and most cause minimal damage but the island also has a long hi...

Ukraine official says '450 graves' found near recaptured Izyum Agence France-Presse Posted at Sep 16 2022 05:03 PM KYIV — About 450 graves were counted at one burial site near the eastern Ukraine city of Izyum which was recently recaptured by Kyiv's forces, a senior presidential aide said Friday. "Four hundred and fifty graves... This is just one of the mass burial sites discovered near Izyum. In the occupied territories, rampant terror, violence, torture and mass murders have been reigning for months," Mykhaylo Podolyak said. He published a photo on social media showing rows of wooden crosses and recently dug mounds in a wooded area, along with the claim. The statement comes after Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky said in an evening address to the nation that a "mass grave" had been discovered near Izyum. But he did not give details about the number of bodies that had been discovered or any indication whether they were civilians or military pe...

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. on Sunday (Monday, PHL time) met with the Filipino community in New Jersey, USA, and urged them to support tourism and invest in the country. Marcos addressed the crowd of Filipinos coming not only from New Jersey but also New York and Canada gathered at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center, according to a report by Ivan Mayrina on GMA News' Unang Balita. In his speech, Marcos acknowledged overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) for their sacrifices and contribution to economic recovery. “Kahit nasa malayo kami ay pinapanood namin kayo, pumuputok po ang puso namin ‘pag nakita namin ang inyong ginagawa na itinataas at pinapatingkad ang pangalan ng Pilipinas sa buong mundo,” he said. (We are watching all of you from afar and our hearts are overjoyed when we see what you do promote the Philippines to the whole world.) Marcos also thanked Filipinos in the US as their remittances account for 40% of the more than $3.4 billion total remit...