KAKAMMPI News

While seniors comprise 8.5% of PHL population as of 2020 The number of young Filipinos appears to be trending significantly lower in recent years, while that of the elderly has been expanding, the Commission on Population and Development (POPCOM) noted on Friday. The agency said that the Philippine "population pyramid” is currently constricting at the bottom, which consists of Filipino children ages zero to 4; while it is increasing at the top, reflecting the part of the senior citizens as they continue to register growth and doubling in numbers in the last 20 years. Citing a recent Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) report (https://psa.gov.ph/content/age-and-sex-distribution-philippine-population-2020-census-population-and-housing), POPCOM derived that the percentage share of Filipino children under 5 is now down to 10.2% in 2020 from 10.8% in 2015, and 12.6% in 2000. In the last two decades, the percentage in the population of Filipinos under 15 has dropp...

By Joyce Ann L. Rocamora August 11, 2022, 3:09 pmShare Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs Eduardo Jose de Vega (PNA photo) MANILA – A contingency plan to ensure the safety of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Taiwan is in place, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Thursday. In a press briefing, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs Eduardo Jose de Vega said the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) would implement this plan if necessary. "The truth is, there are always contingency plans in place, not just in China, or the Cross-Strait, but anywhere in the world. They have contingency plans in place for any kind of disaster," he said. "Of course, there is the Manila Economic Cultural Office -- it's not a DFA office, we don't have diplomats there. They respond to the Office of the President-- but similar to our missions in mainland China and the rest of the world, they are in fact in touch wit...

By GMA News All countries and states across the European Union (EU) will now accept and recognize the Philippines’ COVID-19 digital vaccination certificate or VaxCertPH, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Wednesday. advertisement In a press statement, the DFA said Filipinos may now use the country’s vaccination certificate to confirm their inoculation status among the bloc’s member-states now that VaxCertPH has been connected to the EU Digital Covid Certificate (EUDCC) system. “The onboarding of the VaxCertPH to the EUDCC means that technical recognition is accorded to VaxCertPH which will now be regarded uniformly along with all issued EU DCC certificates recognized by EU member countries. The same courtesy shall be applied by the Philippines to EU DCC certificates presented at international ports on entry,” the department said. With the development, the DFA said Filipino travelers will be ensured of “seamless, expedited, safe travel and mobility” to and within the EU ...

By RICHA NORIEGA, GMA News Published August 10, 2022 2:26pm he Philippine Embassy in Seoul has announced the temporary relocation of its consular services following the heavy rains that caused severe flooding in South Korea. In an advisory on Tuesday, the Embassy said the services will be rendered in the following locations: Passport processing and encoding — 3F Philippine Overseas Labor Office Visa — 3F Philippine Overseas Labor Office Notarial and civil registry — Room 101, Philippine Embassy Assistance to Nationals — Room 101, Philippine Embassy The Embassy said temporary relocation of services took effect starting August 10 to 11 in order “to check the effect of the high volume of rain on the embassy.” It added that consular telephone lines will also be not available during this period. However, consular applicants may contact them through the following email addresses: Visa — visa@philembassy-seoul.com Passport — passport@philembassy-seoul.com ...

By RICHA NORIEGA, GMA News There were no Filipino casualties reported after record-breaking rains caused severe flooding in South Korea, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said. According to Sam Nielsen’s Super Radyo dzBB report on Tuesday, the DFA said the Philippine Embassy in South Korea was monitoring the situation, particularly in affected areas in Central Seoul. The department said the embassy was also coordinating with Filipino communities in the affected areas. South Korean Authorities on Tuesday said at least seven people were dead and seven more were missing after subway stations and major roads were affected in the South Korean capital Seoul due to massive flooding. Dramatic images shared on social media late Monday showed people wading through waist-deep water, metro stations overflowing, and cars half-submerged in Seoul's posh Gangnam district, which was particularly hard-hit when torrential rains battered the city. The downpour that began Monday is the h...

By GMA News A special professional licensure examination will be conducted for professional teachers, who are Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in Thailand, according to the Professional Regulation Commission on Tuesday. In a statement, the PRC said the professional licensure examination will be held in Bangkok on September 25. The PRC advised applicants to apply through the PRC Online Application System at https://online.prc.gov.ph through August 10. Among the documents required are photocopy of transcript of record (with or without scanned picture and remarks “For Board Examination Purpose Only,” photocopy of valid passport, and four passport-size pictures with complete name tag in white background. Meanwhile, an examination fee of P2,200 shall be paid at the authorized payment channel under the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) and Pay Maya. The applicants may send their requirements via email at sple@prc.gov.ph for processing and evaluation of the PRC Delegation Team after co...

Alert Level 1 remains in Israel after the Israeli government and Palestinian militants declared a truce, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on Monday. Under Alert Level 1 (precautionary phase), Filipinos are to take precautions before going and while traveling. The DFA said it issues Alert Level 1 "when there are valid signs of internal disturbance, instability, and/or external threat to the host country." "The DFA welcomes the cessation of hostilities in the Gaza Strip and hopes that the ceasefire holds. We call on parties to exercise restraint and to respect the terms of the ceasefire," The DFA said in a statement. The truce, mediated by Egypt, was declared on Sunday by Israel and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad militant group after days of air strikes and rocket attacks. Forty-four Palestinians were killed, including civilians and children, Gaza officials said, according to a Reuters report. Residents in cities including Tel Aviv and Ashkelon mean...

Viken Kantarci, Agence France-Presse Posted at Aug 10 2022 06:13 PM STOCKHOLM — Rainwater everywhere on the planet is unsafe to drink due to levels of toxic chemicals known as PFAS that exceed the latest guidelines, according to a new study by Stockholm University scientists. Commonly known as 'forever chemicals' because they disintegrate extremely slowly, PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) were initially found in packaging, shampoo or makeup but have spread to our entire environment, including water and air. "There is nowhere on Earth where the rain would be safe to drink, according to the measurements that we have taken," Ian Cousins, a professor at the university and the lead author of the study published in Environmental Science and Technology, told AFP. A compilation of the data since 2010 that his team studied showed that "even in Antarctica or the Tibetan plateau, the levels in the rainwater are above the drinking water guidelines that the US ...

Amber Wang and Beiyi Sow, Agence France-Presse Taiwan accused the Chinese army of simulating an attack on its main island Saturday, as Beijing doubled down on its retaliation for US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taipei after announcing a suspension of cooperation with Washington on key issues. Relations between the two superpowers have nosedived in the wake of Pelosi's trip to China's self-ruled neighbor -- which it claims as its territory -- prompting calls from the UN for an urgent de-escalation of tensions. And Friday saw the environment become the latest victim of the geopolitical jousting, as Beijing said it would withdraw from a series of talks and cooperation agreements with Washington -- most notably on climate change and defense cooperation. The world's two largest polluters had pledged to work together to accelerate climate action this decade and vowed to meet regularly to tackle the crisis -- a deal that now looks shaky. Beijing on Saturday con...

Kyodo News Posted at Aug 10 2022 06:29 PM BEIJING - China's military on Wednesday announced the completion of its exercises in areas encircling Taiwan that began last week in response to U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to the self-ruled democratic island. The Eastern Theater Command of the People's Liberation Army said in a statement it will continue to monitor any changes in the Taiwan Strait and regularly conduct patrols in the waters, fueling speculation that Beijing may be seeking to normalize its military pressure in the area. About 20 Chinese navy and Taiwan navy ships remained close to the median line of the Taiwan Strait, an unofficial buffer separating the two sides, as of Wednesday morning, Reuters news agency quoted a source briefed on the matter as saying. As part of stern reactions to Pelosi's Taiwan visit, the Chinese military conducted in six areas around Taiwan exercises involving the launch of ballistic missiles and repea...

TOKYO - Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida reshuffled his Cabinet on Wednesday, giving key posts to familiar faces with proven records, in a bid to reverse flagging public support and steer clear of dubious ties with a religious group spotlighted by the killing of former premier Shinzo Abe. Kishida hopes the renewal will pave the way for a long-term, stable administration to tackle what he has described as "the biggest challenges of the postwar era," ranging from COVID-19 and inflation to Russia's war in Ukraine and heightened tensions across the Taiwan Strait. Kishida also unveiled a new lineup of Liberal Democratic Party executives at a time of intensifying public scrutiny over the ruling party's relationship with the Unification Church, after Abe was fatally shot on July 8, two days before a national election, by a man whose mother was a devoted follower of the religious group. Former economic revitalization minister Yasutoshi Nishimura will serve as industry...

Female employer Lai Chi-san allegedly entered the helper’s room naked one night, telling her: ‘Sir wants you. Pay money.’ After alleged assault, Chan Chim-tak is said to have told his wife to buy contraceptive pills and stuffed money into helper’s hands A domestic helper has accused a Hong Kong couple of conspiring to rape her at their flat and trying to cover up the crime by paying her HK$150 after the assault. Chan Chim-tak, 48, and his wife Lai Chi-san, 36, stood accused before a High Court jury of sexually assaulting the Filipino helper in a high-rise flat at Hung Fuk Estate in Hung Shui Kiu, Yuen Long, on January 21, 2018. Chan allegedly attempted to rape the then 30-year-old helper that night after Lai pulled her to the couple’s bedroom and told her that her husband liked her and would pay to have sex with her. The male employer was said to have raped the helper on the second attempt with Lai's assistance. She allegedly helped her husband become sexually stimulated and t...

Charmaine Choi, South China Morning Post Posted at Aug 11 2022 07:34 AM | Updated as of Aug 11 2022 07:46 AM New measures could lead to more helpers coming into the city, which would put a halt to the rising market salary, says CEO Current market salary is HK$6,000 to HK$6,500 a month, higher than the minimum wage of HK$4,630 Hong Kong's eased quarantine measures for overseas travellers could bring down the wages of foreign domestic helpers, employment agencies have said. The Labour Department on Wednesday confirmed that all in bound helpers would be subject to the new quarantine measures. All overseas arrivals in Hong Kong would have to undergo three days of compulsory quarantine at a designated hotel and another four days of medical surveillance, that restricts their movements, from Friday. Cheung Kit-man, chairman of the Hong Kong Employment Agencies Association and CEO of Overseas Employment Ltd., said decreasing compulsory quarantine from seven days would increase the sup...

Agence France-Presse Posted at Aug 11 2022 10:12 AM SEOUL — The powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un accused the South of causing a COVID outbreak in the country and warned of "retaliation", as Pyongyang declared "victory" over its outbreak, state media said Thursday. North Korea has previously said that "alien things" near the border with the South caused the COVID outbreak in the isolated country, a claim that Seoul has rejected. Despite a ban that took effect in 2021, South Korean activists have for years flown balloons containing propaganda leaflets and US dollars over the border, which Pyongyang has long protested against. On Thursday, Kim Jong Un's sister, Yo Jong, blamed these activities for the country's COVID outbreak, saying they were a "crime against humanity", the official Korea Central News Agency (KCNA) reported. She said that many countries -- and the World Health Organization -- have acknowledged "t...

Poornima Weerasekara, Agence France-Presse Posted at Aug 11 2022 11:25 AM BEIJING — When Zuo tested positive for COVID-19 while working as a cleaner in one of Shanghai's largest quarantine centers, she hoped it wouldn't be long before she could pick up the mop and start earning again. But 4 months on, she is still fighting to get her job back -- one of scores of recovering COVID patients facing what labor rights activists and health experts say is a widespread form of discrimination in zero-COVID China. Using snap lockdowns and mass testing, China is the last major economy still pursuing the goal of stamping out the virus completely. Those who test positive, as well as their contacts, are all sent to central quarantine facilities, while a flare-up in a factory can grind production to a halt. Rights groups say the strict rules are feeding COVID-related discrimination and shutting out thousands of people from China's already bleak job market -- with migrant workers and ...

Catherine Lai, Agence France-Presse Posted at Aug 11 2022 12:02 PM TAIPEI — Taiwan's army held another live-fire drill Thursday after Beijing ended its largest-ever military exercises around the island, as it repeated threats to bring the self-ruled democracy under its control. Beijing has raged at a trip to Taiwan last week by US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi -- the highest-ranking elected American official to visit in decades -- staging days of air and sea drills around the island that raised tensions to their highest level in years. Taiwan has accused China of using the Pelosi visit as an excuse to kickstart drills that would allow it to rehearse for an invasion. Lou Woei-jye, spokesman for Taiwan's Eighth Army Corps, told AFP its forces fired howitzers and target flares as part of the defensive drill on Thursday morning. The exercise in Taiwan's southernmost county of Pingtung began at 08:30 a.m. and lasted about an hour, he said. Artillery tucked in from the coast ...

Agence France-Presse Posted at Aug 11 2022 02:19 PM Addressing a meeting of health workers and scientists, Kim announced a "victory... in the war against the malignant pandemic disease," according to the official Korean Central News Agency. The isolated country, which has maintained a rigid coronavirus blockade since the start of the pandemic, confirmed an Omicron outbreak in the capital Pyongyang in May and activated a "maximum emergency epidemic prevention system." North Korea refers to "fever patients" rather than "Covid patients" in case reports, apparently due to a lack of testing capacity. It has recorded nearly 4.8 million "fever" infections and just 74 deaths for an official fatality rate of 0.002 percent, according to state media. It has reported no new cases since July 29. This handling of the pandemic "is a miracle unprecedented in the world's public health history," Kim said to thunderous applause, acco...

MANILA, Philippines — Migrant Workers Secretary Susan Ople has tapped former overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and workers’ rights advocates while retaining incumbent labor officials to help her lead the newly created Department for Migrant Workers (DMW). Ople designated four undersecretaries, namely: former Philippine Overseas Employment Administration chief Bernard Olalia, former Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (Owwa) chief Hans Cacdac, former Tourism Promotion Board chief Anthonette Velasco-Allones, and lawyer and workers’ rights advocate Patricia Yvonne Caunan. ADVERTISEMENT Olalia will serve as undersecretary for licensing and adjudication; Cacdac for welfare and foreign employment who will also oversee the use of the so-called Aksyon Fund for distressed OFWs; Velasco-Allones for finance and internal affairs; and Caunan for policy and international cooperation. No need to wait Ople also designated seven assistant secretaries including Venecio Legaspi who worked for 29...

A 31-year-old Filipino in Singapore tested positive for the monkeypox virus, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said. According to Jhomer Apresto's Sunday Super Radyo dzBB report, DFA spokesperson Ma. Teresita Daza said the infected individual showed monkeypox symptoms on July 21 and was recently confirmed positive for the virus. He is also currently in isolation and is undergoing tests at the Singapore General Hospital. The Department of Health (DOH) announced on Friday that the Philippines had recorded its first case of monkeypox - a 31-year-old patient who flew in on July 19. This patient had prior travel to countries with monkeypox cases, and was only tested for monkeypox on Thursday, July 28. This patient also recorded 10 close contacts, according to Health Undersecretary Dr. Beverly Ho.

By GISELLE OMBAY, GMA News Vergeire, however, clarified that the monkeypox virus is not considered as a sexually transmitted disease. “Hindi ho siya classified as a sexually transmitted disease. Although ngayong nag-evolve na itong virus na ito, itong monkeypox virus, maaari na itong makuha sa sexual contact. Actually, 95% of cases right now globally are through sexual contact nakuha,” she said in a radio interview. (It is not classified as a sexually transmitted disease. Although now that this monkeypox virus has evolved, it can be gotten through sexual contact. Actually, 95% cases right now globally are acquired through sexual contact.) The WHO also said that anyone can get or pass on monkeypox, regardless of his/her sexuality. The DOH announced on Friday that the Philippines has already recorded its first case of monkeypox in a 31-year-old patient who arrived from abroad on July 19. He tested positive for the virus on Thursday, July 28. On July 23, WHO declared monkeypox as a...