Overseas Filipino Workers
(OFW) and other Philippine News
News Articles
GUINGONA URGES OFWs TO BUY POSTAL
SAVINGS BANK
MANILA, December 21, 2003 (STAR) By Sammy Santos - Vice President
Teofisto Guingona Jr. reiterated yesterday his proposal to privatize
the
Postal Savings Bank by selling it to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs)
who could use the bank as the vehicle for their remittances from abroad.
Guingona told representatives of various OFW groups in Makati City
that the remittances of OFWs are enough to ensure the viability of
the
postal bank.
The Vice President said that some 7.8 million
OFWs remit to their
families in the country some $8 billion a year and the transaction
fees
alone on such remittances could make the troubled postal bank financially
viable.
Guingona urged OFW investment groups to explore the possibility
of
asking the government to sell the postal bank, a wholly-owned subsidiary
of the government-owned Philippine Postal Corp. (Philpost).
He emphasized that using Postal Bank for the remittance needs of
OFWs
would be a big boost to the country’s economy in terms of fees
collected from the transactions.
"Instead of using regular channels of remittance, our OFWs
should
negotiate with the government to control that bank and enlarge it
and get
savings from the remittances," Guingona told a forum sponsored
by the
Philippine Migrants Rights Watch and the International Organization
of
Migration.
"I challenge the overseas Filipinos to
help the Philippines and to
help yourselves by owning part of the legacy of the Philippine postal
service system. You can do it because you have the imagination and
the
skills. You can build a remittance system from all parts of the globe
and
back to the Philippines," he said.
Guingona said Bangon! Reform Movement, of which he a convenor, will
support such an initiative to help OFWs lobby for the bank’s
privatization.
Guingona said he broached the idea of OFWs managing the Postal Bank
after the Department of Finance (DOF) recently disapproved his proposal
to float investment bonds for migrant workers.
Under the plan, the bonds would have been sold to OFWs with adequate
dollar savings and the earnings of the project could then be used
to
finance welfare and legal assistance programs for distressed Filipinos
abroad, Guingona said.
Guingona claimed the DOF opposed his proposal because if supposedly
violates the General Appropriations Act.
The Vice President explained the Postal Bank is a corporation whose
controlling stock interests could be purchased by any group or company.
He noted that it would be easier for OFWs to purchase an existing
bank rather than create a new one that may require an act of legislation.
TOP
3 MEASURES TO REDUCE RED TAPE AND CORRUPTION
IN THE BUREAUCRACY
MALACANANG, December 22, 2003 (OPS) In key thrusts
to reduce red tape
and corruption in the bureaucracy, the Macapagal-Arroyo administration
has implemented three measures.
First, it instituted the following initiatives in the different
government agencies:
-acquisition of goods, supplies and materials
through the Procurement
Service of the Department of Budget and Management;
-posting of flowcharts at the lobby of government
agencies with
frontline services showing the processes and steps in business transactions;
-reduction of signatories and processing time
of various clearances,
licenses and permits, even reducing signatories by half, in a number
of
agencies;
-issuance of Executive Order 40 consolidating procurement rules
and
regulations to enhance transparency in government procurement;
-and enhanced efficiency in the delivery of infrastructure services,
increase in transparency, and improvement of internal controls to
combat graft and corruption in the Department of Public Works and
Highways.
These reforms focus on the ongoing Road Information and Management
Support system project assisted by the World Bank and the Asian Development
Bank. This includes the intensive use of new procurement system application
of geographic information system, improved Right-of-Way management
process, improved internal controls on fiscal management, use of New
Government Accounting system.
Second, it issued Executive Order 109 which
streamlined rules and procedures on the review and approval of all
government contracts, considerably cutting the time for processing.
Third, it reduced by half the processing time
of employment contracts
and accreditation of land-based workers and established the Philippine
Seafarer’s One-Stop Center designed to provide frontline services,
including quick documentation to seafarers in connection with their
overseas employment.
It has also encouraged local government units
to reduce red tape by
establishing One-Stop Shops, Customer Complaints Desks and improved
Civil Application Systems in 113 cities, more than 35 capital towns
and
municipalities in growth centers and more than 100 other municipalities.
TOP
GOVT'S FOCUS ON OFWs WELFARE CONTINUES
MALACANANG, December 22, 2003 (OPS) The welfare of overseas Filipino
workers (OFWs) and providing them more opportunities have been high
in
the priorities of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
This was most evident in the President’s recent travels to
Japan,
Hong Kong and Bahrain where she met with the Filipino communities
there to
personally look into their problems and how they are doing. She also
had dialogues with government officials in those countries in efforts
to
open more doors for them.
Next month, negotiations for an economic partnership agreement with
Japan will start. The agreement will further open the Japanese labor
market to open its doors to Filipino caregivers and information technology
talents.
According to the President, Japan is already closed market as far
as
OFWs are concerned with about 300,000 OFWs, mostly in the entertainment
business, there.
But the President holds high hopes of getting more OFWs there after
talks with Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi during the recent
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-Japan Commemorative
Summit in Tokyo.
The President is not yet quantifying any targeted figures as that
will come only when the talks start.
However, she has high hopes for the caregivers with Japan having
an
aging population and really in need of competent caregivers to tend
to
the needs of their old.
Also boosting the President’s hopes is that our nurses, midwives,
caregivers and therapists have shown the world their competence and
professionalism.
They are all over the world, particularly in the United Kingdom,
Scandinavia and Canada, according to the President and their services
are
highly valued.
While giving OFWs more opportunities, the President also boosts
the
country’s economy.
They are "champions of our country’s force in economic
development,"
she said recently in Tokyo when she met the Filipino community there
after the ASEAN-Japan commemorative Summit.
She attributed much of the country’s 4.4 percent growth in
gross
domestic product (GNP) and 5.9 percent hike in gross national product
(GNP)
to the remittances they make.
Besides looking into the working conditions of OFWs, the President
has also set into motions programs for their welfare like housing
programs and the OFW Provident Fund to provide them social protection
and
services for life, retirement, medical and/or emergency loan needs.
To date, about 24,840 OFWs, mostly from Hong Kong, Jeddah, Qatar,
Milan and Rome, are enrolled in the Provident Fund.
The Fund is currently accepting new accounts in SSS offices an/or
accredited banks in Brunei, Saipan, Malaysia,Taiwan, Kao Hsiung, Los
Angeles, San Francisco, Riyadh, AlKhobar, Abu Dhabi and Kuwait.
IGNACIO BUNYE: LET US GIVE OUR OFWs THE WARMEST
WELCOME
MANILA, December 22, 2003 (BULLETIN) By Ignacio R. Bunye - AMONG
the
Middle East countries, Bahrain is undoubtedly one of the closest to
the
Philippines.
Bahrain is very supportive for quest for peace in Mindanao and is
considered home away from home by about thirty thousand overseas Filipino
workers.
Through its prime minister, Shaikh Salman Bin Khalifa Al-Khalifa,
Bahrain has committed to send a delegation to form part of the cease
fire
monitoring team in Mindanao.
Bahrain is also actively pushing for the grant of observer status
to
the government of the Philippines in the Organization of Islamic
Conference (OIC), a development that could further insure success
of peace
and development efforts in Mindanao.
Bahrain recently donated 1 million dollars as seed fund for projects
that would help displaced Muslims.
We have signed at least five memoranda of agreement with Bahrain,
covering prevention of double taxation, mutual protection of investments,
technical cooperation on vocational training, tourism and air
transportation.
Prime Minister Al-Khalifa, a brother of the late Emir of Bahrain
and
an uncle of the present Emir, had donated a 2.5-hectare property where
the Philippine School in Bahrain now offers elementary and secondary
education mostly to children of Filipino overseas workers.
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo visited the Philippine School
last
week. On her way there, she also passed by the proposed site of the
AMA
College. Ambassador Amable “King” Aguiluz V told me that
the 5-hectare
property was likewise donated by the Prime Minister.
What have we done to deserve this very special treatment from the
Bahrain royalty?
Plenty and we can thank our overseas Filipino workers. More
specifically, the Filipino nanny.
We found out that the royal household is practically managed by
Filipinos many of whom have been with the prime minister for years
and
years.
Prime Minister Al Khalifa considers Filipino members of his household
to be very hardworking and extremely loyal and he has developed a
fondness for them. A Filipina nanny reminds him when to take his medicine
and what food not to eat.
Through them, he first came to know about our country. He became
curious and one day he decided to visit the Philippines. He has since
become enamoured of the Philippines, its people and its culture.
He enjoys Filipino foods. Like most of the Filipino members of his
household, the Prime Minister even enjoys watching The Filipino Channel.
When I was introduced by the President to His Excellency, the prime
minister remarked to my surprise: “ Oh yes. I always see you
on TV.”
I found out later that he counts Boy Abunda, Cito Beltran, and Pinky
Webb as among his favorite TV talk show hosts.
Cardinal Sin once related how a Filipino nanny has changed the life
of an Italian family. The story is told that the nanny was employed
by a
high-living Italian couple who had an only child. One day, the child
got seriously ill and on her sickbed, she made her parents promise
that
if she got well they would hear mass together again. They did. Thanks
to
the Filipino nanny who taught the child to pray.
One can never underestimate the influence that Philippines exerts
on
other countries through the Filipino nanny. Considering that our
nannies have been serving overseas for decades, it is quite possible
that
very soon we would be seeing a new crop of world political and business
leaders raised by Filipino nannies.
This season, thousands of overseas Filipino workers, who have sent
home almost 8 billion dollars to our country this year, are coming
home
to spend time with their loved ones. Let us give the warmest welcome
we
can give.
Not only are they truly deserving of the name The Great Filipino
Investors. They are also The Great Filipino Ambassadors.
Note:
You may e-mail us at toting@info.com.ph or totingbunye @hotmail.com.
Past articles maybe viewed at www.news.ops.gov.ph.
CITY GOVT CITES 'LUCKY BALIKBAYAN' IN BAGUIO
BAGUIO CITY, December 22, 2003 (MANILA TIMES) By Gaby B. Keith,
Northern Luzon Bureau — An elderly couple and a nursing consultant
from the
USA, a teacher from Indonesia and a roving overseas broadcast
journalist are this year’s lucky balikbayan to highlight the
pearl anniversary
celebration of Silahis ng Pasko.
Narciso Padilla, former city councilor and Silahis ng Pasko executive
chair, said the lucky balikbayan will be accorded a VIP Mabuhay
reception by Silahis and Christmas in Baguio officials, led by Mayor
Bernardo
Vergara and Rep. Mauricio Domogan, on December 27, dubbed as
Baguio
Balikbayan Day.
Padilla said that the activities would start at 9:30 a.m. with a
motorcade coordinated by the Spectrum Communications Group on the
main
thoroughfares here, which will end at the Sunshine Park for a fellowship
party.
He said that the lucky Balikbayan couple are Benito Sibayan,
78, and
wife Maria Nieves, 69, from Los Angeles.
“Sibayan is a retired noncommission officer of the Philippine
Army
where he was in the service for at least 31 years, 18 years of which
were spent at the Philippine Military Academy,” Padilla
said.
He added that the couple migrated to the US in the early 1990s to
join their son who works in a computer company. They reside at Amistad
Village in Camp 7, here.
Padilla said that the couple are here for the holidays to be with
their children and grandchildren.
Maria Helen Quijana and Arnell Foronda Alhambra were chosen as the
lucky individual overseas workers-balikbayan in the quest’s
female and
male category, respectively.
Padilla said that Quijana has been a classroom teacher at St. Nicolas
Pre-School in Jakarta for two years now. She was formerly a substitute
teacher at the Baguio City National High School. Her husband is a
photo
printer at the Fuji Films shop on Session Road. They will be
celebrating their wedding anniversary here on December 26 together
with their two
daughters.
Alhambra, seeking greener pastures abroad, left for the US in 1979,
where he is presently employed as management nursing consultant in
an
insurance firm in California. He is also a volunteer scout of the
International Committee of the Desert Pacific Council, Boy Scouts
of America.
Padilla said that veteran radio broadcaster Francis Calado is this
year’s balik-ng-balik balikbayan. He is a senior correspondent
of Radio
Station DZRH covering the US mainland from the East Coast to the West
Coast.
Padilla said that Calado’s beat includes activities of the
Filipino
community, sports and special events.
ALVAREZ ALARMED AT SAFETY OF OFWs IN SAUDI ARABIA
MANILA, December 23, 2003 (STAR) Presidential adviser for overseas
Filipino communities Heherson Alvarez has expressed alarm over the
safety
of thousands of Filipino workers in Saudi Arabia.
Alvarez asked the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to coordinate
with the Department of Labor and Employment in drawing up contingency
plans through the embassy and consulates in Saudi Arabia to help Filipino
workers when the threat of terrorism worsens.
There are over 600,000 Filipino workers deployed in Saudi Arabia.
In a statement, Alvarez said that the US State Department has advised
non-essential personnel of the US Embassy in Saudi Arabia to leave
the
country following intelligence reports of imminent attacks by
international terrorists.
Alvarez said he intended to confer with officials of the DFA and
the
Philippine Embassy in Saudi Arabia on the steps to be taken should
the
situation in the Kingdom become dangerous.
Alvarez said he wanted to be briefed on the evacuation plans for
the
Filipino workers, particularly on the availability of planes, how
fast
the embassy can alert the workers of such plans and gather them in
holding areas, and how adequate the provisions are for the evacuees
and how
soon they could be flown out of the danger zone.
He will keep President Arroyo up to date on developments affecting
Filipino workers, not only in Saudi Arabia, but in the rest of the
Middle
East, Alvarez added.
In Riyadh, 16 runaway Filipino workers have ended their hunger strike
after a week of protest. Acting Labor Secretary Manuel Imson said
the
Filipinos have agreed to be taken to the nearest police station
yesterday morning.
"After a long negotiation, they finally agreed to end their
hunger
strike and wait for their repatriation under normal procedures of
the
government of Saudi Arabia," he said.
Imson said the runaways could not be repatriated at once because
their employers had to issue them exit visas as required under Saudi
law.
The Filipino workers escaped from their employers because of
maltreatment and non-payment of wages, he added.
Imson said the Filipinos will be taken to the immigration center,
where their cases will be reviewed by the Saudi government.
"We would be working on the early resolution of their pending
cases
before a Saudi court, and they would be repatriated as soon as their
exit visas have been issued," he said.
The Filipino workers underwent medical checkup, and they were found
to be healthy despite their one-week hunger strike, he added.
Last week, the 16 Filipinos camped out in front of the Philippine
embassy, and started the hunger strike to demand their immediate
repatriation.
The US State Department has urged all American citizens residing
or
working in Saudi Arabia to leave, and advised Americans traveling
to the
Kingdom to defer their plans.
During the US invasion of Iraq, Mrs. Arroyo named Gen. Roy Cimatu,
former Armed Forces chief, as her personal envoy to supervise the
evacuation of OFWs from the Persian Gulf when needed. — Sammy
Santos, Mayen
Jaymalin
TOP
PAMASKONG HANDOG 2003 A WELCOME FOR OFWs
NAIA AIRPORT, December 23, 2003 (STAR) By Sandy Araneta -
Presidential daughter Evangeline Lourdes "Luli" Arroyo led
government officials in
welcoming hundreds of Filipino overseas workers returning home for
the
holidays at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport yesterday.
Arroyo was accompanied by Labor Undersecretary Manuel Imson, Manila
International Airport Authority general manager Edgardo Manda, Overseas
Workers Welfare Administration chief Virgilio Angelo and Philippine
Overseas Employment Administration chief Rosalinda Baldoz.
They presented prizes totaling P90,000 in cash and bonds to three
returning Filipino expatriates — Helen Cabanela, who arrived
from Abu
Dhabi; Ricardo Cardenas, from Saudi Arabia; and Ronnie Albeus, from
Singapore — who were chosen by raffle.
The red carpet treatment — dubbed Pamaskong Handog (Christmas
Welcome) 2003 — is an annual tradition by the government since
1993 in
recognition of Filipino expatriates’ huge contribution to the
Philippine
economy.
"We consider serving Filipino overseas workers and their families
not
only during the Yuletide season but all year round as our concern,"
Angelo said in a statement.
"However, we get an additional bonus every time we hear satisfied
and
enthralled Filipino overseas workers who come out of the airport
smiling. That, for us, is the best thing we get from our hard work,"
he said.
Lack of jobs and better pay force an average of 2,000 Filipinos
each
month to seek greener pastures abroad. About eight million are working
in at least a dozen countries, mostly in the United States and the
Middle East.
The government depends heavily on the money they remit to their
families back home — which reaches at least $7 billion annually
— to prop up
the country’s sluggish economy.
Their contribution and sacrifices had prompted the government to
declare them as the Philippines’ modern-day heroes.
As recognition, Congress earlier this year passed an absentee voting
law that now enables Filipinos overseas to vote for the first time
in
national elections back home.
Luli was acting as 'GMA's ambassador,' says Palace 12/23 2:45:29
PM
Malacañang Tuesday defended President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's
absence at a tribute to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), saying that
the
presidential daughter was acting as "ambassador of the President."
Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye issued this statement after
returning Filipino migrant workers were met yesterday at the Ninoy
Aquino
International Airport (NAIA) with President’s daughter, Evangeline
"Luli" Arroyo.
Bunye said that Pres. Arroyo considers OFWs not only world-class
workers but also Overseas Filipino Investors (OFIs), because of their
remittances that could amount to eight billion US dollars this year.
Bunye said they could also be considered OFAs, or Overseas Filipino
Ambassadors, because of the high regard they get from their host
countries.
The Pamaskong Handog Para sa OFWs, initiated by former President
Fidel V. Ramos in 1995, is an annual treat to Filipino migrant workers
coming home for the Christmas season.
The VIP treatment allows OFWs to clear the immigration and customs
areas fast.
TO ALL, MERRY CHRISTMAS! SA INYONG LAHAT, MALIGAYANG PASKO!
GMA'S CHRISTMAS MESSAGE; PALACE PAYS TRIBUTE
TO OFWs
MALACANANG, December 24, 2003 (OPS) "Nababalot man ngayon ang
mundo
sa krisis at terorismo, may isang katotohanan na hinding-hindi
maipagkakaila; makakaraos at makakaraos tayong mga Pilipino.
"Ganyan ang pagkatao natin. Matibay sa harap ng kahirapan.
Taas noo
sa harap ng pagsubok. Ngayong Pasko ang ipinagdarasal ko ay tulad
din ng
dasal ninyo… pagkakaisa tungo sa mas maliwanag na kinabukasan.
"Ang pinakamagandang pamasko natin para sa mahal nating bayan;
magsama-sama, magtulung-tulong tayo. At umaasa kayong ang liwanag
ng Pasko ay
higit na titingkad sa mga darating na araw.
"Maligayang Pasko sa inyong lahat."
Palace pays tribute to OFWs
Malacañang today paid tribute to overseas Filipino workers
(OFWs),
saying they are not only good investors but also good ambassadors.
Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye said in a radio interview that
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo considers OFWs not only world-class
workers but also OFIs, or Overseas Filipino Investors, because of
their
remittances that could amount to $8 billion this year.
Bunye said they could also be considered OFAs, or Overseas Filipino
Ambassadors, because of the high regard they get from their host
countries.
He cited an instance where the Kingdom of Bahrain offered a number
of
projects for the Filipino workers because of their known diligence.
For all their efforts, returning Filipino migrant workers were
accorded VIP (very important person) treatment yesterday at the Ninoy
Aquino
International Airport (NAIA) with no less than the President’s
daughter, Evangeline "Luli" Arroyo representing her mother.
Three lucky OFWs received cash and other prizes from government
and
private agencies led by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration
(OWWA).
The Pamaskong Handog Para sa OFWs, initiated by former President
Fidel V. Ramos in 1995, is an annual treat to Filipino migrant workers
coming home for the Christmas season.
The VIP treatment allows OFWs to clear the immigration and customs
areas fast.
From the thousands of OFWs who arrived yesterday, three won special
prizes from the OWWA, Duty-Free Shop, Land Bank of the Philippines
and
Philippine National Bank.
This year’s lucky OFWs were Ricardo Cardenas, Ronnie Albens
and Helen
Cabanela. Each received P75,00 in cash and other prizes.
TOP
********************************************
Source : PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS
ONLINE (PHNO)
http://www.newsflash.org
Copyright©2003
All Rights Reserved
********************************************
