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Politics

NO NEED TO RUSH LIFTING OF DEPLOYMENT BAN TO KUWAIT — ACTS OFW

ACTS-OFW, a coalition of migrant workers organizations on Monday slammed the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) for the “urgent lifting” of the ban on the deployment of Filipino domestic helpers to Kuwait, stressing that there was no need to rush anything, yet it was still done in a hurry.“Blood will be on the hands of […]

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Politics

TAP P65-M REPATRIATION FUND FOR EVACUATION OF PINOYS IN MIDDLE EAST – VILLANUEVA

The government’s emergency repatriation fund lodged in the Overseas Workers’ Welfare Administration (OWWA) amounting to P65 million should be tapped to finance the mandatory evacuation of Filipino workers and migrants in the Middle East as tensions heighten between Iran and the United States, Senator Joel Villanueva said. Villanueva, chair of the Senate Committee on Labor, […]

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HOUSE TO GIVE DEPT OF OFW BILL UTMOST PRIORITY – SPEAKER CAYETANO

Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano said the bill proposing the creation of a department for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) will be of utmost priority in the House of Representatives upon resumption of session. Cayetano stressed the need to create a separate department that would solely focus on the protection and welfare of OFWs, especially amid the […]

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PRIORITIZE DEPARTMENT OF OFW BILL – PACQUIAO

The untimely and tragic death of three Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in Kuwait and Singapore should prompt Congress to prioritize the approval of proposals creating a separate department for overseas employment, Senator Manny Pacquaio said. Pacquaio, who is the primary author of Republic Act 11227 or “The Handbook for Overseas Filipino Workers of 2018,” lamented […]

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BRACE FOR ‘COLLATERAL DAMAGE’ AS US-IRAN TENSION HEATS UP — ACTS-OFW PARTYLIST

The Philippine government sees possible negative economic impacts as tension between the United States and Iran increases following the killing of top Iranian general Qasem Soleimani in a U.S. airstrike. This was according to Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia, as he warns of possible overseas jobs losses and hikes on oil prices. “Any eruption of […]

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Politics

EXPAND USE OF LEGAL FUND FOR DISTRESSED OFWS – VILLANUEVA

The Senate has begun deliberations into a proposed measure that expands the use of a fund meant to help overseas Filipinos facing legal distress in their places of work abroad. Senator Joel Villanueva sponsored Senate Bill No. 1233, which seeks to expand the use of the Legal Assistance Fund (LAF) that the government taps to […]

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HOUSE PANEL APPROVES OFW DEPT BILL – MARIÑO

The House Committee on Appropriations chaired by Rep. Isidro Ungab (3rd District, Davao City) had approved the unnumbered substitute bill creating the Department of Filipinos Overseas and Foreign Employment, that was principally authored by Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano. In particular, the panel approved the appropriations provisions of the proposed “Department of Filipino Overseas Act of […]

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HOUSE PANELS APPROVE DEPARTMENT OF FILIPINO OVERSEAS AND FOREIGN EMPLOYMENT BILL – SALCEDA

The House Committees on Government Reorganization chaired by Rep. Mario Vittorio Mariño (5th District, Batangas) and Overseas Workers Affairs chaired by Rep. Raymond Democrito Mendoza (Party-list, TUCP), approved the unnumbered consolidated bill creating the Department of Filipino Overseas and Foreign Employment.The approved bill, which harmonized 39 measures, was drafted by the joint panel’s technical working […]

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SEPARATE OFW LABOR RELATIONS COMMISSION NEEDED TO HANDLE FOREIGN LABOR CASES ABROAD – REP. NOGRALES

A bill filed by Rizal 2nd District Rep. Fidel Nograles pushing for the creation of a separate agency to handle overseas labor cases was welcomed by a coalition of recruitment agencies. “It’s about time” said Alliance of Bonafide Recruiters for OFW’s Advancement and Development (ABROAD) Convenor Russel Garcia. “OFW cases involve foreign labor and immigration […]

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HOUSE APPROVES CREATION OF OFW HOSPITAL – TAN

The House Committee on Ways and Means, chaired by Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda (2nd District, Albay), has approved House Bill No. (HB) 168 which seeks to create a hospital for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). Authored by Rep. Angelina Tan (4th District, Quezon), the proposed “Overseas Filipino Workers Hospital Act” aims to provide better access to […]