Community Newswatch PH posted photos and video of an exclusive entrance for OFWs at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3.
At the NAIA Terminal 3, many pictures are circulating in the social media showing an exclusive entrance lane for overseas Filipino workers or OFWs. During the past few months, many have witnessed notable changes at the airports in Philippines. In NAIA Terminal 1, a lounge exclusively for overseas Filipino workers and their families was opened last September to ease the burden of families who will be sending off their relatives to work abroad.
Filipinos who will be working abroad or OFWs now have exclusive entrance gate for them.
Aside from the exclusive entrance for OFWs, there are also airport bus that passengers can avail at a much cheaper price instead of taking taxi. CHECK PICTURES OF AIRPORT BUS HERE
TOP 15 CHANGES IN 100 DAYS OF DUTERTE ADMIN THAT BENEFIT NAIA PASSENGERS, OFWs Amid a different kind of controversy in the last three months, Duterte manage to get a "very good" satisfaction rating in the latest Social Weather Stations' (SWS) survey.
The President gained a net satisfaction rating of +64 percent, which is classified as “very good.”
Here are the accomplishments of Duterte Administration particularly in transforming the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA):
1. Fewer flights delays
According to Bobby Lim, under secretary for aviation, removing general aviation from NAIA helps increase on-time arrivals from 47 percent to 71 percent.
No more incidents of "tanim-bala" scam which extorts money from returning OFWs and other travelers.
Passengers found with one bullet or bullet amulet in their luggage would be allowed to board their flights without any interrogation or even charges of violating the law after surrendering the bullet.
3. Renovated toilets
Toilets in NAIA is no longer worst in the world after it was renovated.
Starting October 6, baggage loaders are no longer allowed to wear uniforms with pockets to eradicate baggage pilferage or theft and to improve security.
There are 21 brand new Mercedes Benz air-conditioned buses from UBE Express that is now available for travelers and passengers going to and from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) for only P150.
This was launch last September and will be free until Oct. 10, after that, passengers will enjoy one-hour free high-speed Wifi access of up to 1 gigabit per second. The next hours of using will be charged.
Although construction started January 2, 2014, under former President Benigno Aquino, the Duterte Administration fast tract the construction to decongest roads around NAIA
9. Cleanliness of NAIA restroom now maintained by airline companies
Airline companies are now maintaining cleanliness of toilets at the NAIA with a common goal of delivering improved services to the riding public
10. Regular taxis inside NAIA
Last July 18, regular taxis are allowed to pick up passengers from NAIA terminals to avoid long lines at the arrival curbside taxi bays.
It opened last August 15 in Philippine Overseas Employment Agency (POEA) in Mandaluyong City, after the order of President Duterte that aims to reduce transportation expenses of OFWs and shorten the processing time for their documents.
Other branches of One-Stop-Shop for OFWs is also now opened in different regions in the country.
OFWs may avail services from:
1. Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA)
2. Overseas Welfare Workers Administration (OWWA)
3. Technical Education and Skills Development (TESDA)
4. Professional Regulation Commission (PRC)
5. Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA)
6. Home Development Mutual Fund (HDMF)
7. Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PHIC)
8. Social Security System (SSS)
9. Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA)
10. Bureau of Immigration (BI)
11. National Bureau of Investigation (NBI)
12. Commission on Higher Education (CHED)
13. Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA)
OFWs who will be returning to their former employer, or "Balik Manggagawa," will no longer be required to secure an overseas employment certificate (OEC)
Covered by the OEC exemption are returning workers who are:
returning to the same employer and job site, and listed in the POEA database of OFWs, or hired through POEA’s Government Placement Branch
The President Ordered Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr. to eliminate the long queues of people applying for passports in DFA offices by giving a list of requirements to passport applicants.
President Rudy Duterte personally welcomed the 128 stranded OFWs who arrived from Saudi Arabia, most of them lost their jobs because of the slowing construction business in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia caused by the tremendous drop of oil prices in the global market.
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Pres. Duterte made several promises to the OFWs aside from giving them cash money worth P5,000 each on the spot at the airport on top of the P26,000 previously promised by OWWA and DOLE. The following are some of the promises by Pres Duterte to stranded OFWs and all OFWs, in general 1. OFWs can borrow money from the government to put up a business. 2. Stranded OFWs can visit Malacanang and he will help in times of need.
"In the meantime, if it spells hunger for your family,(to the OFWs present at NAIA) do not hesitate to call me. O pumunta ka sa Malacanang. I will order my men to let you in.
Sinabi ko lahat sa gobyerno, ibigay lahat ang listahan ng kailangan i-produce para hindi tatagal ang proseso sa gobyerno.Kung hirap kayo, let me know. I-enroll ko kayo sa 4Ps, para sigurado may bigas kayo sa mesa niyo. Ganoon ang gusto ko, walang pila, walang magbalik-balik. It should not be a problem to you." - Pangulong Rody Duterte
3. Pres. Duterte promised to put up OFW Bank. 4. He promised to improve the economy and make it stronger so there will be no need for OFWs to go overseas. "We are on target on our growth. We have to do more at paano natin papabilisin para maraming pumasok na negosyo.Give me time to fix the economy. You'll have opportunities here." - Pangulong Rody Duterte 5. Pres. Duterte promised to help in the educational tuition of the stranded OFW kids.
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"Maghintay-hintay lang kayo. Bigyan mo lang ako ng konting pahanon, ayusin ko ang ekonomiya at may opportunity for you to work here" - Pres Duterte
the 16th President of the Republic of the Philippines - Rodrigo Duterte.
Memorandum Circular from OWWA regarding guidelines and procedures in the implementation of the relief assistance for affected and stranded OFWs in Saudi Arabia.
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President Duterte has entrusted Secretary of Labor Bebot Bello to go visit Saudi Arabia and assess the situation of the OFWs that are stranded after he saw from the news that there are OFWs scavenging food at the dumpsters while some are donating blood for money. This made him feel hurt to see the languishing OFWs without salaries for three to six months, so initially President Duterte ordered OWWA to release P500 million or half a billion pesos to distribute among these OFWs. The MC of OWWA contain the RAP or the Relief Assistance Program of OWWA consisting of financial assistance to be provided to affected OFWs and their families, especially those employed in the Saudi Construction and Maintenance Companies.
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The financial assistance will include the following:
EACH AFFECTED OFWS AT THE JOBSITE WILL RECEIVE P20,000 or SAR 1590
EACH AFFECTED OFWS REPATRIATED IN THE PHILIPPINES WILL ALSO RECEIVE P20,000
EACH MEMBER OF THE OFW FAMILY CURRENTLY AT THE JOBSITE WILL ALSO RECEIVE P6,000
COVERAGE
This one time grant is exclusively for affected OFWs who are either staying in CAMPS or are LIVE OUT in KSA or who have been repatriated to the Philippines but have not received their salaries or end of service benefits from any of the following companies: 1. SAUDI BIN LADIN GROUP OF COMPANIES (SBG) 2. SAUDI OGER LTD (SOL) 3. MOHAMMED AL MOJIL GROUL (MMG) 4. MOHAMMED HAMEED AL BARGASH & BROS TRADING & CONSTRUCTION 5. ALUMCO LLC 6. RAJEH H AL MERRI CONTRACTING COMPANY 8. ARABTEC CONSTRUCTION LLC 9. REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT AND INVESTMENT COMPANY Only families of affected OFWs who are still at jobsite shall be entitled to the financial assistance under the program
HOW TO AVAIL AND WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS?
FOR AFFECTED OFWS STILL AT JOBSITE
1) Accomplished application form (ask POLO, EMBASSY or CONSULATE)
2. Proof of Identity (IQAMA, PASSPORT, PAYSLIP, EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT, ETC)
FOR REPATRIATED WORKERS
1) Accomplished application form
2) Passport or Travel Document
3) Proof of Unpaid Salaries
FOR FAMILY MEMBER OF OFWs CURRENTLY WITH THEM AT KSA JOBSITE
1) Accomplished application form
2) Proof of Relationship to the OFW
3) Photocopy of Birth Certificate
4) Photocopy of Marriage Certificate
WHERE TO CLAIM?
According to the program implementation plan, there will be assigned "Welfare Officer" who will visit campsites of these stranded OFWs. The Welfare Officer shall profile the target beneficiaries and process their application for assistance.
Program Implementation states the following:
1. Concerned Welfare Officer, in coordination with POLOs, shall visit campsites of stranded OFWs for profiling of target beneficiaries and processing of applications for assistance.
2. Qualified OFWs who are still at jobsite shall claim the SR1,590 financial assistance through the Welfare Officer in KSA.
3. Qualified OFWs who were already repatriated to the Philippines shall claim the Php 20,000.00 financial assistance through the OWWA Regional Office nearest their residence.
4. Families of qualified OFWs still at jobsite in KSA shall claim their Php 6,000.00 financial assistance through the OWWA Regional Welfare Office nearest their residence.
5. Concerned Welfare Officer or Regional Director shall submit electronically to the Home Office the list of affected workers and availees on a weekly basis through the Overseas Operations Coordination Service/ Regional Operations Coordinating Service.
