DOLE Secretary Silvestre Bello III is planning to cancel the mandatory seminars for first timer OFWS commonly called Pre-Orientation Departure Seminars (PDOS). He said in an interview with CNN Philippines that the seminar as a requirement prior to departure should be conducted by the recruitment agencies.
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In a PDOS setting there are different conductors or speakers, some from bank representatives, language author and others. Some of the topics that are being discussed in the PDOS are the cultural differences and adjustments in other countries, what to do and not to do in that particular country, health and safety tips, government services, the rights and responsibilities of an OFW and other concerns. Watch this viral and very funny PDOS video by Mang Teteng, a bank representative.
Secretary Bello asked: "What can you teach them in six hours? These OFWs are just too excited to leave, wala sa focus nila yung tinuturo niyo diyan ...so if you want to train them... do it before they are qualified to be deployed. Responsibility yan ng agency, bago mo ideploy yung OFW, dapat na-train na ... So I will do away with that."
Ever wonder how an OFW ID, or the I-DOLE ID looks like? Here it is. Front and back copies provided by DOLE, that will be distributed starting this July 2017. Tomorrow after the presentation to President Duterte at Malacanang, the DOLE and POEA will start producing this FREE OFW Identification card and will be distributed to POLO Offices or will be sent to OFWs.
Here are some of the process for OFWs to ensure that they will have their OFW ID. For LandBased OFWs, please sign in or sign up and update your record here, at
2. All the bonafide OFWs who are listed in the POEA will acquire the ID.
3. OFW ID is free. There will be no fees to be collected to receive the OFW ID.
4. OFW ID can be used as a beep card in taking MRT or LRT rides.
5. It will serve as a debit or credit card in the OFW Bank that will be opening soon.
6. The OFW ID can be used in any government or private transactions. (e.g. SSS, Philhealth and Pag-Ibig).
7. The OFW will only be the prime recipient and receiver.
8. The OFW ID will replace OEC.
9. In the future, it will serve as an e-passport.
10. The waiting is over, It will start on July 12, 2017 to be introduced to President Duterte at Malacanang and will be for distribution starting end of July.
During an emergency press conference called by DOLE Secretary Silvestre Bello III, he said that deployment to Qatar are temporarily suspended effective immediately until further notice while they are assessing the current situation. According to report, there are over 140,000 to 250,000 overseas Filipino's that are based in Qatar currently affected by the fall-out between other Gulf countries. Original video from Rappler.com
“I temporarily suspend the deployment of our OFWs in the county of Qatar. This is for us to be able to assess the situation because there are so many wild rumors going around, saying things are not going well there. This suspension is for the welfare and protection of our OFWs."
“We need to study first the situation. For now, the protection of our migrant workers comes first. The duration of suspension of deployment will depend on the assessment of the situation with close coordination with the Department of Foreign Affairs."
“Our labor office in Qatar is ready to extend any form of assistance under the circumstances. Naka-alert na po ang ating mga tao diyan. Although wala pa naman masyadong cause for alarm, mabuti na ‘yung nakahanda tayo. Our POLO is open on 24-hour service for any emergency situation."
“I was invited by the Minister of Labor of Qatar this September for the secured and more lenient processing of deployment of our migrant workers. They said they prefer more Filipino workers. And we maintain good labor relations for the welfare and security of our OFWs."
-Secretary Silvestre Bello III, DOLE Secretary
Secretary Bello also directed Labor Attaché David Des Dicang to ensure food provision of the OFWs as Qatar does not have its own food production. He also advised all recruitment agencies to get in touch with their counterparts in Qatar to see to it that Filipino migrant workers are sufficiently and effectively protected. He also said that OFWs should not worry as Philippines still maintains good diplomatic relations with Qatar. The Philippine Embassy in Doha, Qatar issued an advisory, and called on all Filipinos in Qatar to “remain calm and exercise prudence”. Ambassador Alan Timbayan assured Filipinos in Qatar that the Philippine government is closely monitoring the current situation. Timbayan also advised Filipino travelers, especially those with bookings affected by the closing of airspace of Saudi Arabia, UAE and Bahrain to Qatar Airways to consult their travel agents to ensure unhampered travel arrangements. This advisory from Embassy of the Philippines in Doha
An OFW in Jordan suffered severe burns on her arms as her Jordanian employer scalded her with a newly boiled tea. Marjorie Manalang was crying as she narrates what her employer did to her.
Marjorie said that she reported the matter to the Jordan based counterpart of her agency but the agency believed the employer's statement that what happened was only an accident. The employer also threatened her that she will have her arrested by the police if she will report the matter to the authorities. In a video chat with her sister, she said that she was thinking about her family and so she chose to stay but she badly wants to go home. In an interview with Raffy Tulfo, Sarah Jane Manalang said that it was not the first time that her sister experienced similar form of maltreatment. She said that according to Marjorie, there was a time that the employer slapped her sisters face and one time, the employer hit her sister with a glass pitcher on the shoulder and recently, scalded her with a newly boiled tea. Mr Tulfo talked to the representative of JVR Placement Agency, Lyka Macapelden and assures the repatriation of Marjorie. According to the agency, they believe the employer's statement that it was only an accident. She also said that the employer works on a human rights office. OWWA Advocacy and Social Marketing Division Supervisor Marissa Cruz said that they will monitor Marjorie's case and find out the truth about it.
Meanwhile, an OFW went home without a plan when her 7 year-old kid told her that her husband Darwin, is allegedly having an illicit affair with their baby sitter that is also happened to be her husband's cousin. Marivic Tulfo confronted Janice Masipiña, the alleged concubine of Marivic's husband who denied the allegations at first but later admitted it. The OFW said that they can do whatever they want and she only wants to win the custody of her child.
The DSWD and the Barangay Officials of Rodriguez Rizal will assist Marivic in retrieving her child.
Senator Joel Villanueva filed a bill for OFW to have an exclusive hospital. If this will be passed, OFWs and its dependents can avail free hospitalization. The Senate Bill 1282, Villanueva is proposing to build an exclusive hospital for OFWs. Through this, the overseas Filipino workers including its dependents can avail free hospitalization. Based on the 2015 survey from April 1 to September 30, 2015 on overseas Filipino workers or OFWs, there are about 2.4 million OFWs, of which total remittance of Php 180.3 billion. The hospital will be called Bagong Bayani Filipino Hospital, which will be managed by Overseas Workers Welfare Administration or OWWA. The hospital is also expected to admit 50 patients per ward.
READ SIMILAR COMMENTS BELOW
"Bakit kailangang ibukod ng hospital ang OFW suntok sa buwan yan, e kung healthcard ang ibigay nila exclusively for OFW and their dependents less gastos kesa magpatayo ng hospital. Like kung nasa province panu q maaavail kung ang hospital nandito nanaman lang lahat sa manila"
As of posting, the photos showing overseas Filipino's digging trash bins to survive in Tabarjal, North of Saudi Arabia near Al Gurayat generated 11,000 shares. It will take 17 to 28 hours from Jeddah, depending on your mode of transportation. They were deployed from Cebu branch by an agency from Manila.
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Ganito napo ang gnwa namin d2 nmasura npo kame kah8 papanu may laman ung tyan nmen sna mkrating ito s kinaukolan pra matolongan kame???
Posted by Julito Alpie on Thursday, April 7, 2016
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According to the comments, as we follow through the conversation. Each of them have unpaid salary amounting to at least P100,000 or equivalent to SR8,000. Photo's shown that they are able to take some disposed vegetables like carrots, egg plants, cucumbers and some watermelons in order to have food.
via Sunstar Cebu: "Philam Life, which commissioned market research provider Taylor Nelson Sofres (TNS) to do the study, reported 82 percent of OFWs said they need to have their own business so they can stay home permanently, while 63 percent said they’re ready to come home for good when their kids have finished school. Forty-seven percent said that when they have their own car they can return home, and some 24 percent said they will be ready to stay when they have their own house." a heartwarming advertisement video from Philam Life.
With the right plan, you can secure your and your family’s future & come home for good.Anong plano mo? Usap tayo?Contact me now at 09157862752 Posted by Philam Life on Monday, November 16, 2015
According to Philam Life director of agencies Rolan H. Enriquez, in a press conference yesterday, the respondents of the study mostly involved OFWs who are under a two-year contract, with an average tenure of six and a half years of working abroad and earn an average of P50,000 per month. The nationwide study on OFWs was done in April 2015.
The same study showed that of the OFWs surveyed, 82 percent said “they are not yet ready to stay home permanently.”
They reasoned out that they did not enough savings or their children are still studying. Some said they have no house yet, had “more dreams to achieve” and are “not yet stable.”
This means only 18 percent of those surveyed are ready to go home, believing that they are better off staying with their families or already have an established business and have enough savings.
The study reported that 55 percent of the income of these OFWs is sent back home and what remains is for personal use.
Respondents said they save on average P13,000 per month. If they save this amount religiously, Enriquez said this would take one OFW 18 years before he can save P3 million and stay in the Philippines for good. Read the rest here
Remember falling in line in getting your GAMCA referral card which hospital to have medical check-up? Not anymore. The Supreme Court declared GAMCA should stop this system and instead the DOH accredited hospitals all over Philippines can conduct medical check-up to departing OFWs and Seafarers.
OFW candidates falling in line for GAMCA referral.
The following are LIST OF ACCREDITED Medical Facilities and HOSPITALS FOR OFWS and SEAFARERS as of September 2014
