The DFA advises that beginning 12 March 2008, all unclaimed DFA Authentication Certificates will be disposed of after three (3) months from the scheduled date of release due to lack of storage space in the Authentication releasing area. This measure is also to minimize the risk of fire hazard in the area.
To express their protest against a corrupt government and to support the call for President Arroyo to resign, United Filipinos in Hong Kong is encouraging OFWs not to send money to the Philippines every 1st Sunday of the month.
Along with the call is to resort to other means of sending money or to refrain from sending money through formal channels like banks. The idea was first proposed when UniFil staged a protest rally at the Philippine Embassy in HK last Februay 28. The first schedule for no remittance day was done last March 2 and the next one is set on April 6. Read more
Filipinos will be joining other guest workers and members of the community in Saipan in an April 5 prayer vigil in support of a new US Senate bill that extends federal immigration to the US Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI).
The prayer vigil comes a few days after local government representatives met with select members of the Filipino community, other foreign workers, the business community and others to discuss a proposal by CNMI Governor Benigno R. Fitial to grant permanent residency to longtime nonresident workers in the CNMI.
The prayer vigil will be held at the American Memorial Park on April 5, starting at 5 p.m. Participants are also asked to wear white shirts, in keeping with the message of peace and unity.
POEA issued a new policy regarding exit clearance or overseas employment certificates (OEC) of OFWs. Under the new rule, OFWs must submit their exit clearance or OEC directly to the airline counters, terminal fee counters and the Bureau of Immigration counters. In addition, the POEA’s Labor Assistance Counters (LACs) can only accomdoate OFWs with documentation problems, issuing OECs to OFWs leaving within 24 hours, and dissemination of information and education materials.
According to POEA Chief, Baldoz. the new policy aims to “streamline the process in the deployment of OFWs. Before, departing OFWs are required to present their exit clearance or OEC to the POEA LAC counter to be allowed to leave the country
DOLE recently distributed Php 780,000 to seven OFW groups in Visayas for livelihood training. More than 50 beneficiaries will undergo training on bangus (milkfish) processing, peanut butter making, longanisa making, and making of ladies accessories.
The program falls under the DoLE’s National Reintegration Program for OFWs and extended to members of the Overseas Family Circles. Earlier this year, a recruitment industry leader called for an improvement in the Labor department’s reintegration program for returning overseas Filipino workers.