Czech Republic is another country that is experiencing a shortage of nurses as their healthcare workers chose to work in Austria and Germany. Aware of the need to hire foreign nurses, the Philippine Foreign Minister, Alberto Romulo is eyeing Czech Republic as another work destination for Filipino nurses. Romulo said that he hope the labor market of Czech Republic would open its door to Filipino nurses. Read more.

To solve the current shortage of nursing staff, the Ministry of Health (MOH) of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) aims to hire 10,000 more nurses to meet the urgent requirement. They will do this by hiring foreign nurses and by encouraging Saudi girls to take up nursing. In lieu to this, the KSA is set to hire about 2,000 Filipino nurses. A thousand scholarships for Saudi women have also been granted. Read more.

Carmelita Dimzon is the newly-appointed head of the Overseas Workers and Welfare Administration (OWWA). Dimzon which was once a deputy administrator of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) replaced former OWWA chief Mariantio Roque. Roque is now the new secretary of Labor Department. The appointment of Dimzon put an end to the rumors that ex-congressman Prospero Pichay will be the one to fill the vacant OWWA post.

The Manila Archdiocese informed that a special mass in honor of Filipino seafarers will be held on Sept. 28 at the Baywalk area along Roxas Boulevard.

Archdiocese chancellor Fr. Rufino Sescon Jr said in a circular, that the theme of this year’s National Seafarers’ Day is “Leading Global Maritime Service.”

The Apostleship of the Sea is inviting seafarers’ families to join and celebrate the event. He encouraged them continue to pray for the safety and well being of the Filipino seafarers.

The mass on September 28 (Sunday) will start at 7 a.m. at the monument to seafarers. At 2 p.m., the civil part of the celebration will start at Qurino Grandstand, where a celebration will take place in recognition of the professional and financial contribution of seafarers.

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo appoints Jennifer Manalili as the new administrator for the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA). Manalili will replace former POEA chief, Rosalinda Baldoz. Baldoz is now the undersecretary of the Department of Labor and Employment.

The new POEA administrator promise to ensure the safety and welfare of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) as the agency seeks to create more employment opportunities overseas.

Manalili used to be an attorney at the office of Supreme Court Associate Justice Conchita Carpio-Morales. She was also the secretary of the Supreme Court Committee on Gender Responsiveness in Judiciary and a member of the Philippine Mediation Center.