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Politics

PADILLA: BARE PREPARATIONS FOR MIDDLE EAST TENSION

Senator Robin Padilla urged concerned government agencies to disclose their preparations for the possible effects of the tension in the Middle East, including Israel, Lebanon and Iran. In his manifestation before the Senate, Padilla voiced concern that Filipinos living and working in those areas would be among the first to feel the effects. “Baka na […]

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Politics

CASTELO TO IATF: REPATRIATE 16,000 OFWS WITH TICKETS, EXIT VISAS ASAP

Quezon City Rep. Precious Castelo today urged the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) against COVID-19 to arrange for the immediate repatriation of up to 16,000 stranded overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who are ready to go home. Based on testimonies given to the House committee on public accounts on Friday, Castelo said these OFWs “have plane tickets, […]

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Politics

MIDDLE EAST CONFLICT HIGHLIGHTS NEED TO PASS OFW DEP’T BILL — REP. NOGRALES

With potential turmoil brewing in the Middle East following the U.S. drone attack on top Iranian general Qasem Soleimani, a young lawmaker highlighted the need to pass a bill creating a department for Overseas Filipino Workers soon to ensure the safety and security of Filipinos in the region. “Recent events in the Middle East and […]

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Government

FILIPINOS MUST HEED MANDATORY REPATRIATION ORDER – NOGRALES

Faced with imminent danger amid tensions between the United States and Iran, Filipinos must heed the Philippine government’s order for mandatory repatriation, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said. “I suppose may mga mixed reactions diyan (there have been mixed reactions from Filipinos in Iraq). But at the end of the day, ‘pag sinabi nating (when we say) mandatory repatriation, no ifs and […]

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Politics

HELP RETURNING OFWS FROM MIDDLE EAST BECOME ‘ENTREPINOYS’ – GATCHALIAN

Amid tensions in the Middle East, Senator Win Gatchalian is urging the government to help turn displaced and returning Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) into local “entrepinoys” by extending them entrepreneurial programs. Latest data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) show there are around 1.26 million Filipinos who are in the Middle East and may be […]

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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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Politics

SENATE READY TO HEED DUTERTE’S REQUEST FOR SPECIAL SESSION – ZUBIRI

The Senate is ready to heed President Rodrigo Duterte’s request for Congress to convene a special session amid the escalating tensions in the Middle East, Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri said. “If ever the President will request for a special session for the need to pass a supplemental budget to help repatriate our kababayans (countrymen) from […]

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Government

DUTERTE ORDERS CIMATU TO MEET WITH MIDDLE EAST OFFICIALS – PANELO

President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu, a former special envoy to the Middle East, to meet with officials of the Gulf states and discuss the Philippines’ plan to evacuate Filipino migrant workers there, Malacañang said. The Chief Executive issued the directive during the 45th Cabinet meeting recently held at Malacañan Palace, said […]

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Politics

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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Government

EMIRATES TO PROMOTE PHILIPPINES IN MIDDLE EAST, EUROPE – DOT

Dubai-based Emirates Airline and the Department of Tourism (DOT) have inked a memorandum of agreement that would promote the Philippines in the Middle East, Europe, and other markets being serviced by the Gulf carrier. Under the agreement, DOT and Emirates will jointly market promotions, do familiarization tours as well as roadshows to also boost opportunity […]