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Politics

CLARIFY OFW PROOF OF VAX JAB POLICY – VILLANUEVA

Senator Joel Villanueva sought clarification from officials involved in pandemic response on what he said was a “confusing” policy that would require those fully-vaccinated Filipinos to produce two sets of proof — a vaccine card and certification issued by the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) or the Local Health Officer. “Isn’t this additional […]

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Politics

GORDON TO IATF: REVISE OFW ARRIVAL PROTOCOLS

Following his recommendation for the COVID-19 Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) to reconsider the current protocols for overseas Filipino workers (OFW) and returning overseas Filipinos, Senator Dick Gordon officially recommended to IATF a set of rules for fully vaccinated returning OFWs, Philippine residents, foreign tourists and foreign businessmen. In a letter addressed to Secretary Carlito G. […]

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Politics

ADOPT SWAB-ON-ARRIVAL POLICY FOR OFWS – PIMENTEL

Senator Koko Pimentel III said he supports the “swab-upon-arrival” policy for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and Returning Overseas Filipinos (ROFs). This is in response to the various appeals received by Pimentel’s office from OFWs asking for more reasonable quarantine protocols. The existing protocols require OFWs and ROFs to undergo a minimum of 10 days quarantine […]

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Politics

ADOPT CEBU’S SWAB OFWS ON ARRIVAL POLICY – ANGARA

Senator Sonny Angara aired his support to the policy of the provincial government of Cebu, led by its Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, regarding the Swab-Upon-Arrival for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and returning overseas Filipinos (ROFs) in Cebu. Angara said the policy is practical and makes perfect sense considering that OFWs and ROFs that land in Cebu […]

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Politics

VILLAFUERTE: BALIK PROBINSYA 2 BILL TO CREATE JOBS

Amid reports that many overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) remain unemployed, Camarines Sur Rep. LRay Villafuerte has stressed the urgency for Congress to pass the proposed Balik Probinsya, Balik Pagasa (BP2) law to create jobs outside Metro Manila and help convince displaced OFWs to stay and work in their home provinces or cities. Villafuerte, author of House Bill […]

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Politics

PASS OFW DEPARTMENT BILL NOW – DELA ROSA

Senator Bato Dela Rosa has sought for the establishment of a department tasked to look after the interest of Filipinos overseas without causing a “swell” to the state bureaucracy since it will be an integration of functions of existing concerned government agencies. This after Dela Rosa authored and filed Senate Bill No. 2110 (SBN 2110), […]

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Government

DOFIL IS A TOP PRIORITY OF DUTERTE – NOGRALES

The creation of a Department of Overseas Filipinos (DOFIL) that merges the functions and mandates of various offices and bureaus that address the concerns of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and Filipinos abroad is a top priority of President Rodrigo Duterte. This was stressed by Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles at a joint hearing of the Senate […]

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Politics

HK OFWS CAN REFUSE COVID VACCINATION — VILLANUEVA

The plan of the Hong Kong government to have Filipinos working in the territory vaccinated against COVID-19 must be based on “informed choice” and should never be done under state pressure, Senator Joel Villanueva said. “Kahit naman dito sa atin, wala pong pilitan pagdating sa bakuna. Pero mariin po nating hinihimok ang lahat na magpabakuna. […]

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Government

DTI TO HOLD BUSINESS WEBINAR SERIES FOR OFWS

The Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI) Philippine Trade and Investment Centers (PTIC) in Bangkok, Dubai, Jakarta, Jeddah, Kuala Lumpur, New Delhi, Singapore, and Sydney will hold the first episode of the Trabaho, Negosyo, Kabuhayan (TNK) webinar series on 30 April 2021 to provide overseas Filipinos (OFIs) with opportunities to invest in the Philippines and […]

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Politics

HOST COUNTRIES SHOULD PROTECT OFWS VS TRAFFICKING

Senator Joel Villanueva stressed the importance of having agreements with countries that host overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to prevent Filipino jobseekers from falling prey to human trafficking syndicates. Villanueva, chair of the Senate labor committee, said the bilateral agreements would allow the Philippine government to run after third-country recruiters who send Filipinos to perilous locations, […]