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DFA is Closed for the Holidays

The DFA Office of Consular Affairs will be closed on these dates:

Philippine Statement on new Chinese ePassport

Statement of the Philippines:  On the 9-Dash Line Map on the new Chinese e-Passport 

[Released by DFA on November 28, 2012]

DFA Mobile Passport Services sched for Dec 2012

For those who want to renew their passports or apply for new ones without going to the DFA Passport Office, the DFA announced in their website their Mobile Passport Services schedule for December 2012.

Toronto Hospital jobs Email scam targeting Filipino Nurses

The Philippine Consulate in Toronto, Canada warned Filipinos against a email scam which offers Filipino Nurses non-existent jobs in Toronto hospitals such as the Shouldice Hospital.

Clark lowers international terminal fee

US Embassy in Manila closed on September 3

 

Terminal fee integrated into domestic plane tickets starting August 1

One less queue starts on August 1.  

Additional Requirements for Korean Employment Permit System

The South Korean embassy now has additional requirements for Filipino workers under the South Korean Employment Permit System.

DFA Mobile Passport Services schedule for July 2012

For those who want to renew their passports or apply for new ones without going to the DFA Passport Office, the DFA announced in their website their Mobile Passport Services schedule for July 2012.

POEA closes 2 recruitment agencies

After cancelling the license of two recruitment agencies, the POEA found out that these two agencies still operate and preying on our own kababayans.
Because of this, the POEA finally closed the operations of Northwest Placement Inc. and Reagent Manpower Services.
Northwest Placement Inc.'s license was cancelled in April because of excessive placement fees while Reagent Manpower Services was found out to be recruiting earlier for offering non-existent fruit picker jobs in Australia.

DFA Mobile Passport Services schedule for May - June 2012

For those who want to renew their passports or apply for new ones without going to the DFA Passport Office, the DFA announced in their website their Mobile Passport Services schedule for May and June 2012.
 

MAY 12-13, 2012
     MUNICIPAL HALL GEN. TINIO NUEVA ECIJA   
    ISMAEL BERNARDO     (044) 973-0499
MAY 12, 2012
     MUNICIPAL HALL OF PANDI BULACAN
     MA. EFLEDA C. CRUZ     (044) 661-1763
MAY 19, 2012
     MAKATI CITY HALL   
    CHRIS KABIGTING     (02) 870-1350/ 870-1114
MAY 19, 2012
     MUNICIPAL HALL OF PATEROS M.M.   
    FELY ANN R. ALVAREZ     (02) 628-1118
MAY 26, 2012
     SM VALENZUELA   
    JOCELYN MOLINA     (02) 294-0805
MAY 26, 2012
     MUNICIPAL HALL OF OBANDO BULACAN   
    MARIA TERESA AZUCENAS     (02) 293-1531/ (02) 292-2016


JUNE 2, 2012
     QUEZON CITY HALL   
    ALEXANDER N. GALAMAY     (02) 922-6077
JUNE 2, 2012   
    MUNICIPAL HALL OF PAOMBONG BULACAN   
    MELIZA M. DELA ROSA     (044) 760-5044
JUNE 9, 2012   
    SM MUNTINLUPA   
    JOEL M. PIMINTEL     (02) 861-4133
JUNE 9, 2012   
    MUNICIPAL HALL OF SANTA MARIA LAGUNA   
    NORMITA DC. AGUADO     (049) 501-1611
JUNE 16, 2012   
    PROVINCIAL CAPITOL OF ILOCOS NORTE   
    BERNARD MANRIQUE     (077) 772-1211
JUNE 16, 2012   
    RIZAL PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT   
    ENRILITO B. BERNARDO JR.     620-2400 local 4801
JUNE 23, 2012   
    CITY HALL OFCALOOCAN CITY   
    LUCHI FLORES     (02) 324-4960
JUNE 23, 2012   
    BRGY. MARIKINA HEIGHTS   
    JAY PEE TERUEL     (02) 931-5001 local 7348
JUNE 30, 2012   
    MUNICIPAL HALL OF BALAGTAS BULACAN   
    IAN S. DE GUZMAN     (044) 693-4321
JUNE 30, 2012   
    CITY HALL OF MARIKINA CITY   
    TEODORA D. CORONADO     (02) 646-0373

 

 Important Reminders for Passport Mobile Services

• The processing of passports at Mobile Passport Services is guided by the Philippine Passport Act of 1996 and its implementing rules and regulations, other relevant Department Orders, Circulars and Memoranda.
• Participation in the Mobile Passport Services must be coordinated with the Passport Coordinator designated by the Local Government Unit (LGU) in advance. The designated LGU Passport Coordinator will collect copies of the application forms from interested applicants at least two weeks in advance of the scheduled date of the mobile passport service.
• The LGU Passport Coordinator will inform the applicant of the indicative time during which he or she will have to file the passport application on the scheduled date of the Mobile Passport Service.
• Personal appearance is a requirement for all passport applicants.
• The Mobile Passport Service will not accept applications for the replacement of lost valid passports but will entertain applications for lost expired passports.
• The Mobile passport fee is same with the Expedite Rate which is Php 1200.00

DFA to close on Labor Day

The Department of Foreign Affairs will close on May 1, 2012, Tuesday, Philippine Labor Day. The offices that will close on Labor Day include the DFA-Main in Pasay City, the DFA Office of Consular Affairs (DFA Passport Processing Center) in Paranaque City, and all Regional Consular Offices.

Regular DFA services will resume the following day May 2, Wednesday.

Philippine Infrastructure Updates

"Hmmm, what's happening in my hometown?", you may ask yourself once in a while.

Well, you can update yourself with public works projects being implemented in your hometown with project status updates and costs (Completed :: Ongoing :: Not Yet Started).

You can view these here, but select first your Region.

Samar Road Projects

News for OFWs from Samar: A 64.6 km section of a 224.2 km Samar road rehabilitation project will be bid out in June 2012.

Three other road sections are also up for bidding in the next few months.

This whole project starts at the Buray Junction, Western Samar to Taft and ends in Guiuan, Eastern Samar. This project was financed from a grant from the United Sates Government’s Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC).

Another road project, the Samar Pacific Coastal Road Project will be implemented in a few months. It involves the improvement of 27.75 kilometers of unpaved roads and bridges.

Saudi needs 66 Health Professionals

The Ministry of Health, King Saud Medical City - Riyadh requires the following positions to be filled::

Position	No. of Vacancies	Salary Offer
Medical Secretary	36	SR 2,400/month
Respiratory Technicians	12	SR 3,500/month
CSSD Technicians	9	SR 2,400/month
Infection Control Technicians	9	SR 2,400/month

Qualified applicants should register online with the POEA.

Saudi govt requires 800 nurses

The Ministry of Health of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia through the POEA seeks qualified applicants for 800 Female Muslim Nurses.  These positions have a Salary Offer of 3,150 Saudi Riyals.

The potential candidates for the positions are required that they are BS Nursing graduates, not more than 40 years old, with or w/o a board license and with at least 2 years of Hospital experience OR 1 year Hospital experience but with a Prometric Exam qualification.

Saudi Health Professionals needed

The Ministry of Health of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia through the POEA website seeks qualified applicants for the following positions:

100 X-RAY SPECIALISTS with a monthly pay of SR 4,080.
500 PHYSICAL THERAPISTS with a monthly pay of SR 3,150/mo.
50 ARTIFICIAL LIMB SPECIALISTS  with a monthly pay of SR 4,080/mo.

POEA lifts deployment ban on 3 countries

Some good news to OFWs:  The POEA was recently instructed by the POEA Governing Board to lift the deployment ban of OFWs in Libya, Nigeria and South Sudan.  It instructed the POEA to resume the processing of documents of OFWs that are headed to these countries.

Syria bans OFWs

Filipino workers from the Philippines are no longer allowed to work in Syria, according to Decision Order No. 500 released by the Syrian Ministry of Interior.

OEC processing while Duty Free shopping

A news release from the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) reports that soon, returning OFWs may soon have their Overseas Exit Clearance (OEC) processed while shopping at the duty free shop in Paranaque City.

National Reintegration Program for OFWs

A report from the Department of Labor and Employments (DOLE) reports that since the launching of the P2-billion National Reintegration Program Fund for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) last year, the DOLE, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) and the National Reintegration Center for OFWs (NRCO)—continue to receive inquiries not only on what the program is all about, but also on how to avail of a reintegration loan.

Metro Manila Speed Limit

For the balikbayans who just returned home or are taking a break, here are some speed limit reminders for those who will be taking the wheel around Metro Manila and some of the expressways up north and down south.

POEA warns of fake recruitment-emails

The POEA website warns said an e-mail congratulating an applicant for being selected for a specific job he or she did not apply for reeks of a recruitment scam.

POEA penalizes 11 recruitment agencies

In its Press Release, POEA Administrator Hans Leo Cacdac has ordered the preventive suspension of Reajent Manpower Services due to the non-valid job orders it promised in Australia.  40 jobseekers filed nine (9) recruitment violation cases against it.

From January to February 2012 these are the recruitment agencies with cancelled licenses:

Free online courses from Top Universities

Are you too busy to go to school and upgrade your skills?  And the school you are eyeing is just too far?

MMDA Metro Manila Motorcycle lanes

For balikbayans, if you happen to be visiting or passing through Metro Manila, do not be surprised.  Just this week, EDSA became the third main road to have a designated motorcycle lane after Commonwealth Avenue (traversing north Quezon City) and Diosdado Macapagal Avenue (near Mall of Asia complex).

Absentee Voters' Registration at NAIA-1

OFWs can now register as an Overseas Absentee Voter at NAIA 1, Mondays through Sundays 7am-10pm according to the Manila International Airport Authority website.

The government aims to increase OFW participation in the next national elections on May 2013.  Their plans also include setting up booths in the POEA, DFA, OWWA offices and distributing information materials

Migrante-Middle East in its blog welcomed this development although it also pointed out “the conduct of massive OAV registration information and dissemination, and voter’s education campaign abroad is still wanting”.

New relaxed rules for Korean foreign workers

The Korean Parliament reduced the waiting period of foreign workers who wish to return to South Korea after finishing their contracts. It also exempted them from taking another Korean language proficiency test or employment training, a POEA news release reports.

US Embassy-Manila closed on Feb20

According to the website of The Embassy of the United States in Manila, the Embassy and its affiliated offices will be closed to the public on Monday, February 20, 2012, in observance of Presidents’ Day, an American holiday.

The US Embassy and its affiliated offices will resume services on Tuesday, February 21.

OFWs remitted USD20.12 billion in 2011

Overseas Filipinos remitted more than 20 billion US dollars that were coursed through banks as noted by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).

The remittances increased because of the better network of remittance services available amid the political turmoil in the Middle East and North Africa, the uncertainty of the US and EU economies, and the general slowdown of the world economy.

This big contribution of OFWs to the Philippine economy still does not include the remittances sent over by other means.

How Pork Barrel is spent

Want to know how your Congressman/Representative spends his/her assigned Pork barrel?

OWWA-Region-9 opens OFW Dependents scholarships

The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Region 9 reports that it is now accepting applications for its OFW Dependent Scholarship Program for the school year 2012-2013.

POEA allows redeployment to Yemen

The POEA Governing Board has allowed the redeployment of currently vacationing workers in the Philippines to return to their work in Yemen.  

According to the Department of Labor and Employment, however, the resumption of the deployment does not cover newly-hired workers as the deployment ban for them remains.

DFA Raises Alert Level 3 Over Iraq

The DFA announced yesterday that it raised Alert Level 3 in Iraq to contact and urge all remaining OFWs to avail of the DFA's voluntary repatriation offer.

Under Alert Level 3, OFWs who wish to leave Iraq are offered voluntary repatriation at government expense. The alert level covers all regions of Iraq except the northern autonomous region of Kurdistan, near the country's border with Turkey.

Read this before buying real property

Is the location of your property flood, landslide, tsunami, or earthquake safe?

If you are currently thinking of buying a condominium unit, house & lot or just a small piece of land, see to it that it is not in a high-risk area. This is not only for protecting your future investment but also protecting the lives of your love ones and not be just another disaster statistic.

License of 2 recruitment agencies cancelled

Due to excessive collection of placement fees, two recuitment agencies' licenses were ordered cancelled last week by the POEA.  It concerns violations of job orders in Taiwan.

Online One-Stop Shop for registering businesses

The Philippine Business Registry (PBR) was launched yesterday, according to the DTI website. The PBR is a one-stop-shop online registration system for would-be entrepreneurs.

DFA Mobile Passport Services schedule for March-April 2012

For those who want to renew their passports or apply for new ones without going to the DFA Passport Office, the DFA announced in their website their Mobile Passport Services schedule for March and April 2012.

OFW Online Counselling

OFW Online screen shot

Are you an OFW or OFW family member that needs someone to talk to? 

The OFW Online website offers free services for the OFW which include Counselling Services, providing Family chatroom services, and forums for discussions/linking with other OFWs.

The Day Room at NAIA Terminal 1

Arriving at NAIA 1 and your connecting flight in the same terminal is still hours away? 

NAIA Terminal Fee rollback

The NAIA Terminal Fee for international travellers will be reduced to the original PhP550 pesos starting on February 1, 2012.

As reported in the MIAA website, the additional PhP200 pesos was reportedly used to buy security equipment for NAIA 1, 2 and 3 since February 2007.

Online petition against OFW PHilHealth premium hike

An online petition was put up by Migrante-Middle East to stop the rate hike of PhilHealth premiums. PhilHealth will increase the monthly premiums to PhP2,400 from the current PhP900.

Online books, worldwide free shipping?

Scenario 1: Need a specific book for an upcoming job and can't find it locally?
Scenario 2: Need a bestselling book but it just ran out in your local "suking tindahan"?
Scenario 3: Need a good book and you're just plain lazy to look for it?

MMDA Traffic Navigator System

A screen grab from the MMDA-TV5 traffic website

If you're back in the Philippines and will be travelling within Metro Manila, a convenient traffic monitoring website was created by the MMDA, in partnership with TV5, to help motorists avoid traffic bottlenecks.

The website basically displays major Metro Manila highways/boulevards and its major intersections in three colors: Green for light traffic, Yellow for moderate traffic and Red for heavy traffic.

Keeping New Year Financial Resolutions

How to keep your financial resolutions for 2012?

First things first, financial freedom is just one of the tools to reach your ultimate goals in life such as more time for your loving family, more time to exercise for a healthy body, and more ways to be a helping hand for people in need.