OFW remittances hit record high in May

By Des Ferriols

MANILA, Philippines - Remittances from overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in May were higher than central bank expectations, with the monthly inflows reaching a new record high at $1.48 billion as more Filipinos sought jobs abroad.

The record inflows in May brought the cumulative remittances for the first five months of the year to $6.98 billion, representing a 2.8-percent increase from the level recorded in the same period last year.

OFW remittances are the most closely-watched economic data since these finance private spending which has become the most critical economic growth driver.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) reported yesterday that OFW remittances coursed through banks grew year-on-year by 3.7 percent in May 2009, higher than the two- to three-percent growth projected earlier.

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Deployment on to risky Middle East

With told and untold cases of human abuse perpetrated by employers to Filipino overseas workers in the Middle East, the government is all set to continue its bilateral relations with countries particularly Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Qatar and Iraq.

Money is more important to the Philippine government so it encourages deployment to these risky countries where security of migrant workers is at risk. Clearly, the Philippine government would rather receive millions of remittances from suffering Filipinos rather than making sure that its people are free from human rights abuses and decent jobs back home.

Read more opinion in Lifting of Deployment Ban, Subjecting More OFWs to Abuse

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Better to work home

Former seafarer Rolando Sarno,53, is happy to work home in the Philippines running his own ship. The elderly Sarno is just one of the many overseas Filipino workers –called modern-day heroes because of their remittances.

With some cash savings, they prefer to stay with their families and start their own business rather than be a migrant worker again.

Read more in Pinoys Bare Heroic Life as Former Modern-day Heroes

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Register now for the 2010 elections

For overseas workers and Filipinos living in other countries outside of the Philippines, 18 years old and above, register now at the nearest Philippines embassy for the 10 May 2010 presidential and senatorial elections. Personal appearance is required for the biometrics capture of photograph, thumbprint, and signature.

Other requirements include: a valid Philippine passport or in its absence, a Department of Foreign Affairs certification; and an accomplished OAV registration / certification form which is available at the Embassy or Consulate or can be downloaded from the Comelec website: http://www.comelec.gov.ph

Seafarers, who get to register and vote in posts where their ship may happen to be during the election period, also need to present a photocopy of Seaman’s Book or proof of being a seafarer.

Filipinos who retained a re-acquired their Filipino citizenship under Republic Act 9225 granting dual citizenship also need to present the original or certified true copy of the Order of Approval of Application, or their Philippine passport.

All qualified Filipinos abroad can go to Philippine embassies, consulates and other foreign-service offices to register, while those in the process of leaving may do so at the Committee on OAV at the Comelec, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, or POEA ground floor, and the OFW Pre-Departure Lounge of the Terminal 1 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

During the same period, previous registrants can also file or request for transfer of registration records; reinstatement in the National Registry of OAV; correction of wrong entries / misspelled names; withdrawal of application for registration / certification pending approval; or reactivation of registration record.

Questions can be directed to http://www.comelec.gov.ph, as well as the DFA Overseas Absentee Voting Secretariat at (632) 833-0914 or (632) 832-8363; and at their website, http://www.dfa.gov.ph.

Link here for the Overseas Absentee Voting Act

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70K plus jobs for unemployed

This is a follow-up of the earlier Job Fair post.

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)said nearly 70,000 new graduates and other job seekers were hired during the Independence Day Job Fair held June 12-14 in Manila, Philippines.

This is good news for job seekers in the country. We expect more moves by the government to generate decent jobs in-country to prevent Filipinos from leaving. This move also is a relief for some unfortunate souls who get victimized by unscrupulous recruiters who ran away with their money in applying for jobs abroad.

Find out more about this in http://www.philstar .com/Article. aspx?articleId=477792&publicati onSubCat\egoryId=63

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Returning OFWs to quarantine themselves due to swine flu

Following the hospitalization of a nurse from Saudi Arabia for swine flu, returning Filipino overseas contract workers are advised to quarantine themselves for 10 days to prevent the spread of Influenza A (HINI) virus. Those hit with swine flu are told to wash their hands frequently, to wear masks, cough with a tissue or your arm, and stay home when you are sick.

The number of H1N1 cases worldwide stood at 658 early Sunday, according to World Health Organization. Swine flu has been confirmed in 16 countries. Mexico has the largest number of confirmed cases with 397, followed by the United States at 160. Sixteen (16) people in Mexico and a toddler in the United States have died from the virus.

The WHO has confirmed cases in 14 other countries: Canada, with 51; the United Kingdom with 15; Spain with 13; Germany with six; New Zealand with four; Israel with three; France, with two; and Austria, China, South Korea, Denmark, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Costa Rica, each have one.

Rea more about the swine flu update in http://worldnewspage.wordpress.com/2009/05/03/confirmed-cases-of-h1n1-virus-stand-at-658-who-says/

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Filipino caregivers to take healthcare study in Japan

Filipino health care workers who intend to work in Japan faces demanding criteria on a new bilateral policy. According to a recent Memorandum of Understanding between Japan and the Philippines, Filipino nurses and caregivers who wish to work in Japan have to enroll on a two to four year school caregiving course in Japan, before they are certified health care workers fit to work in the country. This means even if they have already finished a two to four year caregiving course in the Philippines, they have to take another round of health course in Japan. Read more about this in http://ofwngayon.com/home/2009/06/deployment-rules-for-nurses-caregivers-to-japan-clarified/#more-1158.

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