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Arab News
2 days ago
- Business
- Arab News
Philippine government brings one-stop service for overseas Filipinos to Riyadh
MANILA: The Philippine Department of Migrant Workers launched on Friday the Middle East leg of its 'service caravan' in Riyadh, as officials seek to provide an all-in-one stop of essential government services for overseas Filipinos in the region. Saudi Arabia is the leading destination for overseas Filipino workers, with about 898,000 of them currently living and working in the Kingdom. The DMW collaborated with other government agencies to bring them the Serbisyo Caravan, or service caravan, an outreach program that offers various state services. 'The Serbisyo Caravan here in the Middle East is part of the government's ongoing program to bring vital services directly to our OFWs,' Rommel Romato, the Philippine consul-general in Jeddah, told Arab News. 'By gathering multiple agencies in one place, the caravan makes it easier and faster for OFWs to access assistance without needing to make special trips to the Philippines.' The services include welfare counseling, free legal consultations, business support assistance, as well as registration and processing of official documents, among other things that are usually only available within the Philippines. Many Filipino nationals in the Saudi capital flocked to take advantage of the service caravan, with large numbers queuing since Friday morning, as seen in a video posted by the DMW on Facebook. 'We want to regularize this program as we expand our diplomatic and consular services to millions of OFWs abroad,' Romato said. Philippine First Lady Louise Marcos arrived in Riyadh on Friday to oversee the launch of the outreach program. As part of the working visit, she will also meet with Filipino migrant workers in the Kingdom, according to Presidential Communications Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro. Though Philippine officials first launched the service caravan in Hong Kong last month, Friday's service marks the first time it was brought to the Middle East. After Riyadh, the DMW is set to take the caravan program to the Saudi cities of Jeddah and Alkhobar, as well as Qatar and the UAE in July and August. Around 20 percent of Filipino migrant workers are in Saudi Arabia, while about 13.6 percent live and work in the UAE, and another 6.2 percent are in Qatar.
France 24
09-07-2025
- Politics
- France 24
Six rescued from cargo ship attacked in Red Sea: EU naval force
The Eternity C, a Liberian-flagged bulk carrier, was badly damaged in the attack in the Red Sea that started on Monday and continued into Tuesday. Yemen's Iran-backed Huthi rebels have not claimed responsibility for the attack, which came after they boarded and sank the Magic Seas on Sunday, their first attack on shipping this year. But the US embassy in Yemen has blamed the Huthis, with UK-based security firm Ambrey also saying the group was likely to blame. The resumed attacks on shipping mark the end of a months-long lull which began during a two-month ceasefire in Gaza earlier this year and continued after a May ceasefire between the Huthis and Washington. "Following the attack on the merchant vessel Eternity C in the southern Red Sea, currently six (6) castaway crew members have been recovered from the sea," said Operation Aspides, the European Union naval task force deployed in the Red Sea. Aspides told AFP that five Filipinos and one Indian had been rescued, while 19 others were still missing. The ship sank, according to Ambrey and Filipino authorities citing information shared by the vessel's owners. Lost leg "We were informed that they might have some injuries but there were no serious injuries that were reported," among the five rescued Filipinos, Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Cacdac told reporters in Manila. A total of 25 people were aboard the Eternity, Aspides told AFP. The Philippine authorities said 21 were citizens. Earlier, the British navy's United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations had reported five crew had been rescued after "search and rescue operations commenced overnight". "Searches continue for those remaining," it added. On Tuesday, Aspides had said three people were killed and at least two injured -- including a Russian electrician who lost a leg -- in the attack on the Eternity C. The Huthis began its attacks on Red Sea shipping in late 2023, saying they were in support of Palestinians in Gaza. On Monday, they said they hit the Magic Seas because its owner had done business with Israel and used its ports. The rebels released a video showing masked gunmen storming the Magic Seas and simultaneous explosions that scuttled the bulk carrier. Both ships had likely been attacked "due to prior Israeli port calls or ownership/ship manager affiliations", according to the Joint Maritime Information Centre, run by Western navies. Huthi attacks have prompted many shipping firms to make the time-consuming detour around the southern tip of Africa to avoid the Red Sea, which normally carries about 12 percent of global trade. Huthi threats to renew their attacks after the Gaza ceasefire collapsed in March prompted a deadly US bombing campaign against the rebels which ended with a May ceasefire. However, the rebels said they would continue to target "Israeli ships". In a statement on Tuesday, the US embassy in Yemen blamed the Huthis for the Eternity C attack, calling it "the most violent" yet and accusing them of "undermining freedom of navigation in the Red Sea". Israel, which has also come under direct missile and drone attack by the Huthis, has carried out multiple strikes on rebel targets in Yemen, most recently on Sunday.
Filipino Times
09-07-2025
- Filipino Times
Five Filipino seafarers rescued after Red Sea attack on cargo vessel
Five Filipino crew members have been rescued following the attack and subsequent sinking of the cargo vessel MV Eternity C in the Red Sea, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) confirmed late Wednesday. During a press briefing, Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Cacdac said reports of possible casualties have surfaced, but these have not yet been independently verified. 'We have received information about fatalities among the crew, but we are still in the process of confirming these details,' Cacdac said. The MV Eternity C, a bulk carrier sailing under the Liberian flag, was reportedly targeted by Houthi rebels. At the time of the incident, the vessel had 22 crew members onboard—21 of whom are Filipinos. Cacdac assured that efforts are ongoing to locate those still missing. 'Search and rescue operations continue. We are holding on to hope that those possibly thrown overboard are still alive and can be found,' he added. The incident adds to a growing number of attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea, a vital global shipping route increasingly under threat due to regional conflicts. The Department of Migrant Workers is closely monitoring the situation in coordination with international authorities and continues to provide assistance to the rescued Filipino seafarers and their families.
RNZ News
03-07-2025
- RNZ News
Queenstown landlord with 22 migrant tenants in unlawful five-bedroom home fined over $100k
The living area for 22 tenants had security cameras on the wall. Photo: Supplied/TCIT A Queenstown Landlord chose to ignore tenancy rules housing 22 mainly migrant workers in a five-bedroom house, converted garages and a shed, the Ministry of Business and Innovation says. James Truong has been ordered to pay $113,723.56 for multiple breaches of the Residential Tenancies Act as well as refund 40 percent of rent paid by the tenants lodged in an unlawful boarding house. The Ministry's tenancy compliance and investigations team found the house had failed to meet healthy homes standards and Truong had interfered with the tenant's power supply as well as posting invalid rent increases and harassing a tenant The team had advised Truong to stop using the building as a boarding house in 2020 but a complaint in 2023 revealed 11 people living in the five-bedroom house, and a further 11 people in two converted garages and a shed. TCIT National Manager, Brett Wilson, said Truong was an experienced landlord who would have been well aware of his obligations and responsibilities under the Act. "Mr Truong knew the rules but chose to ignore them. There was significant non-compliance in this case with multiple breaches of the Act ranging from failure to comply with healthy homes and insulation statement requirements to interfering with the supply of electricity. "The level of damages awarded reflects the seriousness of the non-compliance in this case and the number of people affected," Wilson said. Wilson said the tenants were in a vulnerable situation given most of them were new to the country. "Many of the tenants were overseas workers on working holiday visas who had little knowledge of their rights as tenants in New Zealand. They were also working in a location with a shortage of rental accommodation which made them vulnerable to a landlord who was knowingly operating outside of the Residential Tenancies Act." The garage where five tenants lived. Photo: Supplied/TCIT Adjudicator, R Woodhouse rejected Truong's claims that house was safe and compliant and he was simply helping his tenants out. Woodhouse noted the commercial levels of rent charged at the premises were not consistent with that approach, and when attention from authorities came onto the premises, the tenancies were abruptly terminated. Truong was also issued with a three-year restraining order from committing any further unlawful acts related to operating a boarding house. RNZ has contacted Truong for comment. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
UAE Moments
24-06-2025
- Politics
- UAE Moments
AFP on Standby to Help Repatriate Pinoys from Israel & Iran
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has confirmed it is ready to assist with the possible repatriation of Filipinos from Israel and Iran as tensions continue in the region. Monitoring Situation Closely AFP spokesperson Colonel Francel Margareth Padilla said on Tuesday that the military is closely monitoring developments related to the Iran-Israel conflict. She noted that while the situation is evolving, the AFP is prepared to mobilize immediately if ordered. 'Should the need arise, the AFP stands ready to assist as directed,' Padilla said during a press briefing at Villamor Air Base in Pasay City. Coordination with Government Agencies Padilla stressed that the military will work closely with other government agencies once President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. issues the official directive for evacuation. 'With the President at the helm, we are ready to act swiftly and in sync with other agencies,' she said. 'All of our assets are ready for deployment depending on the mandate.' Voluntary Repatriation in Progress The Philippine government is currently processing around 200 voluntary repatriations. Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac is in Jordan to assist Filipinos traveling home from nearby conflict zones. President Marcos Jr. earlier reiterated that repatriation from Israel and Iran remains voluntary at this stage. Thousands of Filipinos in Affected Regions According to the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), there are approximately 30,000 overseas Filipino workers in Israel and around 1,180 in Iran, most of whom are married to Iranian nationals. The AFP has a history of assisting in the evacuation of Filipinos during international crises and stands ready to do so again, should the situation escalate.
