Latest news with #OverseasFilipinoWorkers
Gulf Today
a day ago
- Business
- Gulf Today
Caravan invites Filipinos to avail government services
The UAE, host to the second largest overseas Filipino contract workers worldwide – nearly one million – is the second leg of a comprehensive service caravan began in Saudi Arabia last week. 'The Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) Serbisyo Caravan,' according to Philippine Labour Attache in Dubai and the Northern Emirates John Rio Bautista, welcomes all Filipinos from all over the UAE, who wish to avail of basic and special government services. However, unlike the caravan in Saudi Arabia that commenced in the capital of Riyadh and extended to Jeddah and Alkhobar, the UAE edition shall only take place in Dubai. On July 28 to 30 (Monday to Wednesday) and at the Migrant Workers Office (MWO) in Al Qusais – formerly the Philippine Overseas Labour Office-Dubai – will be the first-time enrollment as well as the reactivation or renewal of memberships at the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhillHealth), the government-owned and controlled corporation set up in 1995 to manage the universal health coverage, officially known as the National Health Insurance Programme for all Filipinos. Applicants are advised to pre-register through the QR code available over the MWO-Dubai website. Aside from the enrollment, reactivation and renewal of membership, offered as well concern receipt of claims documents, issuance of PhilHealth identification cards and Member Data Records. Questions on membership, premium contribution and benefits will be entertained, according to a copy of the MWO Dubai Advisory No. 21-A Series of 2025 – 'Availability of PhilHealth Services' – furnished Gulf Today and available to the public over the MWO-Dubai website. Wide-ranging as conceptualised, even as free legal assistance, financial literacy sessions, job contract verification, and passporting have been part and parcel of organised One Philippines Team periodic outreach activities, psychosocial consultation, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) electronic-card processing, national identification registration, livelihood and reintegration programmes, and business support assistance shall also be available on August 3 (Sunday) at the Dubai World Trade Centre. Participating agencies are the Department of Social Welfare and Development; PagIBIG (Home Development Mutual Fund); Public Attorney's Office, the independent body attached to the Department of Justice; Philippine Statistics Authority; Social Security System; Department of Trade and Industry-Philippine Trade and Investment Centre (Dubai); OWWA (Dubai); MWO (Dubai); and the Philippine Consulate General (Dubai). There is no required pre-registration. The interested are requested to review the official websites of the participating offices so they are properly informed on what documents and papers to bring such as their Philippine passports (original and copy) and other Philippine Government-issued identification cards. 'Unfortunately, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos will not be able to join the Dubai Leg,' Atty. Bautista said. He was asked about Araneta-Marcos who arrived in Riyadh last Friday to participate at the inauguration of the outreach programme for OFWS by the Ferdinand 'BongBong' Marcos Jr. Administration. Qatar was reported to be the third leg. On the purpose of the outreach programme, the main implementer of which is the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), Bautista said: 'It is the mandate of the DMW to protect the rights and promote the welfare of OFWs. As part of its commitment, the DMW takes the lead in this inter-agency effort to reintroduce various government programmes and services through this one-stop shop OFW Serbisyo Caravan.' 'It is to provide easy access to government services, deliver information sessions and offer support channels to all OFWs and their families,' Bautista added. 'The Serbisyo Caravan ensures that under the Bagong Pilipinas administration, OFWs are provided with all available services and programmes within their reach to honour their sacrifices as the country's modern-day heroes,' according to the Philippine News Agency.
Filipino Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Filipino Times
First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos makes historic visit to Bahay Kalinga in Riyadh
First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos made a historic first visit to Bahay Kalinga in Riyadh, personally meeting distressed Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), mothers, and children awaiting repatriation. During the emotional gathering, she announced that their long-awaited return to the Philippines had been secured, drawing tears, applause, and relief. The repatriation of 43 OFWs and 8 children, including those with medical needs, was facilitated by the Department of Migrant Workers, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, and Department of Social Welfare and Development under President Bongbong Marcos' directive. Each repatriate received financial and reintegration aid, travel essentials, and support for onward transportation. One returnee, Ana M. Dimalen, expressed gratitude: 'Pumunta po si FL sa shelter. Tuwang-tuwa po kami kasi nakita po namin siya ng personal at nagpapasalamat kami kay PBBM at natulungan nila kami makauwi sa Pilipinas.' The First Lady also attended the Bagong Bayani ng Mundo Serbisyo Caravan, which gathered government agencies in one venue to provide on-site services for OFWs in Saudi Arabia. Her visit concluded with the Serbisyong May Saya event, celebrating the resilience and unity of migrant workers. OWWA Administrator Patricia Yvonne Caunan called the visit 'a mother's embrace,' reminding OFWs they are never alone and reaffirming the government's commitment to genuine, heartfelt service for Filipinos abroad.
Filipino Times
13-07-2025
- Filipino Times
Filipina caregiver in Israel dies weeks after Iranian missile strike
The Philippine Embassy in Israel has announced the passing of a Filipino caregiver in Rehovot, Israel, due to injuries sustained during an Iranian missile strike that hit her apartment building. The victim, identified as 49-year-old Leah Mosquera from Negros Occidental, had been confined at the Shamir Medical Center, where she underwent multiple surgeries and spent several weeks in the intensive care unit. Her death was confirmed by her sister, who also works in Israel. 'Lovingly called Ate Leah by her friends, she would have celebrated her 50th birthday this July 29,' the Embassy said in a statement posted on Facebook. The Embassy added that it is now coordinating the repatriation of Mosquera's remains and is providing the necessary assistance to her family. Mosquera was among those affected by the recent exchange of missile strikes between Israel and Iran. There are around 30,000 Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in Israel, while roughly 30 are based in Iran, mostly spouses and children of Iranian nationals. As tensions escalate, more than 200 Filipinos have requested repatriation. The first batch returned to the Philippines on June 24.
GMA Network
13-07-2025
- Business
- GMA Network
Fil-Am leaders urge PH to negotiate remittance tax and product tariffs with Trump
NEW YORK — Filipino American politicians, community leaders, and financial experts are calling on Philippine President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. to negotiate against two controversial provisions under U.S. President Donald Trump's 'One Big Beautiful Bill,' now enacted into law. They argue that these measures—a 1% tax on overseas remittances and a 20% tariff on all Philippine imports to the U.S.—will place an undue burden on Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), the Filipino American community, and the Philippine economy. New York State Assemblymember Steven Raga, the first Fil-Am elected to the New York legislature, urged President Marcos to use his scheduled meeting with former President Trump next week to protect Filipino interests. "This is going to significantly impact the Filipino American community and everyday Filipino immigrants here in New York. The cost of goods affected by these tariffs will ultimately be passed on to consumers, as business owners are only intermediaries. So, the consumers of Filipino products—mostly the Filipino community—will have to pay more because of these harsh tariff increases imposed by Trump. We have a growing Filipino population here, with many Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) regularly sending remittances back home. These remittances help keep our families and the Philippine economy afloat. Therefore, any potential taxes on these remittances or the 20% tariffs should be addressed. I believe President Marcos has a real opportunity to negotiate on behalf of the Filipino community to ease these burdens.' Raga emphasized that the Filipino population in the U.S. continues to grow and contributes significantly to the U.S. economy through entrepreneurship and essential services. Asian American and U.S. Congresswoman Grace Meng, who voted against Trump's bill, warned that the law would punish small businesses and immigrant communities still recovering from the pandemic. "This is a serious concern for the Filipino American community — and for many other communities here in New York and across the country. The chaos and unpredictability of this policy are hurting our families, our entrepreneurs, and our small businesses. Many of these businesses already struggled to survive during the pandemic — some barely made it through. And now, after everything they've endured, they're being hit again with these tariffs. This bill is effectively taking food off the tables of our children and our senior citizens. It's making it harder to access basic health care. A large number of Filipino Americans work in the health care sector — in hospitals and as caregivers — and this will strip critical funding from our medical institutions. That means care will be more expensive and harder to access, and our essential workers — who deserve the very best — will be left with even less." Enzo Manzano, a New York community leader and son of actor Edu Manzano, criticized the law as contradictory to Trump's campaign promise to 'Make America Great Again.' "He told people he was going to make America great again — that he would help families afford to live here. But everything is too expensive now. Inflation is out of control. This move goes directly against what he promised: to make it easier for people to afford day-to-day living and to buy the essentials their families need to survive. It contradicts so much of what he campaigned on. It's clear he misled a lot of people. I've been warning about this for a long time — and we're going to keep fighting back." Erick Bustamante, First Vice President of the Philippine National Bank (PNB) in New York, stressed the economic risks for the Philippines if the 1% tax on remittances and 20% tariff are not addressed. "Our president should lobby for the Philippines to be exempted from this bill. In addition, the 20% tariff that the U.S. government plans to impose on Philippine exports should also be a focal point of his discussions with President Trump. The Philippines has been a long-standing and reliable trading partner of the United States. Imposing a 20% tariff on export-related industries such as garments and electronics will have a severe impact on our economy. Imagine importers turning away from Philippine products because of this high tariff — these industries will suffer greatly. It could lead to lower demand for Philippine goods, including meat products, being shipped to the United States. As one of the United States' longest-standing allies, the Philippines deserves consideration. I believe our president should push for two things: first, an exemption from the 1% remittance tax; and second, either an exemption from the 20% tariff or a reduction to a manageable level so as not to harm Philippine industries." With President Marcos expected to meet Trump next week, Filipino leaders are united in calling for strong diplomatic engagement to shield Filipino families, businesses, and the national economy from what they describe as one of the harshest economic policies ever imposed on the Filipino diaspora. President Marcos is set to arrive in Washington, D.C., on July 20–22 to meet U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House. — RF, GMA Integrated News
Muscat Daily
12-07-2025
- Business
- Muscat Daily
Inaugural Cebu-Oman Investment Forum kicks off
Cebu, Philippines – The inaugural Cebu-Oman Investment Forum kicked off on Saturday in Cebu, Philippines with an opening address by H E Sayyid Badr al Busaidi, Foreign Minister. The event marked a milestone in the enduring friendship between Oman and the Philippines, aiming to transform the longstanding goodwill into a dynamic economic partnership. In his speech, H E Sayyid Badr highlighted the deep ties fostered by nearly 50,000 Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) who have found a second home in Oman, thriving in an environment of safety, respect and opportunity. He emphasised the shared values of modesty, hospitality and tolerance between the Omani and Filipino peoples, which have woven a tapestry of trust and collaboration. The forum represents a bold new chapter, shifting focus beyond manpower relations to invite business communities and investors from both nations to explore mutual economic opportunities. Strategically located at the crossroads of the Arabian Peninsula, East Africa and South Asia, Oman offers access to markets serving over 2bn consumers. Through Vision 2040, Oman is driving economic diversification with world-class infrastructure, free trade zones in Duqm, Suhar and Salalah, and investor incentives including 100% ownership, tax exemptions, a stable currency and free movement of capital, a press release stated. Sectors such as renewable energy, logistics, real estate, tourism, food industry, healthcare, data centres, technology, AI and robotics are open for investment, underpinned by Oman's 'friends to all' philosophy and free trade agreements with countries like the United States, Singapore and European Free Trade Association members. H E Sayyid Badr extended an open invitation to forge robust economic bonds, encouraging joint ventures and expertise exchange to nurture prosperity.
