OFWs and the Filipino diaspora

The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration welcomes the 16 overseas Filipino workers including a one-month old infant who arrived in the Philippines from Israel on Wednesday afternoon.

They are the first batch of repatriated OFWs following the attack of Hamas on Israel. 

According to the Department of Migrant Workers, the OFWs were greeted by Philippine Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates Alfonso Ferdinand Ver when they transited through Abu Dhabi International Airport on their way home from Israel. — Rosette Adel

The Department of Foreign Affairs says that at least eight Filipino workers (OFWs) are set to leave Israel on October 16.

He adds that 22 OFWs have expressed intention to go back to the Philippines amid the ongoing conflict in Insrael.

“There are at least 22 Filipinos in Israel who have indicated that they want to go home. The first batch at the government’s expense will be leaving on October 16 – there are eight of them,” De Vega tells reporters.

He adds that the Department of Migrant Workers and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration will shoulder their travel expenses and will be given proper assistance upon their return. — Rosette Adel

Presidential Communications Office reports that while the government does not see yet the need to repatriate Filipinos in war-torn Israel, the Armed Forces of the Philippines expressed its preparedness to conduct an evacuation operation for Filipinos affected by the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict.

In a press briefing in Malacañang, AFP Spokesperson Colonel Medel Aguilar says that they already prepared a plan should they be called to assist in the humanitarian mission with military aircrafts, C-130 and C-295, as air transport.

“I am here to assure everybody that with the guidance of our President, his Excellency Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr., the Armed Forces of the Philippines is prepared to execute evacuation operation should there be a need for that,” he says. — Rosette Adel

The Philippines shares its best migration practices with countries in the East and Horn of Affrica, PTV reports.

The workshop was organized by the International Organization for Migration Kenya Office on October 2 to 5 in Nairobi. — Rosette Adel

The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) welcomes the Senate’s passage on third and final reading of the Senate version of the Magna Carta of Seafarers during its plenary session on Wednesday.

“This measure will greatly benefit the country’s thousands of seafarers who contribute immensely to the global maritime industry. Our seafarers play a crucial role in keeping the global flow of trade and goods at a robust pace,” DMW Officer-in-Charge Hans Leo J. Cacdac says.

The DMW says that the measure will be sent to the congressional bicameral conference committee which will seek to resolve the differences between disagreeing provisions of the Senate and House versions.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in a tweet commends the Philippine Embassy in Kuwait, the Department of Migrant Workers, and the Kuwaiti Authorities "for their continued pursuit of justice" for slain overseas Filipino Worker Jullebee Ranara.

Ranara's killer was sentenced to 15-year imprisonment.

"We hope that the appeal process will be conducted fairly, and justice will be served accordingly. I take comfort in thinking that Toots and Jullebee are looking down from heaven with smiles. Their legacy serves as a reminder of our duty to protect and support our fellow countrymen, regardless of where in the world they may be," he says in a tweet. 

Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo meets Filipino community members in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

According to the Department of Foreign Affairs, Manalo informs the Filipino community about the developments in the Philippines and encouraged them to continue doing their part in maintaining the good image of the Philippines in Argentina.

There are around 226 Filipinos residing in Argentina. 

The Department of Migrant Workers  and the Bagong Bayani Foundation Inc. confers prestigious awards to outstanding and exemplary overseas Filipino workers through the 2023 Bagong Bayani Awards at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City.

The Department of Foreign Affairs downgrades the status of Libya to Crisis Alert Level 3 or voluntary repatriation for Filipinos there, PTV reports.

The agency notes "significant improvements in the country since 2019."

PTV reports that the DFA raised Crisis Alert Level 4 in Libya in 2019 calling for the mandatory evacuation of Filipinos there.

“The decision was made on the observation that, while the political and security conditions in Libya remain fragile, there have been significant improvements in the country since 2019,” DFA said.

The Department of Migrant Workers announces that the issuance of all forms of Overseas Employment Certificate for rehires or Balik-Manggagawa (BM) shall be free of charge.

This has been implemented since July 29. According to DMW, forms will not require not require issuance of an Official Receipt.

A global coalition of OFW groups and their families gives President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. a failing grade one year after he was inaugurated president.

Migrante International cites the following supposed failures of the president: 

• Failure to create decent jobs at home
•  Inaction on migrants’ urgent issues
• Repression of migrant activists
• Extortion of migrants’ hard-earned income
• Deception about government performance

Migrant Filipinos also cite the death of overseas Filipino worker Jullebee Ranara, murdered in January. She is the fourth Filipina killed in that country since 2018. They also lament that the calls to protect Filipino seafarers and fishers were ignored.

Overseas Workers Welfare Administration welcomes home 11 repatriates from Kuwait at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3. 

OWWA says it provided food, transportation and financial assistance to the 11 overseas Filipino workers. 

"OWWA expresses its appreciation for making the repatriation of OFWs possible to the Government of State of Kuwait, Philippine Embassy /Migrant Workers Office / OWWA Overseas Office in Kuwait," it says.

Two national agencies agree to provide P10,000 aid to displaced overseas Filipino workers in Saudi who are demanding unsettled compensation.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development and the Department of Migrant Workers agree to shoulder two halves of the aid amount.

"Katuwang kami sa pag-aruga ng migrant workers natin," says Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian at an event, as reported by News5.

The Department of Migrant Workers conducts a special jobs fair for some 250 job seekers who are victims of large-scale illegal recruitment.

Licensed recruitment agencies which join the jobs fair, offer approved job orders for cleaners, carpenters, housekeepers, kitchen and restaurant workers, and hairdressers for New Zealand, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Japan.
 

Follw this thread for updates on Overseas Filipino Workers' issues and for updates from Filipino communities abroad.

Photo: The STAR/file