Philippines (see also Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Malaysia, Singapore)
Filipinos using Istanbul as transit point for Europe
Philippine Ambassador to Turkey Bahnarim Guinomla reported that Istanbul has increasingly become a transit point for Filipino irregular migrants seeking to enter Europe for employment. For the first five months of this year alone, 47 Filipinos had allegedly been repatriated after being caught trying to sneak into Europe via Istanbul. This is a lot higher than the 10 cases involving Filipino irregular migrants that the embassy handled last year. The Philippine Embassy in Ankara has sought the help of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in addressing the illegal recruitment of Filipinos for employment in various European destinations.
The two Filipino oil workers of the Norwegian-based oil services company, Petroleum Geo-Services, Joseph Doctolero, 37, and Pacifico Gajo, 36, who were taken hostage by bandits off the coast of Nigeria on 20 June, were released by their kidnappers five days later. The two men were abducted in Aker, near the Nigerian oil city of Port Harcourt by six armed men in a speedboat. It was not clear if the kidnappers’ demand for ransom had been met. The two men arrived back home on 28 June and have yet to decide whether they want to return to Nigeria. The kidnapping incident is the latest in a wave of attacks against foreign oil companies and their staff in Nigeria. Aside from the Filipinos, 29 other expatriate oil workers have also been taken hostage since the beginning of this year. Meanwhile, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has ordered the Philippine Embassy in Nigeria to review its security measures and to discuss with Nigerian authorities and employers how to better protect OFWs working there.
In New Zealand, maritime authorities are conducting a search operation for a Filipino seafarer who fell overboard into freezing waters near Wellington. The seafarer was allegedly lowering a boarding ladder from the Taiwanese chemical tanker Formosa 13 when he fell. Search and rescue operations are being hampered, however, by poor weather conditions.
The Migrante party list in Central Visayas is calling on concerned government agencies to facilitate the immediate repatriation of Eva Alota, a 25-year old domestic worker in Lebanon. Eva recently contacted her sister, Zosima, telling her that she could no longer tolerate her employers’ maltreatment. She also revealed that her employer had tried to rape her.
Administrator Rosalinda Baldoz of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) clarified that the country has not lifted the deployment ban to Iraq but allows a limited deployment of Filipino workers to Afghanistan. POEA records showed that so far only Greystone security agency has submitted a job order for some 20 security guards to be deployed to the US Embassy in Afghanistan and only 16 applications for this job have been approved after due clearance from the DFA. Baldoz made this clarification amid reports that Filipinos were being recruited by US private contractors to work as “mercenaries” in Iraq. Preferred recruits are those with military background or special forces’ training since the job entails securing US diplomats and military officials in Iraq and escorting supply convoys. Recently, Sen. Rodolfo Biazon has also asked the Senate to investigate claims that American firms, Blackwater and Greystone, had already recruited 300 Filipinos for Iraq. Meanwhile, US Ambassador to the Philippines Kristie Kenney clarified that the American government is not training or recruiting Filipinos to serve in Iraq
Local labor recruiters are urging the government to lift the deployment ban to Iraq, which was first imposed on 8 July 2004. According to recruitment consultant Emmanuel Geslani, if US private contractors have been able to recruit Filipinos to work as security personnel in Iraq, then there is no reason why those who want to work in more secure environments, like inside highly fortified US bases doing maintenance and repair work should be banned. Geslani also revealed that the Mactan International Airport in Cebu is being used as exit point by Iraq-bound Filipino workers who take the Dubai or Kuwait route via Hong Kong. Recruiters called on the government to investigate the matter if it wants to stop the flow of undocumented and unprotected Filipinos to Iraq.
DFA spokesperson Gilbert Asuque disclosed that the department is closely monitoring the security situation in Sri Lanka following explosions heard in Colombo last 23 June. The DFA is checking whether any of the 427 Filipinos in Sri Lanka were affected by the blast.
The Philippine Embassy in Dili has issued an advisory asking Filipinos to postpone all non-essential travel to Timor Leste in the light of the unstable security situation in the country. However, those whose travel to Timor Leste cannot be avoided were asked to present themselves to the embassy for registration immediately upon arrival. Filipino workers currently in Timor Leste have allegedly gone back to work but maintain close contact with the embassy.
According to POEA Cordillera director Delfina Camarillo, illegal recruitment syndicates have been using travel agencies as fronts for their operations. So far, three such travel agencies have already been prosecuted in Baguio since January while another one is currently being monitored. The POEA has also received reports that illegal recruiters have also started using the Internet to lure applicants for non-existent jobs abroad. Recruitments are allegedly conducted online through advertisements or messages posted in various websites, online forums and chat rooms. Payments are likewise done online or through the wires.
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the POEA worked jointly for the arrest of Filipino-American Mark RaeVillacruzes, identified as the illegal recruiter of more than 100 ex-military men for security detail in Iraq and Afghanistan. The arrest came after eight former soldiers who had been recruited by Villacruzes complained that the suspect failed to give them the extra pay of $9,000 in war compensation that they were entitled to after their six-month stint in Iraq.
Three overseas job applicants, Jenny Ignacio, 29, her brother Julius, 21, and Jimmy Laganina, 29, filed a formal complaint with the NBI against a 72-year old illegal recruiter who victimizes new graduates and students at the University Belt. The NBI set up an entrapment operation that led to the arrest of Ray Vial Ungos, 72, of Sampaloc Manila, who now faces charges of large-scale illegal recruitment and estafa. After his arrest, 22 more victims also came forward and filed their complaints with the bureau. Ungos allegedly offered them well-paying jobs in Italy, in exchange for fees ranging from P7,000 to P15,000. Meanwhile, POEA administrator Rosalinda Baldoz reiterated her appeal to the citizenry to beware of recruiters who ask for outright cash payment, meet with clients in malls, restaurants and other public places instead of inside offices of licensed agencies, and are unable to produce a job contract for POEA processing.
Roehl Rivera, 41, is facing charges of conspiracy to smuggle 25 aliens into the US using altered passports stolen from Micronesia’s Embassy in the US. Between May 2005 and January 2006, Rivera had allegedly used Continental Airlines flights from Hong Kong to New Jersey to smuggle the aliens who paid as much as $15,000 each for the chance to enter the US. It was learned that Rivera made at least four trips using this route to accompany groups of aliens until he was caught on 6 January. The smuggler had exploited Micronesia’s special arrangement with the US that allows holders of its passports to live and work in the US without needing a visa.
Acting NBI director Nestor Mantaring has assigned the bureau’s Special Action Unit to work with the POEA to crackdown on illegal recruiters. Mantaring appealed to victims to come forward and pursue a criminal case against illegal recruiters. According to POEA records, only about 300 out of some 405 complaints of illegal recruitment filed in 2005 actually reached the courts. The rest were dropped because the victims refused to testify or lost interest in the long judicial process. Meanwhile, the number of cases of illegal recruitment appears to be increasing. From January to May this year, the POEA has already received 593 complaints, up 242 percent from the 172 complaints received during the same period last year.
Outgoing Labor Secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas signed a memorandum of understanding with her Spanish counterpart Jesus Caldera on a pilot labor project at the Palacio dela Moncloa in Spain, paving the way for a bilateral labor agreement next year. Under the new labor agreement, Spain would allow the entry of Filipino professionals and skilled workers over the next five years. According to Sto. Tomas, the Spanish labor market would be open to Filipino workers in health care and the hotel and restaurant industry this year, construction in 2007, manufacturing in 2008 and mining in 2009. Forty caregivers from the first batch of 100 OFWs to be deployed this year arrived in Spain in mid-June while the rest will follow in August.
During her recent trip to Italy, President Gloria Arroyo met with Italian President Giorgio Napolitano and Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi at the Qurinale Palace and the Chigi Palace, respectively. Press secretary Ignacio Bunye told a press conference that during these meetings, Pres. Arroyo thanked the Italian government for its good treatment of Filipino workers and at the same time sought more relaxed migration rules and regulations. Arroyo also asked the new Italian leaders for additional benefits for OFWs, including automatic conversion of Philippine driver’s license and expanded social security benefits. She has received assurances from the Italian president that Filipinos overstaying in Italy would benefit from an amnesty law that took effect in 2002.
Three Philippine nursing schools – De La Salle Health Sciences Campus, the University of San Carlos in Cebu and the Manila Doctors College – have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Australian Catholic University in a move to raise the standards of nursing education in the country. The agreement provides a framework for cooperation on nursing education for students, faculty and administrative staff through exchange and immersion programs that would begin implementation in 2007.
US Ambassador to the Philippines Kristie Kenney signed a grant of $179,000 for the Visayan Forum Foundation (VFF) during her visit to the NGO’s office in Davao on 23 June. The grant is intended to help VFF expand the operations of its halfway house for trafficking victims. The halfway houses were built by the Philippine Ports Authority in the cities of Manila and Davao and in the provinces of Batangas and Sorsogon.
A proclamation declaring June as the Philippine Independence Month in Guam was signed on 31 May by Governor Felix Camacho in recognition of the contribution of some 19,000 OFWs to the development of the western Pacific island. The signing of the proclamation opened the island’s celebration commemorating the 108th anniversary of Philippine independence led by the Philippine consulate in coordination with the Guam government and Filipino-American organizations.
The Philippines will soon be issuing biometric ID cards to Filipino seafarers. Apart from the usual information, such as name, age and address, the cards will also contain details of promotions received by the seafarer cardholder. The biometric card system, designed in accordance with recommendations made by the International Labor Organization, would facilitate entry and exit of Filipino seafarers at various seaports around the world.
Horacio Templo, officer-in-charge of the state-run pension fund Social Security System (SSS) has asked the DOLE and the POEA to make it mandatory for OFWs to become SSS members before their departure for abroad. According to Templo, the move would allow the agency to provide a mantle of social security protection to all OFWs. Currently, only 515,762 of the eight million Filipinos working in more than 190 countries are SSS members and about 16,000 are enrolled in the SSS Flexi-fund program. The latter is a savings and pension plan on top of the agency’s regular program.
Microsoft Corp. and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) are partnering for the implementation of a new communications service that would enable OFWs to remit money and speak with their families using current technologies. The service would drastically reduce communication costs since by using available WiFi (wireless fidelity) and VoIP (voice over Internet protocol) services, Filipino workers abroad can turn an international call to a free or local call. They can also remit money from a Windows Mobile 5.0 device. Under the partnership arrangement, long-term loans would be made available to OFWs abroad to purchase the Windows Mobile 5.0 device while their families in the families could avail of family assistance loans from OWWA to purchase personal computers.
Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Amando Tetangco expressed confidence that money inflows from OFWs would grow 10 percent this year, meeting the country’s target. Remittances for the first four months of this year reached $3.7 million, up 10.8 percent from last year’s. However, a drop in remittances was observed this year, from $1.031 billion in March to $898 million the following month. For the first time in 17 months, the year on year monthly growth for April was not a double-digit figure, at only 0.34 percent. Tetangco attributed the slowdown in remittance growth to the 2.7 percent decline in the total number of hires and rehires from January to April. The BSP governor believes, however, that the aggressive marketing campaigns of banks and the wider array of remittance instruments and facilities made available to OFWs would partly offset the effect of the reduction in total deployed OFWs.
Meanwhile, according to a comprehensive study on “Workers’ Remittance Flows in Southeast Asia” conducted by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), OFWs in the region remit an average of $4,639 (P245,000) to the Philippines out of an annual income of $10,776. Filipino workers in Japan sent the highest average remittance at $6,064, followed by those from Hong Kong at $4,086, Singapore at $3,786 and Malaysia at $1,354. The study revealed that Filipinos generally sent higher remittances than their Indonesian or Malaysian counterparts.
BSP deputy governor Diwa Guinigundo announced plans to require banks, money transfer agents and other remittance providers, such as foreign exchange dealers and money changers, to disclose the rates they are charging OFWs for their services. The regulation would require disclosure of amount of transfer fees, conversion rate of foreign currency to Philippine peso, foreign exchange spread or mark-up, other currency conversion and related charges as well as delivery time to remittance beneficiaries. The move is part of efforts to cut down the cost of remittances by encouraging competition among service providers and, in the process, reduce the number of OFWs using informal channels to send money home. The Philippine government’s plan to open an OFW Bank is also a step in this direction.
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Bureau of Immigration (BI) have made it easier for expatriates to obtain work permits in the country in a bid to boost foreign investments and subsequently generate more jobs. Under a new department order effective 1 July, the DOLE unified the requirements and simplified the forms for alien work permit applicants, in effect reducing processing time from five days to only one day.
Sources: Maricel Burgonio, “Migrant worker cash transfers up in Q1,” ABS-CBN News, 16 June 2006; Doris Dumlao, “4-month OFW remittances up 10.8%; April growth down,” INQ7.net, 16 June 2006; Katrice Jalbuena, “Illegal recruiters hard to convict,” The Manila Times, 16 June 2006; “OFW remittances jump 10.8% in first 4 months at $3.7 billion,” Manila Bulletin, 16 June 2006; “RP to issue biometric ID to seafarers,” balitangmarino.com, 16 June 2006; “Search for missing seaman continues,” balitangmarino.com, 16 June 2006; Jefferson Antiporda, “New recruitment scam in the Net exposed,” The Manila Times, 17 June 2006; Jojo Due, “US envoy washes hands of mercenaries,” Malaya, 17 June 2006; Guil Franco, “Overseas job applicants told to guard against ‘recruiters’,” Khaleej Times, 18 June 2006; Reuters, “Filipino admits smuggling people into US,” ABS-CBN News, 20 June 2006; Emmanuel Goujon and Ade Obiesesan, AFP, “2 Filipino oil workers kidnapped in Nigeria,” INQ7.net, 21 June 2006; “Illegal recruiter caught in U-Belt,” The Manila Times, 21 June 2006; “Proclamation cites efforts of Guam OFWs,” Manila Bulletin, 21 June 2006; Doris Dumlao, “Central bank remains confident on OFW inflows,” INQ7.net, 22 June 2006; “Cory to address liberals’ meet at PICC today,” Malaya, 22 June 2006; “OFW remittances to top 10% growth in 2006,” Manila Bulletin, 22 June 2006; “Pinoy recruitment for Iraq confirmed,” ABS-CBN News, 22 June 2006; William Depasupil, “Filipinos go to Iraq despite travel ban, says Sto. Tomas,” The Manila Times, 23 June 2006; Nikko Dizon, “Istanbul illegals’ new gateway to Europe, says envoy,” INQ7.net, 23 June 2006; Juliet Javellana, “Take care of OFWs, Aquino urges host countries,” INQ7.net, 23 June 2006; Christina Mendez, “Cory tells Liberal Democrats: Address migration of workers,” The Philippine Star, 23 June 2006; Veronica Uy, “DFA monitoring situation after Colombo blast,” INQ7.net, 23 June 2006; AFP, “Nigeria vows to find, free kidnapped OFWs,” The Philippine Star, 23 June 2006; “Pinoy recruits to Afghanistan got govt nod,” ABS-CBN News, 23 June 2006; Pia Lee-Brago, “RP asks Malaysia to ensure orderly repatriation of OFWs,” The Philippine Star, 25 June 2006; Cristina Lee-Pisco, “Humane repatriation of OFWs sought,” People’s Journal, 25 June 2006; AFP, “2 Filipino hostages in good health,” ABS-CBN News, 25 June 2006; Veronica Uy, “Recruiters seek lifting of Iraq ban,” INQ7.net, 26 June 2006; AFP, “DFA: Freed Filipino hostages to come home this week,” ABS-CBN News, 26 June 2006; Reuters, “Filipino hostages in Nigeria freed: state gov’t,” The China Post, 26 June 2006; “Freed Filipino oil workers in good health – employer,” INQ7.net, 26 June 2006; “Hostage-takers in Nigeria free Filipino oil workers,” INQ7.net, 26 June 2006; Roderick dela Cruz, “Pinoy workers in Asia remit $4,639 annually,” Manila Standard Today, 27 June 2006; Nikko Dizon, “NGO gets $179,000-US grant for human trafficking victims,” INQ7.net, 27 June 2006; Doris Dumlao, “SSS wants mandatory membership of OFWs,” INQ7.net, 27 June 2006; Evelyn Macairan, “Recruiter of ex-soldiers to Iraq nabbed,” The Philippine Star, 27 June 2006; James Mananghaya, “Pinoys leaving for Iraq through Mactan – recruiters,” The Philippine Star, 27 June 2006; Fel Maragay, “Italy easing up on overstaying Pinoys – Gloria,” Manila Standard Today, 27 June 2006; Margaux Ortiz, “Unlicensed recruiter arrested,” INQ7.net, 27 June 2006; Angelo Samonte, “OWWA bares new service for OFWs,” ABS-CBN News, 27 June 2006; Veronica Uy, “DOLE cuts processing time for alien employment permits,” INQ7.net, 27 June 2006; “Alleged Fil-Am recruiter of Pinoy mercenaries falls,” ABS-CBN News, 27 June 2006; “Microsoft, OWWA test new service to make communications, remittance cheaper,” Manila Bulletin, 27 June 2006; Maricel Burgonio, “Money-transfer firms, banks told to publish OFW charges,” The Manila Times, 28 June 2006; Eileen Mencias, “Banks told to disclose remittance, other charges,” Manila Standard Today, 28 June 2006; Veronica Uy, “3 nursing schools sign MOU with Australian university,” INQ7.net, 28 June 2006; “GMA meets with Italian leaders,” Manila Bulletin, 28 June 2006; Barbara Mae Dacanay, “Arroyo for lower bank charges on remittances,” Gulf News, 29 June 2006; William Depasupil, “DOLE eases rules on foreigners’ work permits,” ABS-CBN News, 29 June 2006; Anjo Perez and Louie Perez, “2 OFWs kidnapped in Nigeria arrive home,” Manila Bulletin, 29 June 2006; Veronica Uy, “Filipinos urged to postpone travel in Timor-Leste,” INQ7.net, 29 June 2006; Jonathan Vicente, “DFA wants stricter security for OFWs in Nigeria,” ABS-CBN News, 29 June 2006; Vincent Cabreza, “Illegal recruiters using travel agencies as fronts,” INQ7.net, 30 June 2006; Armand Nocum, “Filipino caregivers learn Spaniards very caring,” INQ7.net, 30 June 2006; “Aid sought for Cebuana OFW abused by employer in Lebanon,” Manila Bulletin, 30 June 2006; “Labor pact with Spain ok’d,” Manila Bulletin, 30 June 2006