5 facts about the Qatar blockade and its effects on OFWs

In another display of deep-seated divisions and internal squabbles in the Arab world, three Persian Gulf monarchies recently decided to place a de facto siege on the tiny, prosperous Sheikhdom of Qatar.

All of a sudden, one of the world’s richest countries has found itself precariously isolated—and its very existence put into question.

The move was led by Saudi Arabia, the effective leader of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), which is composed of all littoral states in the Persian Gulf with the exception of Iran, the sole Shia-ruled, non-Arab nation in the area. There are five important things to keep in mind as far as the ongoing crisis is concerned:

Customs to impose tighter rules for balikbayan boxes

The Bureau of Customs said yesterday it may impose tougher measures on balikbayan boxes for fear that these tax-free packages are being used by traders to smuggle goods into the country.

“The existing rules are obsolete and we may have to reassess our coordination and processes with consolidators for stricter and improved compliance,” Customs Commissioner Alberto Lina said in a statement.

“Our spot checks from several warehouses show how misconstrued the rules may have become. People are sending in used clothing, home appliances and items of the same kind that can well be used for commercial purposes,” he said.

OFWs join #DiAko4Sale campaign

Filipino workers around the world showed their support for the global observance of World Day Against Trafficking by posting selfies bearing the hashtag #DiAko4Sale.

This is part of the social media campaign of the Blas F. Ople Policy Center and Pinoy Blog/OFW Awards (PEBA), two non-government organizations helping in the fight against modern-day slavery.

"As an NGO, we receive several cases involving trafficked overseas workers via Facebook and Twitter. The use of social media has become the norm, rather than the exception, when it comes to handling urgent OFW cases, particularly those involving maltreatment and sexual exploitation," said Ople Center president, Susan Ople.

New fuel price in U.A.E.

Dr Matar Al Nyadi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Energy, disclosed the new fuel prices to be effective from August 1.

Source: khaleejtimes.com

Dubai to release 11 Pinoy prisoners in observance of Ramadan

Eleven Filipinos detained in Dubai for various offenses are among the 734 prisoners scheduled to be released in observance of Ramadan, the Department of Foreign Affairs said Thursday.

They were ordered freed by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Dubai, the DFA said.

Citing a report from the Philippine Consulate General, the DFA said Dubai’s Attorney General, Mr. Issam Al Humaidan, announced that the public prosecution has begun the legal procedures to implement the Sheikh’s release order, in cooperation with the Dubai Police.

POEA cancels license of manning agency over placement fee

The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) has cancelled the license of a local manning agency for collecting placement fees worth P30,000 and P60,000 from two jobseekers.

According to POEA, Mid-South Ship and Crew Management, Inc. collected the money from the victims and made them sign two-year employment contracts for a monthly salary of $250.

The two victims then worked as fishermen aboard a Taiwan-based fishing vessel for three and a half months before returning to the Philippines due to alleged maltreatment and unpaid wages.

Pinoy sales associate in Dubai overcomes self-doubt, becomes ‘last singer standing’

While others would join singing contests to win prizes or start a career, Mark Rodel Sularte Arellano joined one for a different reason — to boost his self-confidence.

After surviving his first karaoke contest in 2010, it was all a walk in the park for the 34-year-old sales associate.

“After that first competition, dun na nag-start yung desire [ko] na kumanta sa stage at sumali sa mga contest kasi parang from there, parang bumalik yung tiwala ko sa sarili na puwede rin pala ako manalo ulit,” Mark shared an email, referring to the karaoke contest at the Rockwell Bar in Capitol Hotel-Al Mina, Dubai.

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DFA warns Pinoys vs. so-called ‘Middle East compensation package’

A possible online scheme to steal money from unsuspecting individuals may be using professional social networking sites, the Department of Foreign Affairs warned Filipinos on Thursday.

Citing information several Filipinos in the Middle East have received messages that could potentially steal their personal account information, the Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi particularly warned expatriates against a so-called "Middle East Compensation Package," the DFA said.

In a statement on Thursday, it also said "recipients of such messages were instructed to make arrangements with the paying bank for the release of this compensation.  The phone number and email address of the contact person were also provided by the sender."

Miriam urges Senate to pass bills to protect OFWs

Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago has urged the Senate to act on legislation protecting OFWs in light of the scheduled execution of Mary Jane Veloso in Indonesia for drug trafficking.

“It appears that Veloso is a victim not only of illegal recruitment, but also of drug syndicates using unsuspecting OFWs as drug couriers. Such cases may be avoided if we put in place stronger safeguards,” the senator said in a statement on Saturday.

Veloso was arrested with 2.6 kilograms of heroin at the Yogyakarta Airport  in 2010. Her parents claim a recruiter gave her the suitcase while traveling from Malaysia to Indonesia.

21 recruitment agencies suspended for 'reprocessing' Dubai-bound OFWs

At least 21 recruitment agencies based in the Philippines are facing suspension or cancellation of their licenses after illegally reprocessing 30 Filipinos headed to Dubai, The National reported Tuesday.

The National reported that the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) investigated the agencies last week and discovered enough evidence to warrant their suspension or the cancellation of their licenses.

Delmer Cruz, a Dubai-based labor attache, said the 21 agencies reprocessed the 30 Filipinos or used job orders different from the work given at their destination country.

OFWs urged not to take out loans in UAE

 The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) issued a reminder to Filipino workers based in the United Arab Emirates against taking out loans and using credit cards.

"This advisory is being issued in view of the alarming increase in the number of Filipinos detained due to unpaid loans," the DFA said.

According to the DFA, low interest rates lure OFWs to apply for loans for various reasons without paying much attention to the other charges which appear in the fine print, and the prospect of taking as much as 18 months of one’s salary. Usually, banks require only a certificate of employment to approve a loan application.

"Debt-related cases are extraordinarily difficult to handle especially if the lenders, both banks and individuals, have filed criminal or civil cases against the borrowers," the DFA explained.

Still hanging on to your old peso bills? Read this

Are you still using old peso bills?

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas on Monday said it will start withdrawing old bank notes from circulation starting January 1, 2015.

The old bank notes' design has been used since 1985.

BSP Deputy Governor Diwa C. Guinigundo said the demonetization process for the old peso bills will run from January 1 to December 31, 2015.

Pinoys hold fundraiser in Dubai for Typhoon Ruby victims

A Filipino non-government organization in the United Arab Emirates held a fundraising activity at the Philippine consulate in Dubai for the victims of Typhoon Ruby, a report from GMA's “News TV Live” program said Saturday.

According to the report, Sangguniang Masang Pilipino launched the event named “Brunch for a Cause” which was attended by at least 200 people. The event featured Filipino artists and bands who performed for the crowd.

The funds raised will be used to buy food and other necessities for typhoon victims in the Samar province and other areas.

Draft resolution may allow deployment of Pinay maids to UAE –report

Filipino women wanting to work as household helpers in the United Arab Emirates may benefit from a prospective resolution that will allow their deployment there, a UAE news site reported Sunday.

The resolution awaits the nod of both countries as they started negotiations on the standardization of employment contracts, according to a report on Gulf News.

“We already have a general understanding on how maids should be treated and this should be stated clearly in the terms and conditions in the standard contract that both governments will agree and adhere to,” Gulf News quoted Philippine Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz as saying when she visited the UAE.

Vigan hailed as one of ‘New7Wonders Cities of the World’

The heritage city of Vigan in Ilocos Sur province, has been hailed as one of the “New7Wonders Cities of the World” in an awarding ceremony held in Dubai on Sunday.

The other wonder cities are: Beirut in Lebanon, Doha in Qatar, Durban in South Africa, Havana in Cuba, Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, and La Paz in Bolivia.

“We congratulate each of these cities on achieving their New7Wonders status, and we look forward to celebrating their election to the “canon of 7″ with their citizens in 2015. The New7Wonders Cites will now join the New7Wonders of Nature and the New7Wonders of the World in becoming part of Global Memory for humanity for ever,” said Bernard Weber, the founder of the nongovernment organization New7Wonders.

Recruitment agency suspended for sending 4 OFWs to Dubai with deceptive visas

The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration preventively suspensed a recruitment agency for sending four household service workers (HSWs) to Dubai using deceptive visas.

POEA Administrator Hans Leo Cacdac ordered the sanction against YMC International Manpower Services, which he said violated POEA rules on misrepresentation in recruitment and placement of workers.

With the preventive suspension order, YMC International is temporarily barred from recruitment and placement of OFWs pending investigation of the cases against it.

Most powerful Arab woman defends Filipinos

Filipino migrant workers, especially those working in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), have found a friend in a woman leader named the most powerful Arab women by Forbes Magazine.

Emirati royalty Sheikha Lubna Bint Khalid Al Qaisimi has cited the excellent skills and the positive work attitude of Filipino migrant workers during an interview with journalists at the sidelines of the UAE 43rd National Day celebration.

Her remark defended Filipino workers from discriminatory comments, one of them, “a nation of slaves” tag on the Philippines.

OFWs in UAE await better working conditions

Over 475,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the United Arab Emirates will be enjoying better working conditions.

Speaking to some 100 foreign journalists during the country’s 43rd founding anniversary on Tuesday, UAE Foreign Affairs Minister Anwar Gargash said the government aims to further improve its labor laws, and that they give importance to relations with the Philippines.

“And I think this continues to be work in progress, so this is something I think that is also important in our relations (with the Philippines),” he said.

Gulf agrees new contract for domestic workers

Gulf labor ministers Tuesday agreed on minimum terms in the contracts of domestic staff to improve the widely criticized working conditions of over 2.4 million foreign maids, an official said.

The move comes as labor ministers of the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), home to 23 million foreigners, mostly unskilled workers, are to meet with their Asian counterparts in Kuwait City this week to discuss the conditions of foreign labor in the oil-rich region.

The new contract entitles domestic workers to a weekly day off, annual leave and the right to live outside their employer's house, the director general of Kuwait's Public Manpower Authority, Jamal al-Dossari, told AFP.