No to Increase in PhilHealth OFW Premiums!
News Release Blas F. Ople Policy Center December 20, 2011 Press Release Blas F. Ople Center December 20, 2011 NGOs, OFW bloggers oppose Philhealth circular raising premiums of OFW members Several non-government organizations involved in overseas employment issues banded together to oppose Philhealth Circular No. 022 that would nearly triple the amount of premiums to be paid by overseas Filipino workers by next year. Philhealth convened a consultative meeting with a handful of non-profit organizations representing overseas Filipino workers this morning. Walter Bacareza, vice-president of its Member Management Group presented the agency’s plans to increase membership rates including that of OFWs as well as the Board’s intention to...
Understanding the Basis for the POEA Certification Process
For those who would like to understand the basis of the DFA/POEA certification process, the pertinent provisions of RA 10022 or the Amendments to the Migrant Workers Act state — Section 3. Section 4 of Republic Act No. 8042, as amended, is hereby amended to rerad as follows: “SEC. 4. Deployment of Migrant Workers. – The State shall allow the deployment of overseas Filipino workers only in countries where the rights of Filipino migrant workers are protected. The government recognizes any of the following as a guarantee on the part of the receiving country for the protection of the rights of overseas Filipino workers: “(a) It has existing labor and social laws protecting the rights of workers, including migrant workers; “(b)...
POEA List of Compliant and Non-Compliant Countries
List of Compliant Countries: A. Based on POEA Governing Board Resolution No. 2 issued on May 17, 2011: AFRICA 1. Angola 2.Kenya 3. Namibia 4.South Africa AMERICAS 5. Argentina 6. Belize 7. Bolivia 8. BrazII 9. Canada 10. Chile 11. Columbia 12. Costa Rica l3. Ecuador 14. Guam 15. Guatemala 16. Guyana 17. Jamaica 18. Mexico 19. Northern Marianas 20.Paraguay 21. Peru 22. Suriname 23. Uruguay 24.Unted States of America 25. Venezuela EUROPE 26. Albania 27. Austia 28. Azerbaijarr 29. Belgium 30. Bosnia-Herzegovina 31. Czech Republic 32. Cyprus 33. Estonia 34. Finland 35. France 36. Germany 37. Greece 38. Hungary 39.Italy 40.Ireland 4I.Latvia 42.Liechtenstein 43. Lithuania 44. Luxembourg 45. Poland 46. Portugal 47. Romania 48. Russian Federation 49. San...
OFWs in Syria
My very first anti-human trafficking case was in January 2006. It revolved around a Filipino domestic worker named Alice. She was from Pampanga. It was Dindo Amparo who was then bureau chief of The Filipino Channel (TFC) who referred her to the Blas F. Ople Center. From one distressed OFW, the number of those seeking our help for repatriation grew, in a matter of days, to 17 OFWs, all women and human trafficking victims. That was how I came to learn about the challenges confronting our women OFWs in Syria. Fast-forward to today. Unlike in 2006, we now have a Philippine Embassy in Damascus. This was also a result of our lobbying efforts with the Senate and the Department of Foreign Affairs. From 6,000 Filipinos in 2006, we now have an estimated 17,000...
Ople Center lauds OWWA’s decision to recall Welfare Officer in Jordan
News Release Blas F. Ople Policy Center August 11, 2011 The Blas F. Ople Policy Center, a non-profit organization that assists distressed overseas Filipino workers, lauded Overseas Workers Welfare Administration Carmelita Dimzon for issuing a recall order for a welfare officer based in Jordan based on individual formal complaints lodged by recently repatriated OFWs. Aside from five earlier complainants, the Ople Center in partnership with the Sagip OFW Program of Senator Manny Villar, assisted three more complainants in executing sworn affidavits citing Welfare Officer Carmelita Mag-uyon for neglect of duty and gross misconduct. “The stories of 8 repatriated workers were consistent and had a common pattern. They alleged that Welfare Officer...
Impact of the US credit downgrade on labor, OFWs
Here comes the rains again. Falling on my head like a new memory, Falling on my head like a new emotion. Eurythmics couldn’t have described our situation better. The downgrading of the United States from an AAA credit rating to AA+ by Standard & Poors (S&P) has produced rhetoric and results that remind me of the early days of the global financial crisis in 2008. Everyone is being told to remain calm. The effects on our own economy would be minimal. The Philippine economy is strong. Magdilang anghel sana kayo. The economic fundamentals of the Philippine economy are undeniably strong – tremendous dollar reserves, recent and unprecedented credit upgrades, an increase in tourism arrivals, and improved tax collections. The...
Susan “Toots” Ople
My friends call me Toots. Am the youngest of seven siblings. Our family hails from the coastal town of Hagonoy, Bulacan and we are proud of our roots. My daughter's name is Estelle and she's a brilliant debater/person. I love dogs! And I enjoy writing in the dead of the night.
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