Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Online system set to ease travel hassles for Filipinos

Lifted from Gulfnews


Dubai: The hassle of physically securing travel exit clearances from the Philippine missions here and elsewhere will soon be a thing of the past as plans to make the application system available online are set to go live within the year, Gulf News has learnt.


The Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC) or travel exit clearance is a document that proves a returning Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) is in the Philippines for a holiday and intends to go back to the same employer abroad. Manila airport officials do not allow OFWs to return to their jobs abroad without the document.

Contrary to media reports in Manila, the OEC system will not be abolished but will be improved in response to complaints by OFWs of the "slow processing" of the OEC, Labour Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz told Gulf News from Manila.

"It is not an abolition of the OEC system. The OEC still stays but we will make the process easier and more efficient," Baldoz clarified.

"We are working on a system wherein all OEC applications and processing will be done online. We also plan to have the OEC co-terminus with the validity of the contract so that the OFW does not need to apply for it every time," Baldoz added.

Details of the project will be announced during Migrant Workers' Day on June 7 alongside other outreach projects of the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency (POEA) for Filipino migrant workers.

"Our IT group already has the concept for this project but we are still working on the nitty-gritty details of the project. If things go as planned, we will launch the project within the year," Amy Reyes, POEA Deputy Administrator for Management who oversees the project, told Gulf News.

POEA and many Philippine missions, including the ones in the UAE, have been faulted for the hassle reportedly brought about by applying for OECs.

"Usually an employee will need to take a day off or half day from work just to get it [OEC]. Every year when you go back home, you have to secure this document and go through the same process," Bryan Vergara, a Filipino worker who applied for an OEC recently, said.

"This move by the POEA is a good one because getting this OEC is a burden for OFWs as it is time consuming," he added.

"When I applied for my OEC here in Dubai last April, it took me one whole day…I think the online system is a good idea to avoid the inconvenience of queuing for a long time under the sun at the labour office," Wilson Ariem, Sr, a technical manager, said.

Acting labour attaché Venus Abad said: "The application process takes time because of the volume of applicants that we receive on a daily basis. During the peak months in April and May, we process around 400 OECs per day. For non-peak months, we process around 200 a day."

"We are working on a system wherein all OEC applications and processing will be done online. We also plan to have the OEC co-terminus with the validity of the contract so that the OFW does not need to apply for it every time," Baldoz added.

Details of the project will be announced during Migrant Workers' Day on June 7 alongside other outreach projects of the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency (POEA) for Filipino migrant workers.

"Our IT group already has the concept for this project but we are still working on the nitty-gritty details of the project. If things go as planned, we will launch the project within the year," Amy Reyes, POEA Deputy Administrator for Management who oversees the project, told Gulf News.

POEA and many Philippine missions, including the ones in the UAE, have been faulted for the hassle reportedly brought about by applying for OECs.

"Usually an employee will need to take a day off or half day from work just to get it [OEC]. Every year when you go back home, you have to secure this document and go through the same process," Bryan Vergara, a Filipino worker who applied for an OEC recently, said.

"This move by the POEA is a good one because getting this OEC is a burden for OFWs as it is time consuming," he added.

"When I applied for my OEC here in Dubai last April, it took me one whole day…I think the online system is a good idea to avoid the inconvenience of queuing for a long time under the sun at the labour office," Wilson Ariem, Sr, a technical manager, said.

Acting labour attaché Venus Abad said: "The application process takes time because of the volume of applicants that we receive on a daily basis. During the peak months in April and May, we process around 400 OECs per day. For non-peak months, we process around 200 a day."



Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Senate Convict Corona




While watching the finale of impeachment hearing today, where CJ Corona was found guilty of Article 2 of the impeachment complaint filed against him for non disclosure of his SALN, I was wowed by the explanation of Senator judge Enrile's "paghihimay-himay" explanation of his Guilty verdict.

At the age of 88, Enrile still commands respect among the much younger senators.

His mastery of laws and his full control of the full length of impeachment hearing swas very impressive.

Lapid being a broken record as always kept reminding the public of his being a high school graduate and for not understanding the Republic Acts and for not speaking English.

Villar however, was liking himself to the present situation of Corona where everyone was prejuding him in the media.

With all the drama in the Senate today, let just pray that these honorable senators can finally close these episode and focused on more pressing matters in the country.

The senators have spoken. and so let it be..

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Guide to safe living: Dos and Don'ts in the UAE




* Bathing suits are OK only in hotel pools and private beaches
* Men are also expected to dress decently with no bold overtones.
* Absolutely no cross-dressing
* Holding hands and kissing are unacceptable and can lead to arrest
* During Ramadan, the Muslim fasting month, people are expected to abstain from alcohol, dancing, chewing gum, smoking and singing in public during the day
* Eat/drink with your right hand as the left hand is considered to be unhygienic in this part of the world
* Don’t show the soles of your feet or shoes as this implies disrespect to others — that you are comparing the person to soles or ‘dirt’/‘trash’*
* If a Muslim is praying, do not walk in front of him or stare at him
* If you have not accepted Islam as your religion, take prior permission before entering a mosque
* Do not point fingers at others as this is considered disrespectful
* Taxi passengers should avoid sitting in the front seat of a taxicab;“small talk” can be misinterpreted as over-friendliness or even a form of propositioning by taxi drivers
* Prescription and over-the-counter medications are often considered illegal or a controlled substance.
* Keep your medicines in their original containers and bring a letter from your doctor as a well as a copy of your prescription with you
* Possession of illegal drugs, or the presence of an illegal substance in a blood or urine test, clothing, body, or in your luggage, could lead to arrest
* Don’t drink and drive. Alcohol is served at bars in major hotels but is intended for hotel guests.
* Drinking or possession of alcohol without a Ministry of Interior liquor permit is illegal and may lead to fines and imprisonment
* Avoid making obscene hand gestures, using inappropriate (foul) language to a police officer