OFW re-integration:

that is the question

 

More...    

 

The need for U/Sec. Rafael E. Seguis, chairman of the DFA Crisis Management Committee to fly out of the country and closely monitor the ongoing twin-hostage crises, prevented us from discussing the latest update on the situation.

The sudden downpour last Thursday morning also created a heavy traffic situation that prevented POEA Deputy Administrator Carmelita Dimzon from arriving on time and share with us the sanctions imposed on the placement agencies that violated the government's ban on sending workers to Iraq.

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Are we safe from

terrorist attacks? 

 

PCTC promotes global competence in intelligence and police work;

serves as INTERPOL secretariat in RP

 

An agency with a new paradigm of service is how PDDG Ricardo F. de Leon describes the newly created Philippine Center for Transnational Crimes (PCTC), which he heads as its executive director. This he said is in response to President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s call to focus more on providing services to the people, as well as the security environment that would encourage trade development. De Leon explained that the new PCTC office will cater to the concerns of international investors and traders, foreign students, tourists, OFWs, Filipino migrants, students and expatriates. PCTC is directly attached to the Office of the President.

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INTERPOL's 1-24/7 Project

“The new PCTC is presently participating in the 1-24/7 Project of the INTERPOL in the performance of its secretarial function for the INTERPOL Nat’l Center Bureau (NCB-Manila)”, de Leon said. “This will allow our police to speak in the same language with the 182 countries involved in the project,” he added.

 The 1-24/7 Project according to de Leon covers the priorities and activities of the Interpol on their command and coordination center, public safety and terrorism, fugitive investigative support, drugs and criminal organizations, trafficking of human beings and child pornography over the internet, financial and hi-tech crimes, and criminal analysis.

The upgrading of the technical competence of our policemen into global standards is a timely development in the light of the threat of a global terrorist strike hanging like the sword of Damocles over our heads. An improved security situation, with an efficient police capability in processing globally shared intelligence information, would encourage more tourists and investors to come back for a visit or do business in our country. 

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PCTC will look into counterfeit medicine

Responding to the presence of the Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Association of the Philippines (PHAP) representative in the forum, de Leon said there are limited reports on counterfeit drugs available. It is a high profile case that is difficult to monitor, de Leon observed.

Counterfeit drugs are those that are mislabeled, contain less than 80% of the active ingredients, and unregistered (though contains the active ingredients). The local pharmaceutical industry losses an estimated P8-billion pesos due to the proliferation of counterfeit drugs in the Philippine market.

There was an interception two years ago of a shipment in General Santos City, de Leon recalls. Seized were a bundle of office furniture, but inside the drawers were hidden illegal medicines. PCTC will conduct monitoring and surveillance of drug stores suspected of catering counterfeit drugs, as well as interception from customs and other possible entry points as well as outlets of counterfeit drugs, de Leon said. (Excalibur News)

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OWWA livelihood fund provided P300-m capital to 5,000 OFWs

 

During last Thursday’s discussions at The Makati Business Forum held at the Claro Room of Max’s Restaurant in Greenbelt Park, Makati, Rustico de la Fuente, OWWA’s director for plans and programs,  discussed what they are doing to address the different needs of our OFWs.

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OFW Re-integration Program

Concerning the reintegration of OFWs who prefer to stay with their families in the Philippines after going abroad, de la Fuente said that OWWA has a livelihood support fund. This is a nationwide program available in the 14 regions in the country, he said. It has been going on already for the past ten years and has been expanded this year, de la Fuente added. He further disclosed that they have extended financial support of not less than P300-million to 5,000 workers in the form of investments.

Under the program family circles of fifteen members/beneficiaries could avail of  P50,000 worth of goods to start a business with, he explained. This is based on a supervised credit scheme, payable in monthly amortizations, he said. Offered also are loans with collateral for individual borrowers in the amount of P50,000 to P200,000, and P1-million for group borrowers of five members. Interest charges is 9% per annum, he added.

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Other Loan Windows for OFWs

OWWA provides Pre-Departure Loans (PDL), which is a loan for ready to leave OWWA-member OFWs to help defray costs of their pre-departure requirements, such as payment for placement/processing fees, assistance allowance, cost of clothing and pocket money. OWWA also provides  Family Assistance Loan (FAL), which is a loan granted to currently employed OWWA-member OFWs or their eligible dependents/families to tide them over emergency situations. (Excalibur News)

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OPAP upholds OFW welfare

 

Eduardo T. Mahiya, president of the Overseas Placement Association of the Philippines (OPAP) said that his organization  has been deploying OFWs in all countries with job openings for Filipinos especially in Saudi Arabia. They do not require advance placement fees, Mahiya said, but the OFWs have to pay them an equivalent of one month’s salary after they had been employed abroad.

The employment contracts are for two years and renewable. Unlike other principals, their OPAP-member establishments supervise and attend to their workers from the day of departure until the termination of their contracts, Mahiya emphasized.

OPAP also conducts investment orientation for workers who choose to come home and be with their families and do business here in the country, he added.

OPAP collaborates with the Philippine National Police, BID, and other government agencies in monitoring illegal recruitment activities that is tantamount to human trafficking, and practice intelligence exchange on fugitives, drugs and terrorism, he disclosed.

Mahiya proudly said that their group has sent abroad at least 250,000 Filipinos since their operation in the past 20 years. Problems encountered on placement jobs do not even reach one percent (1%) he said. (Excalibur News)

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PHAP warns against importing 

medicine from India

 

Mr. Eufe Tantia, assistant vice president of the Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Association of the Philippines (PHAP) warned on the planned importation of medicines from India, Pakistan and China. Citing a report from a respected international publication, Tantia gave particular emphasis on India, wherein unscrupulous drug manufacturers proliferate at a ratio of 1:4. This maybe partly due to India’s federal system where laws and regulations may differ from one region to another, Tantia said. From the aggregate of 23,000 drug manufacturing companies operating in that country, one-fourth or 25% of them are not reliable, Tantia emphasized.

Sub-standard drugs are silent killers. They may contain the required ingredients, but not in the right proportion, or they may not contain them at all. Using them does not only give false hopes to unfortunate patients, but may lead to fatal results. Patients’ relatives usually fall to substandard drugs because they are available at a cheaper price.

As a private sector organization, PHAP actively supports the government by promoting public awareness against counterfeit drugs in cooperation with the Bureau of Food and Drugs, and in conducting surveillance operations on suspected merchants of counterfeit drugs in cooperation with the police and intelligence authorities. 

It has found a new partner in the Philippine Center for Transnational Crimes in addressing the international dimension of illegally imported and/or medicine smuggled into the country. Foreign syndicates may also establish legal corporations in the country as a front for their illegal operations. (Excalibur News).