Former OFW wins new House and Lot Package at OWWA-CAR Labor Day Job Fair

Photo Courtesy || DOLE CAR

Baguio City - A former OFW was the luckiest job seeker of all time during the 2018 Labor Day Job Fair held at  Baguio City High School campus on Tuesday. 

25-year-old Joyce Mae Ridual couldn't believe about the blessing she had received during Labor Day, she just won a house and lot package. 

Ridual hit the jackpot of the House and Lot raffle promo sponsored by PAG-IBIG Fund drawn by the Department of Labor and Employment - Cordillera (CAR). 

According to Ridual, she wasn't aware of the raffle draw and was surprised when her number was called out and she was announced the winner of a house and lot. 

"Nung tinawag na iyung number, nagulat na lang po ako at saka iniisip ko po kanina, hindi ko ata nasulatan yung ticket, iyun pala wala palang name, number lang pala. Nung inaanounce na yung number ko, hindi pa rin ako makapaniwal," Ridual said.

Ridual credited the Almighty God for winning the jackpot because she believed it's God's will and winning it is not a luck. She said that right before the draw, she walked to the Baguio Cathedral and said a prayer. 

Not only that, Ridual was also hired on the spot for a nurse position overseas. According to the agency's recruitment officer, her credentials and experience of working in Riyadh for two years are enough to qualify her for the job. 

During the whole day Labor Day event, there were 3,824 job seeker who applied for work and only 544 were lucky to be hired on the spot according to abs.cbn 

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OWWA restores hope of an OFW from Mt. Province by giving livelihood and college scholarship to kid

Message from OWWA.  Photo Courtesy || Hans Leo J. Cacdac FB

Cordillera - The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) is calling once again all OFWs to avail of the programs designed for Overseas workers who are in need of help and assistance. 

OWWA Administrator Hans Leo J. Cacdac said, there are still many OFWs who are not aware or informed about the programs that they can avail such as the 'OFW Dependents Scholarship Program' or ODSP and Livelihood Assistance.

In his latest FB post, Cacdac mentioned two OFWs who were granted livelihood assistance and scholarship assistance for their kids who are going to college. 

Cacdac cited a story of an OFW from Mt. Province who was hesitant to go home because she doesn't have enough money to bring home after her job contract in Saudi was stopped due to maltreatment from employer. 

"May isa tayong kababayan mula sa Mountain Province, galing siya sa Saudi matapos maudlot ang  contrata dahil sa hindi tamang trato ng employer. Ayaw bumalik sa probinsya dahil walang sapat na maiuwi sa kanyang mga anak. Nabuhayan siya noong malaman niya na bibigyan ng OWWA ng livelihood at scholarship sa kolehiyo para sa kanyang anak na nasa Grade 12 at kukuha ng Kriminology sa pasukan. Uuwi na sya ngayong lingo"

The ODSP or OFWDSP is an educational assistance provided to qualified active OWWA-member who want to pursue any 4 to 5 year baccalaureate degree or associate degree in any state college or university in the country. 

Beneficiaries of ODSP can be granted financial assistance worth P20,000 per year provided that the OFW's income per month is less than $600, according Cacdac. 

Another program is the enhanced "Balik Pinas! Balik Hanapbuhay" where in returning OFWs are granted cash assistance worth P20,000 including entrepreneurship development training to equip them with the necessary knowledge to start their own business at home. 

To avail of the program, OFWs are advised to apply at any OWWA Regional Offices nearest their residence. For Cordillera region, the regional office of OWWA is located at #17 Manongdo Building, Private Road, Magsaysay Avenue, Baguio City. You can also ask question by messaging them at their OWWA Baguio Facebook Page.

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POEA announces 5,000 new jobs for skilled workers in New Zealand

Baguio City, - The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) has announced an almost 5,000 skilled workers needed this year in New Zealand.

Any Filipino who has experience in the construction industry can be a good candidate for the job since most employers prefer Filipinos who can work as carpenters, scaffolders, masons, farm workers, drivers and any other related jobs.

POEA listed several job orders for Filipinos who are interested to work in New Zealand.

• Machine Operator
• Painter
• Laborer
• Automotive Technicians
• Pipe fitter/worker
• Farmers
• Mason
• Carpenter
• Fitter tyre/tech
• Scaffolder

Competitive salaries are offered to those who will qualify for the job. Laborers, machine operators, drivers and mason can take home a monthly paycheck of around 3,520 New Zealand Dollar (NZD) or Php 131,000 while those who work as carpenter can earn as much as 2,400 NZD.

In line with this new job orders, POEA said recruiters for the jobs may prioritize those who have at least 3 years of working experience overseas or in the country. The experience qualification is a proof that an applicants is knowledgeable in operating modern equipment.  

It can be recalled that New Zealand has announced it offers around 30,000 job opportunities this year for foreign workers. 

Aside from the good salary that foreign workers can take, they can also bring their family members to stay with them in the country and after three years of working the worker will have the option to apply for permanent residency. 

Interested applicants who wish to apply for the job can inquire directly at the office of the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency for more information.

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How to get iDOLE - OFW ID for Overseas Filipino Workers

OFW ID Sample: Photo credits: DOLE

Baguio City - Today, July 12 is the official launch of the iDOLE or OFW ID for overseas Filipino workers that aim to replace the controversial Overseas Employment Certificate, the Department of Labor announced.

Labor Secretary Silverstre Bello III said that the new OFW ID will enhance the delivery of government services and programs for OFWs.

"Under this program, all bonafide OFWs will be given iDOLE, the ID of the Department of Labor and Employment at no cost to the OFWs. This will serve as the OEC of the OFWs," Bello said.

All OFWs will be given an OFW ID card for free and this can be applied by going to POEA's website to fill in necessary information.

According to Bello, the ID card can also be used as a debit card and an ATM card for the OFW Bank as well as a beep card for LRT and MRT.

He also said they are also working on the possibility of the card to serve as the electronic passport of OFWs, which they can use anytime, whether going abroad or going back to the Philippines.

Another good feature of the said card is the potential to used by the holder to avail of the services and programs of the government such as the SSS, Philhealth and Pag-Ibig.

HOW TO APPLY FOR OFW ID CARD

For individuals who are scheduled to be deployed overseas and for those OFWs who are are currently in the Philippines for vacation, you can visit any of the Department of Labor and Employment offices near you and inquire about the new OFW ID. Please click this link to know DOLE offices around the country.

The main office of DOLE in the capital region is located at DOLE-NCR Building, 967 Maligaya Street, Malate, Manila.

If you are from Cordillera region, you can personally visit DOLE office at Cabinet Hill Baguio City.

NOTE: Please bring with you relevant personal identification cards, passport, certificates, working permits and contract. For returning OFWs, don't forget to bring copy of your OEC.

Since this is a new concept, there are none yet in record any official guidelines issued by the department about the processing of the new ID and the least thing OFWs can do is to visit their offices.

There's a plan that soon OFWs can apply for the ID directly online or any representative from their family can apply for them.

If approve, the ID will be processed and delivered it to their home address by mail.

source: Philippine Information Agency

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Duterte to ask labor Secretary Bello for possible removal of OEC for OFWs

(Wow-Cordillera) -- In his community meeting with overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) gathered in a hotel near the airport in Hong Kong on Friday, President Rodrigo Duterte once again asked the Filipinos to give him 3 to 4 years to improve the Philippines.

Prior to his scheduled trip to China to attend the One Belt, One Road (Obor) Summit, Duterte delivered a speech to the gathered group of OFWs that eagerly waited for him.

In a short interview after the meeting, the issue of the Overseas Employment Certificate or OEC online service was brought up, asking the president for the total scrapping of the process siting that such procedure only adds to the burden of OFWs when going home.

In order for an OFW to be granted departure from the airport, he/she must present an Overseas Employment Certification  (for first time OFW) or present an OEC exemption number ( returning OFW to the same employer) to the immigration officer before he will be allowed to exit the country.

Although the new procedure of getting a certificate is done partly online, many OFWs still struggle to log-in and register due to unfamiliarity of modern technology.

Thus, they asked the president for a possible removal of the OEC.

President Duterte acknowledged the call and said he will ask the labor secretary to look into it.

"I will ask Bebot Bello to conduct a study. I'm not too familiar with what is wrong here and what is not," he said.

He also added that he will conduct an investigation and crackdown of alleged illegal recruiters who are victimizing many unfortunate Filipinos.

With the regard to the issue of some domestic helpers who allegedly forced to sleep in an inhuman sleeping quarters, he said that Hong Kong authorities and legislators will look into it and will fix the problem.

President Duterte is set to arrive on Beijing, China to attend the Obor Summit on Saturday.

The Obor Summit will be attended by leaders of 28 nations in Beijing to map out China's ambitious new Silk Road project.

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