Monday, July 6, 2009
Sun.Star Network Online (http://www.sunstar.com.ph)
TORONTO, Ontario, Canada -- Mayor Nonato Abrenica of Villasis, Pangasinan, urged natives of his town who are working in Canada to see for themselves the many improvements of the town that every one of them can be proud of.
Abrenica spoke on July 1, 2009, before his town mates at the Memories of Japan Restaurant at Don Mills Avenue in Toronto as he came to invite them during the forthcoming town fiesta in honor of the town's Patron Saint, San Antonio de Padua.
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Abrenica, who is on his last term as Villasis Mayor, said the construction of the new public market is now completed and P25 million was spent for it which is a part of the P40 million loan that was lent by the Philippine National Bank.
He said the P40 million was already paid by the Municipal Government in full.
He said the balance of the total amount is now being used for the construction of the Public Auditorium and the roofing is now being completed, which will be ready for use in January 2010 for the town fiesta.
Abrenica, who was introduced by Cristy Pe Benito, president of the Annak Ti Villasis of Canada, pointed out that the municipal building now looks elegantly because of the edifice’s new color, which is yellow.
He lauded the three candidates of Ms. Villasis 2010, which include Ms. Reynalda Lagleyva-Ramos presenting Canada, Ms. Violeta Madayag-Menor of France, and Ms. Nelpha Velasco-Vejano of Australia, for their participation in the contest. The proceeds of the project will go to a worthy cause.
Aside from the officers of Annak Ti Villasis of Canada, those who welcomed Mayor Abrenica were Quintin Palisoc, the incumbent president of the Pangasinan Association of Canada (Paca) and his wife Emily; Willie Rapanan, the incumbent president and immediate past president of Paca, and his wife Precy; Julio Sison, president of the Binalonan Association of Canada, and his wife Lan. (Jojo Taduran)
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Monday, July 13, 2009
Registration schedule outside embassies
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 11:38:00 07/13/2009
MANILA, Philippines — In an attempt to get more Filipinos overseas to register for the 2010 elections, the Department of Foreign Affairs has scheduled the following field and mobile registration dates outside the embassies.
For Filipinos in Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, and Darwin, the Philippine embassy in Canberra will be there from July to August; and in Hobart, Tasmania from August 3 to 7.
For those in Hong Kong, the Philippine consulate general will be at the Lik Sang Plaza, Kowloon Filipino Baptist Church, Diocesan Pastoral Center for Filipinos, St. Joseph’s Church, Immaculate Heart of Mary, St. Benedict Church, and St. Thomas Diocesan Pastoral Center for Filipinos from July to August.
Filipinos in Taiwan, the Manila Economic and Cultural Office will be at the Dart Wits Dormitory Chu-Nan on July 14 and 17; at the Top Polly Chu-Nan Dormitory on July 21 and 24; and at the King Yuan Electronics Co. Ltd. On July 28, and August 4 and 7.
For those in Fukuyama City in Japan, the Philippine consulate in Osaka will be there on August 16.
Filipinos or dual citizens in Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, the Chicago post will be there to register them from July to August.
Those in West Coast may clear their schedule for the following registration dates set by the Los Angeles consulate general: July 17 to 19 in Chandler, Arizona; July 30 to August 3 in Houston, Texas; August 1 in San Diego, California; August 7 to 9 in Albuquerque, New Mexico; August 13 to 17 in Dallas, Texas; and August 21 to 23 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Filipinos in Saudi Arabia may go to the Al-Tawhid International School in Yanbu on July 16 to 17 or to the Khamis Mushayt on July 23 to 24. The Philippine consulate general in Jeddah will conduct the registration in these places.
First Posted 11:38:00 07/13/2009
MANILA, Philippines — In an attempt to get more Filipinos overseas to register for the 2010 elections, the Department of Foreign Affairs has scheduled the following field and mobile registration dates outside the embassies.
For Filipinos in Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, and Darwin, the Philippine embassy in Canberra will be there from July to August; and in Hobart, Tasmania from August 3 to 7.
For those in Hong Kong, the Philippine consulate general will be at the Lik Sang Plaza, Kowloon Filipino Baptist Church, Diocesan Pastoral Center for Filipinos, St. Joseph’s Church, Immaculate Heart of Mary, St. Benedict Church, and St. Thomas Diocesan Pastoral Center for Filipinos from July to August.
Filipinos in Taiwan, the Manila Economic and Cultural Office will be at the Dart Wits Dormitory Chu-Nan on July 14 and 17; at the Top Polly Chu-Nan Dormitory on July 21 and 24; and at the King Yuan Electronics Co. Ltd. On July 28, and August 4 and 7.
For those in Fukuyama City in Japan, the Philippine consulate in Osaka will be there on August 16.
Filipinos or dual citizens in Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, the Chicago post will be there to register them from July to August.
Those in West Coast may clear their schedule for the following registration dates set by the Los Angeles consulate general: July 17 to 19 in Chandler, Arizona; July 30 to August 3 in Houston, Texas; August 1 in San Diego, California; August 7 to 9 in Albuquerque, New Mexico; August 13 to 17 in Dallas, Texas; and August 21 to 23 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Filipinos in Saudi Arabia may go to the Al-Tawhid International School in Yanbu on July 16 to 17 or to the Khamis Mushayt on July 23 to 24. The Philippine consulate general in Jeddah will conduct the registration in these places.
International migration and global union: Filipino nurses and care workers
http://world-psi.org
Public Services International Japan Council (PSI-JC) and Union Network International Japan Council (UNI-JC) organised a joint workshop on 25th June in Tokyo, Japan.
In this workshop, both global unions and its affiliates discussed and examined the current situation of international migration of Filipino nurses and care workers in Japan who are working under the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA). Japan is badly in need of nurses, assistant nurses and care workers to work in health facilities. Bad working conditions and low wages have resulted in the fact that there are insufficent health workers from the country to work in the heath facilities. In order to look at these challenges and find solutions, Japan had allowed foreign nurses and care workers to work in their health care system. Indonesia and Philippines have signed agreement with Japan to allowing their qualified nurses and care workers to work in Japan. However, they must study Japanese and pass the national licensure examinations to meet the qualification standards of professionals in the Japan Health Care System.
The participants had interesting discussions regarding the foreign health workers who enter the labour market in Japan. They felt that the global financial crisis and its impact on jobs should encourage the country to employ its own nationals instead of depending on foreign workers. Crucial factors to attract Japanese workers in the health sector include better working conditions, wages and other terms of employment. However, the unions realised that the shortage of nurses and care workers is a serious issue not only in Japan but also in sending countries. They also discussed the difficulty that many foreign workers have to adapt to the Japanese culture and language.
Participants felt that the agreements had neglected the unions during the consultation and preparation processes, with the result that the agreements do not offer a realistic view of the working conditions that migrant workers should expect to find. Further serious issues are the phenomenon of brain drain and damage to the quality of health care quality in the sending countries. However, when nurses and care workers are considering to work overseas, it was highly recommended that unions must take an active part in the ethical recruitment of migrant workers to avoid employment mismatches and exploitation. The Japanese unions will support the foreign workers to ensure that they will be respected and guaranteed of their basic rights like their Japanese colleagues. Norman Grecia from the Alliance Filipino Workers (AFW) said that “AFW, which is a federation of health workers, may be a conduit from the Philippines and help facilitate the conduct of pre-employment and pre-departure orientations.”
Katsuhiko Sato, PSI AP Regional Secretary, in his response to the JPEPA recommended to forge a Japan-Philippines Union Partnership Agreement (JPUPA). As countries enter into bilateral agreements, unions must bind together and act collectively. Jose Umali Jr, General Secretary of the UNI – Philippines Council (UNI-PLC) proposed a cross-border unions cooperation from sending to receiving countries and setting up of a Help Desk similar to what UNI has set-up in Malaysia to assist migrant workers.
For more information please contact PSI AP Regional Secretary: katsuhiko.sato@world-psi.org.
Public Services International Japan Council (PSI-JC) and Union Network International Japan Council (UNI-JC) organised a joint workshop on 25th June in Tokyo, Japan.
In this workshop, both global unions and its affiliates discussed and examined the current situation of international migration of Filipino nurses and care workers in Japan who are working under the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA). Japan is badly in need of nurses, assistant nurses and care workers to work in health facilities. Bad working conditions and low wages have resulted in the fact that there are insufficent health workers from the country to work in the heath facilities. In order to look at these challenges and find solutions, Japan had allowed foreign nurses and care workers to work in their health care system. Indonesia and Philippines have signed agreement with Japan to allowing their qualified nurses and care workers to work in Japan. However, they must study Japanese and pass the national licensure examinations to meet the qualification standards of professionals in the Japan Health Care System.
The participants had interesting discussions regarding the foreign health workers who enter the labour market in Japan. They felt that the global financial crisis and its impact on jobs should encourage the country to employ its own nationals instead of depending on foreign workers. Crucial factors to attract Japanese workers in the health sector include better working conditions, wages and other terms of employment. However, the unions realised that the shortage of nurses and care workers is a serious issue not only in Japan but also in sending countries. They also discussed the difficulty that many foreign workers have to adapt to the Japanese culture and language.
Participants felt that the agreements had neglected the unions during the consultation and preparation processes, with the result that the agreements do not offer a realistic view of the working conditions that migrant workers should expect to find. Further serious issues are the phenomenon of brain drain and damage to the quality of health care quality in the sending countries. However, when nurses and care workers are considering to work overseas, it was highly recommended that unions must take an active part in the ethical recruitment of migrant workers to avoid employment mismatches and exploitation. The Japanese unions will support the foreign workers to ensure that they will be respected and guaranteed of their basic rights like their Japanese colleagues. Norman Grecia from the Alliance Filipino Workers (AFW) said that “AFW, which is a federation of health workers, may be a conduit from the Philippines and help facilitate the conduct of pre-employment and pre-departure orientations.”
Katsuhiko Sato, PSI AP Regional Secretary, in his response to the JPEPA recommended to forge a Japan-Philippines Union Partnership Agreement (JPUPA). As countries enter into bilateral agreements, unions must bind together and act collectively. Jose Umali Jr, General Secretary of the UNI – Philippines Council (UNI-PLC) proposed a cross-border unions cooperation from sending to receiving countries and setting up of a Help Desk similar to what UNI has set-up in Malaysia to assist migrant workers.
For more information please contact PSI AP Regional Secretary: katsuhiko.sato@world-psi.org.
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