MANILA, Philippines—A Filipino authority on human rights has been unanimously elected chairperson of the Advisory Committee of the United Nations Human Rights Council this week in Geneva, Switzerland.
The Department of Foreign Affairs said that Dr. Purificacion Valera Quisumbing will preside over the Advisory Committee, which is composed of 18 independent experts from different regions of the world, and functions as the think tank of the UN Human Rights Council.
"It is a great honor to serve as chair of the Advisory Committee. I am humbled by the confidence my highly esteemed colleagues have placed in me," Quisumbing said in a statement released by the DFA.
In her opening statement, Quisumbing recalled her stint as chair of the former UN Commission on Human Rights (the predecessor of the Human Rights Council) in 1990, while she was assistant secretary for human rights under the administration of the late Corazon C. Aquino.
The Philippines’ permanent representative to the United Nations in Geneva, Evan P. Garcia, immediately congratulated Quisumbing on her election.
During its fifth session, the Advisory Committee will be working on topics of importance to the Philippines, such as the elimination of discrimination against persons affected by leprosy; missing persons; the right to food; the right of people to peace; enhancement of international cooperation on human rights; and human rights education and training.
The Philippines is particularly active in the Human Rights Council in promoting human rights education and training, where it currently co-chairs negotiations on the draft UN Declaration on Human Rights Education and Training. - Cynthia Balana, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Posted date: August 07, 2010
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Pag-IBIG expands mandatory coverage to include OFWs
MANILA, Philippines—The government housing finance institution has expanded its mandatory coverage to include Filipino workers from formal and informal sectors here and abroad, it was learned Monday.
The Home Development Mutual Fund (HDMF or Pag-IBIG Fund) made the announcement in a press statement issued Monday, after its chief executive officer Jaime Fabiaña met with overseas Filipino workers in Hong Kong to inform them of the passage of Republic Act 9679 (or the Home Development Mutual Fund Law of 2009), which took effect last month.
Membership of OFWs used to be voluntary under the old Pag-IBIG Overseas Program, with terms of five, 10, 15, and 20 years.
However, OFWs in the former British colony did not welcome this development. Members of Gabriela-Hong Kong opposed the mandatory Pag-IBIG coverage, calling it as another government scheme to try and “milk” them of their money.
The OFWs’ opposition to the universal coverage forced Fabiaña to tell them that they won’t be forced to become Pag-IBIG members, said Cynthia Abdon-Tellez, chairperson of Gabriela-Hong Kong, in a statement. She said her group will hold a rally Sunday, February 7, to call for the scrapping of this provision in the law.
Nevertheless, Fabiaña still tried to sell the idea to OFWs. “Be a Pag-IBIG member and secure a bright future for yourself. Your savings with the Fund earn double and even triple. These savings are guaranteed by the government and earn tax-free dividends. More importantly, as a member you have access to benefits no banks can give such as the lowest interest housing loans, fast salary loans and reliable calamity loans,” he said.
With the mandatory coverage, OFWs can enjoy the various benefits of being a member which include:
* Savings. Members’ contributions are credited to their savings or the total accumulated value that earn dividends and fully guaranteed by the national government. In 2009,
Pag-IBIG declared tax-free dividends amounting to P8.5 billion with a dividend rate of 5 percent.
“At this dividend rate, an OFW member will generate savings amounting to P40,753 if he contributes P100 monthly for 20 years; P81,507 if he contributes P200; and P203,768 at P500 a month. The bigger the contribution, the bigger the savings,” Fabiana explained.
He assured that Pag-IBIG savings are portable, meaning, “these remain in the name of a member even if he transfers employers, works abroad, or becomes self-employed or even unemployed.”
* Short-term loans. OFW-members can also avail of short-term loans that will help address their immediate financial needs such as payment for tuition fees, hospital bills, appliance purchases, minor home repairs, and even for small business capital.
* Housing loan. A member of good standing is eligible to avail of a home financing loan that has an interest rate of as low as 6 percent to 11.5 percent payable in 30 years. The maximum loan amount is P3 million. The loan can be used for the purchase of a fully developed lot within a residential area not exceeding 1,000 square meters, purchase of a residential house and lot, townhouse or condominium unit, construction or completion of a residential unit on a lot owned by the member, home improvement and refinancing of an existing loan.
Fabiana said that in 2009, Pag-IBIG extended a total of P9.6 billion in housing loans to their OFW members which financed 12,233 housing units. “No other financial institution, government or private, has extended this much for OFWs’ housing,” he stressed.
He attributed the 68-percent increase in housing loan availment of OFWs in 2009 to the housing reforms initiated by Pag-IBIG’s board chairman Vice President Noli “Kabayan” De Castro, primarily the low interest rates and long repayment period, which makes it the most affordable home lending program in the country today.
To register for membership and for other inquiries, OFWs can call 724.4244 or visit the Pag-IBIG office located at the 6F, Justine Building, Gil Puyat Avenue, Makati City (beside Land Bank). They can also register through the Pag-IBIG satellite offices at the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency (POEA) and the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) or coordinate with the Pag-IBIG information officers who conduct the Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar for OFWs. - INQUIRER.net, Posted date: February 02, 2010
The Home Development Mutual Fund (HDMF or Pag-IBIG Fund) made the announcement in a press statement issued Monday, after its chief executive officer Jaime Fabiaña met with overseas Filipino workers in Hong Kong to inform them of the passage of Republic Act 9679 (or the Home Development Mutual Fund Law of 2009), which took effect last month.
Membership of OFWs used to be voluntary under the old Pag-IBIG Overseas Program, with terms of five, 10, 15, and 20 years.
However, OFWs in the former British colony did not welcome this development. Members of Gabriela-Hong Kong opposed the mandatory Pag-IBIG coverage, calling it as another government scheme to try and “milk” them of their money.
The OFWs’ opposition to the universal coverage forced Fabiaña to tell them that they won’t be forced to become Pag-IBIG members, said Cynthia Abdon-Tellez, chairperson of Gabriela-Hong Kong, in a statement. She said her group will hold a rally Sunday, February 7, to call for the scrapping of this provision in the law.
Nevertheless, Fabiaña still tried to sell the idea to OFWs. “Be a Pag-IBIG member and secure a bright future for yourself. Your savings with the Fund earn double and even triple. These savings are guaranteed by the government and earn tax-free dividends. More importantly, as a member you have access to benefits no banks can give such as the lowest interest housing loans, fast salary loans and reliable calamity loans,” he said.
With the mandatory coverage, OFWs can enjoy the various benefits of being a member which include:
* Savings. Members’ contributions are credited to their savings or the total accumulated value that earn dividends and fully guaranteed by the national government. In 2009,
Pag-IBIG declared tax-free dividends amounting to P8.5 billion with a dividend rate of 5 percent.
“At this dividend rate, an OFW member will generate savings amounting to P40,753 if he contributes P100 monthly for 20 years; P81,507 if he contributes P200; and P203,768 at P500 a month. The bigger the contribution, the bigger the savings,” Fabiana explained.
He assured that Pag-IBIG savings are portable, meaning, “these remain in the name of a member even if he transfers employers, works abroad, or becomes self-employed or even unemployed.”
* Short-term loans. OFW-members can also avail of short-term loans that will help address their immediate financial needs such as payment for tuition fees, hospital bills, appliance purchases, minor home repairs, and even for small business capital.
* Housing loan. A member of good standing is eligible to avail of a home financing loan that has an interest rate of as low as 6 percent to 11.5 percent payable in 30 years. The maximum loan amount is P3 million. The loan can be used for the purchase of a fully developed lot within a residential area not exceeding 1,000 square meters, purchase of a residential house and lot, townhouse or condominium unit, construction or completion of a residential unit on a lot owned by the member, home improvement and refinancing of an existing loan.
Fabiana said that in 2009, Pag-IBIG extended a total of P9.6 billion in housing loans to their OFW members which financed 12,233 housing units. “No other financial institution, government or private, has extended this much for OFWs’ housing,” he stressed.
He attributed the 68-percent increase in housing loan availment of OFWs in 2009 to the housing reforms initiated by Pag-IBIG’s board chairman Vice President Noli “Kabayan” De Castro, primarily the low interest rates and long repayment period, which makes it the most affordable home lending program in the country today.
To register for membership and for other inquiries, OFWs can call 724.4244 or visit the Pag-IBIG office located at the 6F, Justine Building, Gil Puyat Avenue, Makati City (beside Land Bank). They can also register through the Pag-IBIG satellite offices at the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency (POEA) and the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) or coordinate with the Pag-IBIG information officers who conduct the Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar for OFWs. - INQUIRER.net, Posted date: February 02, 2010
Friday, August 6, 2010
60 groups join RP program for OFWs in UAE
Over 60 groups have joined the Philippine support program for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Members of Filipino groups in Abu Dhabi and Al-Ain in UAE signed up for the OFW program initiated by Philippine Ambassador Grace Princesa.
The program aims to unite all Filipino groups under "Team Bayanihan" that will set up a support system for OFWs and their families in the Philippines.
“I hope to federate this and re-establish the United Filipino Associations of the Emirates (UFAE), or something similar to that," Princesa said in an article on UAE-based news site Khaleej Times.
Princesa has partnered with government and other non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to provide training on financial literacy to 30 select migrant leaders.
In turn, the migrant leaders will train their group members about the culture of saving and making good investments.
A plan is also underway to collect data to determine the extent of debt Filipinos get into in the UAE. The OFWs and their families will be educated on the negative effects of dependency and consumerism.
“Hopefully, this will reduce the number of those being jailed due to credit card and bank loans," said Princesa.
She said the Philippines is the among the top five labor origin countries, "so we have to look into the rights and privileges of our workers."
At present, she said she is studying the issues faced by undocumented workers, like those who abscond.
The Khaleej Times report said 60 percent of Filipino workers in the UAE are professionals. “Of the unskilled workers, around five percent are domestic helpers and 90 percent of our problems are associated with them. This is what we’re looking into," Princesa said.
Another cause of concern is illegal recruitment. Princesa plans to document the origins of the victims and carry out a massive information drive against illegal recruitment.
Princesa will also focus on the migration of women, as 50 to 60 percent of the OFWs in the Middle East are women.
She said she is documenting their educational streams to reconnect them to their professions once they’re back home.
She also plans to promote the "Buy or Wear Pinoy, Help a Pinay" program, encouraging the use of abaca, of which the Philippines is the world's top producer, and the banana or pineapple fiber textile.
“Once we stimulate development, women back home can start their micro-enterprise and they won’t have to come here for a paltry $200 (Dh750)," she said. –VVP, GMANews.TV, Article posted August 05, 2010 - 09:42 AM
Members of Filipino groups in Abu Dhabi and Al-Ain in UAE signed up for the OFW program initiated by Philippine Ambassador Grace Princesa.
The program aims to unite all Filipino groups under "Team Bayanihan" that will set up a support system for OFWs and their families in the Philippines.
“I hope to federate this and re-establish the United Filipino Associations of the Emirates (UFAE), or something similar to that," Princesa said in an article on UAE-based news site Khaleej Times.
Princesa has partnered with government and other non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to provide training on financial literacy to 30 select migrant leaders.
In turn, the migrant leaders will train their group members about the culture of saving and making good investments.
A plan is also underway to collect data to determine the extent of debt Filipinos get into in the UAE. The OFWs and their families will be educated on the negative effects of dependency and consumerism.
“Hopefully, this will reduce the number of those being jailed due to credit card and bank loans," said Princesa.
She said the Philippines is the among the top five labor origin countries, "so we have to look into the rights and privileges of our workers."
At present, she said she is studying the issues faced by undocumented workers, like those who abscond.
The Khaleej Times report said 60 percent of Filipino workers in the UAE are professionals. “Of the unskilled workers, around five percent are domestic helpers and 90 percent of our problems are associated with them. This is what we’re looking into," Princesa said.
Another cause of concern is illegal recruitment. Princesa plans to document the origins of the victims and carry out a massive information drive against illegal recruitment.
Princesa will also focus on the migration of women, as 50 to 60 percent of the OFWs in the Middle East are women.
She said she is documenting their educational streams to reconnect them to their professions once they’re back home.
She also plans to promote the "Buy or Wear Pinoy, Help a Pinay" program, encouraging the use of abaca, of which the Philippines is the world's top producer, and the banana or pineapple fiber textile.
“Once we stimulate development, women back home can start their micro-enterprise and they won’t have to come here for a paltry $200 (Dh750)," she said. –VVP, GMANews.TV, Article posted August 05, 2010 - 09:42 AM
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