Latest news with #FelicitasQ.Bay
Filipino Times
18 hours ago
- Business
- Filipino Times
PH gov't to grant P150K financial aid, full support to OFW returnees from Middle East
Overseas Filipino workers returning from countries affected by the Middle East conflict will receive financial assistance amounting to PHP 150,000 under the Philippine government's voluntary repatriation program. The immediate aid includes PHP 75,000 from the DMW AKSYON Fund and another PHP 75,000 from OWWA, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said. In an interview on Bagong Pilipina Ngayon, DMW Officer-in-Charge and Undersecretary Felicitas Q. Bay assured the public that the government will provide full assistance to returning OFWs. 'Yung first batch of OFW repatriates from Israel, along with Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac ay sinalubong natin ng June 24 at ng whole-government team. Maliban po sa DMW at OWWA, kasama po natin ang DFA, DWSD, DOH, TESDA, at iba pang ahensya para magbigay ng comprehensive and immediate assistance sa kanila,' she said. Aside from the financial aid, they will also receive free medical check-ups from the Department of Health and counseling and livelihood assistance from the Department of Social Welfare and Development. The DMW's National Reintegration Center for OFWs will help them set up small businesses or find new jobs, with free training vouchers from TESDA and entrepreneurship support from DTI. As of June 24, 346 individuals in Israel have asked to return home. Twenty-six have already arrived, and fifty more are now being processed. Emergency cash worth USD 200, hygiene kits, and food packs were also provided to OFWs on-site.
Filipino Times
11-04-2025
- Business
- Filipino Times
DMW maritime stakeholders pledge joint commitment to protect rights of Filipino seafarers
The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), together with partner agencies and major maritime stakeholders, has reaffirmed its strong commitment to uphold the rights and welfare of Filipino seafarers under the Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers and its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). Signed into law by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., the Magna Carta guarantees key rights for Filipino seafarers, including fair wages, safe working environments, and opportunities for skills enhancement. DMW Undersecretary Felicitas Q. Bay led the ceremonial signing of the pledge of commitment alongside representatives from various maritime organizations and institutions. She underscored the shared responsibility of both government and industry to protect the dignity of Filipino seafarers and recognize their critical role in the global maritime sector. 'This pledge reinforces our duty as a nation to safeguard those who serve at sea and to provide them with the respect and support they deserve,' Bay said. Among the signatories were Internship Crew Philippines, Magsaysay Inc., Philippine Transmarine Corporation (PTC), Joint Manning Group (JMG), ALMA Maritime Group, Philippine Merchant Marine Academy (PMMA), National Maritime Polytechnic (NMP), Maritime Academy of Asia and the Pacific (MAAP), AMOSUP, and MATEU. Representatives from key government agencies such as the Department of Transportation (DOTr), Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), and others also took part in the event, highlighting the collective commitment to turn the Magna Carta from policy into action. The ceremony marked a unified promise to uphold the rights of seafarers, who remain vital to the nation's maritime economy.
