Latest news with #OFWs'
Filipino Times
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Filipino Times
Solo parent OFWs honored by DMW, Miss Universe PH 2025
The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and Miss Universe Philippines 2025 candidates paid tribute to solo parent OFWs during a wellness event held on April 22 at the DMW AKSYON Center in Makati City. The activity, held in line with National Solo Parents Week, aimed to support the well-being of solo parents working abroad and their children through counseling and wellness sessions. Secretary Hans Leo J. Cacdac of the DMW emphasized that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. had directed agencies to prioritize the welfare of OFWs' families. 'Si Pangulong Marcos, noong unang-una niyang nakadaupang-palad si Secretary Toots Ople, ang binigyang pansin nya ay ang OFW families, bago pa man ang ating mga OFWs,' Cacdac said. The event promoted access to social protection services, aligned with Republic Act 11861 or the Expanded Solo Parents Welfare Act. 'Nagkaroon tayo ng patakaran para bigyan ng proteksyon ang mga OFW solo parents. Kabilang dito ang pagpapadali ng mga proseso dahil alam namin na gusto n'yong igugol ang bakasyon n'yo sa inyong mga anak at mga mahal sa buhay,' he added. Twelve Miss Universe PH candidates joined the OFW solo parents and their children in a sharing session where they listened to personal stories of strength and sacrifice. DMW officials assured continuous support to solo parents, with Undersecretary Patricia Yvonne Caunan stating, 'Wag na wag n'yong mararamdaman na mag-isa kayo. Lagi kayong may tahanan sa DMW at may kakampi sa Miss Universe Philippines.'
AFP
21-04-2025
- Politics
- AFP
Clipped video fuels Philippine poll rigging claims
"Here it is. Comelec is exposed for fraud during OFWs' online voting," reads the Tagalog-language caption of a Facebook reel with more than one million views, using the acronym for overseas Filipino workers. The clip, posted April 14, 2025, shows an interview with Comelec director for overseas voting Ian Geonanga, where he was asked about claims from some voters that their cast ballots included the names of candidates they had not selected. Geonanga is depicted responding: "It's part of the process. It's designed like that." Image Screenshot of the false video, taken on April 21, 2025 Comelec introduced the country's first online voting system as it kicked off the month-long voting period for overseas Filipinos for the May mid-term polls (archived link). It defended the system after confusion arose online over a code on the ballot that contained the full list of candidates, which led to doubts whether voters' choice was correctly recorded (archived link). Similar posts on Facebook and YouTube reshared the claim, but the video had been edited to omit the context of Geonanga's remarks. A reverse image search of the video's keyframes led to his interview with Philippine news outlet Rappler published on April 16 (archived link). "Comelec clarifies ballot code after voting online," the YouTube video's title reads. Image Screenshot comparison of the false video (L) and the Rappler interview uploaded on YouTube The full interview is more than five minutes long, but the circulating clip only shows the first 18 seconds and excludes Geonanga's further remarks. "It's the plaintext version of the ballot itself. If they scroll from start to finish, they will see all the list of candidates that are in the ballot itself," he says at the 44-second mark. "They will not really see which candidate they voted for because it is encrypted. It is designed like that." In a Facebook post on April 15, Comelec also rebuffed the edited clip (archived link). "There is no truth to the malicious Facebook video that was deliberately cut to remove the context of the statement," the agency's Tagalog-language statement reads. The full version of the interview shows the agency's clarification on the issue, it added. AFP has also fact-checked other election-related misinformation ahead of the Philippine mid-term vote.
Filipino Times
17-04-2025
- Politics
- Filipino Times
DMW extends aid to families of OFWs killed in Myanmar quake
The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) is extending full assistance to the families of two overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who perished in the powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck Mandalay, Myanmar. DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac personally visited the families over the weekend to express condolences and deliver the government's support, following the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. 'Rest assured that, upon instructions of the President, we are taking care of the families by providing them all the assistance during their hour of utmost need,' Cacdac said in a statement. The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), through the Philippine Embassy in Yangon, is coordinating the repatriation of the OFWs' remains. Cacdac also said the DMW will continue to assist the grieving families through post-arrival support, in addition to financial aid already extended. The two casualties were among the four OFWs initially reported missing after the Sky Villa condominium, where some Filipinos reside, collapsed during the quake. The DMW also assured affected OFWs in Mandalay that they would receive financial assistance through its Aksyon Fund. While the quake also caused damage in neighboring Thailand, including the collapse of a high-rise construction site in Bangkok, no Filipinos were reported injured there. According to local reports, Myanmar's official death toll from the disaster rose to 3,645 as of Tuesday, with more than 5,000 injured and 148 still missing.
Filipino Times
12-04-2025
- Politics
- Filipino Times
Overseas voting starts April 13: First time for OFWs to vote online
For the first time in Philippine election history, Filipinos abroad—particularly the nearly 200,000 registered voters in the UAE—can now cast their votes online for the upcoming 2025 Philippine National and Local Elections. This year, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) will be implementing internet voting in 77 out of 95 embassies and consulates around the world. The UAE is one of these, meaning that no manual voting will take place in the host country. Instead, they can use their mobile phones or computers to vote from the comfort of their homes. The voting period runs from April 13 to May 12 until 3 PM UAE time, giving overseas Filipinos one full month to participate—well ahead of the May 2025 election day in the Philippines. Why your vote matters His Excellency Alfonso Ferdinand A. Ver, Philippine Ambassador to the UAE, emphasized that online voting is in response to OFWs' long-standing call to have greater participation in the country's national affairs—an easier, simpler, but secure way of voting. 'Dito sa pagboboto, 'yan ang pinaka-konkretong ekspresiyon ng inyong partisipasyon sa buhay ng ating bayan,' Ambassador Ver said in a media briefing. 'Hopefully, makarami talaga, dahil dito sa UAE sanay na sanay tayong gumamit ng ating mga cellphone, ng technology—sa pag-renew ng ating visa, lisensya, pagpapadala ng pera, kaya natin in-introduce ngayon ang online voting.' During the 2022 Presidential elections, nearly 97,000 overseas Filipinos cast their votes in the UAE. This accounted for about one-third of all registered voters in the country, making the UAE one of the most active overseas voting hubs. This year, the Philippine Consulate General in Dubai has recorded 123,891 registered voters, while the Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi has 66,001. To encourage continued strong participation, the Consulate also reminded the community of the vital role they play. 'Ang mga botante sa UAE is the top, in terms of number of voters, the number din ng turnout at we want to maintain that,' said Hon. Marford M. Angeles, Consul General in Dubai. 'But ang pinakamahalaga doon, importanteng maka-boto ang lahat.' Is the system safe? Atty. Ian Michel Geonanga, Deputy Head of the Office of Overseas Voting for Comelec, assured the public that security measures have been established to protect the online voting system, including multi-layered security architecture, encrypted data transmission, and real-time monitoring to safeguard its integrity and ensure voter safety. The digital ballot system is mirrored across different servers in various locations. This way, any attempt to tamper with one server will be immediately flagged if it doesn't match with the others, he added. 'Kung meron ka mang i-tamper o i-hack sa isa man diyan, madali agad siyang makikita kasi hindi siya magma-match with all the other data,' Geonanga explained. In addition, the Comelec has deployed online security teams and monitoring personnel to ensure a smooth, fair, and credible election process. A game changer for OFWs While the new voting system raises doubts and confusion for some OFWs, registered voters like Alissandra Jasmine Cadag are excited about the opportunity it brings to make participation in the elections more accessible. 'Many of us work far from embassies or have hectic schedules that don't allow time off. Online voting removes the need to travel or miss work, breaking down barriers and allowing more Filipinos abroad to have a say in choosing our leaders,' Cadag, an OFW in the UAE for seven years, explained. Cadag shared that she will exercise her right to vote, not just to stay connected, but to help shape decisions that affect both Filipinos at home and OFWs abroad. Though online voting might feel unfamiliar to some, Cadag views it as a step forward, especially in today's digital age. 'If we don't use this opportunity, we allow others to decide our future for us. Online voting is designed to make the process easier, not harder. Let's trust in the system, stay informed, and actively contribute to building a better Philippines,' she added. Pre-enroll to vote While the elections will start on April 13, the pre-voting enrollment, a necessary step to verify your identity and access the internet voting platform, will run until May 7. Only those included in the Certified List of Overseas Voters (CLOV) provided by Comelec can participate. You can pre-enroll online through an official link provided by the Comelec, or visit Philippine posts in the UAE, where voting kiosks have been set up for assistance. To complete pre-enrollment, you'll need: A valid Philippine passport (original only, no photocopies) A working mobile number An active email address If you don't have a passport, other valid IDs, such as your PhilSys ID or Philippine driver's license, may be used. Once verified, voters will be given a chance to try a test voting link to familiarize themselves with the new system. However, the test link will no longer be accessible once official voting starts on April 13. For those having difficulties with online enrollment or lacking required documents, manual verification can be done by visiting the nearest Philippine post. 'Hindi naman po natin tinatanggal yung option for us to go to the embassies or consulates, kasi if ever na hindi tayo ganoon ka-confident doing it at home, we can have the assistance of our very reliable staff,' said Atty. Geonanga. How to vote online: A step-by-step guide Once you've confirmed that you're a registered voter and completed your pre-enrollment, you're all set to vote online. Follow these easy steps: Access the voting portal using the email address or mobile number you provided during pre-enrollment. Check your email or SMS for the one-time password (OTP) and enter it when prompted. Once logged in, simply click or tap the 'Click to Vote' button on the portal. A set of instructions will appear. Take a moment to read them carefully and follow the steps before proceeding. When you're ready, click the 'Start Voting' button. A list of candidates will be displayed. Choose the candidates you'd like to vote for. After selecting your candidates, you can review your digital ballot. The system will ask for confirmation before submitting. If you're satisfied, click the button that says 'I want to CAST my Digital Ballot' to finalize your vote. Once your vote is successfully cast, a dialogue box will appear confirming your submission. The shift to online voting for Filipinos abroad marks a historic moment as it offers flexibility, making it easier and more inclusive, especially for OFWs with limited mobility or demanding work schedules. Now, the Filipinos' role is to actively participate in upholding the integrity of the electoral process and making their voice count by choosing the right leaders who will champion their rights and bring about meaningful change for the nation.
Filipino Times
10-04-2025
- Business
- Filipino Times
NAIA opens dedicated OFW wing to speed up immigration processing for migrant workers
A new immigration wing dedicated to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) has been opened at NAIA Terminal 3 to streamline the departure process for migrant workers, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) announced on Wednesday. BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said the expanded facility includes six additional counters operated by 12 immigration officers, helping reduce congestion and ease travel flow, particularly during peak seasons. 'This dedicated OFW wing is a testament to our commitment to making immigration procedures smoother and more efficient for our modern-day heroes,' Viado said, emphasizing the agency's recognition of OFWs' sacrifices and their vital role in the economy. The new setup has already helped shorten lines at regular immigration counters for other travelers, both Filipino and foreign. The initiative comes ahead of the long holiday season, one of the busiest travel periods of the year. With over 3,400 OFWs departing from NAIA each day, the BI said the exclusive lanes are expected to significantly reduce waiting times and improve processing efficiency. Viado credited the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and New NAIA Infrastructure Corp. (NNIC) for their collaboration in making the project a success. The move is also in line with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s directive to enhance services for OFWs and support their continued contribution to the country's economic growth.
