Latest news with #OverseasFilipino
GMA Network
7 days ago
- General
- GMA Network
3 OFWs residing in bad condition rescued in Jeddah
Three Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) residing in bad conditions in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia were rescued by the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW). According to a Super Radyo dzBB report by Mao dela Cruz on Tuesday, the Jeddah Migrant Workers Office (MWO) and the Overseas Workers Welfare Association (OWWA) conducted surprise inspections that revealed a foreign recruitment agency's accommodation in a bad state, as it lacked food supply, had broken beds, and air conditioning. DMW added that the processing of the agency's employment documents has been suspended since July this year. The agency also said that they will continue said inspections to ensure the safety and welfare of OFWs. —Jiselle Anne Casucian/ VAL, GMA Integrated News
Daily Tribune
04-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Tribune
Sustainable Studies Program first graduates honoured
A proud moment unfolded as Philippine Ambassador to Bahrain, Her Excellency Anne Jalando-on Louis, honoured the first graduates of Eagle Mind Consultancies, WLL, under its Sustainable Studies Program. The event was in appreciation of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in Bahrain who have graduated from the Teaching Assistant Course and the Barista Essentials. Recently conducted at the Ramada Hotel, Seef Area, the graduation ceremony was awarded to a total of 26 graduates — 14 Teacher Assistant Course and 12 Barista Course — making the event a milestone not only for Eagle Mind but also for the Filipino community in Bahrain. Ambassador Jalando-on Louis, who served as guest of honor and keynote speaker, praised the graduates for their determination and commitment to self-improvement. She congratulated Dr. Aileen Valian A. Agana, founder of Eagle Mind Consultancies.
GMA Network
24-06-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
31 Pinoys repatriated from Middle East arrive in PH
The 31 Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who were repatriated from the Middle East arrived in the country on Tuesday evening. The Pinoys were welcomed by members of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) and the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), among other government agencies at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. The 31 OFWs are composed of 26 Filipinos from Israel, three from Jordan, one from Palestine, and one from Qatar. They are the first batch of repatriated Filipinos since hostilities between Israel and Iran began on June 13. Their flight was delayed due to the temporary suspension of Qatari air traffic after Iran attacked a US military base in Doha. 'We experienced flight delays due to airspace restrictions, but what's really important is that we are here at home, safe and sound,' DMW Secretary Hans Cacdac said in a statement. DMW earlier announced that the repatriated Filipinos will receive financial assistance worth P150,000, temporary shelter, transportation to their respective provinces, and a reintegration program. 'The DOH will provide medical services and assistance to one cancer patient-repatriate, and one pregnant OFW, including mental wellness check-up to ensure their overall well-being,' Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa said in the same statement. 'We stand ready to assist those who are willing to be repatriated. We are encouraging OFWs to avail of the voluntary repatriation program,' Cacdac said. DMW also said 50 more Filipinos could be repatriated this week. It added that of the 30,000 Filipinos in Israel, 311 have already requested repatriation. —RF, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
22-06-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
OFWs share narrow escape from missile strike on Tel Aviv hotel
A missile launched from Iran is intercepted as seen from Ashkelon, Israel, June 21, 2025. REUTERS/Amir Cohen Amid the ongoing barrage of long-range ballistic missile attacks by Iran on Israel, several Filipino hotel workers in Tel Aviv shared their close call from harm. Requesting they remain anonymous, the workers shared videos with GMA Integrated News showing the aftermath of some of the strikes after they emerged from a bomb bunker where they sought shelter. The footage reveals the extensive damage to the hotel where they worked. Shattered glass and debris littered the lobby and other parts of the establishment. The elevator had collapsed and the quarters where the workers resided were destroyed. In the video, the Overseas Filipino Workers could not help but feel emotional after seeing the destruction: 'Ayan na yung mga sunog oh….Tignan kwarto natin… Ayan, ay Jusko Lord… Hala yung kwarto ko, hala ate yung kwarto mo, hala jusko Lord yung kwarto ko, sa amin talaga!!' ('There's the fire… Look at our room… Oh my God, my room! Sis, your room! Oh Lord, it's really our room!') They were also shocked to see the effects of the attack on their workplace:'First floor pa lang jusko Lord! Bumagsak yung elevator! Huh? Ayan oh, nabagsak!' ('This is just the first floor… Oh my God! The elevator collapsed! Look, it really fell!') Impact In an interview with GMA Integrated News, Michelle, one of the workers, shared her close brush with death. A resident of Tel Aviv for the past three years, she said while she's used to airstrikes, she said these latest attacks are far more intense: 'Nung time po na sumabog, nandun kami sa shelter. Narinig namin yung kalabog, nakita namin yung pagyanig ng dingding, ng kisame, yung alikabok. Lahat yun naranasan namin.' ('When the explosion happened, we were hiding in the shelter. We heard a loud bang, we felt the walls and ceiling shake, and the dust came down. We experienced all of it.') Michelle added: 'Doon na kami talaga kinilabutan ng sobra, na kung hindi kami bumaba, wala na kami ngayon. History, kwento na lang.' ('That's when we were really terrified. If we had not gone down, we would not be here now. We would have been history. We'd just be a story.') Even the staff of the Philippine Embassy in Israel felt the force of the blasts—something they had not experienced in years. Ambassador Aileen Mendiola-Rau told GMA Integrated News: 'Yung iba-ibang banging sound, yung loud bangs, until such a point na meron mga, at least mga dalawa na malaking, malakas na malakas na loud bangs. Tapos, mararamdaman mo yung foundation ng embassy, yung Chancery Building, na medyo gumalaw, yung parang nag-vibrate. So, since June 13, ngayon lang namin naramdaman yung ganoon. Na may impact.' ('There were various banging sounds, very loud bangs, and then two extremely powerful ones. You could feel the embassy's foundation, the Chancery Building, shake and vibrate. Since June 13, this is the first time we've felt something like that. It had real impact.') As of last night, Israel and Iran have officially been placed under Alert Level 3 due to over a week of retaliatory airstrikes. Under this alert level, Filipinos are strongly encouraged—but not yet required—to return home. Despite the fear and trauma, many Filipino hotel workers told GMA Integrated News they are not yet ready to join the repatriation program. Michelle explained: 'Ang reason ko kasi bakit ako agad siyempre nagsabi ko umuwi, siyempre, yung una yung takot ko. Pero nung nalaman ko na hindi pa pala ganun kabilis ang process din, kasi siyempre, kapag umuwi ka ng Pilipinas, makakatanggap ka ng halaga, sabihin na natin na P150,000, ilang weeks mo lang siya magagamit, mag-a-apply, sana ko kukuha ng source, saan ko kukuha ng panggastos ko? So yun yung mga reasons kung bakit hindi agad kami makauwi. Dahil hindi ganun kadali din kung mag-apply ka ulit sa ibang bansa.' ('My first instinct was to go home because I was scared. But then I realized the process isn't that fast. If I return to the Philippines, I might receive around P150,000, but that won't last long. I'll need to apply again—where will I get money in the meantime? That's why we can't just leave. It's not easy to start over in another country.') Another worker, Ricasol, added: 'Syempre po susunod lahat kami doon yun nga lang, hinihiling talaga namin sa government natin na sana nga, kaming mawawala ng trabaho dito sa Israel if mandatory yung pagpapauwi sa amin is kami talaga yung ma-priority na mabigyan nila kasi apektado po talaga.' ('Of course, we'll obey if it becomes mandatory. But we're asking the government to prioritize those of us who will lose our jobs here in Israel. We're really affected.') If the situation escalates to Alert Level 4, which would mean mandatory repatriation, OFWs have a clear request: 'Okay lang naman na umuwi kami ng Pilipinas at dumaan ng process. Pero yung i-sure na meron kaming employer na pwedeng ma-applyan agad sa Europe, okay yun. Mas panatag ang loob namin na umuwi kasi kumbaga ang paghihintay ng proseso ng paglipat ng bansa ng employer, eh hindi ganun katagal.' ('We're okay with going home and going through the process. But we hope there's an employer we can apply to right away in Europe. That would give us peace of mind, knowing we won't have to wait too long to work again.') As of now, the Philippine Embassy in Israel reported that 191 Filipinos have requested repatriation. However, only 26 have confirmed and are currently being processed for land travel to Amman, Jordan. There, they will be received by the Philippine Embassy and Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Cacdac, who is currently in the Middle East. These 26 OFWs are now in shelters and are expected to leave Israel at any moment. Meanwhile, one critically injured Filipino who underwent surgery remains in the intensive care unit and may need another operation once stable, according to the Philippine Embassy in Tel Aviv. Additionally, 88 Filipinos in Israel have lost their homes due to missile impacts and are currently staying in shelters being rented by the Philippine government. —RF, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
19-06-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
DMW issues deployment ban on new hires for Iran, Jordan amid conflict with Israel
The Department of Migrant Workers has implemented a deployment ban on new hires for Iran and Jordan amid ongoing hostilities in the Middle East. 'New hires are prohibited. Returning [Overseas Filipino Workers] are allowed, technically speaking. But they still can't travel because the airspace is closed,' DMW Secretary Hans Cacdac said in a press conference on Thursday. The DMW issued Advisory No. 19 s. 2025 reiterating restrictions in the deployment of OFWs to Israel, Iran, Jordan, and Lebanon. Cacdac advised Jordan-bound OFWs to likewise postpone their trips, given the kingdom shares a common border with Israel. 'The same is true with Jordan-bound OFWs, they are turned back. So we issued an advisory, huwag na kayo pumunta muna. We included that in our advisory to recruitment agencies. Don't send new hires to Jordan because they will just be turned back,' Cacdac added. (Don't go there at this time.) There is an existing deployment ban in Israel in the aftermath of the October 7 Hamas attacks against Israel in 2023. Cacdac warned that non-compliant recruitment agencies will be held liable. 'That's part of our regulatory authority over them. When we speak in a regulatory sense, then they have to comply. And yes, on the cost of travel, we'll have them pay for that,' Cacdac said. As of Thursday, Cacdac said that there are also 58 Filipinos who are either Israel-bound or Jordan-bound but are stranded in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Of the 58, the DMW has been able to arrange a flight for four Israel-bound Filipinos to return to the Philippines via an Etihad flight in Abu Dhabi. 'We have been helping them,' Cacdac said. While it is not within DMW's purview to make recommendations on alert levels that determine whether there should be a mandatory repatriation or a voluntary one, Cacdac said the agency is focused on helping Filipinos in need, regardless of the situation. 'The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) officials are the political and security experts. We honor their leadership at the one country team level so it is the ambassador's call, it is the Secretary of Foreign Affairs' call , and we will always defer to the DFA's judgment,' Cacdac said. Tensions are high in the Middle East after Israel launched a preemptive attack against Iran six days ago, supposedly to deter Tehran's nuclear program. —RF, GMA Integrated News
