RP officials not to blame for 11 OFWs who missed flight — DFA

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) clarified that the 11 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who missed their flight last week were under escort by Saudi police authorities when they arrived late at the airport.

Contrary to a newspaper report, the DFA said the responsibility for transporting the OFWs from jail to the airport belonged to the Saudi authorities, and not to Philippine embassy officials. Read more

Australian Red Cross to monitor immigration detention

The Australian Government signed an agreement with Australian Red Cross for the humanitarian organization to assess and monitor the conditions of people in immigration detention.

Red Cross will provide independent scrutiny to ensure people in detention are being treated fairly and reasonably within the law, according to news from the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Senator Chris Evans. Read more

Timor Leste thanks RP for role in nation-building

Timor Leste Foreign Minister Zacarias Albano da Costa thanked the Philippines, including the vibrant Filipino community in Timor Leste, for playing a vital role in the country’s nation-building efforts, according to Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) news.

Da Costa met with Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto G Romulo at the sidelines of the Special Non-Aligned Movement Ministerial Meeting (SNAMMM) on Interfaith Dialogue and Cooperation for Peace and Development held in Manila this week. Read more

ePassport now available in 10 regions

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) announced that it will start issuing ePassports in 10 out of the 18 regional consular offices (RCOs) on March 15.

The 10 RCOs include Cebu City, Davao, Iloilo City, Tacloban, Cagayan de Oro, Zamboanga, San Fernando in Pampanga, San Fernando in La Union, Lucena and Tuguegarao. The remaining eight RCOs and all Philippine embassies and consulates-general will begin issuing ePassports later this year. Read more

Remittances boost GNP in Q4 2009

Remittances from overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) increased the gross national product (GNP) by 2.4 percent in the fourth quarter of 2009, said the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB) early this year.

According to the NSCB, OFWs contributed to the GNP growth because there is a continued, though “decelerated,” demand for their services overseas. Read more

Remittances stay strong in 2010

Remittances reached US$1.4 billion in January, increasing by 8.5 percent from the level recorded for the same period in 2008, according to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).

Remittances from sea-based and land-based workers rose by 18.1 percent and 6.3 percent, respectively, said BSP Governor Amando M Tetangco Jr. Read more

DFA travel advisory on Bangkok

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is advising Filipinos to postpone all non-essential travel to Thailand, specifically Bangkok, in view of the protest rallies being planned in key areas in the city starting Friday, March 12, 2010, and for the duration of the rallies. Read more

New UK immigration fees starting April 6

The UK Border Agency (UKBA) has announced revised immigration fees:

“Following Parliamentary approval, the new immigration fees announced on 20 January and 10 February 2010 will be introduced from Tuesday 6 April 2010 for all those applying to study, visit, work in or stay in the UK. Read more

Romulo reveals plan to strengthen RP peacekeeping mission

Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo said the Philippines can better respond to United Nations (UN) requests for peacekeepers after it acquires equipment for the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) that can help upgrade the capabilities of personnel.

According to a Philippine Daily Inquirer report, Read more

More OFWs invest in real estate

New real estate sales from overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) are rising again after falling in 2008 due to the global economic crisis, said Ayala Land Inc senior vice president Rex Mendoza.

According to a Philippine Daily Inquirer report, Read more

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