The Voice of the Modern Living Heroes

T he Of fici al P u bli ca ti on of Fil i pin o EPS W or kers Ass oc ia ti o n - So u th K o rea (F EW A )

EPS ( ( ) EPS )
2011 www.sulyapinoy.org

Volume 2

Issue 14

NOT FOR SALE

People and God-centered Association

OFW-KOREA-2006-001

By Bae Hyun-jung of The Korea Herald The Justice Ministry will ease visa regulations for South Asian visitors, who have become a major group for the Korean tourist industry, according to officials Tuesday. Under regulations to come into effect next week, nationals from 11 major South Asian countries will be issued a double-entry visa, which allows them to freely revisit Korea within six months, in between or after transits to other countries. This measure came in response to the growing reputation of Incheon International Airport as a flight transit spot, according to the ministry. Tourists will also be required to submit ( fewer documents to prove their financial credit and employment status, officials said. Group tourists, especially, may have their visa issued based on guarantees from their local tour agencies alone. Also, a multiple-entry visa, which enables the holder to freely reenter the country for three consecutive years, will be issued to those who have a Korean university graduate degree and families of immigrants married to a Korean spouse. Family members of multiple-entry visa holders are to automatically enjoy the same benefits. Up until now, the special visa had been available only to those who earn over $ 10,000 per year, pension recipients, and professional workers such as doctors and media-related employees. The beneficiary states include India, Bangladesh, Philippines, Vietnam, Pakistan, Nepal, Laos, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Cambodia and Myanmar, according to the ministry. So far, visa regulation benefits have been limited for these countries in fear of an influx of illegal immigrants. We expect the new visa regulations to attract a greater number of South Asian tourists, whose number has been growing at a fast speed over the past few years, said a ministry official.
PHOTO FROM YONHAP NEWS/ THE KOREA HERALD)

Also, South Asia, holding over one fifth of the worlds population, is a tourist marketing source with even further potential in the future. The ministry will also enact measures to prevent illegal immigrants from abusing the new system, he added. The number of visitors from the eleven beneficiary states reached 357,932 last year, up 21.2 percent from the previous year, according to the ministry.

The ministry enacted a similar set of eased regulations for Chinese tourists last year, which resulted in a visible increase in visits. The number of Chinese nationals entering Korea last year rose by 42 percent from the previous year and the number of visa issuances by 47.5 percent, according to the ministry.
Source: The Korea Herald http://www.koreaherald.com/ national/Detail.jsp?newsMLId=20110329000790

Philippine Festival in Seoul

Seoul will once again set the stage for genuine and meaningful multicultural fanfare as the Philippine Embassy organizes the Philippine Festival in Yeouido, a daylong celebration of Filipino culture through songs, dances and traditional games scheduled to be held at the Yeouido Hanggang Park on 29 May 2011. The annual Festival, which attracts hundreds of Filipinos, Koreans and enthusiasts of Filipino culture from all over South Korea, will include a housing fair and other onsite services such as labor counseling and medical services. Cultural performances and traditional Filipino games for multicultural children will follow a brief ceremony in the morning, when the Philippine Embassy will hand out awards to individuals and groups who provided invaluable assistance to Filipino migrants in 2010. Organized in commemoration of the 113th anniversary of Philippine Independence and the 16th Migrant Workers Day of the Philippines, the Festival is being arranged in partnership with the Ministry of Employment and Labor, the Human Resource Development of Korea, the Seoul Metropolitan Government, Seoul Global Center , and the Philippine Pag-ibig Home Development and Mutual Fund.

SULYAPINOY is accepting cash donations for its monthly printing expenses. You may deposit them @ Account #: 1002 640 334730 / Acnt Name: Marcelino M. / Bank: Woori Bank - Hyehwa-dong Branch

Emergency/Disaster Preparedness and the OFW

T
he handling of the recent crisis that affected thousands of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) in different parts of the world showed how ill-equipped and unprepared the Philippine government is, particularly in its diplomatic missions in handling those emergency situations and disasters. Whether in Egypt, Libya or Japan, the OFW complaints are as catastrophic as the situations themselves. Often, Filipinos fend for themselves in order to be saved and survive. Coordination was calamitous; the Philippine Embassies could not account for its citizens. It is the families of OFWs who would inform the government where to reach them. Thanks to the immediate help and intercession of humanitarian groups and NGOs that helped link families as well as inform government of OFWs whereabouts. But the governments lack of quick mobile transportation was tragic and deplorable. While other nations have already evacuated their citizens from the conflict-ridden countries like Egypt and Libya, the Philippines are still awaiting orders to provide the necessary transport facilities for the majority of OFWs. When even commercial airlines have offered their services to abate the emergency, actions and reactions from the necessary institutions trudged and dredged. In a critical condition like Libya, sending high diplomatic missions does not help in addressing an already stressful situation. Instead of attending to its citizens, embassy officials are further stressed out in dealing with protocol treatment of officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA). It only shows the lack of trust of its staff on the ground that they are incapable of performing their duties. If it is for media mileage, such stunt does not reflect a good leadership and administration of the department. The same thing happened in Japan; suspicion is high for embassy officials doing the rescue when media coverage is around to do a report of their actions. The government is criticized because OFWs expect more from them. Disaster and Emergency Preparedness is one thing that should be high on their diplomatic agenda. At this tumultuous juncture of our history it is not only the environment or climate change that it should be prepared for, but also on the social, economic and political eventualities and volatility of countries where OFWs are deployed. Who takes precedence in dealing with the plight of OFWs? What significant role does POLO/ DOLE play vis--vis diplomacy? Instead of downplaying the leadership role of POLO on these given situations they should be tasked to play active participation since they are on the front line of servicing and assisting OFWs. But how equipped and capable they are to respond to emergency and critical situations are other issues. The Philippine diplomatic corps aversion for the official use of social media (like Facebook, Plurk or Twitter) to provide timely information and updates to its citizens is appalling. Most of the Philippine embassy websites lack interactivity and it just serves as a bulletin of one-way communication. For all we know the embassy staff are always connected online in their offices or even outside with those wireless internet capable mobile phones. At least for some embassys poor telephone/ communication responses they could at least augment it with the use of the internet. We definitely recognize the good deed of our embassy officials for doing their best, and we expect them to a high standard as such since it is their task to protect the interest and security of its citizens. But their effort on the recent crisis is far from commendable. Their performance lacks the sense of urgency for its delayed responses in evacuating Filipinos in Libya. They do not have the sensitivity in dealing with the earthquake and tsunami stricken Filipinos in Japan by charging them a processing fee for their travel documents, but waiving it only upon receiving strong complaints from the people. Now, after the uncompleted repatriation a looming issue in the horizon is reintegration. What assistance can the government provide to those OFWs who came back from those crisis-torn countries? They will add up anew to the number of unemployed and the half million graduates seeking jobs in the country and overseas. A big challenge for the government is to provide them a source of livelihood for their sudden displacement. It is uncertain when an earthquake, tsunami, war, revolution, and other environmental, economic, political, social and cultural turmoil would strike places where OFWs work. The only preventive certainty is the assurance that there is a coherent policy and a critically working quick-reaction system that is responsive to the needs of OFWs in any crisis situation. A disaster and emergency plan and guidelines that was crafted and formulated in consultation with OFWs and the rest of the Filipino communities, guided and strengthened by experts on disaster management and mitigation instills a sense of safety, however temporary, in the foreground of all plausible insecurities.

Image from: http://mackyramirez.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/ofw-1.jpg

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APRIL 2011

Airport Payment Service of Lump-sum Refund for Foreigner

Submitted by Gennie Kim A FOREIGNER WHO DEPARTS FOR HIS/HER OWN COUNTRY CAN RECEIVE LUMP-SUM REFUND AT INCHEON AIRPORT OFFICE **WHO CAN APPLY** * A foreigner who is scheduled to depart for his own country through Incheon International Airport within a month * Airport Payment is possible only in case exemployer makes a disqualification report to National Pension Service at least one day before the departure date. ****if you are to depart from Korea on Saturday, Sunday of Korean legal (official) holiday, you can not apply for Airport Payment. Therefore, you should choose alternative options such as receiving through domestic account or overseas remittance. ****Airport Payment is applicable only in case flight's departure time is from 11:00 throguh 22:00 **HOW TO APPLY** * Select Airport Payment when you apply for Lump-Sum Refund * Applicants should hand in another form of bank account for additional payment in case nonpayable reasons happen on the departure date. **WHEN TO APPLY * Within a month before the departure date for your own country **WHERE TO APPLY * Regional offices and Incheon Airport Office of National Pension Service ***REQUIRED DOCUMENTS*** *ID card (Alien Registration Card, passport), an airline ticket and a copy of bankbook (for additional payment) ***HOW TO RECEIVE*** 1. Hand in forms of "Application for Lump-sum Refund and "Application for Lump-sum Refund at the Airport and then receive a filled receipt: all regional and Incheon Airport Office of the National Pension Service (Office hours 09:00~18:00) 2. Receive" Statement of Lump-sum Refund" and "Direction of Payment of Lump-sum Refund "from Incheon Airport Office after handing in the filling receipt, passport and flight ticket on the date of departure (Office hours 09:00~17:00) 3. Receive the Receipt of Currency Exchange" from Shinhan Bank Incheon International branch after handing in "Direction Payment of Lump-sum Refund" and a passport (Office hours 09:00~17:00)

EDITOR S NOTE

4. Withdraw the exchanged money from currency exchange booth of Shinhan Bank (infront 0f 29th boarding gate) after handing in "Direction for Payment of Lump-sum Refund "' Receipt of Currency Exchange"and a passport (office hours 09:00~21:00) ***FLOW CHART*** 1~Application for Lump-sum refund (Regional offices and Incheon Airport Office of NPS) > Select Airport Payment when you apply for Lump-sum refund 2 ~ Decision for payment of Lump-sum Refund (Airport Office of NPS) > Decision for payment of Lump-sum Refund on the date of departure after checking details of application 3~ Shinhan Bank Incheon International Branch (currency exchange booth) >Process for currency exchange of Lump-sum Refund Declaration at the customs of the amount of cash is over $10,000 4 ~ Going through the departure procedure (Ministry of Justice)>The examination of personal's belongings and customs declaration 5~ Withdrawal of the exchanged money of Lump-sum refund (Currency exchange booth of Shinhan bank in front of 29th boarding gate) 6~ Departure >Boarding and Departure

D I S C L A I M E R Different opinions are encourage to stimulate member input and involvement. SULYAPINOYs role is to provide information that permits FEWA members to develop informed opinions on subjects that will affect their status as migrant workers and, in some instances, their personal lives. FEWA does not hold itself responsible for statements made by any contributor. Statements or opinions expressed in SULYAPINOY reflect the views of the author(s) and not the official policy of FEWA unless so stated. For Comments, Suggestions, Contributions & Advertisements, Contributor : Gennie Kim e-mail: editorialstaff@sulyapinoy.org or sulyap.editorialstaff@gmail.com

SULYAPINOY observes the Philippine Press Code of Ethics .

APRIL 2011

Ang Bakal na Ibon sa Himpapawid

ni Dahn Jacob atayog ang lipad ng mga ibon sa himpapawid. Kaiga-igayang pagmasdan ang kampay ng mga munting bagwis pasalungat sa ihip ng hangin. Duon sa alapaap, sa itaas ng mga ulap sama-sama sila, isang grupo, isang pamilya. At sa kung saan mang direksyon sila dalhin ng kanilang paglipad, ang mga ibong itoy pinagbuklod ng matibay na samahan.

ano pang kagamitan. Hanggang duon lamang ang aking nararamdaman. Sa kanyang pagbalik panandalian muli siyang umalis patungo naman sa Taiwan.

Bunsod ng pagkawalay niya ang mga suliraning sumisira sa aming relasyon. Ngunit tulad ng isang inahing ibong nag-aaruga sa kanyang mga inakay, gayundin si ina. Kahalintulad sana ng mga ibon na Lumipad muli patungo sa ibang malayang nakapaglalakbay at tulad bansa para mas matugunan ang din sana nila ang pamilyang aking pinansiyal naming pangangailankinagisnan. Ngunit malayo man sa gan. Wala man ang kanyang pisikatotohanan hindi pa rin ako nawkal na presenya sa amin ay hindi awalan ng pag-asa na darating ang naputol ang ugnayan. Sa mga araw na ako at ang aking pamilyay liham na naka-ipit sa bawat kahon magkakasama ring maglalakbay at na kanyang ipinadala ay mga mananahan sa iisang tahanan. katagang mahal na mahal ko kayo. Duon unti-unti ko ring Sa murang edad, natunghayan ko ang naunawaan kung bakit kinailangan paglisan ng aking ina. Nakintal na sa niyang mag-alaga kahit na hindi aking isipan ang pagkaway ko sa naman niya kadugo. Sa bawat kalangitan habang nakatanaw sa paglipas ng panahon, mas pinaanimoy ibong hinahagkan ng mga paunawa ng aking ina ang hirap na puting ulap. Hanggang sa itoy kanyang dinanas, ang pangunmawala na sa aking paningin. Lulan gulila sa amin, ang pagmamahal ng bakal na ibon na iyon ang aking na walang patid niyang ipinaaabot ina patungo sa bansang Malaysia. mula sa kabilang panig ng daigdig. Baon ang pag-asang maiahon kami Muling binuo ni ina ang aming sa hirap at gayundin bitbit ang kirot sa pamilya sa pamamagitan ng kandibdib na ako at ang dalawa ko pang yang walang sawang pag-ibig para kapatid ay kanyang iiwan sa lupang sa kanyang mga anak. sinilangan. Dumating na rin ang panahon na kanyang pag-uwi. Ngunit tulad ng inaasahan, ang kanyang mga inakay ay may kanya-kanya na ring buhay na dapat atupagin. Natuto na rin kaming humayo at makipagsapalaran sa bawat hampas ng hangin at sa dagok ng buhay. Sa pag-uwi ni ina ay siya namang pag -alis ni kuya sa amin upang mamungad sa ibang tahanan. Bumuo ng sariling pamilya sa edad na dise -nuebe. Magkagayunpaman, hindi nagpatinag si ina sa panibagong unos na aming kinaharap. Mas pinagtibay niya ang kanyang luob at pinanindigan ang pagiging isang Si ina, ilang taon din namang nanga- ina. Pinunan niya ang mga panatulong at sa kanyang muling pagbalik hong nawaglit kami sa kanya. Ngunit sadyang mapagbiro ang sa amin ay maituturing na isang estadhana, dahil umuwi man si ina tranghero. Nuong akoy bata pa lamang, kaligayahan ko na ang maka- kinailangan ding ako at ang aking mga kapatid ay iwanan siya. tanggap ng padala mula sa kanya. Anim na taon na rin naman ako Mga bagong gamit pang-eskwela, Photos by Samuel Grado and Kuya Nhads mga bagong laruan at mga kung ano- dito sa disyerto ng Kuwait. Dito mas malayo man ako sa aking ina Kasabay ng paglayo ni ina ay mga problemang umusbong sa aming pamilya. Bagamat nasusustentuhan niya ang aming pangangailangan, unti -unti namang napapalayo ang aming kaluoban sa kanya. Marahil nga hindi sapat ang salapi para pagtibayin ang pamilya para ihango sa karukhaan at marahil hindi rin makakapagpatibay ang kawalan ng presensya ng mga magulang habang kami ay lumalaki at nagkaka-isip ng walang gabay nila. Normal ng maituturing para sa iba ang magkaruon ng wasak na pamilya sanhi na rin ng ilang taong pagkakawalay ng mga Pilipinong nangingibang-bansa para makipagsapalaran.

ay mas naramdaman ko ang kanyang paghihirap. Mas naunawaan ko ang kanyang pangungulila, ang kanyang pagmamahal at ang bawat yakap na kanyang iginawad nuong kamiy huling nagkasama. Si bunso naman, tatlong taon ng nakikipagsapalaran sa Dubai. Si kuya, sa buwang ito namay lilipad na rin patungong Saudi. Sabi ni ina sa isang mensahe mula sa kanyang selepono, Mas mabuti na rin sigurong mapalayo ang kuya mo sa kanyang pamilya. Dahil dito mas madalas silang makakapagusap ng kanyang mga anak. Isang simpleng mensahe mula sa isang ina sa kanyang anak. Isang mensaheng kung tutuusin ay may mas malalim na kahulugan. Wasak man ang aming pamilya, wala man kaming amang kinagisnan at wala man si ina sa aming tabi, sadya man kaming magkakalayo sa isat-isa, hindi nagkulang si ina na ipaunawa sa amin ang dahilan kung bakit kailangan niyang lumisan. At ngayon ngang kami naman ang lumayo sa kanyang piling, nagtagumpay siyang pagtibayin ang aming luob na anumang hirap sa ibang bansa ang pinakamahalaga ay ang dahilan kung bakit kailangang magsakripisyo

at makipagsapalaran. Iyon din ang dahilan upang magpatuloy na kayanin at harapin ang buhay. Ang walang sawang pagmamahal na ang tanging minimithing kapalit ay mga ngiti sa labi at pag-ibig sa pamilya. Ang bakal na ibon sa himpapawid tulad ng mga ibong malayang nakapaglalakbay sa ibat ibang panig ng daigdig, ang bakal na ibon na ito ang naghatid at maghahatid sa bawat miyembro ng pamilyang OFW na may tangan na pag-asang liliparin nila ang kalangitan upang buuin ang mga pangarap. At sa huling pagdapo ng ibong gawa sa bakal, sa muling paglapat ng mga paa sa lupang kinagisnan ang pagsalubong ng isang pamilya na nag-aantay sa matibay na tahanan ng bawat Pilipino. Source - http://dahnjacob.com/2010/09/ang -bakal-na-ibon-sa-himpapawid/ (Si Dahn Jacob na OFW sa Kuwait ay anak ng dating OFW at may dalawang kapatid din na OFW sa ibang panig ng gitnang silangan. Tinanghal na No. 1 sa 2010 Pinoy Expats/OFW Blog Awards {PEBA} ang akda niyang ito. Kung nais sumali sa 2011 PEBA puntahan ang link na ito - http:// www.pinoyblogawards.com/2011/04/criteria -guidelines-2011.html).

Art work from http://www.filipinosabroad.com

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Ngayong Nandito Ka
Michael Barairo Balba Sa dinami-rami ng aking minahal, Maraming beses na akong nasugatan, Ang abang puso ko palaging luhaan, Pagkat ang kaniig itong kabiguan. Kahit na nga ako tapat kung umibig, Hindi maiwasan ang dusa't pasakit, Itong kapalaran minsan ay kaylupit, Sapagkat ang dulot ay kaba sa dibdib. Sa sakit at dusa na aking natamo, Tuluyang namanhid itong aking puso, Sa aking sarili ang naging pangako, Hindi na iibig ng hindi mabigo. Nang makilala ka ako'y naguluhan, Tibok ng puso ko hindi napigilan Kahit na ang takot ay nararamdaman, Ang ika'y ibigin hindi naiwasan. Ngayong nandito ka muling lumigaya, Mundo'y nagkakulay at puso'y sumigla, Ngayong nandito ka tanging nadarama, Ang kaligayahan sa tuwi-tuwina. Ngayong nandito ka parang nasa langit, Sa bawat sandali puso'y umaawit, Ngayong nandito muling nanumbalik, Ang ganda at kulay ng buong paligid.

Habang may Buhay

Michael Barairo Balba Kung ako'y bibigyan ng pagkakataon, Muling maibalik nagdaang kahapon, Aking itatama kamalian noon, Upang ang puso ko maligaya ngayon. Pag-ibig mong tapat aking iingatan, Upang tayong dal'wa hindi magkawalay, Ngayong wala ka na ay aking nalaman, Ikaw aking sinta pinakamamahal, Nang ikaw lumayo ay aking nabatid, Ikaw aking hirang pinakaiibig, Ngayo'y walang kulay ang aking paligid, Sapagkat puso ko ikaw lang ang pintig. Sana kung sakali na muling magkita, Muli mong tanggapin pag-ibig ko sinta, Dito sa piling ko huwag mangangamba, Pagkat habambuhay na iingatan ka. Kung ika'y babalik dito sa'king piling, Habang may buhay kitang iibigin, Pangako sa iyo tandaan mo giliw, Habang may buhay ika'y mamahalin.

(Si Michael Barairo Balba ay taga San Nicolas, Batangas. May limang taon nang nakikipagsapalaran sa South Korea. Hilig niya ang sumulat ng tula.)

APRIL 2011

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Republic of the Philippines

OMNIBUS RULES AND REGULATIONS IMPLEMENTING THE MIGRANT WORKERS AND OVERSEAS FILIPINOS ACT OF 1995, AS AMENDED BY REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10022

ursuant to the authority vested by law on the Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Secretary of Labor and Employment, Secretary of Health, the Chairman of the National Labor Relations Commission, and the Insurance Commissioner, and in the light of Republic Act No. 10022, An Act Amending Republic Act No. 8042, Otherwise Known as the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995, as amended, Further Improving the Standard of Protection and Promotion of the Welfare of Migrant Workers, Their Families and Overseas Filipinos in Distress, and For Other Purposes, the following Implementing Rules and Regulations are hereby promulgated: RULE XIII REPATRIATION OF WORKERS Section 1. Primary Responsibility for Repatriation. The repatriation of the worker or his/her remains, and the transport of his/her personal effects shall be the primary responsibility of the principal, employer or agency that recruited or deployed him/her abroad. All costs attendant thereto shall be borne by the principal, employer or the agency concerned. Sec. 2. Obligation to Advance Repatriation Costs. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 37-A of the Act, the primary responsibility to repatriate entails the obligation on the part of the principal or agency to advance the repatriation and other attendant costs, including plane fare, deployment cost of the principal, and immigration fines and penalties, to immediately repatriate the worker should the need for it arise, without a prior determination of the cause of the termination of the worker's employment. However, after the worker has returned to the country, the principal or agency may recover the cost of repatriation from the worker if the termination of employment was due solely to his/her fault. In countries where there is a need to secure an exit visa for the workers repatriation, the principal or employer shall be primarily responsible for securing the visa at no cost to the worker. The agency shall coordinate with the principal or employer in securing the visa. Every contract for overseas employment shall provide for the primary responsibility of the principal or employer and agency to advance the cost of plane fare, and the obligation of the worker to refund the cost thereof in case his/her fault is determined by the Labor Arbiter. Sec. 3. Repatriation Procedure. When a need

for repatriation arises and the foreign employer fails to provide for its cost, the POLO or responsible personnel on-site shall simultaneously notify OWWA and the POEA of such need. The POEA shall issue a notice requiring the agency concerned to provide, within 48 hours from such notice, the plane ticket or the prepaid ticket advice (PTA) to the POLO or Philippine Embassy. The agency shall notify the POEA of such compliance, which shall then inform OWWA of the action of the agency. In case there is a need to secure an exit visa for the repatriation of the worker, the employer or principal shall have fifteen (15) days from notice to secure such an exit visa. Moreover, any agency involved in the workers recruitment, processing, and/or deployment shall coordinate with the principal or employer in securing the visa. Sec. 4. Action on Non-Compliance. If the employment agency fails to provide the ticket or PTA within 48 hours from receipt of the notice, the POEA shall suspend the documentary processing of the agency or impose such sanctions as it may deem necessary. Upon notice from the POEA, OWWA shall advance the costs of repatriation with recourse to the agency or principal. The administrative sanction shall not be lifted until the agency reimburses the OWWA of the cost of repatriation with legal interest. If the principal or employer and/or agency fail to secure the exit visa within a period of fifteen (15) days from receipt of the POEA notice, the POEA shall suspend the employer or principal from participating in the overseas employment program, and may impose suspension of documentary processing on the agency, if warranted. Sec. 5. Emergency Repatriation. The OWWA, in coordination with DFA, and in appropriate situations, with international agencies, shall undertake the repatriation of workers in cases of war, epidemic, disasters or calamities, natural or man-made, and other similar events, without prejudice to reimbursement by the responsible principal or agency within sixty (60) days from notice. In such case, the POEA shall simultaneously identify and give notice to the agencies concerned.

Sec. 6. Mandatory Repatriation of Underage Migrant Workers. Upon discovery or upon being informed of the presence of migrant workers whose actual ages fall below the minimum age requirement for overseas deployment, the responsible officers in the Foreign Service shall without delay repatriate said workers and advise the DFA through the fastest means of communication available of such discovery and other relevant information. In addition to requiring the recruitment/ manning agency to pay or reimburse the costs of repatriation, the POEA shall cancel the license of the recruitment/manning agency that deployed an underage migrant worker after notice and hearing and shall impose a fine of not less than Five Hundred Thousand Pesos (P 500,000.00) but not more than One Million Pesos(P 1,000,000.00). The POEA shall also order the recruitment/manning agency to refund all fees pertinent to the processing of papers or documents in the deployment, to the underage migrant worker or to his parents or guardian in a summary proceeding conducted. The refund shall be independent of and in addition to the indemnification for the damages sustained by the underage migrant worker. The refund shall be paid within thirty (30) days from the date the POEA is officially informed of the mandatory repatriation as provided for in the Act. Sec. 7. Other Cases of Repatriation. In all cases where the principal or agency of the worker cannot be identified, cannot be located or had ceased operations, and the worker is in need and without means, the OWWA personnel at the jobsite, in coordination with the DFA, shall cause the repatriation in appropriate cases. All costs attendant to repatriation borne by the OWWA may be charged to the Emergency Repatriation Fund provided in the Act, without prejudice to the OWWA requiring the agency/employer/ insurer or the worker to reimburse the cost of repatriation. (continued on page 7.)

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EDITOR S NOTE

OMNIBUS RULES AND REGULATIONS ..

(continued from page 8.) Sec. 8. Emergency Repatriation Fund. When repatriation becomes immediate and necessary, the OWWA shall advance the needed costs from the Emergency Repatriation Fund without prejudice to reimbursement by the deploying agency and/or principal, or the worker in appropriate cases. Simultaneously, the POEA shall ask the concerned agency to work towards reimbursement of costs advanced by the OWWA. In cases where the cost of repatriation shall exceed One Hundred Million Pesos (Php100,000,000.00), the OWWA shall make representation with the Office of the President for immediate funding in excess of said amount. Sec. 9. Prohibition on Bonds and Deposits. In no case shall a private recruitment/manning agency require any bond or cash deposit from the worker to guarantee performance under the contract or his/her repatriation.
Official Signed Copy (July 8, 2010) Source - http://www.poea.gov.ph/rules/omnibus%20irr_ra10022.pdf

Pumunta sa Fund Transfer Section ng Korea Post branch na pinakamalapit sa inyo. KRW 8,000 lang ang Remittance fee para sa perang padalang aabot sa halagang USD 1,000 o KRW 1 M!

APRIL 2011