| OFW deployment up in 2008 |
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| By Philippine Consulate General | |
| Saturday, 31 January 2009 | |
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Iloilo City -- The deployment of Filipino workers abroad increased during the first eleven months of 2008, said the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas\ (BSP) recently. In its press report, BSP cited the preliminary data from the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration indicating that during the first eleven months of 2008 the number of Filipinos deployed abroad increased considerably by 24. 4 percent to 1,221,829 from 982,286 a year ago. The POEA data further showed that 90 percent of newly hired overseas Filipino workers in the first ten months of 2008 consisted of professionals and skilled workers. The deployment was concentrated in Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, and Hong Kong. The continuing global economic slowdown is expected to decelerate the deployment of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWS) in the coming months. However, BSP said that the strong labor demand in Canada, Bulgaria, Australia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar is expected to mitigate the decline in hiring of OFWs. ``The Philippine government has signed Memoranda of agreement with various provinces of Canada and with Qatar and is also in negotiations with South Australia for possible employment opportunities for Filipino skilled labor,`` said the BSP. Also, the Department of Labor and Employment through its overseas labor offices in more than 30 strategic host destinations worldwide, has continued to conduct marketing missions and employment facilitation programs to widen the productive opportunities for Filipino workers both in the local and global fronts. Meanwhile, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has assigned all Cabinet members to handle emergency and livelihood programs over and above agency projects in place to lessen the impact of the global economic meltdown on the Filipinos including OFWs earlier this year. As part of this effort a special program for OFWs who lost their jobs as a result of the economic meltdown, will be mapped out. (PIA) ________________________________________________________________________________ __._,_.___ CHR eyes more children's role in policy development MANILA (PNA) –- The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) is calling for more children's participation in multi-sectoral consultations on developing and implementing public policies. CHR Chairperson Leila de Lima said such participation is essential to development since it enables the government to come up with policies that help further uphold children's rights. "Let the children be part of the solution - their voices must have the possibility and opportunity to influence public policy," she said. She said the government is duty-bound to uphold the children's rights as the Philippines is party to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). This makes the government committed to undertake legislative, administrative and other measures for promoting children's rights, she noted. The UNCRC is an international convention setting out children's civil, economic, political, social and cultural rights and which the UN General Assembly adopted in November 1989. De Lima earlier cautioned the government against its planned random drug testing among youngsters, fearing this might violate children's rights if undertaken "in the absence of guidelines formulated in a democratic, consultative manner." "The UNCRC is very clear in recognizing that a child, as an individual, is entitled to protection of his or her human rights," she also pointed out. She said these include the right against self-incrimination, unlawful searches and seizures as well as children's right to expect full protection of the law against any interference or attack and to protect themselves, their effects and correspondence. To help address the illegal drugs problem, de Lima said the government, instead, must address institutional roots of this menace. She said the government must step up its campaign against using and trading banned substances as well as increase funds and other resources for child-friendly programs and facilities. The government must also provide more funding and technical support for enhancing the country's rehabilitation and social welfare systems to help people recover from using illegal drugs so they can start life anew. ________________________._,_.___ All systems go for the resumption of peace talks with MILF this year President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today informed members of the diplomatic corps that all systems go for the resumption of the peace negotiations with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) "anytime this year." Speaking before the traditional Vin D' Honneur at Malacanang's Rizal (Ceremonial) Hall this morning, the President said that with the new government peace panel headed by Ambassador Rafael Seguis, the peace talks would probably bring the decades-long armed conflict to an end this year. "I hope 2009 will be a comeback for peace, progress and prosperity in Mindanao," the President said noting that when she assumed the Presidency in 2001, she already inherited a state of an all-out war in Southern Philippines. The President told the members of the Diplomatic Corps, headed by the Papal Nuncio to the Philippines and the dean of the diplomatic corps, Edward Joseph Adams, that she had instructed the new government peace panel to touch base with the facilitators and the MILF leaders for the resumption of the talks. She said that since after the talks were put on hold in August 2008, the government has always been firm and committed in its stand to resume the negotiations. "The (government) peace panel is poised and ready to embark for substantive discussions, including ceasefire-related issues, the International Monitoring Team, and accelerated development for Mindanao. We hope all parties are as committed as we are to resume the negotiations soon," she said. Right after the bloody attack of the disgruntled and unprincipled members of the MILF in the civilian communities in the provinces of North Cotabato, Saranggani, among others, the government created a new paradigm for peace. These new paradigm for peace includes interfaith dialogues and authentic consultations with communities in the field, the adoption of the principle of disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR) for the members of the armed rebel group. The President also reiterated her call on the members of the International Monitoring Team composed of Brunei, Japan, Libya, and Malaysia who act as ardent facilitators of the talks, the members of the Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC), European nations, and the United States to continue their support to advance peace and progress in Southern Philippines. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ PGMA looks forward to work with Obama as she welcomes him to the world stage President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said today on the eve of President-elect Barack Obama`s induction as the 44th President of the United States that she is looking forward to work with the new US President as she welcomed him to the world stage. The special relationship between the United States and the Philippines will continue unabated. The President issued the statement before members of the diplomatic corps this morning during the traditional Vin D` Honneur at Malacanang`s Rizal (Ceremonial) Hall. ``In my conversations with Senator Barack Obama before the elections and President-elect Obama after his election, it was made clear that the special relationship between the US and the Philippines will continue unabated,`` the President stressed. The President recalled that America played an important role in the history of the Philippines during World War II. ``Our ties run deep. Over two and a half million Americans are of Filipino descent,`` the President noted. For her part, US Ambassador to the Philippines Kristie Kenney thanked President Macapagal-Arroyo for dedicating a part of her speech to congratulate President Obama. ``So thank you to all of you for celebrating an extra-ordinary day for America and a great day for Philippine-American friendship,`` Ambassador Kenney told reporters in an ambush interview. ________________________________________________________________________________ PGMA sees 2009 as `comeback year` for Mindanao peace process Citing renewed efforts to get the stalled Mindanao peace talks back on rack, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo expressed hope today that 2009 will be a ``comeback year`` for peace, progress and prosperity in the region wracked by decades of secessionist strife. In remarks during the traditional Vin de` Honneur for the diplomatic community held this morning in Malacanang, the President said that when she assumed the presidency in 2001, Mindanao was in a state of full-scale war. From 2001 onwards, the quest for permanent peace in the troubled region gained steady progress, until Aug. 2008 when renegade forces of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) went on the warpath again, attacking civilian populations and killing innocent people, including their fellow Muslims. With the formation of the new government panel on the peace process headed by Ambassador Rafael Seguis, the government hopes that the Mindanao problem would now shift from the battlefield to the negotiating table, she said. ``The (government peace) panel is poised and ready to embark on substantive discussions, including ceasefire-related issues, the International Monitoring Team, and accelerating development for Mindanao,`` the President pointed out. She added pointedly: ``We hope all parties are as committed as we are to resume negotiations soon.`` The government has drawn up a new paradigm for peace in Mindanao which includes interfaith dialogue, authentic consultations with the affected communities, and the principle of disarmament, demobilization and reintegration for armed rebels. The President said that as in previous years, to advance peace and progress in Mindanao, her administration hopes to be able to count on the support of the country`s friends and partners in the search for peace. In particular, she paid tribute to the role of the International Monitoring Team composed of Brunei, Japan, and Libya and other Philippine partners in the quest for peace such as the members of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC), the United States and members of the European Union (EU). In various speeches and statements on Mindanao, the President had stressed that ``there is no alternative to peace`` in the area, one of the country`s richest in terms of natural resources. ``The sad irony of Mindanao,`` she pointed out, is that ``even if it is the breadbasket or food basket, yet it has the highest hunger (incidence) in our nation. It has large fields of high productivity, yet it also has the majority of our poorest provinces. The prime reason is the endless Mindanao conflict.`` The President lauded her administration`s partners in the Mindanao peace process, saying each and every one of them have contributed to making the world better and safer because of their concern for what happens in Mindanao. ``For that, we are eternally grateful. We have high hopes that our friends in the Islamic world will support our focus`` on the peace process, she added. __________________________________________________________________________ Amb. Kenney lauds RP for doing a great job in combating terrorism US Ambassador to the Philippines Kristie Kenney lauded the Philippine government today for doing a great job in combating terrorism and promoting peace and development in Southern Philippines. Kenney made the remarks during an ambush interview Tuesday right after the traditional Vin D` Honnuer held at Malacanang`s Rizal (Ceremonial) Hall. ``I think the Philippines is doing a great job in combating terrorism. I also think the Philippines has done a wonderful job with so many partners in Jolo (Sulu province) in promoting development,`` Ambassador Kenney told reporters. She said that the US as one of the partners of the Philippine government in its efforts to restore peace and spur development in Mindanao, particularly in Jolo, recognizes the outstanding efforts of the national government in providing livelihood assistance to the residents and improving infrastructure facilities like roads and schools in the region. With the ongoing search and rescue operation for the three kidnapped workers of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Kenney also commended the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) handling of the case. She assured the Filipino people that the US government is ready to provide assistance to the military and the police until the kidnapped victims are rescued from their abductors. ``These are International Red Cross workers. They should be released safely. And those involved should be brought to justice and held responsible for their illegal acts. Period,`` Kenney stressed. Last Jan. 15, the Swiss representative of the ICRC and two other workers of the organization were seized at gunpoint by alleged members of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) near the Sulu capitol building in Patikul town. In her speech, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo renewed her call on the International Monitoring Team, members of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC), European nations and the United States of America to support the Philippine government in its efforts to advance peace and progress in Mindanao. The President informed the members of the diplomatic corps that the country`s economy will be the central focus of her administration as well as the restarting the peace process in Mindanao -- her personal commitment in 2009. _______________________________________________________________________ Philippine Gov't planning for better days ahead while preparing for worse of crisis President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said today that her administration is planning for better days ahead for the country, even as it battens down the ramparts should the global economic downturn turn from bad to worse. "As an economist, I also know that things can turn quickly. That is why we are planning for better days - even as we are developing contingency plans if things get worse. We have worked fervently - even before the crisis took root - to cushion the blow to our people," she told the country's diplomatic community at the traditional Vin 'd Honneur held this morning at the Rizal Hall of Malacanang. She said that the Philippines has avoided the full impact of the economic fallout and kept the crisis at bay - "thanks to the fiscal, economic and structural reforms we implemented in the past - even while it was unpopular to do so." The President echoed the favorable assessments of Fitch ratings agency, Credit Suisse, Bank of New York Mellon, JP Morgan, and Standard and Poor's, among others, of the country's ability to surf through the worse of the global economic crisis. In its latest assessment, Fitch said the Philippine economy remains "reasonably healthy"; Credit Suisse said the Philippine macroeconomic riskis lowest while the Standard and Poor described the country as an "island of relative calm amid the stormy seas of global economic uncertainty." "The Philippines is in a relatively strong position to weather the global downturn with the economy driven by private consumption and services, which are less vulnerable to external shocks," the President said, quoting the recent analysis of the Bank of New York Mellon and JP Morgan. She pointed out that "maintaining a strong growing economy" is of highest priority to her administration in order to eradicate the decades – long problem of poverty in the country and ensure that safety nets are in place for the most vulnerable sector - the poorest of the poor. As a result of the successful implementation of the Arroyo administration's financial reforms and sound fiscal management, the country has avoided the full brunt of the economic downturn to the Philippine economy. "I assumed the Presidency in 2001 with no budget to spare. Our coffers were in the negative. Because of our financial reforms and sound fiscal management since 2001, our economy has posted uninterrupted growth over 36 quarters," she said. This uninterrupted growth has cut down the rate of poverty in the country and raised the annual average of new employment. "With the revenues from the expanded value-added tax and alcohol and tobacco excise tax, we have been able to expand access to health care as never before. Health insurance now covers 74 percent of the population, public hospitals are being upgraded, and the poor can buy their essential medicines at half the price of year 2000. Our social services now include a 10-billion-peso budget for targeted cash payments to the poorest of the poor, conditioned on their children going to school," the President said. |
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