Latest news with #HansLeoJ.Cacdac
Arab Times
18 hours ago
- Politics
- Arab Times
OFW Safety First: Philippines Suspends Deployments To Mideast Hotspots
KUWAIT CITY, June 20: The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) has encouraged private recruitment agencies (PRAs) to delay the deployment of their processed Filipino workers to conflict-affected countries in the Middle East, ensuring their safety and well-being. The DMW issued Advisory No. 19 s. 2025 reiterating restrictions in the deployment of OFWs to Israel, Iran, Jordan, and Lebanon. Lebanon remains under Alert Level 3, which prohibits deployment of both new hires and returning workers. Israel, meanwhile, is under Alert Level 2, which means that only returning workers with valid contracts are allowed, but currently cannot proceed due to airspace closures amid the ongoing tensions in the region. 'Right now, we're on Alert Level 2 in Israel, which means new hires are prohibited, but pwede ang returning. However, due to the airspace restrictions, it is impossible for them to go, including to those bound for Jordan, because they will just be turned back in case of the closure of the airspace,' said Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo J. Cacdac during a press briefing on Thursday. As of June 19, a total of 58 stranded OFWs — including 43 bound for Israel and 15 for Jordan — have been assisted by DMW's Migrant Workers Offices (MWOs) in Dubai and Abu Dhabi for repatriation. The DMW is closely coordinating with the MWOs and the Philippine Embassies to ensure the welfare of workers caught in transit. 'When we speak in a regulatory sense, then they have to comply. Any agency that continues deployment despite the directive will face penalties,' Secretary Cacdac warned. 'And yes, 'yong cost of travel hahabulin namin sila doon kung kami ang gumastos sa pagpapauwi.' The advisory mandates PRAs to: Maintain active communication with employers and foreign partners to verify the location and safety of deployed workers; Conduct regular welfare checks and submit updated reports through the OFW Welfare Monitoring System; Develop contingency plans covering evacuation and emergency repatriation; Shoulder costs of rerouting or rebooking flights for OFWs affected by airspace closures; and Refrain from processing deployments to Jordan and Israel until clearance is issued. DMW also met with PRAs, including the Philippine Association of Manpower Agencies for Jordan (PAMAJOR) and the Foreign Recruitment Agency in Jordan, to explain the current situation and ensure compliance. 'Naipaliwanag natin sa Jordanian employers ang kasalukuyang sitwasyon at limitasyon sa pagpapapunta ng ating mga OFWs at handa silang mag-aantay at tumulong sa lahat nang na-stranded nating mga OFWs,' said DMW Undersecretary Bernard Olalia. The DMW emphasized its commitment to ensuring the protection and security of OFWs, especially in times of crisis, as directed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. in coordination with the Department of Foreign Affairs and other agencies.
Filipino Times
a day ago
- Filipino Times
19 undocumented OFW mothers, 23 children safely repatriated from Dubai
A group of 19 Filipino mothers and their 23 children have been safely repatriated from Dubai to the Philippines. These mothers and children were undocumented, who availed of the amnesty program offered by the UAE. 'There are criminal and morality codes in the UAE. If there is a mother who gives birth and hindi known 'yung status or out of wedlock, ay nagiging undocumented yung bata. Therefore, mahirap in terms of getting medical treatment, and education. So it's important na maiuuwi sila agad. We have our lawyers handling all these cases. They have been cleared and now they are home,' Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo J. Cacdac said. Also included in the repatriation were 10 Filipino workers who were stranded in Dubai while en route to Jordan due to rising tensions in the Middle East. The group arrived at NAIA Terminal 1 in Pasay City aboard Philippine Airlines flight PR659. This repatriation was a coordinated effort among the Department of Migrant Workers, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, the Department of Foreign Affairs, and the Philippine Embassy in the UAE. The Embassy assisted in securing documentation for the children, including DNA testing carried out in coordination with UAE authorities. All repatriated individuals received immediate financial support through the DMW AKSYON Fund and assistance at the airport. They will also be provided with reintegration programs to support their transition back into life in the Philippines. So far, the DMW and OWWA have helped 28 Filipino workers stranded in Dubai due to airport closures linked to the Middle East conflict. Travelers affected by flight disruptions are advised to contact airlines for rebooking and report to the nearest Philippine Embassy or Migrant Workers Office for assistance.
GMA Network
5 days ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
DMW says it must ‘properly time' repatriations amid Israel-Iran conflict
Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo J. Cacdac addresses members of the Filipino community in Dubai at the Dubai World Trade Center during Philippine Independence Day celebrations held on June 14, 2025. Jojo Dass DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — The Department of Migrant Workers is 'definitely ready' for a mass evacuation of overseas Filipinos from Israel, with Secretary Hans Leo J. Cacdac stressing that it is a matter of 'carefully assessing the situation,' including air space, to arrive at a proper timing. 'Nakahanda tayo. Pero di pa isinasagawa at this stage. Hindi pa ito yung tamang panahon na… Dapat itong isa-ayos nang maige, lalo na sa gitna ng putukan o hidwaan. Kailangang tantiyahan nang maige yung ating pagpakakaruon ng repatriation. But definitely, we are ready,' Cacdac told GMA News Online. (We are prepared. But we are not yet doing it at this stage. This is not the proper time yet. This should be done carefully, especially in light of the ongoing fighting. We need to time the repatriation carefully. But definitely, we are ready.) Cacdac was in the city on Friday, June 14 to attend Philippine Independence Day celebrations held at Dubai World Trade Center (DWTC) participated in by approximately 40,000 Filipinos and their children. Cacdac urged families in the Philippines to check on their relatives in Israel through the DMW's hotlines. 'Ang mahalaga sa ngayon ay malaman ng mga kababayan natin na meron silang madudulugan,' he said. (What is important at this moment is for our fellow Filipinos to know that they have somewhere to reach out to.) Cacdac said a help desk has been organized with the hotlines posted online on June 14, a day after Israel launched a strike on Iran. 'Nagpapa-alala tayo sa mga kababayan natin na yung Middle East help desk natin ay patuloy na tatanggap ng tawag…ang ating 1348 hotline ay pwedeng dulugan ng anuman tulong, yung mga kamag-anak sa Pilipinas na nais malaman ang status o katayuan ng kanilang mahal sa buhay ay pwedeng dumulog sa ating hotline,' he said. (We are reminding our fellow Filipinos that our Middle East help desk will continue receiving calls through the 1348 hotline for them to seek help. Relatives in the Philippines who wishes to know the situations of their loved ones [in Israel] may do so by dialing the hotline.) According to the DMW secretary, there are approximately 30,000 Filipinos in Israel. 'Sa Iran ay 30 lang yata. Marami ruon kasal sa Iranians,' Cacdac said. (There are around 30 Filipinos in Iran. Many are married to Iranian nationals.) War between Israel and Iran has continued to escalate with the ongoing exchange of a barrage of missile attacks, two days after Israel launched an early morning large-scale strike on Iran's nuclear facilities and military infrastructure. The attack was launched in the early hours of Friday, June 13. — BM, GMA Integrated News
Filipino Times
13-06-2025
- Business
- Filipino Times
PH, Nova Scotia seal labor deal to boost OFW protection and job opportunities
The Philippines and the Canadian province of Nova Scotia have signed a new agreement aimed at strengthening the protection, welfare, and employment opportunities of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), in line with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s directive to enhance labor cooperation and promote safe migration. The agreement was formalized on June 9, 2025, through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed by Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Hans Leo J. Cacdac and Nova Scotia's Minister of Advanced Education, Brendan Maguire, at the DMW office in Mandaluyong City. 'This partnership reflects our shared commitment to a labor migration system grounded in dignity, fairness, and opportunity. We hope this will serve as a model for future bilateral labor accords,' said Secretary Cacdac. The MOU focuses on ethical recruitment, skills development through partnerships with institutions like TESDA and PGH, and reintegration programs for returning OFWs. It also ensures lawful migration pathways, particularly in key sectors such as healthcare and construction. Minister Maguire lauded Filipino workers for their dedication and compassion. 'Filipinos are among the most hardworking and community-oriented people I've had the pleasure to work with,' he said, noting that 58% of job orders from Nova Scotia are in healthcare and construction. An initial batch of 120 candidates is covered by the agreement, with 42 job orders already in place. Nova Scotia also committed to hiring more Filipino healthcare workers in the years ahead. Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Jose Victor John Gonzaga expressed strong support for the initiative, reaffirming the DFA's commitment to protecting migrant workers and fostering global cooperation. 'We stand shoulder to shoulder with Nova Scotia and DMW as we usher in this new era of collaboration,' Gonzaga said. The signing was witnessed by key officials from DMW, OWWA, DFA, and the Canadian Embassy. It follows the Joint Declaration of Intent signed in February 2024, which laid the groundwork for the partnership. So far, over 3,000 OFWs have been deployed to Canada through private recruitment, and 151 via direct hiring.
Filipino Times
09-06-2025
- Business
- Filipino Times
Gov't issues new rules to speed up delivery of OFW balikbayan boxes
The Philippine government has introduced new regulations aimed at expediting the delivery and improving the security of balikbayan boxes sent by Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs). This comes in response to numerous complaints about undelivered, delayed, or missing boxes, and growing concerns over fraudulent freight forwarding services. The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and the Bureau of Customs (BOC), together with other key government agencies, signed a Joint Administrative Order (JAO) on Monday at the DMW Central Office, outlining a coordinated government effort to regulate sea cargo forwarders, protect OFWs from scams, and ensure their packages reach recipients safely and on time. The initiative supports the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to prioritize the needs and welfare of OFWs. The administrative order was developed following investigations and public hearings conducted by the House Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs (HCOWA), which identified regulatory loopholes and a lack of accountability mechanisms that have long plagued balikbayan box shipments. 'This JAO is the product of sustained collaboration and strong legislative oversight,' said DMW Secretary Hans Leo J. Cacdac. The administrative order establishes a comprehensive framework to monitor and regulate freight forwarding services. It also introduces a multi-agency complaints and tracking system to help OFWs report issues and follow up on the status of their packages. Additionally, a nationwide public information campaign will warn against using unaccredited cargo services and educate OFWs on their rights and available support. Since 2023, the DMW and BOC have helped retrieve and deliver over 9,900 balikbayan boxes. Just last week, 2,500 more boxes were recovered at the Port of Davao and are currently being prepared for free delivery to recipients in Mindanao. To support OFWs affected by unrecovered shipments, the DMW has made ₱30,000 in financial assistance available through its AKSYON Fund. The program now operates under expanded guidelines to speed up aid and include more beneficiaries.
