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P resident Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo arrived here Friday (Dubai time) on a two-day mission to meet with top government officials and business leaders and employers of the UAE to request for more job opportunities for Filipinos and to discuss investment potentials in the Philippines.
Ahead of schedule, the President landed at the Dubai International Airport at 10:20 p.m. (2:20 a.m. Saturday, Manila time) following her shortened visit to Pattaya, Thailand, where she attended the 14th ASEAN Summit and other Related Summits which were cut short when demonstrators managed to enter the venue.
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo arrived here with Press Secretary Cerge Remonde, Trade and Industry Secretary Peter Favila, Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes, among other Cabinet members, and some congressmen.
The President – who was last here on Jan. 27-28, 2008 – is once again visiting the UAE to continue her efforts to promote and advance the protection and interest of the country’ s expatriate workers. President Arroyo’s hectic schedule in her two-day working visit here will start with a meeting with some selected Gulf employers at the Renaissance Hotel in a bid to seek more job employment for the country’s expatriate workers.
The Chief Executive will also attend the employment and business opportunities summit entitled “The Middle East Forum” which is being participated in by some 250 private service providers involved in the recruitment and hiring of skilled workers and professionals, plus concerned officials from both sending and receiving countries.
The President will also deliver a message following the presentation to her of the output of the two-day Middle East Forum that includes the summation of job orders. The Middle East Forum aims to bring together key players—employers, manpower providers, officials of the Philippines and Gulf Cooperating Countries — to discuss how the Philippines can fill up large-scale job orders in the region within the year.
The President will also meet with leaders of the Filipino community to discuss OFWs concerns. Before going back to Manila Tuesday morning (April 14), the President will meet with UAE President His Highness Sheik Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nayan at the Presidential Palace in Abu Dhabi to push for more foreign investments and pursue further areas of cooperation between the two countries.
In her departure statement from Manila last Friday (April 10), the President said she will come here “to champion our workers before the government and those firms that are hiring workers in Dubai.”
She added that although the economy has been particularly difficult in Dubai, Filipino workers are still the most sought-after workers in the Middle Eastern country. The United Arab Emirates is the second top destination of OFWs in the Middle East, next to Saudi Arabia.
Updated data reveals that the UAE hosts 304,241 documented overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) plus an estimated 35,040 undocumented OFWs. Of the total workers, 19.47 percent are professionals; 38.25 percent are skilled workers; 27.97 percent are semi-skilled workers; and 14.31 percent are unskilled workers. # # #
* US$ 120-billion ASEAN Equity Fund hoped to be launched by May – Secretary Remonde
The US$120-billion ASEAN Equity Fund which members of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) will tap to help themselves tide over the global economic crisis is hoped to be launched by next month, according to Press Secretary Cerge Remonde.
The Press Secretary -- who was one of the Cabinet members who accompanied President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to Pattaya, Thailand for the suspended 14th ASEAN Summit and Other Related Summits said the summit was nonetheless able to move the Equity Fund project a step forward.
“Medyo nag-step forward yung US $120-billion multi-lateral equity fund,” Remonde revealed over the government-run Radyo ng Bayan at past noon today (Sunday, April 12).
The Press Secretary -- who proceeded with the presidential party to Dubai yesterday (Saturday, April 11) -- said the ASEAN-Plus members managed to agree on how to raise the money for the fund, with the ten ASEAN member countries agreeing to contribute a total of $24 billion.
In his earlier statement yesterday, Mr. Remonde said the balance of $96 billion will be contributed by the ASEAN’s dialogue partners -- China, Japan and South Korea with the latter committing to match the ASEAN contribution of $24 billion, while the $72-billion balance will be shared
by Japan and China.
“Yung balance, mag-hahatian yung China and Japan; and, hopefully, the Equity Fund will finally be launched by May.” said Remonde.
The Press Secretary said the other ‘significant developments’ in the ASEAN summits include the ASEAN leaders agreeing to create by 2015 the ASEAN Political Stability Community; and the members of the Committee of Permanent Representatives finally holding their initial meeting.
Meanwhile, the President’s arrival in Dubai a day early also advanced all her scheduled events in the Middle Eastern country, according to Secretary Remonde.
He added that the President’s Dubai itinerary includes a Jobs Summit attended by representatives of employers from various countries based in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), a meeting with the UAE president in the Presidential palace in Abu Dhabi, a Holy Mass, and a meeting with the Filipino community in the UAE and from surrounding Middle East countries.
President Arroyo’s meeting with UAE President His Highness Sheik Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nayan shall dwell on diplomatic and economic issues “to secure a better deal for Filipino workers and to be able to secure more jobs for Filipino,” Remonde added. # # #
* PGMA: RP gov't reciprocating expatriate workers' efforts with OFW payback program
DUBAI (PND) -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today (Sunday, April 12) reiterated that the government will not sit idly by and do nothing to protect the welfare of the country’s expatriate workers in the midst of the global economic crisis.
Addressing the participants of the first "Employment and Business Opportunities: The Middle East Forum" at the Renaissance Dubai Hotel here, the President said it is now the Philippine government’s payback time for the modern-day heroes in this time of great economic uncertainty.
“The heroic efforts of the OFWs will not go unreciprocated,” the President said, adding that a program of full reciprocity is being carried out to help OFWs in host countries that are now being buffeted by the economic crisis.
The Chief Executive said the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is taking the lead in carrying out the government’s payback program for the OFWs.
One of the components of the government’s full support for OFWs is helping returning OFWs find remunerative jobs.
For OFWs who want to cross over to other countries or companies that are in need of their skill and talent, the President said the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) is carrying out a marketing blitz to expand the market for expatriate workers.
The Chief Executive added that the government is taking the licensure examinations of the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) to selected international locations where large expatriate worker populations are present so that they can prepare for higher paid and more secure employment.
The President also took pride in the continued double-digit growth this year in the number of Filipino workers deployed abroad.
“The market for Filipino workers remains high and resilient,” she said.
While noting that there are some challenging spots, including Dubai, where some expatriates have lost their jobs, the President stressed that employment overseas is holding steady, with new jobs being created at the same time.
With the country’s expatriate workers becoming increasingly skilled and diversified in their fields, the President said bilateral discussions with other countries are expected to open up new employment opportunities abroad for Filipinos in a wide range of skilled sectors.
She said the world economy continues to challenge developed and developing nations alike, and this is the reason why she and other government officials traveled to Dubai to promote the interests of the country’s expatriate workers here.
The President also thanked the employers here for supporting the government in identifying employment and business opportunities amidst the global challenges. # # #
* PGMA thanks Middle East employers for 200,000 new Gulf jobs this year
DUBAI (PND)-- Here’s good news for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
More than 200,000 new jobs are available in the face of the global economic crisis for the country’s expatriate workers this year in the Gulf Region.
This was announced during the first ‘Employment and Business Opportunities: The Middle East Forum’ at the Renaissance Dubai Hotel here where the key players discussed, among others, how the Philippines can accelerate the filling up of this large share of job orders in the region within the year.
The President, upon hearing about the new employment opportunities awaiting expatriate workers, thanked the employers here for supporting the Philippine government in identifying employment and business opportunities amidst the global challenges.
“Thank you for your manifesto of support that will provide more than 200,000 new jobs aside from those already in the roster of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA). Maraming salamat sa inyo,” the President said.
The key players in the forum included employers, manpower providers, and officials of the Philippines and Gulf cooperating countries.
Among the big companies participating in the forum are Bechtel Company, Saudi Oger, Consolidated Contractors International Company, Mohmad Al-Mojil (MMG), Nesma, Al-Suweidi, AYTB, Atlantis Hotel under Kernzer International Management, and Daewoo Engineering and Construction.
Also joining the forum are associations of manpower agencies, namely, the Association for Professionalism of Overseas Employment (ASPROE), the Philippine Association of Service Exporters, Inc. (PASEI) and the Federated Association of Manpower Exporters (FAME).
The 200,141 new jobs in the Middle East in 2009 does not yet include substantial new work opportunities in Qatar.
These new Gulf region jobs are spread in the following countries: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), 107,525; Kuwait, 39,169; United Arab Emirates (UAE), 39,128; Libya and Algeria, 21,527; Oman, 11,356; and Bahrain, 3,446.
The new job orders include posts for professionals; administrative personnel; clerical workers; sales personnel; service workers in the hotel, restaurant, tourism and hospitality sectors; agricultural workers; and production process workers.
Meanwhile, Philippine Ambassador to the UAE Libran Cabactulan said the demand for Filipino manpower in the region manifests the optimistic outlook in the Middle East, particularly in the Gulf region which is known as the region of stability in the midst of the current financial crisis.
“The employers, employees and workers and the host and the labor-supplying countries like the Philippines, if we work together, we can contribute immensely to overcoming quickly this global economic slowdown,” Cabactulan said.
Some 250 participants joined in the two-day Middle East forum which seeks to assess employment and business opportunities in the countries in the Middle East as a major labor-receiving region.
The forum also seeks to identify issues and concerns; and to recommend measures to strengthen cooperation among stakeholders in both the sending and receiving countries to preserve existing jobs and generate more employment opportunities. # # #
* Palace welcomes Moody's positive rating for RP
MANILA (PNA) -- Malacanang on Monday welcomed the positive outlook given by Moody’s Investors Service on the Philippines, saying it is a recognition of the government's effective management of the economy despite the global financial turmoil.
Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Lorelei Fajardo said the positive outlook is an indication that the Philippines still enjoys the international community's confidence.
“This is wonderful and we're very flattered. We're happy that we still have the confidence of the international community and the recommendation of Moody's. Those are noted,” Fajardo said.
In its annual report, Moody's said the country’s external payments position is stronger than a year earlier due to continuing large inflows of remittances from overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
The report said the country’s economic growth in 2008 slowed, but did not collapse late in the year, as it did elsewhere, due to the steady increase in OFW remittances.
“Moody's did not only confirm the positive ratings but they also consider the upgrade rating despite the recession. This is a resounding praise for the president's policies. This would serve as an inspiration for all of us to work even harder,” Fajardo said. # # #
* RP may launch a job summit in East Asia region
DUBAI (PND) -- The Philippine government is contemplating to launch a job summit in East Asia region as a way to create more new jobs for the country’s expatriate workers in the midst of the global economic
uncertainties.
After the successful holding of the jobs summit at the Renaissance Dubai Hotel here that generated more than 200,000 new jobs for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the Middle East countries, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said the government is targeting to replicate the summit for East Asia countries that include People's Republic of China, Japan, South Korea and North Korea.
"I think we should do one in East Asia because we want to concentrate in areas where the host countries have been buffeted by uncertainties," the President in a media interview by Dubai-based Filipino journalists at the Atlantis Hotel in Palm Jumeirah here.
The job summit is one of the government's payback programs being carried out to help expatriate workers in host countries that are being affected by the global economic meltdown.
Entitled 'Employment and Business Opportunities: The Middle East Forum,' it was the first job summit held in Middle East countries where key players composed of employers, manpower providers, officials of the Philippine and Gulf Cooperating Countries discussed on how the Philippines can accelerate the filing up of its large share of job orders in the Gulf regions within the year.
During the summit, the Gulf employers has assured the President of the availability of 200,141 new jobs in the Middle East region that spread in the following countries: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, 107,525; United Arab Emirates, 39,128 ; Kuwait, 39,169; Libya and Algeria, 21,527; Oman, 11,356; and Bahrain, 3,446.
The new job orders include professionals; administrative personnel; clerical workers; sales personnel; service workers in the hotel, restaurant, tourism and hospitality sectors; agricultural workers and production process workers.
Earlier, the Chief Executive said that the government will not sit idly and do nothing for our modern-day heroes in this time of great economic uncertainty.
"For government, it is now payback time. The heroic efforts of the OFWs will not go unreciprocated," she said, adding that "Central to keeping our economy moving is keeping our workers employed – at home and abroad." # # #
* As Sent by the Philippine Consulate General
3600 Wilshire Blvd., Ste. 500 Los Angeles, CA 90010
Tel. (213) 639-0980/Fax (213)639-0990
Website – www.philippineconsulatela.org
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Community 
To: Worldwide-Filipino- Alliance@yahoogroups. com
Sent: Monday, April 13, 2009 8:36:46 AM
Subject: RE: [Worldwide-Filipino -Alliance] Re: Arroyo in Dubai job hunt;
OFWs warned / UAE also dropping foreign workers, s
Shouldn’t the President be more concerned about finding people jobs at home
than in other countries?
Shouldn’t she be concerned about the amount of money future OFW’s had to
shell out just to be able to find jobs overseas?
Why is there such a push to throw people out of the country instead? Then in
the process to go out, they were being forced to pay for this, pay for that,
get several ID’s before you can even get a passport, NBI clearances, that
doesn’t mean a thing since you can easily change your name, age and
qualification?
This is disgusting.
To: Worldwide-Filipino- Alliance@ yahoogroups. com
Sent: Monday, April 13, 2009 8:36:46 AM
Subject: RE: [Worldwide-Filipino -Alliance] Re: Arroyo in Dubai job hunt;
OFWs warned / UAE also dropping foreign workers, s
Shouldn’t the president be more concerned about finding people jobs at home
than in other countries?
Shouldn’t she be concerned about the amount of money future OFW’s had to
shell out just to be able to find jobs overseas?
Why is there such a push to throw people out of the country instead? Then in
the process to go out, they were being forced to pay for this, pay for that,
get several ID’S before you can even get a passport, NBI clearances, that
doesn’t mean a thing since you can easily change your name, age and
qualification?
This is disgusting.