Gov't sends special envoy to Iraq
MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Foreign Affairs on Friday said a special envoy has been dispatched to check on the security situation of overseas Filipino workers in Iraq.
Special Envoy Roy Cimatu left Manila for Iraq on Thursday to assess the security situation of Filipinos based there following the phased withdrawal of US troops and pullout of combat troops by end of August, the DFA said in a press statement.
Cimatu is expected to submit his report and recommendations to the interagency committee composed of the Office of the Executive Secretary, DFA, Department of Labor and Employment, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, among others, upon his return next week.
The DFA said there are around 6,000 Filipinos working in Iraq despite a Philippine government's travel and labor deployment ban.
In the meantime, the Philippine Embassy in Iraq is closely coordinating with OFW groups, their employers, and US military authorities to ensure the safety, security and general welfare of OFWs.
Last July 20, US military authorities in Iraq directed its private contractors and subcontractors to identify within 20 days all foreign nationals working there in violation of US, Iraq, or their respective country's laws and policies, and to develop a plan for their repatriation.
Filipino workers in Iraq have long been requesting the Philippine Government to lift the 5-year travel and labor deployment ban to Iraq.
The ban was imposed in July 2004 as a result of the kidnapping of OFW Angelo dela Cruz. Due to the continuing volatile security there, the Philippine government has maintained the ban.
The Migrant Workers Act (R. A. No. 8042, as amended by R.A. 10022) mandates that the Government adhere to strict guidelines in allowing the deployment of Filipino workers to other countries, and imposes heavy penalties on government officials who allow the deployment of migrant workers without the guarantees required by law.
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juan ban on the run !!!
Itong Taran-tula na ito ay handog ng inyong lingkod sa mga Pinoy na nakikibaka ng walang humpay upang ang ban sa Iraq ay matanggal at gisingin ang mga nasa gobyerno na ang isipin lamang ay ang pag-upo sa pwesto! Mabuhay at bigyan pugay ang mga Pinoy OFWs sa Iraq!
Juan ban, On the run!!!
(taran – tula para sa gobyernong tulala)
Sa mga kababayan ko kumusta na po ba kayo?
Lalong lalo na sa inyo mga filibustero
Ako’y may taran-tula na ginawa para sa inyo
Na aking pang minana sa aking lolo
Uumpisahan ko na hinaing ng mga Filipino
Dito sa Iraq lubhang nakapanglulumo
Wala naman kaming hinangad kungdi ang umasenso
Pero tila pumipigil pa sa amin ay ating gobyerno
Sa aking pag-alaala walang pinagkaiba sa Espanya
Kaalaman, kalayaan at kayamanan pinagkait kay Juan
Mga pangyayaring iyan, inuulit lang ba?
Nitong mga pulitikong plastikada!
Ay alam ko na eleksyon ay malipit na
Kaya pagpapapogi kailangang maganap na
Que sejoda makaperwisyo sila, basta boto makakulimbat na
Kaming mga Pinoy dito sa Iraq, sarap buhay ‘yan ang aming matatawag
Dolyar na isang libo limang-daan ‘yan ang aming hawak
Kada isang buwan sa bangko ng pamilya aming nilalagak
Meron ding iba ang dolyar dalawang libo at mas mataas pa
Para sa mga talentado ‘di ba nakagigilalas
Hndi lang yan pagkain, telepono, kwarto, libre lahat
Pati labada ‘pag kuha mo nakatiklop na sa bag
Masasabi ko na ako’y mapalad dahil nakauna agad sa Iraq
Pero malaki ang aking panghihinayang
Ibang kababayan hindi nila ito natikman
Uunlad ka sana kahit ikaw ay isa lang istambay
Kung ang pagpunta sa IRAQ ay ang iyong napusuan
Kaya tanong sa mga pulitiko ano ba talaga ang gusto ninyo
Kapakanan ng kababayan nyo o kapakanan ng mga kabit ninyo
‘Wag mahiyang magsabi ng totoo, pwe! mga peste kayo!
Kung buhay lang si Andres na aking hero
Baka dila nyo lang ang walang tama ng taga yan ay sigurado
Babalikan ko, panahong Kastila ‘yan ba talaga ginagaya nyo
Walang karapatan kapag maliliit na tao
Pati aming pag-asenso ay hinaharang ninyo
Ano bang gusto nyo buhayin namin dugong Katipunero
Kung si Pareng Andres ko’y ‘nag may i-cry sa Balintawak
Hndi kami natatakot na magkaroon ng “Cry dito sa Iraq"
Kaya please lang I-lift nyo na ang ban
Kasi dito sa Iraq mga Pinoy ay nasa military base naman
Talagang nakahihinayang dami sanang Pinoy na makikinabang
Ay yay yay! Kailan ba sila bibigay, sana’y magkaroon ng saysay
Tuloy sa immigration para silang mga Bumbay
Para makalusot sila’y nagpapaalalay
Imbes na sa gobyerno magbigay sa bulsa ng mga lintik na kurap inilalagay
Haaayyyy buhay! ang aking blood ay nagha-high
Sa sistema ng gobyerno na konsumisyon na tunay
Buti nalang PUso ni ANDRES sa akin ay buhay
Handang lumaban kahit maputol ang paa at kamay ,,
peace :{)
Juan Kalipulako Magdiwang
Basra Air Station, Iraq
RETAIN ALL PILIPINO IN IRAQ
PARA SA ATING GOBYERNO SIGURO MAGKAROON NA LANG TAYO NG MUTUAL AGGREMENT BETWEEN US AND PHILIPPINES OR MAG CONDUCT TAYO NG SERVEY IF SINO ANG MAY GUSTONG UMUWI AT MAIWAN FROM THEIR CURRENT LOCATION.
AT THE SAME TIME SIGURADO MERON SILANG SPECIAL TRAINING ANG LAHAT NG MGA PILIPINO NAKA DEPLOY SA IRAQ ESPECIALLY IN MILITARY COMBAT PERSONEL JUST IN CASE OF EMERGENCY.
AT KUNG ANG PAGUUSAPAN ANG SECURITY NILA PALAGAY KO PAREHO LANG ANG STATUS NG MILITARY PERSONAL DOON COMPARE SA MGA MILITARY SA MINDANAO NA LUMALABAN SA MGA BANDIDO NA DI HAMAK MAS MALAKI ANG SAHOD NILA SA IRAQ.
I SUGGEST GOVERNMENT ALLOW PILIPINO WHO ARE WILLING TO TAKE A RISK.
ANYWAY MAS MAHIRAP NAMAN MAMATAY SA GUTOM DITO.
PROUD TO BE PINOY!
A Ray of Hope
tinggilniwillie, don't be stupid. The government has taken a right decision on re-assessing the situation on the said country at least before they conclude.
We just hope that they make the right assessment as more or less than 10,000 workers plus their respective families future will greatly be affected.
Our country is having difficult times and experiencing economy crisis for the past years. Now is the time that the government should act diligently and decide wisely for the benefit of the Filipino People.
and for the Gov't. FYI, 2 to 3mos is not really an extension it is the turn over process of Filipino workers to other nationality workers. So if this process is impeded most likely next month half of the population on the Filipino community in Iraq have all gone home.
UTAK
Pag lahat na PINOY pareho ang isip nitong si Tinggilniwilli na parang utak ni GMA, then sana dina lang ako naging PINOY. This is the fact, OFW in Iraq remitted millions of pesos (500M) monthly to PI. On this amount, the government get taxes and spend it on Tinggilniwilli daily basic needs. This trip of CIMATU to Iraq will have benefits to the PI economy NOT like Tinggilniwilli's GMA trips abroad has nothing but Tinggilniwilli's corrupt mind. So you better shut your mouth - maybe you are just jealous because OFW in IRAQ earn at least $800/month just cleaing 1 bedroom for EXPAT.
Heto na naman tayo
Gagastos na naman ang gobyerno (eh kulang na nga sa pondo) dahil sa katigasan ng ulo ng mga makukulit na Pinoy...
Hay, naku... kelan ba tayo matututo?