Genuineness of job offers to foreign workers by employers to be more rigorous assessed; 2-year blacklist for non-compliant employers

Effective last April 1, temporary foreign workers can “cumulatively” work only for a maximum of four years.  They will now have to wait another four years before becoming eligible to again work temporarily in Canada.

Ambassador Jose Brillantes announced last August 28 that all Philippines diplomatic posts abroad have been designated by President Benigno Aquino as “centres of care” for overseas Filipinos in their jurisdiction.

A caregiver advocacy group labeled as “misleading” claims of a recruiters’ association that deployment of caregivers from abroad has declined as a result of the reforms announced by the federal government to protect the workers.

President Benigno Aquino dug down in the shortlist of nominees submitted to him by the Judicial Bar Council and appointed a law professor, Maria Lourdes Aranal-Sereno, as associate justice of the Supreme Court.

Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) Commissioner Ricardo Abcede over the weekend proposed the immediate disposal of assets surrendered to the government to help generate funds for the reportedly cash-strapped administration of President Benigno Aquino 3rd.

Maria Venus Raj of the Philippines was named 4th runner-up during the Miss Universe 2010 held earlier today, August 24 (Philippine time), at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Global Pinoys twisted and shouted with "Twist and Shout" on TFC! Filipinos can’t help but twist and shout along with their favorite stars as The Filipino Channel (TFC) premiered its newest singing game show “Twist and Shout.”

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet: Mayor Greg Abalos of La Trinidad, Benguet province placed three municipal employees under preventive suspension for 90 days without pay while a formal investigation is pending. The municipal employees—Enrique Lando, Norman Simsim and Richard Leaño—were charged with the following offenses: dishonesty; grave misconduct; receiving gifts for personal use in the course of official duties; soliciting or accepting directly or indirectly anything of monetary value; and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.

MIDDLE-class Filipino families with a large number of household members are at risk of falling into poverty if the government fails to create policies that improve wages, education and healthcare, an Asian Development Bank (ADB) study has warned. In the study, “The Rise of Asia’s Middle Class,” the Manila-based lender said that middle-class households with large family size and an equally large member of dependents are more likely to fall into poverty.

COTABATO City: Majority of the journalists in Mindanao are going to oppose whatever form of restriction that the government would apply as guideline in their news coverage. The newsmen reiterated their announcement on Monday of their intention to join a massive protest against media restriction in the wake of the August 23 hostage-taking resulting in the killing of eight Chinese citizens from Hong Kong and the hostage taker himself Police Senior Insp. Rolando Mendoza of Tanauan City, Batangas.

There are new medical examination guidelines and procedures for live in caregiver applicants who are applying from within Canada for permanent residence. In the past, all applicants and dependants abroad were required to undergo and pass a medical exam.

THE Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday admitted that members of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team of the Manila Police District (MPD) that stormed a tourist bus during last week’s hostage crisis were indeed ill-equipped.

THE Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) has laid down contingency measures against possible disruption of services of Philippine Airlines (PAL) that a strike by the flag-carrier’s ground and cabin crew could bring about. Dante Velasco, DOTC Undersecretary for Public Information, over the weekend, told reporters that the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) had informed the department that Southeast Asian Airlines (SEAIR) and Spirit of Manila Airlines (SOMA) have shown interest to serve the routes that PAL may stop serving because of the strike.

Malacañang on Monday said it would not suspend the cancellation of the warrant of arrest against Sen. Panfilo Lacson, despite pleas from his family to do so. Presidential Communications Operations Secretary Herminio Coloma said the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) already cancelled the senator’s passport in response to a court order.

Filipinos in Hong Kong on Tuesday faced the wrath of residents there angered by the bloody end to a drawn-out hostage-taking perpetrated by a disgraced police official.

Criticisms and angry comments came from a number of sectors, including the Hong Kong government and media—as well as from Filipinos themselves.