Wednesday, November 28, 2012

DFA urged to solve OFW identity crisis


Published : Wednesday, November 28, 2012 00:00 Article Views : 15

Written by : Ryan Ponce Pacpaco


THE chairman of the House committee on overseas workers affairs strongly urged yesterday Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario to move for the reconsideration of an Italian government “discriminatory” policy exposing some 200,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to “identity crisis” as their middle names are deleted in all their documents.

Akbayan party-list Rep. Walden Bello, the panel’s chairman, said the Aquino administration through Del Rosario should resist the policy as OFWs in Italy have been encountering concerns on insurance claims and legal problems to those with similar names that appear in the police computer database.

Bello cited great injustice if OFWs would not get their insurance claims out of discrepancy in the names on the passport and the Italian documents, adding that the policy contained in the circular only applies to Filipinos while other foreign residents in Italy are still allowed to use their middle names in their Italian documents.

“We have heard this problem in the (House) committee and the DFA promised to look into the matter. My position is that the Philippine government should request the Italian government to make an exception of Filipinos and allow them to use their middle names in official documents,” Bello stressed in an interview.

Gabriela party-list Rep. Luzviminda Ilagan agreed with Bello, stressing that a high-level approach through President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III should be made to help OFWs in Italy.

“This is a crisis and no less than President Aquino should plead in behalf of the Filipinos,” Ilagan said in a separate interview.

“You know that issue was raised by Gabriela two years ago. The OFWs were collecting the names of those who were going to be affected. Even during the budget hearings, Gabriela badgered the DFA. But the DFA could not give a definitive course of action. Now, pumutok na ang problema,” she added. Under the Italian circular, only the first name and surname are to be used by OFWs. 



Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Italian gov’t urged to allow Pinoy workers to use middle names


ANDREO CALONZO, GMA NEWS November 27, 2012 4:40pm


The chairperson of the House committee on overseas workers affairs on Tuesday urged the Italian government not to implement a directive asking overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to drop their middle names.


Akbayan Rep. Walden Bello said the Italian Ministry of Labor should allow OFWs to use their full names because removing their middle names will have “legal and cultural ramifications.”

“Alam naman natin na there are a lot of Filipino with the same first and last names. In fact, that is such a central concern. Baka mamaya, may kapangalan ka na criminal. You will be immediately be tagged as somebody na the government has to have some degree of vigilance on,” Bello said in an interview.

He added that he has already conveyed this concern to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) through committee hearings on the issue he held in the past weeks.

In October 2010, the Italian Ministry of Labor issued Circular No. 29 asking Filipinos living and working in Italy to omit their middle names from official documents so as not to confuse them with their first names. Italians do not use middle names.

Bello also described the Italian government’s circular as “discriminatory”                

Government urged to appeal Italy's 'middle name rule'

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

TWO party-list legislators urged Tuesday President Benigno Aquino III to appeal the Italy Ministry of Labor's Circular 29 ordering Filipinos living and working in the southern European state to "drop their middle names" in official documents.


Akbayan party-list Representative Walden Bello, chairman of the House committee on overseas workers affairs, said the Aquino administration, through Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario, should resist the policy as overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) are facing an "identity crisis" in Italy.

"We have heard this problem in the (House) committee and the DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs) promised to look into the matter. My position is that the Philippine government should request the Italian government to make an exception of Filipinos and allow them to use their middle names in official documents," Bello said.

Gabriela party-list Representative Luzviminda Ilagan echoed Bello's sentiment, saying Aquino himself "should plead" in behalf of all OFWs working in Italy.

The Italian government ordered the dropping of middle names to avoid confusion in the use of middle names. Italians do not have middle names.

Circular 29 has affected over 200,000 Filipinos living and working in Italy. OFWs reportedly paid P2,500 each for the dropping of their middle names from Italian documents. (Kathrina Alvarez/Sunnex)


Monday, November 26, 2012

Thousands of OFWs in Italy face identity crisis, huge expenses


Published : Monday, November 26, 2012 00:00 

Article Views : 82

Written by : Lee Ann Ducusin



A group of overseas Filipino workers in Italy yesterday said hundreds of thousands of Filipino migrant workers there are facing identity problems with the dropping of their middle name in all their Italian documents.


Bro. Junn Felix Landicho, founder of Task Force OFW, complained that the problem arose when former Philippine Ambassador to Italy Romeo Manalo issued a “note verbale” concurring with the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Circolare 29 which restricts the use of the middle names of Filipinos in their documents.

Landicho said that because of Manalo’s agreement, OFWs will have to spend hundreds, if not thousands of Euros since it will cost them about P2,500 per document to have them revised.

He has already requested for an immediate dialogue with Manalo’s replacement, Ambassador Virgilio Reyes Jr., for a rectification on the grievous “faux pas.”

“This faux pas has put the OFWs in a quandary. We should not be penalized by the cost, difficulties and inconvenience involved in the process of amending the papers, documents, permits, and employment contracts,” Landicho stressed.

Meanwhile, Carlito Senicolas, Task Force OFW vice-president, is in Manila to gather support for the group’s opposition to the previous ambassador’s action.

Senicolas has visited the office of Senate deputy majority leader Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, also the chair on committee on labor, who promised his office will look into the problem.

Estrada and chairperson of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago, also received a copy of the signature campaign against the “middle name dropping.”

Senicolas, accompanied by migration expert Emmanuel Geslani, also went to MalacaƱang to give the letter regardingthe issue.

The group also discussed the problem with Susan Ople, head of the Blas Ople Policy Center, whose main advocacy is the protection of migrant workers.



Friday, October 5, 2012

About Maharlika Alternative Society

Summary

Maharlika Alternative Society was formed by the Filipino Migrants around the world and the Filipino concerned citizen base in the Country of origin with the main purpose of putting an end to the cancer in our society, the corruption in our government and the unethical practices of government officials. 

We believe that we need an immediate genuine code of ethics and system reform in the Philippines. 

It is time for our leaders to do their job and tackle the issues arising from the adversities on our country and our people.

Our Mission

While our government morale crumbles, our problems remain unsolved. 

We want to end the Philippine government culture of corruptions, by choosing officials who can act ethically and promote ethical and moral restoration, lead the country in a new direction, protect our rights and serve our country's interests and not their own special benefits, and to restore government offices as a public trust. 

We believe that this is the foundation to our prosperity and the future for the next generations. 

Maharlika Alternative Society is committed to immediate change the system to lead our country in a new direction.

Our Goal

 We will choose an alternative official who will represent the people not the one who is in the position or the one who is in power to manipulate the people. 

A leader who can restore accountability, honesty and openness in his/her office. 

We will demand the highest code of ethics from every government officials and to all levels of government, to establish, create and enforce clear standards that prevent the trading of official business for gifts or under the table practice. 

To unite every Filipinos (Maharlikan) to move our country to the right direction of prosperity, regardless of religious belief, political affiliations, dialects and age. 

We should resolve all issues peacefully without prejudice, recourse to bitterness, force, or denial of the right to respect every individual. 

However, justice must still hold to all the people accountable for their actions. 

We want to make sure that the violators will be convicted and punished to the extent of the law. 

This is our commitment to current and future generations.

Thursday, October 4, 2012

PH passport renewal cost in Rome reduced


Published : Thursday, October 04, 2012 00:00 Article Views : 23 


SUCCUMBING to pressure from migrant groups in Italy like the Task Force OFW and news articles, including a banner story in the People’s Journal, the Philippine Embassy in Rome has lowered the cost of Philippine passport renewal there.


Recruitment and migration expert Emmanuel Geslani said that from 60 Euros that the embassy was previously charging Filipino migrant workers renewing their passports in Italy, it inexplicably lowered the cost to 54 Euros last Oct. 1.

“This development came after MalacaƱang learned of this anomaly from the media reports,” he said.

Though members of the Filipino Alliance in Italy was caught by surprise by the sudden lowering of cost, they welcomed the new development.

“Ngayong araw ibinaba ng embassy ang singil sa renewal ng passport mula 60 Euro to 54 Euro. Nakapagtataka bigla na lamang ibinaba ng walang communication. Bakit kaya? But we welcome this development,” said Bro Juann Felix, chairperson of the Task Force OFW.

Felix said that though 54 Euros is still a bit overpriced for the OFWs in Rome, it is a good development for their campaign to straighten several issues with the Philippine Embassy.

Last week, Felix and his group sought the help of Pres. Benigno Aquino III in resolving the problems they are having with the embassy such as the issues on the discarding of their Middle Names, PhilHealth, embassy certifications, and other problems. 

Lee Ann P. Ducusin


Thursday, September 27, 2012

HELP!


Published : Thursday, September 27, 2012 00:00 Article Views : 112


Written by : Lee Ann Ducusin


OVERSEAS Filipino workers in Italy have asked President Benigno Aquino to look into their problems with the Philippine Embassy in Rome, complaining that this post has become unresponsive and indifferent to the concerns of OFWs.

The Filipino Alliance in Italy composed of several Filipino federations and headed by Bro. Junn Felix Landicho under Task Force OFW, overseas workers complained to the President of overcharging by the embassy in Italy which charged 60 Euros for passports instead of $60 or an overprice of 10-12 Euros amounting to P600.

Consular officials in Rome have refused to answer queries by the OFWs who have been renewing their electronic passports why the price is 60 Euros instead of 50 or even lower as compared to Germany where Philippine passports cost 45 Euros.

The DFA has issued a memo circular that the new electronic passports should only cost $60.

Another matter is the issue of the “middle name” which contradicts our cultural identity. Former Philippine Ambassador to Italy Romeo Manalo issued a “note verbale” in 2010 to the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs that his post would comply with Circolare 29 that restricts the use of the middle name by the Filipinos.

Filipinos in Italy have protested the removal of their middle name in their identification cards, employment contracts, drivers’ licenses, work permits and other important documents.

The Filipino Alliance in Italy is seeking an audience with Aquino to personally bring to him these problems and ask him to require the Department of Foreign Affairs to address these complaints.

The House Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs headed by Rep. Walden Bello (Anakbayan) is also looking into these complaints and will require DFA officials to answer them in their next meeting in October.

Tuesday, September 4, 2012

OFWs in Italy hit exorbitant passport fee


Published : Tuesday, September 04, 2012 00:00 Article Views : 57 


FILIPINO migrant workers in Italy are protesting the alleged excessive fees charged by the consular office at the Philippine Embassy in Rome for the electronic passport implemented by the Department of Foreign Affairs in 2010. 


Felix Mendoza Landicho, president of Task Force OFW, a federation of Filipino migrant groups in Italy, disclosed that while overseas Filipino workers all over the world are paying $60 for their new electronic passports, migrant workers in Italy applying for their passports while in Rome they are paying 60 Euro or 600 pesos more. 

Landicho complained to migration and recruitment expert Emmanuel Geslani that the exorbitant fees is in violation of a DFA memo instructing all embassies or consular offices all over the world to peg the passport fee at $60. 

“The Philippine Embassy refuses to compute the payment for new passports based on the $60 instructed by the DFA Consular Office to Philippine embassies or consular offices world-wide,” he said. 

The federation has already requested the Philippine embassy headed by Ambassador to Italy Virgilio Reyes for a dialogue on the current problems of OFWs in Italy like the over-priced passport, the middle name issue, and PhilHealth contributions but the ambassador rejected and completely ignored the many problems caused by the previous Ambassador Romeo Manalo who acceded to Circolare 29. 

Rey Maas, another OFW based in Italy, echoed the same complaint. He said the passport fee being paid by overseas Filipinos based in Italy is overpriced by 10-12 Euros which is equivalent to at least 600 pesos and there is no monetary symbol placed on the receipt. 

“The old lira is almost twice a euro. 60 Euro is roughly 120,000 liras. The current exchange rate is 1 Euro to $1.372, while Euro to Philippine peso is P53.09 to 1 euro. Instead of converting the $60 to Euro, we are charged for 60 Euros. In effect we are paying more or less 12 Euros more,” Maas said in a message sent through Facebook. 

“In Riyadh, e-passport cost $50, in Germany 45 Euros. We don’t clearly understand why our embassy is charging 60 Euros instead of the equivalent of $60 in Euro. When I asked the office of the consul-general last August 2010, he said nahihirapan daw mag-compute ang finance officer kaya ginawa na 60 Euros ang $60. The worst part is the machine validated receipt bears no symbol of the currency. When asked; understood na raw yon na Euro dahil ang currency sa Italy ay Euro being a member of the European Union. I doubt if the reason is justifiable,” he added. 

Landicho is urging the Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs headed by Rep. Walden Bello of Akbayan to investigate the irregularity victimizing workers in Italy. 

He added that he will also ask DFA officials to explain the passport anomaly. - Lee Ann P. Ducusin


Sunday, September 2, 2012

Rome OFWs protest embassy's passport fee



Posted at 09/02/2012 7:24 PM | Updated as of 09/02/2012 7:24 PM


MANILA, Philippines – Filipino migrant workers in Italy are protesting the passport fee being charged by the Consular Office at the Philippine Embassy in Rome.

The Consular Office is currently charging applicants a fee of 60 euros for renewals for the electronic passport.

Other overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) all over the world are paying USD60 for their new electronic passports, but migrant workers in Italy who are applying for their passports in Rome are paying 60 euros, which translate to an additional P600 or more.

This is in violation of a memo by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), which instructs all embassies or consular offices all over the world to peg the passport fee at USD60.

Felix Mendoza Landicho, president of a Filipino migrants’ group federation called Task Force OFW, revealed the situation to migrant expert and recruitment consultant Emmanuel Geslani.

Landicho said the Philippine Embassy in Rome refuses to compute the payment for new passports based on the USD60 instructed by the DFA.

Another OFW based in Italy, named Rey L. Maas, sent Geslani a message through Facebook explaining the situation.

“The difference, sir, is instead of USD60 converted to euro, we are charged 60 euros. Conversion-wise, USD60 should be in the vicinity of 48-50 euros, a difference of 12 euros more or less,” Maas said. “They rounded it as 1 euro is (equal to) USD1.”

Thus, the passport fee being paid by overseas Filipinos in Italy is overpriced by 10-12 euros, which is equivalent to at least P600.

Maas said he asked the office of the Consul General last August 2010 why they are charging 60 euro instead of the proper dollar equivalent.

“His reply was, nahihirapan daw mag-compute ang finance officer, kaya ginawa na 60 euro and USD60. Worst part sir, is the machine validated receipt bears no symbol of the currency,” Maas informed Geslani.

“When asked, understood na raw yon na euro dahil ang currency sa Italy ay euro being a member of the European Union,” he added.

Maas told Geslani that he doubts the Consular Office’s reason is justifiable. He further said that in Riyadh, the passport fee costs USD50, while in Germany it costs 45 euros.

Meanwhile, Landicho is asking the House Comittee on Overseas Workers Affairs, headed by Akbayan Rep. Walden Bello, to investigate the irregularity.

He said that he plans to write a letter addressed to the Committee to investigate the matter and to require DFA officials to answer their charges regarding the passport anomaly.

Landicho has also requested a dialogue with the Philippine embassy in Rome, headed by Ambassador to Italy Virgilio Reyes. He claims that the current ambassador has rejected their request, however.

Thursday, August 2, 2012

OFWs and Filipino residents in Italy protest the ‘remove middle name’ policy

MANILA  August 2, 2012 ·     — “Remove your middle name.”

This is what the authorities of Italy’s Ministry of Interior or the Ministero dell’Interno, have been telling Filipinos in Italy since the agency laid down its Circular No. 29 on October 7, 2010. The labor ministry has since been ordering ordering Filipinos living and working in Italy to “drop their middle names’ in official documents to avoid confusion in the use of middle names.”


Italians do not have middle names.

Migrante Europe and the Migrante chapter in Italy are opposing the circular which, in contrast, has been endorsed by the Philippine embassy in Italy.

In a statement, Migrante Europe said Filipinos are against the new rule and have been actively campaigning for its repeal on just grounds.

“The measure was implemented without consultation with the Filipino community; it has triggered more confusion among Filipinos. The Italian government is unjustly requiring all Filipinos to change their official documents such as passports and other identification cards at their own expense,” it said.

Despite appeals and requests from Filipinos, principally in Rome, to dialogue with the Ministry of Interior and to pursue diplomatic representation to repeal the measure, the Philippine Embassy thru Ambassador Romeo Manalo has reportedly been ignoring the call of his compatriots against the circular.

Earlier last year, Filipino migrants in Italy formed ” Task Force Circular No. 29,” also called Alliance of Filipino Migrants in Italy. The group’s members have reportedly been active on Facebook and other social networking sites, airing their concerns regarding the policy.

New system

The Philippine embassy for its part has already release bulletins containing information on the new system of registration for Filipinos in Italy. The embassy first released Info Bulletin No. 8-2011 on March 18, 2011 to explain the stand of the embassy on the matter.

“The Embassy supports the issuance and continued implementation of the Circulars as it firmly believes that the new uniform system on registering Filipinos in Italy is for the better good of all our kababayans in ltaly”, stated the bulletin.

According to reports, the said circular serves as the guidelines for all documents in the various Italian agencies. Filipinos who have been residents for several years will also be affected by the policy change. In the meantime, Filipinos with permesso di soggiorno or permits to stay will not have to have their middle names removed from their documents. Once they renew said documents, their middle names will not longer be included. To finalize the name change, Filipinos will need to inform the Anagrafe or the Register Office and oversee the alterations in the personal data and ensure that it consistent in all documents and across agencies.

Should Filipinos encounter problems with the process, the Philippine embassy has said that they can can request for a certification to prove their identities. In turn, the embassy will inform the Bureau of Immigration regarding the name change and prevent problems concerning the OFWs’ arrival and exit from the Philippines.

Based on latest data, some 130,000 Filipinos are currently living and working in Italy.

Philippine embassy officials have admitted that the implementation of the new uniform system may cause initial confusion, but it insisted that the embassy was closely coordinating with Italian authorities ” to ensure the clear, uniform and smooth implementation of the Circulars throughout Italy”, they said.

In reports, Consul General Danilo Ibayan was quoted as saying that Circular No. 29 will provide a solution to the problem Filipinos experience when introducing themselves via legal documents. He said Italian authorities get confused about the names of Filipinos because of the additional middle names besides the surnames, and this causes problems with registration and legal document processing.

Added fees

For its part, Migrante International in the Philippines said it is completely behind the campaign of Filipinos in Italy against Circular N0. 29. It said that forcing Filipinos to remove their middle names from official records smacks of discrimination and is disrespectful of Filipino culture.

“Through the years, Italy has become a multi-ethnic and multi-cultural nation and this entails the Italian government’s recognition and respect of other cultures. On the other hand, the Philippine government’s acceptance and enforcement of the ‘middle name rule’ also speaks volumes of its one-sided and subservient foreign relations, as well as its insensitivity to the demands and civil liberties of Filipinos in Italy,” said Migrante chairman Garry Martinez.

In the meantime, Migrante Europe has also been calling on the Philippine government through its diplomatic post in Italy to to repeal the law making membership in the PAG-IBIG Fund mandatory; to lower passport fees; and to lobby the Italian government to allow retired Filipino migrants to be able to enjoy their pension in the Philippines.

The Philippine embassy in Italy charges 50 euros or $63.00 for passport renewals.

“The demands of Filipino migrants are just and reasonable in the context of the financial and economic crisis affecting migrant-receiving countries in Europe. This crisis has resulted to less working hours, less pay, if not outright job loss for many migrant workers. Families of migrant Filipinos in Italy suffer the consequences of this crisis,” the group said.
According to the organization,the Philippine government has the main responsibility to defend the welfare of Filipinos overseas. 

By INA ALLECO R. SILVERIO 


Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Pinoys in Italy demand repeal of law banning use of middle names


May 2, 2012 4:00pm


Filipinos in Italy are demanding the repeal of the Italian Ministry of Labor's rule banning the use of middle names in official documents.

Several migrants groups, led by the Alliance of Filipinos in Italy, have also expressed disappointment in the Philippine Embassy in Italy for endorsing Circular No. 29.

Implemented in October 2010, the circular orders Filipinos living and working in Italy to omit their middle names from official documents so as not to confuse them with their first names. Italians do not use middle names.

According to the Stock Estimate of the Commission on Filipinos Overseas, there were 123,379 Filipinos in Italy as of 2010.

'Discrimininatory'

Alliance of Filipinos in Italy president Junn Felix Mendoza Landicho called the circular “oppressive," saying that it meant going through a complicated process of amending their papers such as identification documents, employment contracts, permits, benefits, and others.

Landicho said the rule affected their property rights, titles, and even the immigration of their relatives.

The Alliance of Filipinos in Italy, also known as Task Force Circular 29, is continuing to campaign for the scrapping of the law.

“Much has been said about this issue and it is but proper now for the Philippine government to clarify and rectify the error,” Landicho said.

The migrants group Migrante International, meanwhile, has called the circular “discriminatory” and “disrespectful” of the Filipino culture.

“Through the years, Italy has become a multi-ethnic and multi-cultural nation and this entails the Italian government’s recognition and respect of other cultures,” Migrante International said in a statement.

Migrante added that no consultations were held before the circular was implemented