Human trafficking cases ‘may rise’ after OFW ban

Thursday, November 3, 2011
MANILA — A member of the House committee on labor and employment warned of an increase in human trafficking cases after the government announced the deployment ban of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to 41 countries.
“Should this go on for a long term, I foresee that we shall have a drastic rise in human trafficking because the demand for Filipino labor is dictated by market forces,” Ako Bicol party-list Representative Rodel Batocabe said in a text message.
The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) on Wednesday adopted the recommendation of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to stop the deployment of OFWs to countries that lack laws to protect their rights.
The 41 countries include Afghanistan, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Cambodia, Cayman Islands, Chad, Croatia, Cuba, North Korea, Dominica, East Timor/Timor Leste, Eritrea, Haiti, India, Iraq, Kyrgyztan, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Montenegro, Mozambique, Nauru, Nepal, Niger, Pakistan, Palestine, Serbia, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Sudan, Swaziland, Tajikstan, Tonga, Turks and Caicos, Tuvalu, US Virgin Islands, Vanuatu, and Zimbabwe.
Batocabe said the government should have categorized the countries that lack protective measures for migrant Filipino workers first instead of immediately banning the deployment to these countries.
Only those with serious violations should be banned, he said.
The deployment ban decision was made to comply with the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act or Republic Act (RA) 10022, which only allows the government to send Filipinos to “countries where the rights of Filipino migrant workers are protected.”
“This is a very drastic move by our government but I would like to believe that this is just on a short-term basis designed to strengthen the leverage of our government in negotiating for better terms and security for our workers in these countries,” Batocabe said.
Aurora Representative Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara, also a member of the House panel, said the DFA should already start looking into the possibility of bilateral agreements for migrant worker protection.
“This (deployment ban) may hurt some of our OFWs in the short term by causing some dislocation, though it is ultimately for their benefit,” he said in a text message.
Akbayan party-list Representative Walden Bello, chairman of the House committee on overseas workers affairs, earlier said that his committee approved to defer the implementation of RA 10022 until April 2012.
He clarified, however, that the committee report approving such move still needs to be ratified when Congress resumes session on November 14.
“We are not shutting the door to any host country but paving the way to reach a bilateral agreement and strengthening the diplomatic ties between the Philippines and the host countries. We do not want to antagonize them,” DFA Ambassador Vic Lecaros told members of the committee in a recent hearing.
Meanwhile, despite the ban, OFWs will still be allowed to apply to countries with companies and contractors with international operations as provided by the Amended Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995.
Citing the data of the POEA, deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said 22 of the 41 countries have corporations with international operations.
These countries include Afghanistan (telecommunications and engineering, and construction companies maintaining US and United Nations bases); Bahamas (hotels); Barbados (hotels); Cayman Islands (hotels); Chad (construction companies); Cuba (contractors maintaining US bases); East Timor (oil and gas companies); Eritrea (construction); Haiti (construction); India (construction, hotels); and Iraq (contractors maintaining US military bases, construction, telecommunications, engineering).
Countries found to have international employers are Lebanon (hotels and restaurants); Lesotho (construction); Libya (oil and gas, hotels, health and education, construction); Mali (construction, oil and gas); Mauritania (construction); Mozambique (construction); Pakistan (construction); Sudan (construction, oil and gas); Swaziland (construction); Turks and Caicos (hotels, construction); and US Virgin Islands (hotels).
The number of OFWs deployed in companies with international operations in these non-compliant countries reached 18,851 in 2009 and 21,432 in 2010, the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) said in a statement released Wednesday.
“As an important pillar of the Philippine economy, part of our commitment to migrant workers includes expanding economic opportunities while ensuring their safety wherever they may be in the world,” Valte said.
Since the government’s assessment of these 41 countries is continuing, they could be removed from the list of deployment ban once they met the Philippines’ labor standards.
“If the Department of Foreign Affairs certifies that they are exerting efforts to comply with our standards, the governing board of the POEA could remove them from the list of deployment ban,” Valte said.
Meanwhile, OFWs working in the countries without companies with international operations will only be allowed to finish their contract.
These countries are Antigua, Croatia, Kyrgystan, Montenegro, Nauru, Nepal, Serbia, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Tajikistan, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, and Zimbabwe.
POEA data showed that total OFW deployment to these countries reached only 229 in 2009 and 179 in 2010.
Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said the POEA would stop processing and deployment of newly hired workers to the 41 countries by the middle of November. (Kathrina Alvarez/Jill Beltran/AMN/Sunnex)
Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/manila/local-news/2011/11/03/human-trafficking-cases-may-rise-after-ofw-ban-188633

Wine is becoming increasingly popular in Manila and other cities in the Philippines. Wine lovers in Manila travel to the north to visit Clark, Pampanga to shop for good and rate vintage wines at good duty-free prices. The most frequently visited liquor shop in Manila and wine shop in Pampanga is Clark Wine Center. This highly recommended wine shop located outside Manila near Angeles City, Pampanga in North Luzon is known for offering a great selection of fine vintage wine that is good quality and good value for money also.

This well-known wine shop is a famous shopping destination for wine enthusiasts in Manila and wine lovers from other cities in Asia including Hong Kong, Macau, Shanghai, Beijing, Seoul, Osaka and Tokyo.

Famous Philippines wine supplier known for its line of fine vintage wines, Yats Wine Cellars was established in 2000 to address the requirement of a growing population of wine enthusiasts in the Philippines. This 5-star wine shop caters to the discerning client who requires these qualities in their wines: (1) excellent value, (2) large selection of labels and vintages to choose from and (3) wines properly aged for full enjoyment.

Things to do in Clark Philippines and Pampanga: do a little wine shopping at the famous wine shop outside of Manila called Clark Wine Center. One of the favorite places to visit in Pampanga Clark Freeport is the white building along M A Roxas highway of Clark which houses over 2000 selections of fine vintage wines. The Clark Wine Center is one of the places to visit, a tourist spot and a good shopping place for those staying in Angeles City, Subic or Clark Pampanga. This is a great place to buy wine and also to drink wine in Pampanga.

Public wine tastings are held from time to time in Clark and sometimes in Manila. Tickets range from p500 to p1500 for these themed events that are professionally run –no wine merchants sponsorship, pushy salesmen or tacky banners to ruin the evening. Each ticket contains a certain number of stubs that can be redeemed for a tasting pour of a wine among those on a line-up which often contains wines that are quite old and expensive.

http://www.ClarkWineCenter.com

Getting to this wine shop in Pampanga Angeles City Clark Freeport Zone Philippines from Manila
Getting to the Clark Wine Center wine shop from Manila is quite simple: after entering Clark Freeport from Dau and Angeles City, proceed straight along the main highway M A Roxas. Clark Wine Center is the stand-along white building on the right, at the corner A Bonifacio Ave. From the Clark International Airport DMIA, ask the taxi to drive towards the entrance of Clark going to Angeles City. From Mimosa, just proceed towards the exit of Clark and this wine shop is on the opposite side of the main road M A Roxas.

Best place to buy wine in Clark Pampanga outside Manila near Subic and Angeles City Philippines is Clark Wine Center.

Click here to contact Clark Wine Center in Clark Pampanga for inquiries and orders.

Clark Wine Center
Bldg 6460 Clark Observatory Building
Manuel A. Roxas Highway corner A Bonifacio Ave,
Angeles Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga 2023
0922-870-5173 0917-826-8790 (ask for Ana Fe)

Wine@Yats-International.com

YATS Wine Cellars
Manila Sales Office
3003C East Tower, Phil Stock Exchange Center,
Exchange Rd Ortigas Metro Manila, Philippines 1605
(632) 637-5019 0917-520-4393 ask for Rea or Chay

Wedding couples looking for wedding reception venues and beach wedding venues can log on to this Philippines Wedding Venue web site for free information and assistance:

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While in Clark, it might be a good idea to enjoy an evening of wine-and-dine in the fine dining Yats Restaurant and Wine Bar that features an award winning 2700-line wine list. Highly recommended fine dining restaurant in Manila for special occasion is Yats Restaurant & Wine Lounge located in the famous Mimosa Leisure Estate in Clark Pampanga. Situated near this popular restaurant in Clark is the Mimosa Golf Course as well as the Mimosa Clark Casino. This top rated restaurant near Angeles City Pampanga in Clark Philippines is frequently used for private parties and corporate functions such as board meetings and other gatherings. It is located in Mimosa Leisure Estate of Clark Freeport Zone. For more information, visit http://www.YatsRestaurant.com

YATS Leisure Philippines is a developer and operator of clubs, resorts and high-class restaurants and wine shops in Clark Angeles Philippines http://www.YatsLeisure.com

Looking for famous tourists spots, places to visit and see, relax and unwind in Clark, Pampanga, Philippines? You may want to check out these sites also:

http://www.LondonPubClark.com

Besides good restaurants to wine and dine near Manila, Subic or in Angeles City Pampanga, Clark Philippines, those requiring assistance for hotel and resort bookings in Clark, Pampanga, Philippines may log on to http://www.HotelClarkPhilippines.com for more information and reservations.

The lifestyle in Clark Pampanga is quite unique. For more information about shopping, sports, golf, leisure, hotel accommodation, where to see and visit, what to do, where to wine and dine and good places to hang out, relax, have a drink with friends, child-friendly establishments, log on to
http://www.ClarkPhilippines.com

Wine lovers looking for a special bottle or something that is of great value and special discounts might log on to this web site to shop for fine vintage wines
http://www.YatsWineCellars.com

Those visitors who plan to relax and unwind in Angeles City, Subic, Pampanga, Clark Philippines might make an effort to book a room at the famous beach and lake resort Clearwater Resort & Country Club. This famous hotel in Clark Pampanga is frequently visited by families with children looking for a good place in Clark to see, a good holiday destination for the family to relax and unwind in the beautiful outdoor facilities. For more information, log on to www.ClearwaterPhilippines.com