ARE YOU A VICTIM TOO? CAUGHT AT NAIA, ILLEGAL RECRUITER AND VISA READER

Their modus is to allow the person to pass through immigration in exchange of money.

©2016 Pinoy Expats/OFW Blog Awards

THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THE BUREAU OF CUSTOMS AND BALIKBAYAN BOX

1. WHAT ARE “BALIKBAYAN BOXES”?

Balikbayan Boxes are packages of personal effects and/or “pasalubongs” sent by Filipinos residing or working abroad to their families or relatives in the Philippines to enhance Philippine tradition and culture for the promotion and preservation of strong family ties through love and caring expressed in gift-giving.

2. WHAT ARE ALLOWED IN “BALIKBAYAN BOXES”?

Non-commercial goods or goods not in commercial quantity strictly for personal use only, such as: wearing apparel, clothing, foodstuffs/grocery items/canned goods; the value of which must not exceed US$500.00.

3. HOW OFTEN CAN FILIPINOS RESIDING OR WORKING ABROAD SEND A “BALIKBAYAN BOX” TO THEIR FAMILIES AND RELATIVES IN THE PHILIPPINES?

One consignor/sender is allowed to send one (1) box during a six (6) -month period.

4. WHAT IS A CONSOLIDATED DOOR-TO-DOOR SHIPMENT?

Two (2) or more balikbayan boxes from two (2) or more individual consignors/senders abroad, assembled and consolidated at one point of origin/exportation and shipped together under a single master ocean bill of lading or master airway bill by a freight forwarder/consolidator to its breakbulk/consolidator agent in the Philippines.

5. WHO IS ALLOWED TO CONSOLIDATE “BALIKBAYAN BOXES” ABROAD?

A foreign freight forwarding entity/ consolidator duly licensed and registered with the Philippine consular office.

6. WHO IS ALLOWED TO RELEASE A CONSOLIDATED DOOR-TO-DOOR SHIPMENTS FROM THE PHILIPPINE BUREAU OF CUSTOMS?

The Philippine agent/representative of a freight forwarder/consolidator named in a master bill of lading or master airway bill as consignee of a consolidated shipment duly licensed by the Philippine Shippers’ Bureau (PSB) of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

7. ARE THE “BALIKBAYAN BOXES OPENED BY THE PHILIPPINE CUSTOMS?

Yes, a 100% examination of the consolidated shipment is required by law:

1. To protect the legitimate interests of consignors/senders and their consignees, in particular, and the transacting public, in general;
2. To protect the interest of the government;
3. To prevent and suppress smuggling and other fraud upon customs.

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8. WHERE CAN WE CHECK AND VERIFY THE LIST OF LEGITIMATE AND PHILIPPINE SHIPPERS’ BUREAU-ACCREDITED FREIGHT FORWARDERS/BROKERS?

Verification can be made with the Philippine Shippers’ Bureau (PSB) under the Department of Trade and Industry on their website: www.dti.gov.ph/consumerwelfare/accreditationoffreightforwarders/listofaccredited or by calling these numbers during office hours: (632) 7513304 or (632) 7513307, contact person: Mr. Jun Bernal.

9. WHO DELIVERS THE “BALIKBAYAN BOXES” TO THE ULTIMATE CONSIGNEES/RECIPIENTS?

The Philippine agent/representative of a freight forwarder/consolidator named in a master bill of lading or master airway bill as consignee of a consolidated shipment duly licensed by the Philippine Shippers’ Bureau (PSB) of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and/or a local delivery company hired by the Philippine agent.

10. WHAT CAUSES THE DELAY/NON-DELIVERY OF THE BOXES TO THEIR ULTIMATE CONSIGNEES?

Any of the following can cause delays/non-delivery of “balikbayan boxes” to their ultimate consignees:

1. Unforseen circumstances and/or natural calamity like typhoon that sets back the arrival of cargo carrying vessels;
2. Consolidated shipments are tainted by:
1. Undeclared and/or misdeclared goods;
2. Banned or regulated cargoes like firearms and ammunitions, prohibited drugs, pornographic materials, gambling materials/apparatus;
3. Goods in commercial quantity;
3. Consolidated shipments that are abandoned by the Philippine agent/ representative/ broker for reasons of non-remittance of funds by the foreign freight forwarding entity/ consolidator.

11. ARE COMPLETELY-KNOCKED DOWN (CKD) MOTORCYCLES OR PART OF MOTOR VEHICLES (ALSO KNOWN AS CHOP-CHOP MOTORCYCLES OR VEHICLES) THAT ARE FOR PERSONAL USE, ALLOWED IN “BALIKBAYAN” BOXES?

No, these are not allowed in “Balikbayan” Boxes. These are not considered personal effects or household good and are thus treated differently; other documentary requirements are needed for these to be brought into the Philippines without which these vehicles cannot be registered with the land Transportation Office (LTO).

Source:

©2015 Pinoy Expats/OFW Blog Awards

Philippine Embassy in Saudi Arabia Advisory: Exit Visa Processing for Mother's with Children

Philippine Embassy in Saudi Arabia Advisory: Exit Visa Processing for Mother's with Children

Image from Philippine Embassy Website: Saudi Arabia

Ang mga nabanggit na Mothers/ Fathers and Children cases ay kailangang makipag-ugnayan sa Embahada upang maisaayos ang kanilang exit visa at agarang pag-uwi sa Pilipinas.

1.	Abas, Jehan Tuansi	35.	Hilario, Maria Luisa P.
2.	Abdul, Rahima Pasagi	36.	Jabunan, Yasmeen
3.	Abdula, Zakiah Abo	37.	Kad, Arbaya Nasa
4.	Abdullah, Jasmin Wahab	38.	Katua, Aida Adam
5.	Ablayan, Nurmelyn Tulawie	39.	Kusain, Norma M.
6.	Adel, Ferhana	40.	Lagayan, Zainab A.
7.	Albaracin, Rodrina	41.	Lais, Marites Lapitan
8.	Ali, Minah Piang	42.	Mamadra, Janeth L.
9.	Aljas, Perlita L.	43.	Mawanay, Maricel
10.	Anas, Mary Jane	44.	Miguel, Marsima
11.	Annudin, Elma	45.	Muhajili, Sakur
12.	Arnaldo, Alelyn A.	46.	Nadjala, Harida
13.	Askalani, Sharhata Hassan	47.	Nicanor, Farhana
14.	Atong, Akrima	48.	Orteza, Jane
15.	Anuddin, Elma Arakani	49.	Palma, Joanne A.
16.	Aldea, Wella	50.	Pangcoga, Fatmah Amor
17.	Basilio, Hardiolyn G.	51.	Polwa, Norma M.
18.	Barra, Naima Comadug	52.	Rahman, Norhata
19.	Biason, Elsie Cobal	53.	Radzak, Heria U.
20.	Bornales, Rowena	54.	Radzak, Sally F.
21.	Compania, Suraida Usman	55.	Salim, Sapia U.
22.	Dela Cruz, Analisa Sampayan	56.	Sandron, Aniza Benito
23.	Delos Santos, Francia	57.	Sansaluna, Fatima
24.	De Sales Apple Arnieden Ros	58.	Siena, Jennifer
25.	De Chavez, Ronnie	59.	Sumagka, Asnah
26.	Druog, Jelyn D.	60.	Sunggay, Hyra Alon
27.	Enter, Haniah Api	61.	Tadaya, Pepito M.
28.	Flores, Katherine Joy Cadorna	62.	Tasil, Sarita Muslimin
29.	Gacula, Kristy Joy Estrada	63.	Trono, Lorena P.
30.	Gampar, Analyn Mohammed	64.	Tuliao, Emelita
31.	Gonatice, Annie	65.	Utto, Salima A.
32.	Granada, Irene A.	66.	Wahab, Sittie Galmak
33.	Hajan, Mudzrifa Amih	67.	Wallahu, Nur-in Ibrahim
34.	Hataya, Hayria Odiang	68.	Yaun, Maria Rodita

Mangyari lang tumawag kaagad kay Mr. Donald Fermin sa mga numerong 0509778651, 0114803662 at 0114801918, o di kaya’y mag-email sa rype@riyadhpe.com

Ang mga nabanggit na Mothers/ Fathers and Children cases ay kailangang makipag-ugnayan sa Embahada upang maisaayos ang kanilang exit visa at agarang pag-uwi sa Pilipinas.

Ang mga Mothers/Fathers and Children cases na wala sa talaan ngunit maaaring hindi pa natatawagan ng Embahada ay inaanyayahan ding agad na tumawag sa mga nabanggit na numero. 

For more info: READ THE ADVISORY HERE

©2015 Pinoy Expats/OFW Blog Awards

Good News OFWS: Philhealth and Pag-ibig not MANDATORY ANYMORE!

This is good news to all OFWs. 

We sent an email inquiry to POEA confirming this matter and here is the reply:

PEBA: "Pag kukuha po ba kami ng OEC ngayon starting April 1, MANDATORY pa rin po ba na hahanapan o pababayarin kami ng PHILHEALTH and PAG-IBIG or pwede na makakuha ng OEC lang without paying ng mga ito?"

POEA:  "Yes we are no longer requiring Philhealth and Pag-Ibig contribution payments in the process of securing OECs. The OWWA contribution, however, will still have to be paid."

So it means those who wants to pay only OEC and OWWA will only pay around P1,000 - P1300 in order to SECURE OEC o Balik Manggagawa Certificate


***********

From Philhealth

Starting April 1, vacationing and
re-hired overseas Filipino workers will have to pay their premium contributions
to the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) separately from
their payments to the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) for
their Overseas Employment Certificates (OECs).

This development is in line with the
decision of the POEA to implement a single collection policy starting on the
same date. The POEA will only be collecting fees for OEC and no longer for
PhilHealth and Pag-IBIG Fund.

image by R. Llanda

The collection counters of
PhilHealth and other government agencies, however, will be retained at POEA in
Mandaluyong City and in the one-stop shops of POEA nationwide.

“We call on our OFW-members to pay
their PhilHealth premium contributions first before going to the POEA for their
OECs. This will secure their social health insurance coverage, as well as that
of their legal dependents, for their peace of mind,” said PhilHealth President and CEO Alexander A. Padilla.

Padilla added that “OFW-members may still pay
their premium contributions at the designated PhilHealth counters at the
Balik-Manggagawa Center at the POEA in Mandaluyong City, as well as through any
of the 27 accredited collecting partners that we have earlier authorized for
local collection from OFW-members. They may also pay at our Local Health
Insurance Offices nationwide.”

Overseas Filipinos pay P2,400.00
annually for their premium contribution to PhilHealth. The amount includes
coverage for all qualified legal dependents of a migrant worker such as legal
spouse who is not a PhilHealth member; legitimate and illegitimate children
below 21 years old, unmarried and unemployed; and parents who are below 60
years old but are suffering from permanent disability which renders them
totally dependent on the member for support.

Parents who are 60 years old and
above and are not yet PhilHealth members may enrol under the Senior Citizen
category.

PhilHealth pays for overseas
hospitalization of migrant workers, as well as for the confinement of their
legal dependents in the Philippines, through a reimbursement mechanism. Migrant
workers have 180 calendar days from the date of discharge to file their claim
documents through any of PhilHealth’s 17 Regional Offices in the Philippines. All
refunds are paid for in Philippine peso equivalent. (END)

PAYMENT OF PREMIUM CONTRIBUTIONS
OF MIGRANT WORKERS 

EFFECTIVE
APRIL 1, 2015 

Starting April 1, vacationing OFWs or balik-manggagawa returning to their
destinations overseas, must proceed to the PhilHealth counters at the POEA
in Ortigas EDSA, Mandaluyong City to pay their premium contributions. 

Upon recent advice by the POEA, payments for Overseas Employment
Certificates (OECs) will no longer include PhilHealth premium contributions.
To avoid the long queue, OFWs should pay their PhilHealth premiums first
before going to POEA to get their OECs.
Premium payments may be made at designated PhilHealth Counters at
the Balik-Manggagawa Center, or through any of our accredited collecting
partners nationwide. 

The list of ACAs authorized to collect OFW premium
contributions can be found on www.philhealth.gov.ph/advisories/2014/
adv12-03-2014.pdf.
Further inquiries regarding this matter may be referred to the Overseas
Filipinos Program Office at (+63917) 5129149, (+632) 441-7444 ext. 7416
or through ofp@philhealth.gov.ph. 

by ALEXANDER A. PADILLA

Philhealth President

©2014 Pinoy Expats/OFW Blog Awards