DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS 
P R E S S  R E L E A S E
www.dfa.gov.ph                                                                                           2330 Roxas Blvd., Pasay City, Philippines                                                                                 Tel. No. 834-4000 
SFA-AGR-341-06                                                                                                                                                                                                                             05 May 2006

PHILIPPINE CONSULATE GENERAL, HONG KONG HOLDS SEMINAR FOR NEWLY ARRIVED OFWs, CONDUCTS OAV REGISTRATION

5 May 2006 – Consul General Alejandrino A. Vicente of the Philippine Consulate General in Hong Kong, SAR reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs that on 30 April 2006, the Consulate conducted its fifth Post Arrival Orientation Seminar (PADS) for OFWs in Hong Kong for 2006 in conjunction with the ongoing overseas absentee voting (OAV) registration.

Consul General Vicente said that the seminar was held in Yuen Long, New Territories with the cooperation with St. Jerome's Parish, St. Jerome's Parish English Community and the Philippine Bankers' Club of Hong Kong.

The Consul General stated that 51 OFWs attended the PADS, which was the third to be held outside the Consulate this year as the Consulate extended the reach of PADS to the members of the Filipino community living outside Hong Kong island.

Consul General Vicente explained that the PADS is an outreach program of the Consulate and its attached agencies designed to provide information to OFWs about their rights, privileges and responsibilities while working and staying in Hong Kong.  The PADS likewise informs OFWs about the various programs and services offered by the Consulate and its attached agencies.

The Consul General said that in the course of the seminar, the following issues were discussed:

1. The Assistance-to-Nationals (ATN) Section and its services;
2.  Case of overstaying Filipinos;
3.  What to do when questioned or arrested by Hong Kong police;
4.  Integrity of documents (passport, employment contract, Hong Kong ID);
5.  Consulate General telephone hotlines;
6.  Overseas Workers’ Welfare Administration (OWWA) membership and benefits;
7.  The Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) and its functions, including mediation and conciliation; and
8.  Financial management, savings and remittance services for OFWs.
The Consulate also took the opportunity to remind the participants about their rights when questioned or arrested by Hong Kong police for any alleged crime or offense, requesting them to seek the Consulate's advice before they give their testimony or answer the questions posed by the police.

Consul General Vicente said that the participants also raised questions on matters related to OWWA benefits. They also sought clarification, on issues related to their employment contracts, work-site problems, and how they can avail themselves of assistance from the Consulate and the POLO.

The speakers for the event were Vice Consul Noel Novicio, ATN Officer Erlinda Albay, Ms. Angelina Narvaez of the POLO, Mr. Edwin Garcia of OWWA, and Mr. Valiant Micquiabas of the Philippine Bankers Club-Hong Kong. Ms. Rowena Neri of the Consulate ATN section provided technical and administrative support.

In addition to the PADS, the Consulate likewise registered at the event 12 new overseas absentee voters and processed two other OAV-related services such as the recapture of biometrics and correction of data entries.

The OAV team was composed of Vice Consul Victorio Mario Dimagiba and Mr. Edmound Cortes of the Consulate OAV technical secretariat. They were assisted by an OAV volunteer from the local Filipino community.  END
 

/jay