Undocumented Pinoys Urged to Take Dubai Amnesty

Consul General Frank Cimafranca urged Filipinos who are illegally staying in Dubai to use the amnesty announced by the UAE government, reports GulfNews.com. There are an estimated half-a-million Filipinos in the UAE and “a few thousands” could be illegally staying in the country. The UAE has declared an amnesty from December 4, 2012 to February 3, 2013.

Pinoy in Saudi Must Raise Blood Money or Die

A Filipino worker condemned to death in Saudi Arabia for murder has won a four-month reprieve to raise four million riyals ($1.1 million) and avoid execution by beheading, reports Herald Sun in Australia. Saudi authorities approved the stay after formal appeals by President Aquino and Vice President Jejomar Binay to stop the November 14 judicial execution of the condemned construction worker Joselito Zapanta.
The Philippine government is now trying to help the family raise the "blood money" that must be paid to the Sudanese victim's relatives so the death sentence can be commuted.

Filipino Caregivers in UK Have New Visa Hurdle

Filipino caregivers in the United Kingdom face a new immigration rule that specifies a minimum hourly wage for caregivers seeking permanent residence, reports Workpermit.com. Foreign caregivers must be receiving an hourly wage of at least £7.02 to be eligible to apply for an Indefinite Leave to Remain visas. The new policy aims to ensure that foreign caregivers receive the proper salary and reduce the number of foreign workers working illegally in the UK. Overseas Filipino workers in the UK met with British lawmakers last month to protest the new law.

More Automated Overseas Voting Seen

More Filipino overseas voters may soon be able to choose their candidates through automated machines, as the Commission on Election tries to expand overseas voting to seven countries from two, reports Inquirer.net. Automated voting took place in Hong Kong and Singapore in 2010. COMELEC wants to add Abu Dhabi, Jeddah, Kuwait, Dubai, and Riyadh for the 2013 elections. Abu Dhabi has 21,418 registered voters, Jeddah 42,454, Kuwait 28,458, Dubai 30,513 and Riyadh 62,509 voters.

Hostages, Including Filipinos, Rescued from Pirates

Troops from the Somali region of Puntland rescued 22 hostages, including Filipinos, held by pirates for almost three years after their ship was seized off the Yemeni coast, reports InterAksyon.com. The men bore signs of torture. The crew, from the Dubai-owned and Panamanian-flagged MV Iceberg 1 were freed after two weeks of fighting and a siege of the vessel off the coast of Somalia, Puntland authorities said in a statement.

Aquino Honors 29 Overseas Filipinos and Friends

President Benigno S. Aquino III honored 29 distinguished overseas Filipino individuals, organizations and friends for having shown excellence in their professions and active involvement in support services for Filipino communities worldwide, reports the Commission on Filipinos Overseas website. The 2012 honorees were vetted by their respective Philippine diplomatic and reviewed by three committees composed of representatives from the government, civil society, media, academe, religious, and business sectors -- the final list was submitted to the President of the Philippines for his approval.

Belgium Could Welcome Filipino Nurses

Belgium could be a new market for Filipino nurses. Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said talks leading to a mutual recognition arrangement for Filipino nurses are now under way, reports Inquirer.net. “This could result in the deployment of our nurses in Belgium and probably even to other member-countries of the European Union,” Baldoz said. Foreign nurses have difficulty entering Belgium due to restrictions imposed by the European Commission.

Bishops To Wage ‘War” on Birth Control

Filipino lawmakers may have passed the controversial Reproductive Health (RH) Bill, but the country's Catholic bishops warned "the war is not yet over," reports UCAnews.com. The new law provides access to a range of reproductive health services, including contraceptives."[God] tolerated losing the battle to purify all of us. It’s sad, but God will finish the war for us. We did our best,” Bishop Camilo Gregorio of Batanes said.