Filipino fire victims get windfall cash aid, but still reel from trauma

 

Hong Kong's deadliest fire in 7 decades killed at least 159 people

Filipino migrant workers who were among those who survived the tragic fire in Tai Po that killed 159 people have received a cash bonanza, mainly from the Philippine government, of at least Php70,000.

Of this, Php50,000 came from the Aksyon Fund (Agarang Kalinga at Saklolo para sa mga OFW na Nangangailangan), a program by the Department of Migrant Workers that provide crucial legal, medical, financial and repatriation aid to distressed overseas Filipino workers.

The remaining Php20,000 was handed out to them last Sunday, December 6, at the OFW Global Centre by Rep. Bryan Revilla, who heads the House of Representatives’ Committee on Migrant Workers.

DETAILS HERE

Separately, the Hong Kong government has pledged to give HK$20,000 financial assistance to each foreign domestic worker affected by the fire in Wang Fuk estate, apart from $2,000 in Octopus card credit which they can use for transportation and emergency expenses.

Those injured will get HK$100,000 if they are hospitalized for at least a week, and HK$50,000 if they are confined for up to six days. Families of those who died are assured of getting a total financial assistance package of about HK$800,000.

Survivors of the tragedy have been receiving material and psycho-social counselling
from NGOs like the Mission for Migrant Workers and Bethune House shelter

The affected but not injured Filipino workers who number about 30, have also been receiving a lot of donations in kind, mainly from non-government organizations like the Mission for Migrant Workers and the Bethune House Migrant Women’s Refuge.

Last Sunday, they again received care packs from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, then later at the Mission, where they were also provided medical and psycho-social counseling by the Hong Kong Red Cross and volunteer social workers.

Bethune House executive director Edwina Antonio said, “You’d be surprised at the various kinds of pain they complain about as a result of the fire. Some have stiff back, stiff legs – aches that they did not initially experience as they tried to escape the fire.”

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But more than the physical pain it is the trauma that the workers are having difficulty coping with, she said.

“One told me of her recurring nightmare of being trapped in the fire,” said Antonio. “This is true for most of them. You can just imagine the fear they had to endure which they are now just beginning to process.”

From the lengthy talks they have had with the victims since they set up a help desk right at Wang Fuk Court the day after the Hong Kong’s deadliest fire in 70 years broke out, Antonio said it was clear how traumatized the migrant workers were.

“Many spoke of how shocked they were on seeing their buildings ablaze since they never saw this from inside their flats. All their windows had been boarded up because of the repair work that had been going on in the estate for months.”

No fire alarms sounded despite the rapidly spreading fire, and many were alerted to the raging flames outside only by their employers who were mostly at work, and had called them on the phone to tell them to evacuate immediately.

Many are still in deep shock imagining what could have been. A number of those who were given counseling at the Mission said they managed to get onto the lifts with their elderly employers and young wards, just before they stopped running.

Mercy and Annabelle recall moments after they were told to leave their Wang Fuk flats

“Nakasakay kami ng lola sa last trip ng lift, (My popo and I were in the lift’s last trip down),” recalled Mercy Martinez, who said she did not immediately realize the big danger they were facing until they got to the ground floor.

After being led to safety, she saw fiery debris slamming onto the building they had just left, sparking the inferno that consumed the structure within only a few minutes.

She still shudders at the thought of what could have happened to them had they been unable to take the lift down from their upper-floor flat.

“Hindi ko kakayaning buhatin si popo pababa. (I would not have been able to carry popo down the stairs).

Adding to the pain was the seeming lack of sympathy or understanding of what they had to endure, from people close to them.

Mercy rued that her teenage son never once asked how she was feeling after her close brush with death, and learning of how a number of her friends had perished in the tragedy, including a sweet Indonesian migrant worker who lived in a nearby building. 

Edwina Antonio (leftmost) with volunteers at the MFMW Help Desk in Tai Po

Antonio also shared the story of another Filipina who was left in tears when the elderly woman she was looking after showed far more concern toward the turtle and cat they had left behind in their flat than she did for her.

Meanwhile, another OFW victim, Annabelle, still lives in a government-provided shelter, sharing a tiny room with her employer's three family members, including a child who is on the autism spectrum. 

She was in a way spared of some of the trauma because she was in the market when the fire struck, while her disabled ward was in school and his elderly grandmother was out on an errand. Her employer called her and told her not to go back to their flat as it was burning.

Still, the terror of that day continues to haunt her. "Hindi na siguro ako titira ulit doon kung sakali" (I don't think I'd ever want to live there again), she said with a shudder.

The emotional scars caused by the tragedy would take a long time to heal, said Antonio. For this reason, the Mission and Bethune House plan to continue providing them with all the support they need until they recover.

This Sunday, the Mission will hold its periodic Care to Caregivers program at the St John’s Cathedral grounds, while a second round of session with the Red Cross will be held on Dec. 21, exclusively for the fire victims.

High Court trial set for Pinoy cook accused of raping family’s DH

 

The neighborhood in Mui Wo where the rape was allegedly committed (Google Maps photo)

The case against a Filipino cook accused of raping his family’s domestic helper, was elevated to the High Court after he pleaded not guilty today at Eastern Court.

Alden John Apayat, 41 years old, will be tried for the rape of the woman identified only as X, on April 10 last year at their house on Mui Wo Rural Committee Road, Mui Wo, Lantau Island.

Under Section 118(1) of the Crimes Ordinance, rape carries the maximum penalty of life in prison.

In a hearing today, Magistrate Minnie Wat released Apayat under an arrangement adopted in June last year when the case was still at Shatin Court, in which Apayat would be released on a cash bail of $50,000 and surety of $15,000.

DETAILS HERE

The bail conditions required him to surrender his Philippine passport, to not contact any of the prosecution witnesses and the victim, to live in the address given to the court, to notify the police at least 24 hours before moving to another address, and to report every Sunday to the Mui Wo Police.

Meanwhile, a Filipina asylum seeker arrested last month after she slashed two plastic safety cones in the Apliu Street Public Toilet in Sham Shui Po, found herself shelling out $1,000 for bail at West Kowloon Court  after two charges were filed against her by police.

Principal Magistrate Don So adjourned the case against Rutchel Lagud, 39 years old and unemployed, who was charged with possession of offensive weapon and criminal damage after the slashing incident last Nov. 17.

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The first case, a violation of section 17 of the Summary Offences Ordinance, arose after Lagud was found to have in her possession a paper cutter around 13 cm in length.

The Police alleged that she had the cutter “with intent to use the said weapon for unlawful purposes.”

The criminal damage charge, in violation of section 60(1) of the Crimes Ordinance, arose after she used the cutter to slash the safety cones inside the female toilet, “without lawful excuse” and “intending to damage such property or being reckless as to whether such property would be damaged,” the Police alleged.

District Court finds Filipina guilty of laundering $8.83 million

 

The reasons for the verdict were read out in District Court today

A 38-year-old Filipina was today found guilty at the District Court of laundering a total of $8.83 million in her three bank accounts, the biggest amount ever linked to a foreign domestic worker in Hong Kong.

Lynie Acosta, a widow who has been working as a domestic helper in Hong Kong since 2017, was returned to jail pending a background report, and will be sentenced on January 12 next year.

She was convicted despite her claim that she had been tricked into opening three bank accounts by three persons she did not know, who told her they were registering her for a “game,” for which she was paid $400.

In court today, District Court Judge Edward Wong said the prosecution had proved all charges against Acosta beyond reasonable doubt.

DETAILS HERE

He dismissed the defense’s plea for Acosta to be allowed bail pending the sentencing, saying the offences she committed were serious.

The defence lawyer had tried to argue that there was no harm in setting Acosta free before the sentencing, as she was staying in the shelter run by the Philippine Consulate, which could guarantee her return, but the judge was not convinced.

The defense was directed to submit a written background and mitigation for Acosta by December 21, as well as sentencing guidelines for similar offences in which the amount involved is as huge as in the present case.

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Acosta was charged with three counts of money laundering, with the first involving the biggest chunk of the money, amounting to to $8,597,833.36, passing through her Mox Bank account between March 25 and May 19, 2023.

The prosecution alleged that she dealt with the property with the help of two persons, one named Jane Corpuz and another unknown.

The same persons were also cited as helping Acosta in dealing with $192,940.08 in her account with the Standard Chartered Bank on March 31, 2023, which formed the basis for the second charge.

The third charge was over the $45,100.78 deposited in her account with the Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank, which she again allegedly dealt with, along with Corpuz and the unknown person.

In her defence, Acosta said Jane who was introduced by her sister, had met up with her in Tseung Kwan O and asked if she was interested in instant cash by playing a game.

Jane and two Chinese men then asked for her HKID card which they scanned, before helping her take “selfies” from different angles, and uploaded these online. She was then paid $400 through her Alipay account.

Without her realizing it, Acosta said her personal details were used to open the three bank accounts in her name, and listing down a Sham Shui Po flat as her residential address.

Her lawyer argued that Acosta did not know that the bank accounts were opened in her name, nor was she aware that the same accounts were used to funnel money obtained from scams,  in particular from fraudulent online selling.

The defense also tried to shift the blame on banks’ lax security, pointing out that they should have been alerted by the large amounts of money that were passing through accounts held by a foreign domestic worker.

But the judge did not accept the arguments, saying Acosta could not have possibly believed she was merely being asked to play a game when she was asked for her HKID card and submit to a lengthy photo capture or scanning.

Besides, there was no evidence at all of any gaming account being opened in Acosta’s name during that incident.

Despite being  a domestic worker, Acosta is already 38 years old and received tertiary education in the Philippines so she could not have been as naïve as pictured, said the judge.

He also pointed out that Acosta has an Alipay account in Hong Kong and a bank account in the Philippines so she was not totally clueless about bank procedures.

To top it all, it was unbelievable that she had allowed three people she only met for the first time to get hold of her HKID card and spend some time taking her photo from different angles, all because of a game.

Acosta received support from her employer during the initial hearings of the case, and even offered to post bail for her, as she was having difficulty taking care of her son and sick mother while keeping her own job.

The defense lawyer had also appealed to the court to allow bail, saying Acosta’s husband died recently, and she was desperate to continue working to pay off the hospital and burial bills, as well as support her child who was left in her mother-in-law’s care.

But after the case was transferred to the District Court, then presiding judge, Wong Kwai Kin warned that Acosta could face a more severe sentence if found guilty, as the Department of Justice had sought to get higher sentences imposed in money laundering cases.

Charge proven vs Pinoy who claimed US$10B in deposits in HSBC

 

HSBC branch where offense was reported (Google Maps photo)  

The Eastern Court has ruled that prosecutors have proven that an eldery Filipino used a false instrument when he presented papers at a Queen’s Road Central branch of Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corp., purporting to show he had US$10 billion in deposits.

But Principal Magistrate  David Cheung Chi-wai held off on convicting Ramon Revillosa Jr, 69, until Dec. 18 pending two psychological reports he ordered to determine whether he should be punished or hospitalized.

The Philippine government had previously said it asked Hong Kong authorities to conduct a full examination of Revillosa as he was showing signs of dementia when he made grandiose claims of wealth.

DETAILS HERE

In a hearing on Thursday (Dec. 4), Magistrate  Cheung also ordered the continued detention of Revillosa at the Siu Lam Psychiatric Hospital in Tuen Mun.

He has been in jail and hospital custody since his arrest last Feb. 10. He was arrested along with a Filipino woman said to be a lawyer, a Malaysian man, a Taiwanese man and a woman from the Mainland who used a travel permit to enter Hong Kong.

The Filipina was allowed bail so she could go back to the Philippines but was told to return on a specified date, but it is not clear whether charges were filed against the three others.

DETAILS HERE

The charge arose from Revillosa presenting a bank capability letter, guarantee letter and a certificate of balance, all purporting to have a value of US$10 billion and issued by HSBC, which he “knew, or believed to be, false”.

He was said to have presented the documents so bank staff Tang Wing-sheung would accept them as genuine, "and by reason of so accepting them to do or not do some act to his own, or any other's prejudice."

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Using a false instrument is punishable under section 73 of the Crimes Ordinance with up to 14 years in jail.

Fate of Pinay driver in Peel Street crash to be known in Feb

 

Magsino had just parked the car on this slope when it started rolling down, fast

A verdict has been set for February 26 next year in the case of a Filipina domestic helper who was tried at the District Court on two charges relating to the fatal traffic accident in Central four years ago.

Reshielle L. Magsino, 48, was again released on $10,000 bail after she appeared before Deputy District Court Judge Tim Casewell on Friday.

Magsino had pleaded not guilty to dangerous driving that caused the death of a French woman, and serious injury to four others, after a car she had just parked rolled at a fast clip down Peel Street in Central in the evening of Dec 10, 2021.

DETAILS HERE

Killed in the incident was French national Elodie Ma, who was 27 at the time. She was rushed to Queen Mary Hospital in critical condition after the incident, and died less than 24 hours later.

The four other people who were seriously injured were Truong Lise Pui Yee (who was initially listed in critical condition but recovered eventually), Riachi Julien, Moroz Dean Ian and Hui Yat-yuen.

It took prosecutors two years to charge Magsino in court with one count of dangerous driving causing death, and another of causing grievous bodily injury.

DETAILS HERE

At the start of the trial, the court was told Magsino had about nine years of driving experience at the time. The registered owner of the car was her employer, but Magsino admitted to police that she was the one driving that night.

Security cameras showed Magsino and her employer getting out of the vehicle after it was parked on a steep incline on the roads employer getting out of the car after it was parked on the sloping street, and was immediately  followed by the accused who was in the driver’s seat.

The car began rolling down the slope immediately after, with the open door hitting Magsino who fell. She tried to run after the vehicle but it rolled down fast.

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Ma was shown standing outside a restaurant on Staunton Street when the car rolled over her, causing severe head injury.

The four others who were injured were shown chatting on the road. Some were hurt as they tried to dodge the runaway car, while one was hit by steel railings dislodged went the vehicle got wedged in them, before coming to a full stop.

Magsino was arrested by the police at the scene while the victims were rushed to hospital.

The case was first heard in the Eastern magistracy but was elevated to the District Court due to the seriousness of the charges.

Dangerous driving causing death is punishable with a maximum fine of $50,000 and imprisonment of up to 10 years. If the act resulted in grievous bodily harm, the maximum penalty is $50,000 fine and seven years' imprisonment.

LD hands out $20K subsidy for FDHs affected by Tai Po fire

The Department of Labour has started handing out the $20,000 subsidy for foreign domestic helpers employed in the Wan Fuk Court in Tai Po.

It has opened a special counter at its Mongkok offices today and tomorrow to process applications. After that, applications will be processed during office hours.

DETAILS HERE

DETAILS HERE

“The involved FDHs can start to apply for the subsidy now,” the Labour Department said in an announcement.

The application form for the subsidy is available at: https://www.fdh.labour.gov.hk/res/pdf/applicationform-fdhsubsidy.pdf.

Basahin ang detalye!

Affected FDHs can go directly to the counters, which are open from 11am to 5pm today and tomorrow at:

Foreign Domestic Helpers Division of the Labour Department
16/F, One Mong Kok Road Commercial Centre,
1 Mong Kok Road, Kowloon 

Pinoy sentenced for driving license fraud

 

Eastern Court

A Filipino who submitted a fake Pakistani license so he could be exempted from taking the driving test required of applicants from the Philippines, was sentenced at Eastern Court today to four months in jail, suspended for 12 months.

This meant that J. Ong, 27 years old and a supervisor at an airline lounge at the Chek Lap Kok airport, may not have to serve a day of his sentence if he does not reoffend. 

However, he had already stayed in jail for two weeks, after pleading guilty in an earlier hearing to the charge of violating the Common Law, which is punishable under section 159C(6) of the Crimes Ordinance.

Ong admitted that he “conspired together with a person unknown… by dishonestly falsely representing to the staff of the Transport Department” that he was eligible for the direct issue of a full Hong Kong driving license without test.

DETAILS HERE

A complaint filed by the Independent Commission against Corruption accused Ong of “inducing the staff of the Transport Department to act contrary to their public duty, namely, to approve, and grant a full Hong Kong driving licence...” when he applied for it between Oct. 21, 2022 and Aug. 9, 2023.

“This is a serious case” and a financial penalty is not enough, Magistrate Minnie Wat said, explaining that the licensing system for drivers is there to protect road users.

In mitigation, Ong’s lawyer said that the offense took place after he was laid off at the airport during the Covid-19 pandemic, and he was desperate to find a job.

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He thought having a driving license would help improve his chances of finding a new job, so he applied for a license but failed the driving test.

It was then that a friend told him that he knew someone who could get him a Pakistani driving license, which is convertible to a Hong Kong one.

Despite this, Ong's lawyer said, "He never used the license. He admitted he was frightened to go on the road with it."

The lawyer said Ong is remorseful for what happened and that the offense was out of character.

 “When he was arrested, he made a full admission to ICAC, assisted the ICAC and will help in the future,” although the person who sold him the Pakistani license has since left Hong Kong, the lawyer added.

An ICAC representative in the courtroom confirmed that Ong wwas helping the investigation, which is still ongoing.

Migrants call on HK to ensure full support for FDWs in Tai Po fire

 

AMCB co-organized the special mass on Chater Road for the Tai Po fire victims

A group of migrant domestic workers has called on the Hong Kong Labour Department to adequately protect all foreign domestic workers affected by the Tai Po fire by ensuring they get all financial and social support due them, and allowing them to remain in the city until they are hired by a new employer should their contract be terminated.

In a letter sent to Labour Secretary Chris Sun on Friday, the Asian Migrants Coordinating Body through spokesperson Shiela Bonifacio said it welcomes the government’s swift moves to support FDWs affected by the fire, such as providing them with a $20,000 one-off subsidy and dedicated hotline.

“However, we must highlight that MDWs face some often overlooked unique challenges related to their employment and visa status, as well as language barriers, which require the government’s integrated consideration for both the short-term and long-term impacts on MDWs affected by this fire,” said the AMCB.

DETAILS HERE

Among the steps proposed by the AMCB is for the government to set up a multi-lingual information platform that will provide affected FDWs with simple and up-to-date information on how they can access financial aid, relief supplies and other support services.

As it is, all the publicity materials regarding these important information are published only in English or Cantonese, which may not be easily understood by the affected FDWs, said AMCB.

Another measure suggested is to assign social workers who are ideally well experienced in dealing with migrant worker issues to help look into the special needs of the affected FDWs so they can be better assessed and addressed.

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A third proposal is for the Immigration Department to come up with a special arrangement for FDWs who may be laid off due to the fire so they can remain in Hong Kong beyond the 14-day limit provided by law under normal circumstances.

“This will ensure they have adequate time to find new employers while recovering from the trauma of the blaze, granting an exception to the standard "2-week rule."

The fourth proposal is for the creation of a mechanism that will fast-track the monetary claims of FDWs who are terminated, such as wages in arrears, travel fare, employee compensation, long service or severance pay and other entitlements.

In relation to this, the AMCB cited the long list of documents that the Indonesian Consulate General is reportedly requiring affected FDWs to submit, such as a letter of reference from their agencies, photocopies of their passports, HKIDs and other papers, just so they could obtain replacement passports.

The group said it hopes Hong Kong could come up with a more comprehensive response "to address migrant workers’ systemic vulnerabilities" in consultation with consulates, migrant organizations, and other affected parties.

 

 

 

 

 

 

‘Eagles’ does beach clean-up

 

The Eagles show off their haul at the end of their clean-up drive on Repulse Bay

Several ‘eagles’ groups led by their president Alann C. Mas gathered together on November 23 to conduct a clean-up of the beach from Deep Water Bay to Repulse Bay, as part of their commitment to protecting Hong Kong’s natural environment.

Taking part in the community undertaking were the Grand Hong Kong Eagles Club, Grand Hong Kong Lady Eagles Club, Solid Grand Alab Hong Kong Lady Eagles Club and the Solid Grand Kabatak Hong Kong Lady Eagles Club.

DETAILS HERE

Enthusiastic members gathered at Deep Water Bay Beach, armed with gloves and trash bags, where they started collecting trash along the coastline, before gradually making their way to Repulse Bay.

Mas said they focused on removing plastic bottles, Styrofoam containers and various other plastic waste materials that threaten marine life and pollute Hong Kong’s beautiful beaches.

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“The cleanup not only aimed to beautify our local environment but also served as a powerful reminder of the impact of plastic pollution on our oceans,” said Mas.

“Through this initiative, we hope to inspire others to join the fight against environmental degradation and to promote sustainable practices within our communities.”

Group members led by Mas (center) gather at Deep Water Bay at the start of the clean-up 

He added the activity made the members realize even more the value of community involvement in environmental conservation, and of contributing to having a cleaner and healthier planet for future generations.

"Nakakataba ng puso yung habang nagpupulot kami ng mga basura ay pinapasalamatan kami nung mga residenteng nakakasalubong namin," Mas said. (It warmed the heart to hear residents thanking us as we picked up trash).

They committed to carrying out more clean-up drives in future.

Pinay with 14 names appear in DC on theft charges along with another

 

Photo is for illustration only

Two Filipinas accused of being pickpockets before the District Court were returned to jail today after their lawyer asked for an adjournment so discussions could be made with the Department of Justice for charges against one of them to be dropped.

The lawyer did not specify who he was referring to between Jay-ann Benlot, 31 years old, and Rebecca Quirante, 68 years old, but in the three charges filed against them, Benlot is in only one of the three charges naming Quirante, who is also known by 13 other names.

Chief District Judge Justin Ko King-sau scheduled the next hearing for Feb. 26 next year.

DETAILS HERE

As they had no bail application, he remanded them in jail custody.

For the first charge, Benlot and Quirante are accused of stealing one wallet, cash of $2,000, cash of ¥80 Renminbi, one Exit-entry Permit for Travelling to and from Hong Kong and Macau, one Mainland identity card and four bank cards owned by Tian Xiaona on Nov. 10, 2024, at "Brandy & Melville", Ground Floor, Emperor Watch and Jewellery Centre, No. 8 Russell Street, Causeway Bay.

In the second charge, Quirante is accused of stealing, “together with other person(s) unknown,” one mobile phone owned by Tsang Siu-mei on Nov. 14, 2024 at Shop Nos. 263B, Cheung Sha Wan Road, Sham Shui Po, Kowloon.

Basahin ang detalye!

On Nov. 15, 2024 Quirante was also found to be the subject of a deportation order dated May 26, 1987, so was in violation of section 43(1)(a) of the Immigration Ordinance, which prescribes a penalty of up to seven years’ imprisonment.

This would also explain why Quirante was described in court documents to be also known as May P. Topacio, May R. Topacio, Rosalie S. Baltazar, Bessie A. Valle, Isabel A. Castro, Malon P. Gonzales, Malou P. Gonzales, Malous P. Gorizhles, Malon P. Gorizhles, Malou P. Gorizhles, Jacqueune Moristo Dayandante, Nelrie A Monte aud Annabelle Paqueros Sucgang.

Holiday rush for OEC prompts MWO to open daily

 

The OEC rush keeps MWO staff busy until late in the afternnon

Long queues have again formed at the Migrant Workers Office on the 29^th floor of United Centre building, as thousands of Filipino domestic workers slated to go home for the holiday season rush to secure the overseas employment certificate which they need to exit the country.

The lines are particularly long on Sundays, when most FDWs are on their days off, that applicants end up waiting for several hours to complete the process.

DETAILS HERE

In a bid to ease the congestion, the  MWO announced today, Wednesday, that it will open on Fridays and Saturdays in the next two weeks, to process applications for OEC or OFW Travel Pass, verification of employment contracts and renewal of membership to the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA).

The office will offer the special services on Dec 5, 6, 12 and 13, from 9am to 4pm, effectively opening all days of the week for the next two weeks.

According to MWO Officer-in-charge Tony Villafuerte, the foot traffic has been unusually heavy because it is peak season for securing the OEC.

MWO will open Friday & Saturday for next two weeks

Although many overseas Filipino workers already have the OFW Travel Pass, which is supposed to integrate both the OEC and the eTravel (required of all Filipinos departing from the Philippines), they still prefer to get the OEC, said Villafuerte.

This, he said, was because of a post on Facebook that said the OEC is required to be shown when claiming the Php950 terminal fee from airlines at Philippine airports.

Some OFWs who have recently gone on vacation also reported being asked for their OEC on top of the OFW Travel Pass by Philippine immigration officers, before clearing them for boarding.

Basahin ang detalye!

Apart from this, securing the OFW Travel Pass in lieu of both the OEC and the e-Travel under a new system that is still on its pilot run is said to have proved challenging to many that they opt to just revert to securing the two documents separately.

Villafuerte says many OFWs still secure the OEC even if they already have the OFW Travel Pass

But this should not be so much of a problem, said Filipino community leader Marites Nuval, if volunteers were again asked to help OFWs download the OECs or the OFW Travel Pass on their mobile phones, like in the past.

“Kung i-allow kami we are willing to help para makuha nila yung OEC nila kung returning to the same employer. Kahit sa cellphone lang nila kaya naming gawin,” said Nuval, who used to volunteer her services regularly during the time of former Labor Attache Jalilo dela Torre. (If they would allow us, we are willing to help those who need the OEC, especially if they are returning to the same employer. We can help them secure it using their own cell phones).

The only time OFWs would need to ask the MWO directly for help is when they have moved to a new employer, which would require a staff member to change the particulars in their employment records.

Leona Blundell, who operates a Filipino shop at United Centre, agreed that the queues on the 29^th floor could be greatly reduced if more people were trained to help home-bound OFWs who are not so tech-savvy.

“It takes only a few minutes to secure the OEC even if the OFW has forgotten her email address or password,” said Blundell, who is often asked for help by those who want to skip the long queues at the MWO.

Doing it this way could be the wisest move at this time.

Last Sunday, Nov. 30, several FDWs who were still a few meters away from the service counters at about 4pm told The SUN that they had been in line since 11:30am and had to skip lunch.

“Sana naman huwag na kaming pahirapan nang ganito,” they lamented. (How we wish we would be spared of this burden).

Lines formed even outside the MWO 

Only last month, Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Cacdac announced during a visit to Hong Kong that the OEC had already been integrated into the eTravel pass, easing the burden of OFWs who are required to present two separate documents before they could return to their workplace.

“Red carpet, not red tape,” said Cacdac, alluding to a promise to provide OFWs with red-carpet treatment when they go home, instead of being bogged down by bureaucratic red tape.