Phl peso sinks to new record low of 63.61 to USD

OFWs get more pesos for their dollars now

The Philippine peso has continued its free-fall, plunging to a fresh record low of ₱63.615 to the US dollar today, Friday, marking its 31st record low of the year. 

The peso closed 9.5 centavos down from Thursday’s close of Php63.52 to the greenback.

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The local currency hit an intra-day  low of  Php63.62 to US$1 during the day.

The currency’s continuing decline, off 7% of its value since the start of the year, makes it one of the weakest in the region.

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The escalating tension in the Middle East and the consequent rise in fuel prices has driven up the country’s import and fuel bills. 

The decision by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas to raise its key policy rate by 50 basis points to 5.50% while lifting its inflation forecast has also dampened investor confidence.

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Analysts warn that the psychological ₱64:$1 barrier  could be tested in the coming days or weeks if investors continue to keep away. 

BSP Governor Eli Remolona Jr. said that the central bank is not intervening just to defend a specific exchange rate floor, but is focusing instead on curbing excessive volatility that fuels inflation.

Excessive debts may affect FDHs’ chances of getting visas or extensions of stay

 

File photo from HK Monetary Authority

Excessive debts will affect the Immigration Department (ImmD) decision on whether to approve a foreign domestic helper’s employment visa or extension of stay, according to Joseph Chan, Undersecretary for Financial Services and the Treasury.

Chanwas replying to questions by lawmaker Elaine Chik at the Legislative Council on Wednesday (October 21). He had consulted the Labour and Welfare Bureau, the Security Bureau, the Companies Registry (CR), and the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA),

“The Immigration Department (ImmD) has all along exercised stringent control when vetting employment visa applications from FDHs, by holistically considering multiple factors, including conduct and integrity, records provided by previous employers concerning the FDHs, and reasons for premature termination of employment contracts, etc,” he said.

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“Previous FDH employers may provide the ImmD with reasons for premature contract termination, including excessive borrowing, for consideration by the ImmD when processing future applications for employment visas or extensions of stay from the FDHs concerned,” he added.

This is one of the measures adopted by the Hong Kong government, with various policy bureaus and departments collaborating at different levels, to address the rising incidence of excessive personal borrowing.

“Following our public consultation, starting from August this year, we have imposed restrictions on unsecured personal loans granted by money lenders to low-income earners, including restrictions of income, debt servicing ratio, total outstanding loan amount and repayment period. We have also prohibited money lenders from requesting borrowers to provide loan referees,” he said.

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The Labour Department (LD) also strictly regulates employment agencies (EAs), Chan said.

“The Code of Practice for Employment Agencies (CoP) promulgated by the LD stipulates that EAs should not provide job seekers with information relating to personal loans, and should not advise, arrange, encourage or force job seekers to borrow money from any institutions within or outside Hong Kong. EAs violating the CoP may have their licences revoked or their applications for licence renewal refused,” he added.

If organizations elsewhere are found to have engaged in malpractices in arranging FDHs to take up employment in Hong Kong (such as improperly coercing FDHs into taking out loans), LD will seek action from the consulates-general of countries where the FDHs come from, he said.

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“We acknowledge that publicity and education can contain problems at source,” Chan said. The LD thus collaborates with the these consulates to include information on avoiding excessive borrowing into orientation briefings organised for newly arrived FDHs.

Filipinos asked to register marriage, birth & death

The Philippine Consulate has reminded Filipinos to report their marriage solemnized in Hong Kong, to keep Philippine civil records accurate and up-to-date.

The advisory covers all Filipino citizens who get married in Hong Kong, whether to a fellow Filipino or a foreign national. 

Their marriage must be reported and registered with the Philippine Statistics Authority through the Consulate.

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Filipinos are also advised to report other vital events such as births and deaths so they may easily obtain PSA-issued documents which may be later required for important transactions such as passport and visa applications, pension claims and others. 

For more information please send an email to the Consulate’s Civil Registry and Citizenship Services Unit at hongkongpcg.civil registry@dfa.gov.ph.

The requirements for registering births, deaths or marriage may check the attached advisories:

Jewelry theft lands Pinay in jail for 16 months

Eastern Court

A Filipina was jailed today for 14 months after she pleaded guilty to the theft of jewelry from her former employer. 

Raquelyn Aguacito, who has since been terminated, had earlier been charged with violating section 9 of the Theft Ordinance. 

Aguacito admitted to have stolen seven gold coins, one gold bracelet, six gold pendants and one memory card, the property of Tsang Ching. 

The theft took place between February 26 and May 5 this year.

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The sentence handed down by Chief Magistrate So Wai-tak was net of the one-third discount for the guilty plea. 

The case is one of four cases heard in Hong Kong courts today. 

At Kwun Tong Court,  Rogela Caalem, 33 years old, was remanded in jail on a charge of stealing 19 pieces of jewelry, valued at a total of $1, 608,300, the property of Mao Sara Guo Jing.

The theft allegedly took place between January 1 and the 26th day of June 26 this year at the employer’s house at Fei Ngo Shan Road, Tseung Kwan O. 

At Eastern Court, Rona Jean Lagat, 33 years old, had no bail application in her bail review, so she was returned to jail. Her case had previously been adjourned to December 9. 

Lagat is accused of stealing 80,000 yen (about: HK$4,000), two gold bracelets, one green gemstone ring, oné sapphire necklace, one Cartier watch, one pair of diamond earrings and one gold necklace, the property of Wong Shin Ling Irene. 

The theft allegedly took place between June 15 and October 12 this year at the employer’s residence ar Fullview Court, Fortress Garden, 32 Fortress Hill Road, North Point. 

At Fan Ling Court, Cristy Mae Falales, 30 years old, was released on bail of $2,000 when her case was adjourned to December 17. 

She is accused of stealing a memory card, two packs of fish maw, seven cans of abalone, a $100 commemorative banknote, two pieces of $20 commemorative banknotes and 16 boxes of probiotics, total value at HK$19,740, the property of female Poon Wun Hei, Alina.

The theft allegedly took place at the employer’s residence at Elegant Park, Ngau Tam Mei Road, Lok Ma Chau, New Territories

between June 21 and 30 this year.  

Foreign carers will be trained, assessed in their home country, says HK Iabour chief

E

Sun says FDHs must go home and train first

Hong Kong Labour Minister Chris Sun has all but dashed hopes of currently employed foreign domestic helpers to move into better-paid posts as foreign domestic carers (FDCs) starting next year, without having to return to their home countries.

Speaking at a question-and-answer session at the Legislative Council on Wednesday, Labour Minister Chris Sun made it clear that FDHs working in Hong Kong will first be required to return to their place of origin to undergo a dedicated training course, before coming back to work again as FDCs with new employers.

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Sun made the statement in response to a question by legislator Elizabeth Quat on what steps have been taken by the government to ensure that the planned hiring of FDCs will not “deal a blow to the existing FDH market, given the higher salary that will be given to the carers.”

Sun checking out Phl’s training for caregivers in 2023

Earlier, Sun had announced that FDCs to be hired under a Pilot Scheme to be implemented starting middle of next year, will be paid 10 to 20 percent more than FDHs whose minimum salary is pegged at HK$5,200 a month.

Sun assured that the Government does not expect the Pilot Scheme to disrupt the existing FDH market, despite the disparity in salary.

The labour chief said that apart from requiring the FDCs to undergo training in their home country, they will also be assessed there by a local institution commissioned by the HK government based on a specified assessment framework, and obtain a passing result before they may come to Hong Kong for employment.

“Considering that FDCs will be required to possess a higher level of experience than ordinary FDHs, the minimum wage for FDCs will be set slightly higher than the MAW (minimum allowable wage) for FDHs," said Sun.

To further minimize the impact on the FDH market, the Pilot Scheme will be  implemented on a small scale initially, with only a few hundred FDCs being hired per year.

He assured that the public sentiment will be taken into consideration in working out the details for the scheme which will be set out by the middle of next year.

The Chief Executive announced the Pilot Scheme in his Policy Address this year, in response to Hong Kong's rapidly ageing population. 

From nearly 1.8 million (or one-fourth of the population), the number of HK residents aged 65 and above is expected to rise to 2.74 million in 2046, or a third of the population.

Another Pinay jailed 6 months for money laundering

 

Kowloon City Courthouse

Another Filipina domestic helper enmeshed in money laundering through her bank account, was jailed for six months today at Kowloon City Court.

Magistrate Andrew Mok cut by one third the initial sentence of nine months he handed to Mariel Frio, 40 years old, who pleaded guilty to dealing with property known or believed to represent proceeds of indictable offense, contrary to sections 25(1) and 25(3) of the Organized and Serious Crimes Ordinance.

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Frio was charged with money laundering after the inflow and withdrawal of HK$237,140 and US$2,975, in her bank account with Hang Seng Bank Limited between December 20, 2024 and July 28, 2025.

The charge fled by  the HK Police Technology and Financial Crime Unit sad Frio allowed the use of her nank account, “knowing or having reasonable grounds to believe that property…, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, represented any person’s proceeds of an indictable offence.”

 

DH jailed 2 years for theft of watches, jewelry worth more than $1M

 

District Court

A 51-year-old domestic helper was jailed for two years today by the District Court after pleading guilty to theft, originally of two Rolex watches but eventually of a number of watches and jewelry worth a total of more than $1 million.

Deputy District Judge Dick Lee sentenced Jeanny Llarenas at a starting point of three years, but gave her a one-third discount for her guilty plea.

When the case was first heard up at Fanling Court on Dec. 12, 2025, Llarenas was originally accused of stealing two Rolex watches with a total value of $500,000 on an unknown date between June 1 and Oct 15 this year at her employer’s  house in Deerhill Bay on Tai Po Road - Tai Po Kau, Tai Po.

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The police filed a second charge in which two Rolex watches and a Citizen watch worth a total  of $510,000 were stolen between of March 26  and Oct. 15 last year.

The two charges were consolidated when it reached the District Court, to state that she stole five watches, worth $1,010,000    

Discovery of more thefts -- two gold pendants, 3 necklaces, one pair of earrings and two bracelets, the total value of which was not disclosed -- added to the list of items stolen in the corrected period between August 25 and October 15 last year.

First batch of 34 OFWs repatriated from Saudi amid rising tensions

 

Secretary Cacdac and other DMW officials
greet the returning OFWs

The first batch of of overseas Filipino workers from Saudi Arabia to be repatriated arrived on Monday, October 19, amid escalating tensions in the Middle East.

The 34 returning OFWs were met at the airport by officials from the Department of Migrant Workers led by Secretary Hans Cacdac.

A second batch of 65 OFWs are due to be flown in Tuesday, October 20.

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A statement from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (Owwa) said the OFWs arrived at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 aboard Qatar Airways Flight QR934 from Doha, Qatar, after traveling from Al Qassim, Saudi Arabia.

They were assisted at the airport by DMW and OWWA staff, and provided transportation and temporary accommodation.

Those with onward travel to their respective provinces were given help in booking their flights.

The same assistance will be given to the next batch of returnees.

“In times of need, it is important that we act quickly and carefully, as we understand the concerns of our OFWs and the families waiting for their return,” OWWA said in the statement. 

According to the DMW, nearly 400 OFWs have applied for repatriation as the situation in the region remains volatile.

So far,  399 OFWs from Saudi Arabia are scheduled to return to the Philippines between October 19 and 25.

In addition, travel arrangements are already being finalized for over 100 OFWs more, said the DMW.

While awaiting their flights, the OFWs are being provided with food,  accommodation, transportation, financial assistance, and medical and psychological services.

Filipina DH charged with 5 counts of assaulting 5-month-old baby

Tuen Mun Court

A 40-year-old Filipina domestic helper appeared in Tuen Mun Court on Monday, charged with five counts of assault on a five-month-old girl in her care.

Ferlyn Martinito Viesca was remanded in jail until the next hearing of the case at Kowloon City Court on November 30. She did not apply for bail and she was not asked to enter a plea.

Viesca faces five counts of wilfully assaulting the child in her custody between October 11 and 19 in a flat on Chung Hau Street in Homantin. 

She is alleged to have intentionally assaulted the baby “in a manner likely to have caused unnecessary suffering or injury to her health.” 

The prosecution asked for a postponement pending further police investigation and the result of the victim’s medical examination.

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Cold spell forecast, but it will be short-lived

 

HK skyline from Kowloon side (Photo: HK Observatory)

The cold winds brought by the seasonal northeast monsoon are creeping down from the north, and could reach Hong Kong by next Thursday, with the morning temperature dropping to 25 degrees Celsius,  according to forecasts from the Hong Kong Observatory.

But the effects are not expected to last long.

Super Typhoon Champi is expected to make its winds felt as it moves across the seas 2,000 kilometers east of Luzon, packing maximum sustained winds of 185 kilometers per hour near the center.

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“Its outer subsiding air will bring mainly fine and high temperature weather to southern China in the latter part of this week,” the Observatory said.

Moving westward at 20 Km/h, the super typhoon appears to be aiming for Taiwan, after which uncertainties in its subsequent movement are expected to give equal chances of it moving south towards the coast of southeastern China or turning northwards to the Ryukyu Islands in the East China Sea.

Prior to this, the weather until Wednesday will be mainly fine and dry over southern China in the next couple of days. “It will become very hot,” the Observatory added.

Govt must pay for repatriating remains of undocumented OFWs, says Bayan HK chair

 

Lina Realiza was finally brought home on Oct 10, 18 days after she succumbed to heart attack

Philippine laws explicitly provide that the government must shoulder the cost of repatriating the remains of undocumented overseas Filipino workers, according to Bayan Hong Kong and Macau chairperson Eman Villanueva.

Villanueva made the statement in a Facebook post on Friday, Oct 16, in the wake of a controversy that erupted after The SUN reported that it took a community of friends to raise the HK$42,000 needed to repatriate the remains of Lina Doculan Realiza, who died a few weeks after losing a bid to overturn Hong Kong Immigration’s rejection of her asylum application.

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According to Lina’s daughter Grace, she personally appealed to the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration office in Hong Kong for help, but was told that they could not cover the cost of repatriation. The most they could expect to get was Php20,000 in burial assistance, but even that would take time.

Lina’s body was flown home on October 10, more than a month after a cardiac arrest left her comatose in hospital. She never regained consciousness until she passed away on September 22, aged 52.

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By then, she had spent more than 23 years working as a domestic helper in Lebanon and Hong Kong. A failed claim against her employer who terminated her contract resulted in Lina overstaying her visa in 2023, then filing for non-refoulement or asylum in September 2024.

Meanwhile, a few hours before Lina was to be laid to rest in her hometown of Sta. Maria, Pangasinan on Thursday, representatives from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration visited her wake and presented two cheques totaling Php50,000 to her family.

2 OWWA checks amounting to Php50,000 in total were handed to Lina's family on day of her burial 

DMW Secretary Hans Cacdac has also reached out personally to the deceased’s daughter, Grace, but it is unclear as of this writing whether further financial help would be extended.

But Villanueva and his fellow migrant rights advocates said this is not enough, as several laws, including the so-called Magna Carta of Labor Law (Republic Act No. 8042 (as amended by R.A. No. 10022) specifically provide that “if an OFW becomes undocumented (irregular), the Philippine government will fully shoulder the cost of repatriating their remains.”

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Even the more recent Department Order 02/2025 of the DMW which specifies the use of its Aksyon (Agarang Kalinga at Saklolo para sa mga OFWs na Nangangailangan) Fund provides that the burial or cremation and/or shipment of remains of an undocumented OFW can be funded from the Fund.

Dolores Balladares, chairperson of Unifil-Migrante, also released a statement criticizing the failure of the Philippine Consulate, the DMW and OWWA to help Lina, despite boasting of the millions of pesos they have handed out to distressed migrants through the Aksyon Fund, and spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on events at Chater Road.

DMW photo shows how much was distributed to 42 OFWs from the Aksyon Fund

“Hindi usapin kung may dokumento o wala ang ating kababayan, may Assistance to Nationals, may Migrant Workers Office, nasaan ang DMW & OWWA Combined Budget: ₱11.745 billion, ang OWWA Allocation funds na ₱4.2 billion (supporting emergency repatriation, welfare programs like Alagang OWWA, at worker caravans) meron pang AKSYON Fund & Emergency Repatriation,” said Balladares.

(It does not matter if our fellow Filipino is documented or not. There is Assistance to Nationals, Migrant Workers Office…where is the combined budget of DMW & OWWA of Php11.745 billion? The OWWA Allocation Fund worth Php4.2 billion? There is also the AKSYON Fund and emergency repatriation).

Both Villanueva and Balladares took exception to their being clapped back by fellow OFWs argued that  OWWA benefits only accrue to those with updated OWWA membership, meaning, they must be documented OFWs. They also said OWWA is not the agency tasked with repatriation.

Eman says the Phl govt has full responsibility to cover repatriation costs of undocumented OFWs

Villanueva said this is not entirely true. "The family of an OFW who was not an OWWA member at the time of death “is still fully covered for the free repatriation of the remains back to their home province, but they may not be entitled to the standard OWWA financial death benefits (Php100,000 in case of natural deaths and Php200,000 in case of death due to an accident) and burial grants (Php20,000),” he said.

Under the Emergency Repatriation Fund granted to OWWA under Republic Act No 8042 (as amended by RA 10022), OWWA is also obliged to advance the costs of repatriation if the employer or local manning or recruitment agency fail to perform their primary oblication of bringing home a deceased worker’s remains.

If the deceased OFW is undocumented, the Philippine government should fully shoulder the cost of repatriating their remains, said Villanueva. This can be done through the DMW’s Aksyon Fund or the Department of Foreign Affairs’ Assistance to Nationals Fund.

But while funding is covered by either Department, OWWA is mandated to work with DMW personnel to meet the remains upon arrival in the Philippines, and transport the same to the OFW’s hometown.

In any case, said Villanueva,  it is clear that the grieving family of an undocumented OFW who dies in the workplace should not be burdened further with having to scrounge around, or beg for help, in bringing home the remains of their loved one.