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Allow Filipinos to return, HK asks Phl government

Posted on 04 February 2020 No comments

By The SUN

Secretary Law with Congen Tejada

Hong Kong has urged the Philippines to allow its nationals to return to the city.

The call was formally communicated this afternoon, Feb. 4, to Consul General Raly Tejada by Hong Kong Labour Secretary Law Chi-Kwong, during a meeting at the Legislative Council that lasted about 45 minutes.

ConGen Tejada said Secretary Law “made strong representations for the Philippine government to allow Filipinos to return to HK.”

The appeal came in the wake of chaos that followed the Philippine government’s sudden decision to restrict flights to and from China, Hong Kong and Macau starting Feb. 2, as part of measures to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus.

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As part of the restrictions, Filipinos traveling to these places, including migrant domestic workers, students and residents, have been barred from leaving Manila and other international airports in the Philippines.

As a result, hundreds of Filipinos, many of them domestic workers in Hong Kong, have been stranded in airports across the Philippines.

A similar number of outbound travelers were also affected, as the two major airlines that fly several times daily to the Philippines, cancelled all their flights on both routes.

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According to the Hong Kong Union of Employment Agencies, about 500 workers deployed by its members have been affected by the ban. Another big agency group said 300 of their recruits have been stranded.

Both Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific said they will resume flights to Hong Kong on Feb 29, while Cathay Pacific continued flying to Manila, but did not accept bookings from Filipinos flying out to Hong Kong.

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Not all Philippine government departments have supported the move. At a Senate hearing earlier today, Secretary of Foreign Affairs Teodoro Locsin, Jr. vigorously urged for the lifting of the ban on Filipinos leaving for China and its two administrative regions. But Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, who recommended the strict measures, stood his ground.

In calling for the recall of the ban on returning Filipinos, Law reportedly assured the Manila government that Hong Kong continues to undertake vigorous measures to combat the spread of the disease.

In the meantime, the Immigration Department will give special consideration to workers and other travellers affected by the situation.

Chief Executive Carrie Lam gave the same assurance about Hong Kong’s unrelenting effort to combat the disease at a news conference held on Feb. 3, and in a letter addressed to consuls general a day earlier.

She also promised "compassion" in handling immigration and labour problems faced by Filipino migrant workers affected by the ban.

CE Lam at the press conference where she addressed the Philippine travel ban

The Philippines is one of only four countries that have included Hong Kong in the travel restrictions to China in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak. The others are Italy, Kuwait and North Korea. Vietnam initially took the same move, but backtracked on the same day after being told how Hong Kong has been battling the disease.

ConGen Tejada promised to immediately convey the Hong Kong government’s request to Manila.

He was accompanied to the meeting by Consul Paulo Saret and Philippine Overseas Labor Office head Antonio Villafuerte.

On the same day, one of the biggest migrant workers groups in Hong Kong sent a letter to ConGen Tejada, asking for the same restrictions on returning Filipinos to be lifted.

The letter from United Filipinos in Hong Kong said in particular that the ban could lead to loss of jobs for many Filipino domestic workers.

“As domestic workers we do not have the luxury of time. We are also not afforded job security. We work at the whim of our employers,” said the letter. If the workers don’t get back to work on time, they could be terminated, it added.

ConGen Tejada said he had yet to receive a copy of the letter but promised to act on it immediately.

The Philippines has 70 suspected coronavirus cases, but only two have been confirmed, including a man from Wuhan who was reported to have died from the disease 24 hours before the travel ban was imposed. He was the first person to die from the disease outside of China.

Hong Kong today reported the second death of a patient outside of the mainland, and the first in the city. Two more confirmed cases were reported, bringing the total tally to 17.

The last two cases have raised alarm as the source of infection could not be traced, leading to the suspicion that they had been transmitted locally.

Across China, the total number of cases have exceeded 20,000 with more than 420 deaths.

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Bakit nagkaroon ng panic buying?

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Parang dinaanan ng bagyo ang mga shelves ng ilang tindahan.

Ni George Manalansan

Maraming OFW ang nakipag-panic-buying noong nakaraang linggo dahil sa uto ng kanikang amo na nag-alala sa pagpapasara ng ilang border gates sa pagitan ng Hong Kong at China noong Enero 30. Habang sinabihan nilang ang kanilang mga kasambahay na bumili ng dagdag na bigas, noodles, de lata at iba pang madaling maluto at kainin, ganoong din ang ginawa ng maraming taga Hong Kong..

Ang iba ay pinasagsag sa palengke para naman mamili ng mga sariwang isda, karne at gulay, sa takot na biglang mahinto ang pag deliver ng mga ito na karamihan ay sa China nanggagaling.

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Isa si Gie Vibar ng Homantin sa naatasang mag panic buying ng kanyang amo. Ayon sa kanya hindi lamang mabilis naubos ang mga paninda sa supermarket at sa palengke, kundi sobrang mahal din, lalo na ng gulay.

Gayun din ang naging karanasan ni Ana de Vera na sa palengke ng Wanchai nautusang mamili.

Noong una akala ng ilang mga kasambahay ay dahil ito sa katatapos na Chinese New Year, ang panahon na sadyang nagmamahal ang lahat ng mga tinda. Agad naman silang itinama ng ilang kakuwentuhan sa social media, na batid ang tunay na dahilan kung bakit kandarapa ang marami na punuin ang kanilang bahay ng pagkain.

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Ayon sa isang nagreklamo sa chat sa Facebook, sa kuwarto niya itinambak ang lahat ng mga pinili kaya halos hindi na siya makagalaw.

Marami ang nagpakita ng santambak na bleach, alcohol at hand sanitizer na pinagbibili ng kanilang amo sa takot na maubusan sila ng supply ng mga pangontra sa kumakalat na coronavirus.

Hindi nagpahuli sa pamimili ng walang patumangga ang mga amo ni Joe Man na drayber sa pamilyang nakatira sa Tai Wai. Kasama ang pamangkin ng amo ay nagpunta sila sa dalawang nangungunang supermarket sa Hong Kong kung saan nakita nila na halos nalimas ang mga bag ng bigas, noodles, tinapay at kung ano-ano pa.

Naisipan ng kanyang mga amo na magdagdag ng stock sakaling maantala ang pagdating ng mga bagong supply o kaya ay magtaas ng sobra ang presyo ng mga bilihin.

Natawa si Joe sa sinabi ng isang Intsik sa kalsada na dahil sa takot ng mga taga Hong Kong sa posibleng pagkalat ng sobra ng coronavirus ay posibleng makaligtaan na ang protesta na nagdulot ng malaking agam-agam sa mga tao sa huling anim na buwan ng nakaraang taon.

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What is the novel coronavirus?

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In epicenter of disease: Hankou railway in Wuhan has been heavily guarded since the lockdown (SCMP photo)

The novel coronavirus originated in the central Chinese city of Wuhan late last year, and has spread so rapidly that in less than a month it has affected people all over the country, and beyond.

So far, more than 6,000 people have caught the pneumonia-like illness in China, and more than 130 have died. But it has spread so rapidly that there are now cases in nearly all of the world’s continents, including Asia, North America, Europe, and possibly even Africa.

Outside of China, Hong Kong has currently the highest number of confirmed cases – 10 as of Jan. 30.

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The extent of its spread has already surpassed that of another deadly coronavirus, Sars, or Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, which infected 6,000 people, mostly in China. However, Sars appears to be deadlier, killing more than 700 people, including 299 in Hong Kong.

Experts are divided on whether the Wuhan coronavirus has already peaked. The more optimistic forecast is that it has passed its most virulent stage and will wane in the next week or so. But others fear it could get more serious over the next weeks – or months – and will begin to decline only after April, as Sars did way back in 2003.

In the meantime, the rush to find a cure for it continues, with China and Hong Kong leading the way.

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This appears to be of utmost importance now, as the number of person-to-person transmission is going up. At least six people are found to have been contaminated when they had never been to China. Most vulnerable, however, are the frontline health workers, about a dozen of whom have already caught the dreaded bug.

The newly discovered coronavirus has also bridged the ethnic divide lately, with at least three foreigners – an Australian and Pakistani – testing positive for it. Several more Pakistanis studying in Wuhan are suspected of having acquired it.

The first case was reported to the World Health Organization on Dec 31 last year, and was traced back to a Wuhan wet market where seafood and exotic animals were sold.

Chinese medical experts identified the ailment in early January as a new strain of coronavirus, and labeled it 2019-n-CoV.

Coronaviruses are a family of viruses that cause illnesses, ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases like Sars and Mers, or the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, which has a 33% mortality rate.

Coronaviruses mostly affect animals, but some evolve to infect humans and spread among them. Only seven, including 2019-nCoV, are known to infect humans.

No vaccines for coronaviruses have been developed but many of the symptoms they cause can be treated.

The WHO has called the outbreak an emergency only in China, but is now reconsidering its stance after the rapid spread of the contamination beyond the mainland’s borders.

To prevent the spread of the virus, the WHO recommends washing hands regularly, covering the mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing, thoroughly cooking meat and eggs, and avoiding unprotected contact with live animals.

It also suggests avoiding close contact with anyone showing symptoms of respiratory illness.

Local experts say masks are an important protection against the coronavirus.

“If you are ill, put on a mask. If you are going to a crowded place, put on a mask even if you are not ill,” said Dr. Gabriel Leung, dean of Hong Kong University’s Faculty of Medicine.

Dr Leung also said that anyone who develops symptoms should seek medical help immediately, and to be honest with their doctors.

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Travel ban stays as Phl reports 70 new coronavirus cases

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By Daisy CL Mandap

Strict screening in airports everywhere is in force in bid to stamp out the coronavirus

The Philippines has kept firm in its decision to ban flights to and from Hong Kong, Macau and China, despite appeals for its partial lifting so Filipinos who work and live in the affected areas will be allowed to leave the country.

Philippine Ambassador to China Jose Santiago Sta Romana has reportedly interceded on behalf of the hundreds of stranded Filipinos, particularly the overseas Filipino workers who could lose their jobs, but did not appear to make headway.

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President Rodrigo Duterte met his cabinet yesterday, Feb 3, to discuss the measures taken to combat the spread of the novel coronavirus in the country, but did not mention the appeal made on behalf of the stranded passengers.

Nor did the President talk about the travel ban at a news conference held after the meeting in Malacanang, where his main message was the coronavirus was not as scary as it is thought to be.

CE Lam promised compassion in dealing with Filipino domestic workers stranded in HK

But Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam did express concern about the plight of the stranded Filipino workers during a media briefing earlier in the afternoon, during which she announced the broadening of the border closure with China.

She said FDWs stranded in Hong Kong because of the travel ban will be helped “in a compassionate manner”. She also said she had asked the Labour and Immigration Department to see what they can do to help the workers.

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In addition, she said she would meet with consuls general in Hong Kong to explain to them what her government has been doing to contain the spread of the coronavirus.

Consul General Raly Tejada acknowledged CE Lam’s pledge to help and said he was looking forward to discussing the Filipino workers’ plight with her as he was himself worried for them.

CG Tejada is appealing for Filipinos in HK to be allowed to fly back in

But he was disheartened that Ambassador Sta Romana’s appeal to get Filipino migrant workers and residents back to Hong Kong did not seem to have been taken up during the Cabinet meeting in Malacanang.

The developments came as Philippine health officials disclosed that the suspected number of coronavirus cases in the country had reached 80, with nearly all the patients being Chinese nationals.

Two of the cases, identified as a couple from Wuhan City, have been confirmed. The man reportedly died within 24 hours before the news conference announcing his infection and death was held.

Reports said the two had been in the Philippines since Jan. 21 and had gone to Cebu and Dumaguete before ending up in Manila, where they fell ill. People who had been in close contact with them, especially in the various hotels they had stayed in, are being sought.

Of the 80 suspected cases, 10 proved negative of the coronavirus while 67 are in isolation in hospitals.

United Filipinos in Hong Kong have denounced the travel ban as coming too late, as it was declared only after a death from the coronavirus had occurred, and after hundreds (if not thousands) of Chinese were allowed to enter the Philippines freely.

But the group also called the ban an “exaggerated response” for including Hong Kong and Macau.

The group called on the government to allow Filipinos to return to Hong Kong, especially OFWs whose jobs have been left hanging in the balance because they are unable to leave.

Meanwhile, Hong Kong has reported its 15th confirmed coronavirus case, and the first human-to-human infection. The patient is said to be the mother of a 39-year-old male coronavirus case from Whampoa Garden in Hung Hom.

The 72-year-old woman had not traveled during the 14-day incubation period, and was quarantined at the Lei Yue Mun Park and Holiday Village after her son was taken ill.

As a further step to stop the spread of the virus, all border crossings have been closed, except for the Hong Kong -Macau-Zhuhai Bridge, Shenzhen Bay Port and the international airport.

Masked Filipina workers enjoy their day off despite the virus outbreak

Closed as of Feb 3 were the two major land crossings at Lo Wu and Lok Ma Chau, as well as the Hong Kong –Macau Ferry Terminal.

The decision to further restrict cross-border travel did not seem to impress public health workers at the frontline of the battle to contain the global epidemic. They vowed to continue escalating their strike over a five-day period until the government bows to their demand for a total closure of the border.

Concern is mounting as China’s death toll from the contagion rose to 362, with a total of about 17,500 confirmed cases, mostly in Wuhan, the outbreak’s epicenter.

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Polo reverts to manual contract processing after 13 years

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By Vir B. Lumicao

Workers and agency representatives transact business at Polo's counters on Feb 3

Business was “normal” at the Philippine Overseas Labor Office on Feb 3, the first day that staff had to revert to the manual processing of work contracts after the automated system they had used for 13 years went out of service.

The return to manual processing had not much impact at the Polo counters because the front-line staff had been prepared for it, Office-in-Charge Antonio Villafuerte said.

“Normal ang situation sa Polo, but it is the agencies that are complaining. Nahihirapan daw sila sa pag-type ng mga data na kailangan sa form,” Villafuerte said.

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The decision to go manual again came from the Department of Labor and Employment in the Philippines, which declared last year that the bidding process for the new automated system chosen to replace EmployEasy was tainted.

Villafuerte said Polo staff had been briefed ahead of time for the switch back to manual processing, so they were prepared for the task before them.

Villafuerte says paperwork is voluminous but work is faster with manual processing

He also said that doing things manually could speed up the process as attachments are checked and rejected right away, then sent back to the agency if something was missing.

But the workload is more voluminous because all the documents have to be submitted for checking.

In the EmployEasy system, agencies sent forms and documents online, and staff who’d go through them afterwards could reject the incomplete ones, extending the processing time to four days. With the manual way, documents are checked instantly, cutting the processing time to just three days.

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But agencies still use the form for EmployEasy submission as guides when they type in their codes and entries. Then they print out a transmittal form, which contains the list of contracts to be submitted for the day.

About this time last year, former Labor Attaché Jalilo dela Torre signed a contract with a new technology company, Polaris Tools Ltd, to replace employEasy, which was deemed no longer efficient and secure for contract submissions.

Under the deal, Polo would not spend a single cent as Polaris would copy the old system’s way of billing the agencies for using the system, including the added feature of tracking their employment visa applications at Immigration Department.

Polo, on the other hand, would have acquired a system that allowed it to keep track of agency violations, and an employers’ blacklist that was updated automatically.

Ex-Labatt dela Torre signed the deal with Polaris with welfare officer Marivic Clarin (right) as witness

Despite this, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III called the contract with Polaris a “midnight deal” entered into illegally by Labatt Dela Torre because no bidding was involved.

Bello formed an investigation team that looked into the Polaris deal after receiving an anonymous letter from a shadowy group of agencies stung by the system change.

But Labatt dela Torre has always denied the allegation, saying bidding was not required as the contract was at no cost to the government. Despite this, he said he formed a vetting team that chose Polaris from among several groups that were asked to make a presentation of their respective systems.

He also said employEasy had a conflict of interest as it was also the registered owner of an employment agency.