Author Archives: Jojo Dass

DUBAI: As the Philippine missions in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have been having all hands on deck to repatriate stranded overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), over 26,500 Filipinos have been assisted in their return home through chartered flights by the foreign affairs department or individual bookings with commercial ones. Even so, thousands more wait forContinue reading “‘Uuwi na lang po muna ako kasi nahirapan na ako’ – visit visa holder in UAE”

Finally home in the Philippines after months of taking chances being jobless in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) because of the pandemic, exacerbated by cancelled flights, arriving overseas Filipinos workers (OFWs) heaved a sigh of relief, eager to start over again no matter how troubled the times are back here. “We’re planning to build ourContinue reading “OFWs returning to PH from UAE: ‘Mahirap mag-umpisa. Pero, balwarte natin ‘to.’”

The UAE government’s food relief efforts for those who have lost their jobs at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic has continued unabated more than a month after the country started easing restrictions and re-opening the economy. The UAE Food Bank (UFB), launched in January 2017 by His Highness Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum,Continue reading “UAE food relief for the jobless continues unabated as economy returns to life”

Frontline nurses tell it as it is at full-capacity hospitals Amid a frightening upward trend in the number of new coronavirus cases in the past weeks, frontline medical workers in Metro Manila, Philippines are bracing themselves for the horrible impact of the pandemic’s upswing as hospitals go on full capacity and Emergency Rooms once againContinue reading “COVID: ‘Nakakatakot. Karamihan sa amin may anxieties na rin.’”

As applications continue to swamp the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in Dubai, funding under the labor department’s one-time financial aid for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) affected by COVID-19 in the city and its neighboring emirates has dwindled to AED5.74 million ($1.56 million). A POLO report at the Philippine Consulate General in Dubai showed thatContinue reading “OFWs in Dubai running out of AKAP funds”

Stranded and jobless overseas Filipino workers in the UAE who have finally flown home to the Philippines through Clark International Airport said things have become more organized with representatives from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) at hand for assistance. “OWWA was there to assist us. Pina-upo po kami and we were elated dahil nagpa-followContinue reading “Returning OFWs from UAE share Clark Airport experience”

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates: From partitioned room to bed-sharing – this in a nutshell is the picture of how life has become for most jobless overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) stranded due to cancelled flights home. Every day is the same grind but tweaked with a different twist, especially noting how their savings are slowly beingContinue reading “The struggle is real: Stranded, jobless OFWs in UAE share their stories”

The UAE government, in a move widely been seen as a humanitarian gesture, has given those on expired visit visas another month-long grace period beyond the Aug. 11 deadline to renew their status or leave the country. With this, affected overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) stranded in the country over cancelled flights due to quarantine issuesContinue reading “UAE grants expired visit visa holders another 1-month grace period”

The COVID pandemic has caused a lot of people to go bankrupt due to loss of jobs or salary adjustments. Among OFWs in a bind due to credit problems is Andrea Humogan (not her real name) who is currently in talks with the bank to ease payments for her loans which totaled Dh312,000 that sheContinue reading “Jobless OFW grapples with Dh312,000 bank loans”

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates: Filipinos going to the UAE for work, visit or even just as transfer or transit passengers must now need to show certification that they have tested negative for COVID-19 before they can be allowed to board their flight. They will also be required to undergo the same test upon arrival. TheContinue reading “Pinoys going to UAE need to test negative for COVID-19”