Category Archives: Uncategorized

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – “Every time I go for duty these days,” Nenita Doming Tuddao said, “I feel like a soldier going to war.” Tuddao, who has been a registered nurse with the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) for the past 14 years, said she has never been as scared as in this time ofContinue reading “Up close with UAE’s Filipino nurses in this time of COVID-19”

West Zone, the hypermart chain working with the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in Dubai on its food relief efforts for distressed overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), has suspended its participation in the program. “We selflessly support the Filipino community in this crucial period but in return… Due to controversy we suspend this initiative until furtherContinue reading “West Zone suspends OFW food relief drive”

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III has suspended a welfare officer based in Dubai on allegation from an irate overseas Filipino worker (OFW) that he cussed at her. According to reports, the welfare officer, Danilo Flores, allegedly lost his temper when the OFW, identified on her live Facebook post regarding the incident as Joy Parafina, inquiredContinue reading “POLO welfare officer in Dubai suspended over allegations of misconduct”

DUBAI: Around 200 Filipinos on visit visa in the UAE have availed of the Philippine government’s repatriation program in light of COVID-19. But while this so, there are hold-outs who are taking their chance than go home penniless. Among them is Veronica Abad, who considers herself fortunate to have beaten the government’s deadline on theContinue reading “200 Filipino visit visa holders in UAE want to go home; others say ‘laban lang!’”

At least seven restaurants in Dubai have started giving away free meals to those who have lost their jobs or are on unpaid leaves because of COVID-19. The restaurants’ managers and owners said they are doing this as a gesture of goodwill, noting how difficult times have been due to the global coronavirus pandemic. “TheyContinue reading “COVID: Dubai restaurants give free meals to the jobless”

DUBAI:  Validity of resident and visit visas that have expired beginning March 1, 2020 has been extended till December 2020 as a matter of the UAE government’s “support to lessen the repercussions” of COVID-19. The move, announced through a tweet yesterday by the UAE Government Communication Office (UAEGCO), is good news to resident visa holdersContinue reading “COVID: UAE extends visa validity to Dec. 2020”

DUBAI: The Philippine mission in the UAE has called on Filipinos in the country, who have lost their jobs and called it quits in light of the Covid-19 pandemic, to coordinate with its officials so that their repatriation could commence. Those who are on visit visas wanting to go home may seek help from theirContinue reading “PH embassy, consulate in UAE to start repatriation of jobless OFWs”

Some 129 people in the UAE have been referred by the government to the Attorney General’s Office for failing to abide by the quarantine and isolation measures implemented to curb the spread of COVID-19. The Emirates News Agency (WAM) reported that the violators face a minimum of three years imprisonment or a minimum fine ofContinue reading “129 COVID violators in UAE face steep penalties”

DUBAI: Philippine Labor Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III has signed a directive providing for guidelines on the disbursement of a one-time financial assistance of US$200 each to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) displaced due to the coronavirus pandemic. Issued on April 8 and posted on the government agency’s website today April 9, Department Order 212 takesContinue reading “COVID: DOLE issues guidelines on Php1.5 bn relief for displaced OFWs”

Against the backdrop of sharp increases in the new Covid-19 cases and draconian measures to prevent its spread, the spirit of Bayanihan, or camaraderie, has taken center stage among overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Dubai, who have started reaching out, giving free groceries to those who have lost jobs due to the virus in thisContinue reading “COVID front liners: More Filipino Good Samaritans in Dubai step up to the plate”