Macau to admit HK visitors without prior testing

By The SUN

3 years of strict pandemic rules have left Macau's famous landmarks deserted (File) 

From Sunday, people traveling to Macau from Hong Kong, the mainland and Taiwan will no longer be required to present a negative Covid test result before entering.

However, travelers from other countries will still need to present a negative PCR test result obtained within 48 hours of their arrival in Macau.

Hong Kong did not, however, reciprocate the measure, announcing a few hours later that the existing testing requirement for all inbound travelers from Macau will remain unchanged.

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE

BUY NOW PRESS HERE

That means, all inbound persons from Macau aged 3 or above will still be required to present a negative result for a rapid antigen test taken within 24 hours, or a PCR test within 48 hours, before they enter Hong Kong.

If they had stayed in the Mainland within seven days prior to arrival in Hong Kong, they will still be required to present a negative result for a PCR test conducted within 48 hours of their arrival here.

Macau’s decision to further relax entry rules was made shortly before Hong Kong officials announced the resumption of quarantine-free travel to the Mainland.

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE

BOOK YOUR FLIGHTS NOW! PRESS FOR DETAILS

Apart from presenting a negative PCR test result, foreign passport holders, like visitors from HK, Taiwan and the mainland, will no longer be required to make a health declaration at Macau's border control points, or undergo health monitoring measures after arrival.

The Macau International Airport will also resume its transfer and transit services, which were largely suspended for the past three years as part of the gambling hub’s strict pandemic control measures.

Separately, Hong Kong announced that cross-boundary ferry services to and from Macau will resume gradually from Jan. 8, with about 10 trips being made per day.

HOW TO AVAIL? PRESS HERE

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE 

Bus services between the two SARs will also resume - and strengthened - subject to demand.

PADALA NA!

Call us!

PRESS FOR DETAILS

CALL US!

Unifil calls for full investigation into NAIA fiasco

By The SUN

 

Some of those stranded in NAIA on Jan 1 flew into HK 3 days later

United Filipinos in Hong Kong has called on the Philippine government to take full responsibility for the New Year’s Day glitch which caused the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila to grind to a halt, with no planes being able to land, or fly out.

Among the hundreds of thousands of passengers affected by the fiasco blamed on a power outage that paralyzed air traffic control at Manila’s domestic and international airports, were foreign domestic workers returning to Hong Kong.

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE

Unifil hit out at the government for not saying anything about the incident, much less apologize for the inconvenience and trouble it caused to many.

“Aside from preventing the actual fiasco from happening on what is probably the busiest day of the year, the national government is silent on what is happening. No investigation on what happened? The national government couldn't even be bothered with a "thoughts and prayers" tweet?,” asked Unifil chair Dolores Balladares-Pelaez in a statement.

“Just goes to show how unconcerned they are with how the stranded passengers, especially OFWs. Do they have food to eat? Where are they staying? Nothing.”

BUY NOW PRESS HERE

In the first few hours after the NAIA ground to a halt on Sunday, Jan. 1, many overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) had complained of not being told what they should be doing, or of getting little assistance from anyone.

One Hong Kong-bound OFW had told a local news network that she feared losing her job because her employer had specifically told her to be back by January 1 as work and school were due to resume the next day after the holiday season.

She also complained about getting only a pack of biscuits and a small bottle of water from the airline, which also could not tell her if she could leave within the day.

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE

Hong Kong employers also got frantic, as many had made the airline bookings for their helpers and as such, had to do the re-bookings themselves.

Many said in an online chat about not getting any help from the airlines on how they could rebook the flights, which was the earliest flight available, and whether they would be charged a fee or not. Some worried about their helpers being made to wait for hours in the airport, after having already stayed there for awhile after flying in from the provinces.

BOOK YOUR FLIGHTS NOW! PRESS FOR DETAILS

Yesterday, a couple of OFWs who managed to get on a plane back to Hong Kong after being stranded on January 1 also recalled being given the run-around about when they could possibly leave.

One said she had tried to rebook her flight online, but was dismayed to see the hefty amount she was being made to pay. Luckily she tried queuing up at the airline service counter instead, and was able to get a new flight without having to pay a penalty.

The Department of Migrant Workers eventually stepped in, and through a hotline, offered to secure temporary hotel stay for the stranded OFWs, and help them rebook their flights.

HOW TO AVAIL? PRESS HERE

DMW Undersecretary Hans Cacdac said in a radio interview that about 200 OFWs were placed in hotels across the country with government help as of Tuesday, Jan. 3, and 60 of them were already due to leave yesterday.

About 3,000 were helped in rebooking their flights.

Cacdac also said labor attaches all over the world have been instructed to help Filipino workers explain to their employers why they missed a day or two of work after the holidays.

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE 

Unifil said in future, they hope the DMW would be more proactive in looking for OFWs who need help instead of just announcing their hotline.

But ultimately, it said the government must give full accountability for what happened, and will not use the incident to justify the privatization of the airport, which some officials have begun pushing for.

PADALA NA!

Call us!

PRESS FOR DETAILS

CALL US!

1 Filipino, 4 Indonesians jailed for illegal work

 

The raid on Dec 28 during which the 5 illegal workers were arrested

Five illegal workers, comprising one Filipino and four Indonesians, were each jailed for 15 months at Shatin Court on Dec 30, according to information published in the government website earlier today, Jan. 4.

The five, aged 32 to 47, were arrested on December 28 while working as dishwashers in a restaurant in Mong Kok, as part of an Immigration Department’s operation called “Twilight.”

During identity checks, the Filipina produced for inspection a recognisance form issued by Immigration, which prohibits her from taking employment. Further investigation revealed that she was a non-refoulement claimant. She was sentenced to 15 months in jail.

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE

BUY NOW PRESS HERE

The four Indonesians were all found to have overstayed her visas on top of working illegally. They were sentenced to six to 20 days’ imprisonment for overstaying and 15 months for illegal work. All sentences are to run concurrently, making a total of 15 months’ imprisonment.

The five were among 14 people arrested during a two-day anti-illegal worker operations conducted by Immigration and the police between Dec 28 and 29. Ten suspected illegal workers, three suspected employers and one overstayer were arrested in the operations.

The territory-wide raids were conducted on premises under renovation, residential buildings, commercial buildings and restaurants.

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE

BOOK YOUR FLIGHTS NOW! PRESS FOR DETAILS

The government statement warns that under section 38AA of the Immigration Ordinance, an illegal immigrant, a person who is the subject of a removal order or a deportation order, an overstayer or a person who was refused permission to land is prohibited from taking any employment, whether paid or unpaid, or establishing or joining in any business.

The law provides a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to three years’ imprisonment. Under a sentencing guideline issued by the High Court, an immediate custodial sentence of 15 months is prescribed for all those found guilty of doing illegal work.

HOW TO AVAIL? PRESS HERE

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE 

Employers face a heftier penalty of up to 10 years’ imprisonment and a maximum fine of $500,000.

PADALA NA!

Call us!

PRESS FOR DETAILS

CALL US!

OWWA’s welfare officer bids HK farewell

By The SUN

 

Her PCG family and Filcom leaderss joined the sendoff for WelOf Virsie on Dec 29 

Welfare Officer Virsie Tamayao has ended her tour of duty as the representative of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration in Hong Kong, after nearly five years at the post.

She left Hong Kong last December 31 after receiving a sendoff from her colleagues at the Philippine Consulate and the Philippine Overseas Labour Office, community leaders and NGO representatives.

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE

BUY NOW PRESS HERE

Tamayao, 60, assumed her Hong Kong post on May 24, 2018, during which she told The SUN she appeared destined to serve the working class, from farmers to overseas Filipino workers.

Before being posted to Hong Kong, she worked with the National Irrigation Administration, then at OWWA, which later sent her to work as community development officer in the United Arab Emirates and South Korea.

Priests and nuns gave her a special sendoff, too (from Virsie Tamayao's post)

In a personal message she posted in her Facebook account, Tamayao said she was happy and grateful to reunite with her family after a long time, but was also sad to have left Hong Kong, which she considered her home away from home, and the Filipino community here that was like family to her.

She gave special thanks to Consul General Raly Tejada, Consul Paulo Saret and her immediate superior, Labor Attache Melchor Dizon.

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE

BOOK YOUR FLIGHTS NOW! PRESS FOR DETAILS

“Most importantly, thank you to our Filipino Community leaders, NGO-partners and stakeholders, who displayed their untiring support in addressing the needs of our kababayans. We would not have been able to achieve everything that we have accomplished without your assistance,” she added.

It was during her watch at OWWA HK that Tamayao faced her biggest challenge, that of overseeing relief and support services for the thousands of OFWs who had fallen ill from Covid-19, particularly at the height of the fifth wave in early 2022.

HOW TO AVAIL? PRESS HERE

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE 

She also initiated hospital visits to a lot of sick OFWs, particularly those stricken with cancer, and assisted the bereaved family of those who died while serving in Hong Kong.

Tamayao's personal post sparked a flurry of well-wishes from members of the Filipino community, including leaders of various OFW organizations and business and professional groups who praised her work in helping OFWs and thanked her for her dedicated service.

Her colleagues bid her goodbye with a fun tram tour

But the best tribute came from her husband, Benigno Tamayao, a retired social worker himself.

“So happy for you my dear loving wife. I've been with you in Hong Kong as you performed your duty as Welfare Officer since day 1 in Philippine Consulate General POLO-OWWA. I was able to witness how you work with outmost diligent in helping our kababayan when they came to your office and asked for assistance /help of their problems. Even during night time you wake up from your sleep in our flat when your phone rings you immediately answer the call of an OFWs who needs help. Friday and Saturday and even holidays of obligation which is your rest day I always accompany you to report to your office as you have to finished many cases of our kababayan. You are so much dedicated to your work...and for that I appreciated all your efforts and so proud of you. All the officers from PCG POLO-OWWA Hongkong are very lucky to have you as Welfare Officer for almost 5 yrs...and now you are at last home with our family. Thank you for your generous support to all our kababayan in Hongkong. Godspeed...”

PADALA NA!

Call us!

PRESS FOR DETAILS

CALL US!

Warmer weather forecast for HK

The weather will be more ideal for hiking in the next few days (photo from SJMW)

Hong Kong will experience warm and fine weather for the next week, with temperatures averaging 20 degrees Celsius mid-day, but will go up to 22 degrees on Friday, Jan. 6.

The mornings will remain relatively cool, with temperatures ranging between 16 and 17 degrees Celsius.

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE

BUY NOW PRESS HERE

Today’s forecast is for a mainly cloudy day, with one or two light rain patches in the morning. Sunny intervals during the day. Temperatures will rise to around 19 degrees.

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE

BOOK YOUR FLIGHTS NOW! PRESS FOR DETAILS

Due to the northeast monsoon affecting Hong Kong in the next few days, it will be cloudy for the next two days, before becoming sunny and dry from Thursday to Saturday.

HOW TO AVAIL? PRESS HERE

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE 

It will again become cloudy on Sunday and Monday, but the warmer weather will continue. Sunny days are again forecast for Tuesday and Wednesday next week.

PADALA NA!

Call us!

PRESS FOR DETAILS

CALL US!