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Philippines, HK formalize cooperation on intellectual property

Posted on 09 December 2023 No comments

 

At the at the signing ceremony are (from left) Consul-General Raly Tejada, IPOPHL Director General Rowel Barba, HK Director of Intellectual Property David Wong and Deputy Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Andy Lam.

The Philippine and Hong Kong governments have agreed to help each other strengthen their systems to promote and protect intellectual property.

The agreement was in a form of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Hong Kong’s Intellectual Property Department (IPD) and the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL).

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The document, signed by IPOPHL Director General Rowel Barba and Hong Kong’s Intellectual Property Director David Wong, was one of the highlights of the Business of Intellectual Property Asia (BIP Asia) Forum held in Hong Kong.

Among those who attended the signing was Philippine Consul-General Raly Tejada.

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The MOU aims to establish a framework to facilitate co-operation between Hong Kong and the Philippines in the areas of IP awareness, creation, protection, utilisation, management, trading and commercialisation.

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Under the MOU, Hong Kong and the Philippines will pursue further cooperation in various areas of IP by exchanging information and sharing experience; fostering high-level dialogues on policy developments; strengthening co-operation in IP training; sharing best practices in providing quality and efficient services to stakeholders; and promoting co-operation among the two places and the relevant IP practitioners, industries, institutions and organisations.

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"The National 14th Five-Year Plan supports Hong Kong's development into a regional IP trading center,” Wong said. “Both Hong Kong and the Philippines recognize the value of IP rights in driving economic growth.”

He added”The IPD will continue its engagement with IP offices and authorities outside Hong Kong to tell the good stories of IP in Hong Kong."

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The BIP Asia Forum is an annual IP flagship event in the region organised by the HK Government and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council.

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Its 13th edition, held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai on December 7 and 8 under the theme "IP and Innovation: Steering New Economic Growth", features over 90 renowned speakers.

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They included senior officials from the China National Intellectual Property Administration, the World Intellectual Property Organization, and IP offices of member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

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Police to crack down on jaywalkers anew from Monday

Posted on 08 December 2023 No comments

 

35 elderly people were killed in traffic accidents in the first 10 months of the year

The police are set to launch a new round of anti-jaywalking operations from Monday, Dec. 11, after a marked increase in the number of traffic fatalities in the first 10 months of the year.

Government statistics show that a total of 85 people were killed in traffic accidents from January to September, the highest number for the same period since 2020.

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This means that on average, two people lost their lives in traffic accidents each week, according to police.

Of  those killed, 56 were pedestrians, with 35 of them being elderly individuals aged 65 or above, accounting for 63% of pedestrian deaths.

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Trucks constituted the largest number of vehicles involved in fatal accidents involving elderly pedestrians, followed by taxis and minibuses.

The main causes of the fatal traffic accidents were improper or non-use of pedestrian crossings and using phones while crossing.

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Pedestrians  are urged to obey traffic rules and to always use the so-called “four treasures of pedestrians” - traffic lights, zebra crossings, pedestrian tunnels, and footbridges.

The fixed penalty for those found violating traffic rules is a $2,000 fine. Enforcers in civilian clothes will be deployed, to stop the practice of pedestrians obeying traffic rules only when they see police officers nearby.

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A similar police operation was conducted across the city in the third quarter of the year, which resulted in 1,786 pedestrians each being issued with the $2,000 fixed penalty for violating traffic regulation.

Police say that as a result, there has been a 50% drop in serious or fatal traffic incidents affecting pedestrians. However, the number of fatalities remains high.

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Thus, in the first week of the month, the Police Traffic Branch, in collaboration with the Regional Traffic Safety Unit, stepped up the education campaign on road safety, with the trusty mascot, “Bear Sir” helping put the message across.

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At the same time, pedestrian safety banners have been hung at around 100 locations with high pedestrian and vehicle traffic, and “Bear Sir” stickers affixed on traffic light controllers.

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But after these promotional activities, the police said it will start “unpredictable, indefinite an varied” forms of law enforcement across all districts to bring home its message about the importance of traffic safety.

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Mentally ill Filipina found, another sent home

Posted on 07 December 2023 No comments

 

Kris, who was ordered arrested yesterday after failing to show up for her court hearing,
is receiving treatment at Kwai Chung Hospital

Family members of Kris Hope Vargas, who was found wandering around Tsim Sha Tsui late last month, apparently mentally ill, are relieved to find out that she has been located and taken to the Kwai Chung Psychiatric Hospital, where she is now receiving treatment.

Welfare officers at the Migrant Workers Office at the Consulate today said they have been made aware of Kris’ whereabouts, and will visit her.

The Filipina’s cousin who has been in touch with The SUN regarding the case, said they are hoping that Kris will be sent home after treatment, although they realize she still has a pending case for overstaying.

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But as of now, they are relieved that she is safe in hospital, and no longer wandering around.

They were first alerted about her condition on Nov.27 when they were sent a copy of a Facebook post calling for help for 32-year-old Kris, who appeared disheveled and was said to be walking aimlessly around Tsim Sha Tsui.

Separately, a concerned Filipina posted an appeal for help on behalf of another 32-year-old fellow domestic helper who claimed she was being held against her will in a public hospital.

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Mary Y., who arrived in Hong Kong only last year, also shared a photo of herself lying in a hospital bed, with her legs tied to each of the bed’s posts. She also posted a long tirade against someone supposedly dictating to her on her every move.

Her friend, Mitch, who shared the post on the Facebook page of Social Justice for Migrant Workers, said that it took five days before the administrators of the page published it. Last she heard, she said the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration had already extended help.

Mitch said she and some other friends did not see Mary for a month, and they were shocked when they saw her disturbing post, where she also said she was being prevented from using her phone and talking to other people.

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But when they expressed concern, she blocked them all from her account. Luckily, one of their mutual friends managed to take a screen shot of the post, so she was able to share it with others.

A check with social welfare officer Rem Marcelino revealed that Mary had indeed, suffered from a mental breakdown but recovered well enough to be sent home, with OWWA helping her until she reached her home in the Philippines.

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Mary is lucky, said Marcelino, because her employer was very kind and her family members in the Philippines are all supportive.

It was not clear, though, what prompted Mary’s breakdown.

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Search for ex-DH expanded after she missed court hearing

Posted on 06 December 2023 No comments

 

Vargas took a photo of her passport awhile back, after she overstayed her visa 

(Update) The search for a missing former domestic helper expanded today after she failed to show up for a scheduled hearing at Eastern Court where she is charged with overstaying.

Principal Magistrate Ivy Chui issued an arrest warrant for Kris Hope Vargas, 32 years old, thus harnessing the police in the search, after her own duty lawyer said she did not attend their meeting before the hearing.

Consulate officials said they have been in touch with Vargas' family, and will also be contacting the police for help in finding Vargas, who was last seen wandering near K11 Musea in Tsim Sha Tsui, holding a mobile phone and looking dazed and dishevelled.

Vargas’ family said they were shown the photo on Nov. 27, but it has since been taken down by the netizen who posted it along with an appeal for help, saying she she was concerned about the Filipina's mental well-being.

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Her family contacted the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration in the Philippines to seek help for her immediate repatriation but were told yesterday that they were still trying to get more information. The recruitment agency that placed her in Hong Kong said it had lost touch with her in 2019.

Vargas' latest photo showed her looking lost and dishevelled
Vargas was previously jailed for six months for money laundering and had been in and out of court since two years ago as she faced another charge of overstaying her visa.

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The charge said she should have remained in Hong Kong only until Mar 10, 2020, after her FDH visa was terminated.

She was arrested outside Chung King Mansions in Tsim Sha Tsui on Nov. 10, 2020 and charged with money laundering and overstaying. She was jailed on June 7, 2021 on the laundering charge but the prosecution asked for more time to look into her alleged breach of condition of stay.

Subsequently, she filed a non-refoulement claim, or against being sent back home, which allowed her to be freed on bail while her immigration case was being heard, along with the overstaying charge.

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But through several months of hearing at Eastern Court, Vargas jumped bail at least twice, prompting the magistrate to forfeit her bail, and order her arrest. This happened in November 2021 and again on Apr 26, 2022.

Anybody with information about her whereabouts and how she can be helped may contact the OWWA hotline, 6345 9324.

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DH jailed, ordered to redeem jewelry she stole

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The unusual penalty was imposed at Eastern Court

A Filipina domestic helper was today jailed for four months for stealing 11 pieces of jewelry, and then made to pay $17,650 by Jan. 31 to retrieve them from three pawnshops.

Geneva Tayong, 30 years old, had earlier pleaded guilty at Eastern Court to the theft of seven bangles and four pendants on several days last September.

Tayong was charged after her employer, Ng Suet-hung, found receipts issued by three pawnshops in Central for jewelry that were missing from her flat in Rhine Court, Bonham Road, Mid-Levels.

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Tayong, who had been working for her employer since December 2019, was initially sentenced by Principal Magistrate Ivy Chui to six months’ imprisonment for violation of the Theft Ordinance. Because of her guilty plea, Magistrate Chui reduced that sentence by a third.

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The issue of repayment arose after her lawyer said in mitigation that the stolen jewelry was not lost, because the pawnshops have confirmed they were holding them until they were repaid for the loans they extended.

This prompted Magistrate Chui to add to Tayong’s penalty the burden of paying to recover the jewelry.

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But with doubts over her being allowed to stay in Hong Kong after serving her sentence – and thus her abilty to pay -- the burden of paying the amount by the January 31 deadline, will be borne by Tayong’s mother, who is also working as a domestic helper in Hong Kong.

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Forum on women empowerment held at PCG

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Revote, Saret and Licaros were the forum's main speakers 

“Know your value" or, isipin naman ninyo ang sarili ninyo.” (Have more concern for yourselves).

This, according to Deputy Consul General Germinia Usudan, is the most important thing that women, especially migrant domestic workers, should bear in mind as they navigate through life abroad.

Usudan made the remarks as she wrapped up a three-hour public forum titled “Juana, Knows” held earlier today at the Philippine Consulate, in observance of the 18-day Campaign to End Violence Against Women.

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Usudan said this was her first takeaway from the forum, which featured three lawyers who spoke on women’s rights and powers, as well as RA 9272 or the Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children Act of 2004 : Vice Consul Alan G. Revote, who heads the Consulate’s civil registry and legal section; Consul Paul Saret, head of assistance to nationals, and Anna Theresa Licaros, banker and women's rights advocate.

Taking off on Licaros’ tips on how women could empower themselves, Usudan said it is also important for migrants to have a strong support system, or at least have someone to confide in when the going gets rough; for them to know their rights; and lastly, to have all their important personal information or data at their fingertips or within reach.

Licaros said organizing important informations means having valuable records such as passports, birth certificates, bank account numbers so that in case a problem occurs in the family, the woman would be able to produce these as needed.

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Equally important, she said, is to know one’s network, meaning, who to call or contact should the need arises. An example of this is the Department of Social Welfare Department official in their locality.

But beyond these, she said migrant women should have goals, and they should write them down so they do not forget. 

They should also learn new skills like cooking or understanding new technology as these are things that will never go away and will serve them in good stead in future. 

Lastly, they should find meaning in their work, whatever it is, as this will prevent them from feeling tired or resentful.

Licaros and her list of do's for women migrants

Revote for his part explained to the audience that the VAWC is meant to protect women and their children against an abusive sexual or romantic partner, whatever their gender.

Under the law, such acts of violence can be physical, sexual, psychological, or economic.

Physical abuse includes assault or any kind of actual harm committed against a woman or her children.

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Sexual violence may include forced sex  during marriage, rape, and even online sexual exploitation of children.

Psychological violence refers to inflicting mental torture, such as stalking, abusing the victims’ pets, or destroying things that have a sentimental value to them.

The last, economic violence, pertains to making the woman financially dependent on her spouse or partner, such as preventing her from working or handling money.

Victims of any of these acts can go to their barangay or the courts for relief. 

The first step is to seek a barangay protection (BPO) which should be granted within 24 hours, but is valid for only 15 days.  

The next step is to go to the Regional Trial Court (RTC) or Municipal Trial Court (MTC) and ask for a temporary protection order (TPO) which can be granted ex parte, or with only the victim present. This order is enforceable anywhere in the country but is valid for only 30 days.

The final relief is a permanent protection order (PPO) which either court can grant following a hearing when both sides are represented. This order has no deadline and is enforceable throughout the country. 

The PPO can also be accompanied by other orders such as preventing the offending party from going near the victims or harassing them; as well as granting restitution or compensation to the offended party. 

Revote said all these reliefs can be sought at the same time if the victim/s want the protection order to become permanent or prevent a gap in their implementation.

Saret said many migrant women turn to the Consulate for help or advise because the physical separation from their spouses often leads to infidelity. This in turn, leads to all sorts of problems for migrant women who end up becoming the family’s sole breadwinner. Many choose to overstay, or resort to stealing or money laundering to make ends meet.

In extreme cases, the debt-ridden or lovelorn migrant becomes depressed, and commits suicide. Saret said that this year alone, there have been five recorded suicides of Filipino migrant workers.


DCG Usudan (in checkered jacket) join the speakers and the 2 welfare officers

Saret said social welfare officer Rem Marcelino of the Migrant Workers Office asked him to relay to the audience a few pieces of advice that would help them survive Hong Kong while living in harmony with their family back home.

The first of these is to make their spouses or partner understand the reason why they decided to go abroad, and how difficult this decision has been for all of them.

The second is to be mindful of a need for a nurturing relationship, meaning, keeping in constant communication with their partner. 

Saret said that since his own family is in the Philippines, he always makes sure to check on his wife during meal times. He also avoids getting angry with his children during the rare times that they are all together so this does not leave a lasting impression on them.

Lastly, migrant mothers should always check on the children they left behind to make them feel they have not been abandoned. Corollary to this, the children should be made to understand that their mothers decided to live and work away from them so they could have a better future.

Also at the forum were Marcelino and OWWA welfare officer Marilou Sumalinog.

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