JINGGOY CELEBRATES INDEPENDENCE DAY WITH OFWs IN DOHA, QATAR
DOHA, QATAR, JUNE 13, 2011 (STAR) By Jose Rodel Clapano – Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada vowed yesterday to investigate the alleged failure of 80 recruitment agencies to pay the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) P143 million for the repatriation of thousands of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from Libya during the political turmoil that hit the middle eastern country.
OWWA administrator Carmelita Dimzon, who joined Estrada here to attend the celebration of the Filipino community of Philippine Independence Day, informed Estrada about the problem of OWWA in collecting the amount that the 80 recruitment agencies owed it.
"I will investigate it. I will ask the recruitment agencies why they continuously fail to pay OWWA for the repatriation of the OFWs from Libya during the conflict," Estrada, who chairs the Senate committee on Labor Employment and Human Resources Development, said.
He said the P143 million that was shouldered by OWWA includes payment for the chartered ships and planes in the repatriation of OFWs from Libya during the conflict.
Estrada will summon the recruitment agencies, the officials of OWWA and the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) to face a Senate inquiry when he returns to the Philippines from his four-day visit to the State of Qatar.
In an interview, Dimzon said one recruitment agency owed OWWA a total of P44 million and they had already sent letters of demand to the respective recruitment agencies.
"The other recruitment agencies shouldered the expenses of the OFWS who were repatriated from Libya during the conflict there. But there are many OFWs who were forsaken by their employers and the recruitment agencies," she said.
Dimzon said Republic Act 8842 or the Migrant Workers Act provides that in times of war, man made or natural disasters, the OWWA will use its funds to pay the necessary expenses for the repatriation of OFWs who were caught in the conflict.
"But it has to be reimbursed by the recruitment agencies. It is also a responsibility of the employers, known also as the principal," she said.
Dimzon has created a task force headed by Lewelyn Perez to deal with the concerned recruitment agencies, which would be allowed to reimburse through staggered payment including the mandated legal interest of what they owe OWWA.
"It has to be collected and paid. I will be castigated by Congress if it is not paid. I don't think they can pay it easily in full given the huge amount that they owe OWWA. I already sent the demand letters for them to pay about two weeks ago, but they told me they need time to pay it," Dimzon said.
She said OWWA funds are coming from the $25 collected from each OFW per contract.
"We will give them two months to reconcile with the task force and to start payment. They should see the task force and start payment. If they will not pay, the POEA will be the one to impose the sanctions," she said.
More than 10,000 OFWs were repatriated from Libya during the conflict there, as well as 92 in this country and less than 1,000 OFWs from Yemen.
"The recruitment agencies in Libya have asked us to give them more time, but they also assured us that they will pay OWWA," Dimzon said.
Jinggoy to take up leadership studies at Harvard (The Philippine Star) Updated June 12, 2011 12:00 AMComments (55)
[PHOTO - DOHA, QATAR. Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada leadS the Philippine delegation to Doha, Qatar in the celebration of the Philippine Independence Day.]
DOHA, Qatar – Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada will be taking up further studies on leadership at the Kennedy School of Government of Harvard University in Boston.
Estrada, who is here on a four-day visit to attend the Filipino community's celebration of the 113th Philippine Independence Day, said he will be leaving for the US last week of the month to study at Harvard, one of the most prestigious and oldest universities in the world.
Estrada told The STAR that during his first few weeks at the Senate he felt intimidated with the presence of great senators.
"I also felt intimidated with the likes of Senate (President) Juan Ponce Enrile and the other veteran senators. During the first few months, I observed the Senate and my co-senators. I also started reading a lot. I also have good staff," he said, noting that the Senate would be nothing without the veteran senators whom he also idolized.
"I cannot imagine the Senate without him (Enrile). Senate President Enrile is my mentor," Estrada said.
Enrile was also the recognized mentor of Estrada's father, former President Joseph Estrada.
In his campaign during the May 2010 presidential elections, the elder Estrada admitted that Enrile, who was included in his senatorial ticket, used to guide him about the proper procedures in the Senate, especially during committee hearings and when they were at the session hall of the Old Senate building in Manila.
At that time Enrile and Estrada, who were seatmates at the Senate, were the only oppositions.
FROM HIS FACEBOOK PROFILE
Hometown: San Juan City, Metro Manila
Birthday: February 17, 1963
Country: Philippines
Current Office: Office: Senate of the Philippines
Party: Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino
About Me:
Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada: I would to thank the almost 18 million Filipinos who supported and trusted your humble servant and gave this representation a fresh mandate to serve them for another six years.
Biography
Senator Jinggoy is not new in the world of public service having dedicated twenty (20) years of his life as a public servant.
Unknown to many, he finished his primary and secondary education from the Ateneo de Manila University and earned a degree in A.B. Economics from the University of the Philippines. He took up Law for four (4) years at the Lyceum of the Philippines while serving as Vice-Mayor of the Municipality of San Juan at a young age of 25. In 1992, he became the youngest ever... (read more)
Relationship Status: Married to Precy Vitug-Ejercito
10 THINGS YOU MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT JINGGOY:
1. DEPUTY SENATE PRESIDENT. Sen. Estrada is the youngest and most junior Senate President Pro Tempore to be elected by his colleagues in the Senate. In the absence of the Senate President, Sen. Estrada presides over plenary activities and debates. "Pro Tempore" is a Latin phrase for "for the time being."
2. LAW SCHOOL. Sen. Estrada took up Bachelor of Laws in Lyceum of the Philippines (1988-1992) while serving as Vice-Mayor of San Juan. Furthermore, Sen. Estrada was awarded Doctorate of Humanities (Honoris Causa) by the Laguna State University in recognition of his academic excellence and socio-civic achievements as public servant.
3. ATENISTA & DUGONG U.P. - Sen. Estrada finished his primary and secondary education from Ateneo de Manila University and earned a degree in A.B. Economics from the University of the Philippines.
4. PROLIFIC LAWMAKER. Sen. Jinggoy Estrada ranks third in the Senate in terms of number of bills filed. According to a report by the Senate Bills and Index Service dated September 03, 2009, Sen. Jinggoy has authored 593 bills and resolutions. Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago, a renowned legal expert, tops the list.
5. AWARD-WINNING ACTOR. Sen. Estrada reaped awards for his brilliant performance as a balikbayan from Saudi Arabia in "Katas ng Saudi." Metro Manila Film Festival, Golden Screen Awards and FAMAS named him as Best Actor. The movie, having strong social relevance, has been shown in various countries for free for the overseas Filipino workers in partnership with the projects of the Department of Labor and Employment on financial literacy, social reintegration and skills upgrading.
6. TV & RADIO HOST. Sen. Estrada hosted the defunct radio public service program "Boses ng Masa" aired nationwide over DZRH, with veteran broadcast journalist Mr. Deo Macalma. In 1999, Sen. Estrada also hosted television show "SaBAYAN" which has helped a number of Filipinos through significant exposés. He also received an Award of Excellence from Asusasyon ng Kumentarista at Anaunser ng Pilipinas on 1998.
7. NEVER ABSENT, NEVER LATE. Sen. Estrada chalked up perfect attendance during the 13th Congress (2004-2007) and the First Regular Session of 14th Congress (2007-2008), a rare feat accomplished only by a very few lawmakers in the entire history of Philippine Senate. In the Second Regular Session, Sen. Estrada was not able to attend some session days because he is hospitalized due to viral infection. The Congress is currently on its Third Regular Session.
8. CHAMPION OF OFWs. More than sixty (60) distressed overseas Filipino workers have been repatriated through the personal fund of Sen. Estrada. The figure is exclusive of the number of OFWs assisted through official correspondence and coordination with the DFA, DOLE, OWWA, among other proper government agencies. Being a concurrent Chairman of Senate Committee on Labor, Employment and Human Resources Development and Congressional Oversight Committee on Labor and Employment, Sen. Estrada has pushed for the passage of OFW Bank, OFW Hospital, and numerous pieces of legislation for the protection and welfare of the migrant workers.
9. PMP TOPMAN. Sen. Estrada is currently the Executive Vice President of the political party Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) where he, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and former President Joseph Estrada are affiliated.
10. DEVOUT CATHOLIC. Despite his hectic work schedule, Sen. Estrada, a devotee of the Mother of Perpetual help, religiously visits Baclaran Church (also known as the Redemptorist Church and the National Shrine of Our Mother of Perpetual Help) every Tuesday night as the Senate adjourns session or every Wednesday morning before starting his day anew. Along with his wife Ms. Precy Ejercito and four children (Jel, Jolo, Julian and Jill), Sen. Estrada regularly hears mass every Sunday.
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Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
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