DFA Celebrates 31st National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation Week
|
| |
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) joined all government and non-government organizations in
celebrating the 31st National Disability Week Prevention and Rehabilitation (NDPR) Week on 17-23 July 2009.
The theme for this year’s celebration, “Tungo sa Katuparan ng Karapatan ng mga May Kapansanan,” aims to
ensure that all persons with disabilities are given equal rights and opportunities in the society and able to lead
productive lives.
Overall Chairperson of the International Bazaar Foundation (IBF) and National Committee on Disability Affairs
(NCDA) Chairperson Madame Rosie Lovely Romulo received the donated crutches from various donors,
including DFA organizations, in support for its IBF’s program.
Mme. Romulo (6th from left) turns over the Department’s donations to Chairman of the 2009 National
Organizing Committee of the 31st NDPR, Dominic Xavier M. Imperial (7th from left). Also in photo are (8th from
left) OPAS Assistant Secretary Catalino R. Dilem, Jr.; (5th from left) NCDA Assistant Secretary Nora C.
Salonga; and DFA officers and staff. (Photo: Tony Bosa, Jr. DFA-PISU.)
|
|
|
 |
|
|
| |
DFA to Support Filipina Worker in Filing Abuse Charges Against Her Singaporean
Employer
|
| |
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) will support and extend assistance to Lea Tarronas, a household
service worker in Singapore, in filing a case against her Singaporean employer for alleged physical abuse.
The DFA is urging Ms. Tarronas, who is now in the Philippines after the Philippine Embassy in Singapore
assisted in her repatriation last July 8, to file such complaint.
Philippine Ambassador to Singapore Minda C. Cruz reported to the DFA that Embassy personnel interviewed
Ms. Tarronas on July 7, upon the request of her husband Leo, who is based in Iloilo.
Ms. Tarronas bore visible signs of possible abuse and was emaciated. Embassy officials immediately offered
to bring her to the hospital and the police but Ms. Tarronas refused and decided to go back to her employer’s
residence.
Fearing for her safety, the Embassy sought the assistance of the Singapore Police Force to investigate her
case for possible abuse. The Singapore police dispatched an officer to assist Ms. Tarronas but failed to
convince her to file a complaint or seek medical treatment.
Ambassador Cruz said Ms. Tarronas’ return to the Philippines does not preclude her from filing a criminal
complaint against her employer after she has fully recovered.
“The DFA will assist her in every way it can, together with OWWA, to ensure that she obtains justice and
tormentors punished to the full extent of the laws of Singapore,” Ambassador Cruz said.
In the meantime, the Philippine Embassy has recommended that Ms. Tarronas be provided with all necessary
assistance to ensure her speedy recovery, including counseling services to address the trauma she may have
experienced. END
|
DFA Participates in Move Run in Support for Persons with Disabilities
|
| |
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) took part in the MOVE Run in celebration of the 31st National
Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation (NDPR) Week held on 17–23 July 2009.
Held last July 19 at the University of the Philippines Diliman, MOVE Run (which stands for “Making Ourselves
Vigilant to Exercise”), raised funds to defray the high cost of medical and mobility needs of persons with
disabilities.
MOVE Run was spearheaded by the Philippine Academy of Rehabilitation Medicine (PARM), in coordination
with the multi-sectoral National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA), chaired by Undersecretary Lovely Romulo
of which the DFA is a member.
The activity featured 10-kilometer, 5-kilometer, and 2.2-kilometer races. Individuals involved in the persons-
with-disabilities sector participated in the event. END
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
| |
RP Embassy in Hanoi promotes Philippine Educational Services
|
| |
The Philippine Embassy in Hanoi is organizing an exhibit on Philippine educational services in Ho Chi Minh
City (HCMC) to introduce English language programs being offered by Philippine schools for Vietnamese
students in college, secondary school, and business people.
The exhibit, scheduled in the 4th quarter of 2009, is being organized in coordination with the Philippine Trade
and Investment Center (PTIC-Vietnam).
This “study in the Philippines” promotion exhibit is part of the Embassy’s continuing efforts in promoting
bilateral trade in educational services.
The Embassy coordinates with Vietnamese universities on the enrolment of Vietnamese students in
Philippine schools. The Embassy also assists Philippine colleges and universities gain recognition in
Vietnam and establish links with Vietnamese educational institutions.
To date, more Vietnamese enroll in intensive English language programs to improve their English proficiency.
English courses are requisites for their acceptance into bachelor’s degree programs and masters degrees in
various fields of study. Many mid-level professionals also take up masters degrees at the Asian Institute of
Management, as well as PhD programs in Philippine universities.
A number of colleges and universities in the Philippines are hosts to this growing number of Vietnamese
students. In February, the Embassy invited several universities to participate in the 7th International Education
and Career Expo (IECE 2009) held in HCMC.
IECE attracts prestigious educational institutions from countries such as Australia, Canada, Denmark, France,
Germany, India, Ireland, Malaysia, New Zealand, Russia, Singapore, Thailand, United Kingdom, United States
of America, and Vietnam.
The following schools comprised the exhibitors of the Philippine pavilion which was spearheaded or funded
by the Department of Tourism (DOT), in coordination with the Embassy, the Honorary Consulate General in
HCMC, and the PTIC:
1. Miriam College, Quezon City
2. Enderun Colleges, Makati City
3. Angeles University Foundation, Pampanga
4. St. Paul’s University, Tuguegarao
5. Nine-member delegation from Regions 4A and 4B of the Philippine Association of State Universities and
Colleges (PASUC)
After the IECE, the DOT and PTIC, with support from BETP-DTI, arranged for a Familiarization Tour of
Philippine Schools in April 2009 for a group of officials from the Vietnamese Government, Vietnamese
universities, and educational institutions.
The tour included visits to Philippine schools which participated in the IECE, as well as visits to tourism sites
in Metro Manila and nearby areas. END
|
| |
RP Elected to UN General Assembly Committee
|
| |
July 20, 2009—The Philippines will play a key role in the forthcoming 64th Session of the United Nations
General Assembly following the election of Ambassador Hilario G. Davide Jr. as vice chair of the Disarmament
and International Security (First) Committee, the Philippine Mission to the United Nations reported today.
In its report to the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Philippine Mission said Ambassador Davide was elected
as vice chair representing the Asian Group together with Mr. Florian Laudi of Germany (Western European and
Other States Group) and Mr. Hossam Aly of Egypt (African Group). Ms. Tetyana Pokhvalona of Ukraine (Eastern
European Group) was elected as the Rapporteur of the First Committee. The four were elected by acclamation
on 14 July 2009, during the 24th Meeting of the First Committee of the 63rd Session of the General Assembly.
The Philippine Mission said that Ambassador Jose Luis Cancela, Permanent Representative of Uruguay to
the United Nations (Latin American and Caribbean Group), was elected on 10 June 2009 as Chair of the First
Committee for the 64th Session.
The First Committee discusses all matters pertaining to disarmament and international security and
deliberates on resolutions proposed by UN Member States that deal with disarmament, including small arms
and light weapons and nuclear arms. The 63rd Session adopted a total of 58 resolutions.
“The election of the Philippines to this important body will allow us to help guide toward positive outcomes the
discussions and debate on disarmament matters during the upcoming 64th Session of the General
Assembly,” Ambassador Davide said.
“This election together with the endorsement of the Philippines as President-elect of the 2010 Nuclear
Nonproliferation Treaty Review Conference shows the trust and confidence of the international community in
the Philippines’ leadership on disarmament issues,” he added.
The term of Ambassador Davide as Vice Chair will last for the entire duration of the 64th Session of the
General Assembly. The meetings and the deliberations of the Committee on the various disarmament
resolutions will begin in the third week of September 2009 and will end by the first week of November 2009.
“It is in the interest of the Philippines to see to it that the resolutions adopted by the General Assembly are
followed by UN Member States, since they promote not just the security of a country or region, but that of the
world,” Ambassador Davide said. END
|
| |
Milan PCG Celebrates 111th Independence Day
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
