Consulate holds fourth Post Arrival Orientation Seminar (PAOS) for 2006 in Tsuen Wan 

26 March 2006

The Philippine Consulate General conducted its fourth Post Arrival Orientation Seminar (PAOS) for OFWs in Hong Kong for 2006 on 26 March, in conjunction with the ongoing overseas absentee voting (OAV) registration.

The seminar, held in Tsuen Wan, New Territories and in cooperation with the Church of the Anunciation and the Filipino Catholic Group of the Church of the Anunciation, was the second to be held outside the Consulate General this year as Post extended the reach of PAOS to the members of the Filipino community living outside Hong Kong island. It was attended by 129 OFWs. The Consulate General also registered 44 new overseas absentee voters and processed 10 other OAV-related services (transferees, recapture of biometrics and correction of data entries).

Speakers for the event were: Vice Consul Noel Novicio, Mr. Rodolfo Gaspar (ATN), Ms. Angelina Narvaez (POLO), Mr. Edwin Garcia (OWWA), Mr. Roberto Roldan (SSS Hong Kong), Mr. Raymond Francis Ramos (Pag-Ibig Hong Kong) and Mr. Vicente Lopez (Philippine Bankers Club – Hong Kong). Ms. Rowena Neri (ATN) provided technical and administrative support. The OAV team was composed of Vice Consul Victorio Mario Dimagiba and Mr. Edmound Cortes (PCG OAV technical secretariat).

PAOS is an outreach program of the Consulate General and its attached agencies designed to provide information to OFWs about their rights, privileges and responsibilities while working and staying in Hong Kong, and about the various programs and services offered by the Consulate General and its attached agencies.

In the course of the seminar, the following topics/issues were discussed/explained:

1.      ATN Section and its services;

2.      Integrity of documents (passport, employment contract, Hong Kong ID);

3.      PCG telephone hotlines;

4.      OWWA membership and benefits;

5.      POLO and its functions, including mediation and conciliation;

6.      SSS and Pag-ibig programs and investment opportunities; and

7.      Financial management, savings and remittance services for OFWs.

Participants raised questions on matters related to SSS and OWWA benefits. They also clarification on issues related to their employment contracts, work-site problems, and how they can avail themselves of assistance from the Consulate General and POLO. They expressed interest in the housing loan and investment programs of Pag-ibig and issues discussed by the bankers, especially financial management and savings.