Updated Philippine Embassy Singapore Modified Office Hours from from 31 March to 24 April 2011

Another modified office schedule from Philippine Embassy in Singapore from from 31 March to 24 April 2011 only:

The Philippine Embassy in Singapore announced that due to further improvements to be made to its public waiting area, its Monday-Friday work schedule will be extended from 31 March to 24 April 2011. The extension is also being implemented in light of the slowdown of scheduled repairs, caused by the onset of heavy rain in the preceding weeks.

The Embassy will be closed to public transactions on Saturdays and Sundays during the said period.  No consular or labor services will be available over the weekend.

The transacting public is advised, however, that the Embassy will be open for passport, notarial, civil registry, and labor services from Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Visa applications will continue to be accepted from Monday to Thursday only.

As the improvements are being made to the Embassy’s public area, the modified office schedule is being implemented to minimize the risk and inconvenience to the transacting public.

Likewise, applicants are discouraged from bringing companions, especially young children and the elderly, to the Embassy.  In order to avoid overcrowding and congestion, particularly within the area under repair, the Embassy may limit the entry on non-applicants.

The public’s cooperation and kind understanding will be appreciated.

The Embassy will be closed on the following dates:

DATE	DAY	REMARKS
01 April 2011	Friday	OPEN
02 April 2011	Saturday	CLOSED
03 April 2011	Sunday	CLOSED
09 April 2011	Saturday	CLOSED
10 April 2011	Sunday	CLOSED
16 April 2011	Saturday	CLOSED
17 April 2011	Sunday	CLOSED
21 April 2011	Maundy Thursday	CLOSED
22 April 2011	Good Friday	CLOSED
23 April 2011	Saturday	CLOSED
24 April 2011	Sunday	CLOSED
29 April 2011	Friday	CLOSED
01 May 2011	Sunday	OPEN

 

Clients with queries are advised to send an e-mail to php@pacific.net.sg or leave a voice mail clearly stating their name, contact number and nature of inquiry at +65.6737.3977.  Queries will be responded to within one to three working days.

Filipinos in distress requiring urgent and immediate assistance are advised to text or call the Embassy’s emergency hotline, +65.9072.2797.

Resumption of normal operating schedule (Sunday-Thursday) shall be on (Sunday) 01 May 2011.

Singapore Police: Appeal for information to a theft at a supermarket in Changi Airport Terminal 1

Have you seen this man?

Singapore Police are looking for the man shown in the photo to assist with investigations into a case of theft at a supermarket located at Changi Airport Terminal 1 on 19 Jan 2011 .

The man is believed to be a male Chinese in his late 30s and was last seen wearing a striped polo-shirt. He was also seen carrying a black haversack and a green paper bag.

Anyone with information on the man is requested to call the Police hotline at 1800-255-0000. All information will be kept strictly confidential.

Campaign Support for inclusion of Puerto Princesa Underground River (PPUR) in New 7 Wonders of Nature

Philippine Ambassador to Singapore Minda Calaguian-Cruz declared the Philippine Embassy’s full support for the inclusion of the Puerto Princesa Underground River (PPUR) in the New 7 Wonders of Nature, a global polling campaign that “highlights and celebrates the beauty of the planet.”

 

“The Philippine Embassy supports the campaign to have the Puerto Princesa Underground River recognized as one of the new seven wonders of nature and enjoin all Filipinos and nature lovers to vote for our overwhelming choice,” the Philippine envoy said.

The PPUR was declared as one of the 28 official entries in this global polling search, which includes the Amazon River (Brazil), Komodo (Indonesia), Grand Canyon (USA), Maldives, Halong Bay (Vietnam), Uluru (Australia), Jeju Island (Korea), to name a few.

Puerto Princesa’s Assistant City Administrator/Tourism Officer Rebecca Labit visited Singapore in February and sought the support of the Filipino community in Singapore during the monthly Filcom meeting at the Embassy to ensure the entry of the PPUR in the New 7 Wonders of Nature.   No less than President Benigno S. Aquino III has endorsed the PPUR campaign.

The nationwide campaign for this worldwide search began on 01 March 2011 and will end on 10 November 2011, the last day of voting.

The Philippine Embassy appeals to all Filipinos and their friends in Singapore to vote for PPUR by logging on to New 7 Wonders or via SMS by typing PPUR and sending it to 2861.

Philippine Regulatory Commission launches Online Verification of Filipino Professional (OVFP)

To help weed out fake doctors, dentists and the like, the Professional Regulation Commission on Thursday launched an online verification system that would allow interested persons to check if an individual is a licensed professional or not.

Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said Online Verification of Filipino Professional (OVFP) system—which is accessible on the PRC website—would help solve the problem of fake professionals duping the unsuspecting public.

“With the system … the days of con men producing fake documents, including unscrupulous persons posing as professionals to defraud the public are over,” Baldoz said in a statement.

Baldoz and PRC commissioner Alfredo Po led the rites launching the OVFP at the Department of Labor and Employment main office in Intramuros, Manila.

“The OVFP is a system that allows online verification of the status of professionals. Employers or any person can check with the system, which can be accessed through the PRC website, the authenticity of the license of any professional, or if the latter is in good standing,” Baldoz said.

“The public can now also verify online if, for instance, the doctor or engineer they are dealing with is licensed,” she added.

Baldoz urged the public to report to law enforcers those individuals or groups that, upon verification with the OVFP, were proven to be unlicensed, “including those who were producing fake documents.”

The PRC also launched on Thursday its Online Renewal Application System (ORAS) that would allow Filipino professionals, including those abroad, to renew their professional identification cards (PICs) without having to go to the PRC itself.

PRC chairman Nicolas Lapena said Oras was intended primarily for professionals working overseas “who usually resort to filing their applications through authorized parties.”

“The system is designed to save our professionals time, money, and effort, adding that the transactions covered include the renewal, reprinting and duplication of the PIC,” Lapena said.

Singapore to reduce dependency on foreign labour

 

Singapore has to make changes to the way it grows its economy as the model of relying on cheap and plentiful foreign workers to boost output is not sustainable, said Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong.

He was speaking at the Installation Ceremony of the 56th Council of the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCCI) on Tuesday.

Mr Goh said Singapore has raised the Foreign Worker Levy and provided incentives for businesses to raise productivity.

He also said the government will work closely with industry associations and business chambers to help their members become more competitive by improving their business models and raising productivity.

"Some people believe that the Foreign Worker Levy will be reversed if the economy slows down. But don’t bank on it. I would like to reiterate here that the government is determined to reduce the dependency on foreign labour and raise the productivity and incomes of Singaporeans," the senior minister said.

The chamber is also heeding the government’s call to raise productivity by helping its member companies to do so.

SCCCI president Teo Siong Seng outlined the chamber’s focus for the next two years, which includes venturing to overseas markets.

Mr Teo said the chamber will help the government to promote its various assistance schemes to its member companies. At the same time, he said it will help its member companies appeal for more simplified application procedures and a shortened approval process.

Mr Teo also said the chamber has received approval from the Ministry of Trade and Industry to set up a representative office in Shanghai through a new initiative for trade associations to venture abroad.

The chamber has already signed agreements with five trade association members.

The Shanghai Representative Office will help them to liaise with their counterparts, arrange for mutual visits and provide business matching services.

SCCCI is now discussing with other ethnic chambers on collaborations with the Shanghai Representative Office.

Foreign Nationals found hidden in a storage compartment trying to leave Singapore illegally

Officers from the Singapore Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) have caught three Indian nationals for trying to leave Singapore illegally.

They were found hidden in a storage compartment, located behind the driver’s seat of a 40—foot Malaysia—registered prime mover.

The incident happened last Saturday at about 11.40 am.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the 29—year—old Malaysian driver was promised $500 for each immigration offender he successfully brings out of the country.

Arrangements were made to pick up the three immigration offenders along Woodlands Road.

The three, aged between 27 and 36, said they had come to Singapore to seek illegal employment.

If convicted, for overstaying or illegal entry, they could be jailed up to six months and given at least three strokes of the cane.

Penalties for illegal departure is a fine of up to $2,000, a jail term of up to six months, or both.

Singapore Manpower Ministry (MOM) raised salary thresholds for foreign professionals and skilled workers

The recent move by the Manpower Ministry (MOM) to raise the salary thresholds for foreign professionals and skilled workers may do little to quell demand for these workers.

From 1 July, for professionals, the qualifying salary thresholds for the three categories of Employment Pass holders will be raised respectively —

• Q1 = S$2,800
• P2 = S$4,000 
• P1 = S$8,000

For skilled workers, to qualify for an S—Pass, an applicant’s monthly salary will have to be S$2,000 or more, up from S$1,800.

MOM said the changes were made to keep pace with increases in locals’ wages and to encourage companies to be more selective when hiring foreign talent.

The higher salary thresholds were also introduced in response to concerns from Singaporeans that foreign talent is competing with them for jobs.

PrimeStaff Management Services has a number of S—Pass and Employment Pass workers on its payroll. It said the move to raise their salary thresholds will not have a big impact.

Ronald Lee, managing director of PrimeStaff Management Services, said: "When you hire, you don’t look at people just coming at the minimum level. You look at people who fit the requirements and these people who fit the requirements could already be earning $3,000, $4,000 or $5,000. So, if you really want to hire them, that is the kind of range you’ve got to be paying them."

Recruitment companies say clients still prefer to fill their positions with local workers. However, this may sometimes be a challenge. This is because local workers still demand much more, like in terms of salary expectations.

PrimeStaff Management Services’ Mr Lee said: "They would expect a very, very high package to entice them....Therefore, we have no choice but to look (at) outside (sources). There are also a lot of equally qualified foreigners who are keen to come at a lower salary, and these foreigners are generally more committed and they have a higher staying power."

The tight labour market is also making it tough to hire.

Phillip Overmyer, chief executive of Singapore International Chamber of Commerce, said: "(In) Singapore, if you look at the (labour) market, it is fully booked! Everybody is employed, more or less. So if the economy wants to grow, you have to hire other people."