Three-point program for OWWA

1. STRENGTHENING OWWA WELFARE-DELIVERY CORE CAPABILITIES THRU: A. CONSOLIDATION AND STRENGHTENING OF EXISTING MAJOR PROGRAMS. B. INTENSIVE IN-HOUSE STAFF DEVELOPMENT. C. AGGRESSIVE RECRUITMENT OF HIGHLY QUALIFIED AND HIGHLY MOTIVATED PERSONNEL. D. ADOPTION OF APPROPRIATE TECHNOLOGY TO INTEGRATE OWWA OVERSEAS, REGIONAL AND MAIN OFFICE OPERATIONS TO ENHANCE ORANIZATIONAL EFFICIENCY, EFFECTIVENESS, ON-TIME SERVICE DELIVERY AND TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO OWWA SERVICES 24/7. E. DEVELOP STRONGER LINKAGES WITH OFW ORGANIZATIONS AND OTHER NGOS ADVOCATING OFW RIGHTS AND WELFARE TO ENSURE MORE EFFECTIVE CONSULTATIONS ON POLICIES AND PARTICIPATION IN OWWA PROGRAMS. 2. MAKING OVERSEAS EMPLOYMENT A SAFER OPTION THRU: A. CAPACITY BUILDING PROGRAMS FOR OFWS. A.1. MAKING MORE COUNTRY-SPECIFIC, UP-TO-DATE AND COMPREHENSIVE PRE-DEPARTURE ORIENTATION SEMINARS (PDOS) AND BASIC CRITICAL LANGUAGES TRAINING. A.2. IMPOSING TIGHTER MONITORING AND CONTROL OF EXISTING PDOS PROVIDERS AND EXPANDING AND ENHANICNG OWWA’S IN-HOUSE PDOS CAPABILTIES. A.3. IMPLEMENT CONTINUING POST-DEPARTURE ORIENTATION SEMINARS (POST-DOS) SERVICES ON-SITE AND. B. ADVOCACY OF MULTI-LATERAL APPROACH TO OFW PROTECTION AND WELFARE B.1. INITIATE DIALOG, COOPERATION AND COORDINATION WITH OTHER LABOR SENDING COUNTRIES TO ESTABLISH MINIMUM STANDARDS OF OVERSEAS WORKER PROTECTION, WAGES AND BENEFITS IN HOST COUNTRIES AND TO COMBAT HUMAN TRAFFICKING. B.2. ADVOCATE A COMMON FRONT AMONG LABOR SENDING COUNTRIES TO ENCOURAGE A VIGOROUS ENFORCEMENT OF OVERSEAS WORKERS RIGHTS AND WELFARE IN HOST COUNTRIES. C. CAMPAIGN FOR THE RECOGNITION OF OVERSEAS WORKERS AND LABOR SENDING COUNTRY CONTRIBUTION TO THE ECONOMY AND SOCIETY OF HOST COUNTRIES. C.1. ADVOCATE A “SOCIAL CAPITAL INVESTMENT REIMBURSEMENT FUND" WHEREBY WEALTHY HOST COUNTRIES HEAVILY AVAILING OF PHILIPPINES LABOR CONTRIBUTE FUNDS, IN AN APPROPRIATE MECHANISM, FOR EDUCATION AND TRAINING IN THE PHILIPPINES. C.2. AS PART OF THE CONCEPT OF THE “SOCIAL CAPITAL INVESTMENT REIMBURSEMENT FUND", ADVOCATE FOR THE ALLOCATION OF LOANABLE FUNDS, ACCESSIBLE TO RETURNING OFWS, FROM HOST COUNTRIES TO ENCOURAGE VOLUNTARY RETURN (NOTE: THIS WILL SAVE THESE COUNTRIES EXPENSES IN CONTROLLING ILLEGAL ALIENS AND ADDRESS THEIR CONCERN ABOUT SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS WHICH THEY FEEL IS THREATENED BY FOREIGN WORKERS OPTING TO STAY ON). 3. MAKING OVERSEAS EMPLOYMENT A MORE SUCCESSFUL OPTION THRU: A. ENCOURAGEMENT OF SAVINGS CONSCIOUSNESS AND INVESTMENTS AMONG OFWS BY FACILITATING GREATER ACCESS TO TECHNOLOGY, FINANCIAL AND INVESTMENT INFORMATION THROUGH COORDINATION WITH ALL RELATED PUBLIC AND PRIVATE AGENCIES AND ENTERPRISES. B. FACILITATING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF INTERMEDIATE BUSINESS ENTERPRISES AS A COMPONENT OF REINTEGRATION LOAN ASSISTANCE TO ENSURE GREATER SUCCESS OF OFW OWNED OR PARTICPATED BUSINESSES AND GREATER LOAN REPAYMENT RATE. C. TIE-UP WITH ESTABLISHED BUSINESS ENTERPRISES, AS PART OF THEIR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY PROGRAM OR MENTORING SYSTEM, TO AID IN CAPACITY BUILDING AND PREPARATION OF OFWS AS SUCCESFUL ENTERPRENEURS OR AS INVESTORS. Profile of Angelo Azura Jimenez An energetic and articulate member of the Philippine Bar who began serving in government at an early age, focusing and specializing in the past 12 years in labour and employment matters, particularly in resolving issues involving strikes and labour unrest, the deployment of overseas Filipino workers (“OFWs") and delivery of services to OFWs in conflict-ridden and culturally-diverse countries such as Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon and Tokyo; Considered an expert on political and international issues impacting our OFWs as well as migrant workers worldwide having directly dealt with overseas employers/ employees on the ground and published scholarly articles on labour and migrant workers’ issues in Japan and the Middle East; An insider in the labour industry with a deep understanding of procedures and regulations in various labour agencies and an appreciation of the needs of its stakeholders; able to draw on past experiences and exceptional knowledge of labour regulations/issues to formulate long-term labour strategies and policies as well as provide leadership and tactical direction in times of crisis. SUMMARY OF EXPERIENCE As Acting Deputy Administrator of OWWA, provided assistance and administrative support to the Administrator in overseeing the delivery of welfare services to member overseas contract workers and their families both in the jobsite and in the Philippines. Awarded a Presidential Citation on 19 July 2005 by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as member of the special team that negotiated the successful release of Filipino hostage Robert Tarongoy in Baghdad, Iraq in June 2005. Awarded a Presidential Citation in 15 November 2006 for important contributions to the success of the governments operations in evacuating and safeguarding the lives of Filipinos in Lebanon during the Israeli invasion in 2006. Seven years experience as Labor Attaché, assigned to Japan, Kuwait, and Iraq. Verifies and approves Job Orders, labor contracts, conducts studies on Post’s labor markets, labor and social legislations, and structures of labor justice systems; Represented Filipino workers in cases before labour bodies and other agencies and in conciliating and mediating disputes with foreign employers. Managed the Foreign Workers Resource Centers in Japan and Kuwait, providing a halfway house and shelter for distressed workers, offering skills training and value formation programs. Designated as Task Force Evacuation (“TF-Bato") Head in Kuwait during “Operation Iraqi Freedom" (February to April 2003), and managed the Philippine Evacuation Center (“Bahay Pinoy") at the Kuwait-Saudi border, which at its height, sheltered over 500 distressed/displaced Filipinos. Was also a member of the core group that prepared and executed action plans for war and other contingencies for Filipinos in Iraq and Kuwait. As principal assistant to the Secretary Labor, was primarily charged with reviewing decisions on national interest cases, drafted speeches, conducted research on policy issues, coordinated media relations, served as IT Focal Person, and represented the Secretary in the Boards of the National Youth Council and the Commission on Filipinos Overseas. As executive assistant to the Senior Deputy Executive Secretary, reviewed decisions on cases appealed to the Office of the President of the Philippines. For five years, represented the Office of the Executive Secretary and subsequently, the Secretary of Labor, in the Technical Panel of the Cabinet Committee on Oceans and Maritime Affairs, which drafted the National Marine Policy, advises the President on maritime boundary delimitation talks and territorial disputes with neighbouring countries, and provides cabinet-level oversight on maritime issues. Was a member of the Secretariat of the Presidential-Fact Finding and Advisory Commission on the Protection of Overseas Filipinos, which produced a comprehensive report on overseas employment issues, and provided recommendations leading, most notably, to the enactment of the Migrant Workers Act of 1995 (Republic Act 8042). Appointed by President Corazon C. Aquino in 1992 to serve one term as member of the Board of Regents, the highest policy-making body of the University of the Philippines, System, representing the students. As Regent, and concurrently chair of the UP Diliman, Student Council, also sat as member of the UP Socialized Tuition and Financial Assistance Committee, and helped refine the program to enable more deserving and financially disadvantaged students avail of UP education. As Regent, successfully pushed for the declaration of UP as a Zone of Peace Freedom and Neutrality in support of Peace Process at the national level. Also followed-up on earlier efforts pushing for a UP Mindanao in Davao and setting up of Butuan City as a Testing Center for UP entrance examinees. CURRICULUM VITAE PERSONAL DATA Nationality : Filipino Date of Birth : 5 May 1966 Place of Birth : Butuan City Sex : Male Married to : ATTY. EDLYN FRANCES VILLAR VERZOLA Manila Address : #44 3rd St., New Manila, Quezon City Butuan Address : Ram City Homes, Libertad, Butuan City Children : ANGELO LUIS V. JIMENEZ (Born on 05 January 2001) and AARON ATTICUS V. JIMENEZ Telephones : Manila – 7249958/7221311 E-mail : aajimenez66@yahoo.com EDUCATION Bachelor of Laws, University of the Philippines, College of Law, Diliman, Quezon City, 1987 – Summer 1994, Passed the 1994 Philippine Bar Examinations Bachelor of Arts (Sociology), University of the Philippines, College of Social Science and Philosophy, Diliman, Quezon City, 1983 - 1987, Secondary, Urios College, Butuan City, 1979-1983 Elementary, Urios College, Butuan City, 1973-1979 EMPLOYMENT RECORD Acting Deputy Adminstrator, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), OWWA Center, Cor. F.B. Harrison and 7th Sts., Pasay City, Metro Manila, October 2005 to March 2007 Labor Attaché to Iraq with concurrent appointment as Coordinating Labor Attaché to Iraq and Kuwait, November 2003 to 11 October 2005 Chairman, Special Board of Canvassers (Kuwait), appointed by the Commission on Elections for the 2004 National Elections Labor Attaché to the State of Kuwait, 9 June 2001 to November 2003, Philippine Overseas Labor Office, State of Kuwait Head-Task Force Relocation (Kuwait), Philippine Embassy Emergency Preparedness Team during the war in Iraq. Labor Attaché to Japan (Tokyo), Appointed Labor Attaché on December 1999, Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), and designated Head, Philippine Overseas Labor Office, Tokyo, Japan, effective 1 September 2000. Assistant Labor Attaché, Appointed August 1997, Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Assigned to the Philippine Overseas Labor Office, Tokyo, Japan on October 1997 Head Executive Assistant (with the Rank of Director III), Tripartite Industrial Peace Council, and Office of the Secretary, Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) March 1996 to August 1997 Special Assignments/Tasks: DOLE Representative and Member, National ASEAN Sub-committee on Youth (NASY); Representative of the Secretary of Labor, National Advisory Board, National Youth Commission; Representative of the Secretary of Labor, Governing Board, Commission on Filipino Overseas; Coordinator, Inter-agency Media Task Force on Overseas Filipino Workers; Information Technology Focal Person, Office of the Secretary; Media Coordinator, Office of the Secretary; Legal Review Officer, Office of the Secretary; Speechwriter to the Secretary of Labor and Employment Technical Assistant (with the rank of Division Chief), Office of the Senior Deputy Executive Secretary, Office of the President of the Philippines, Malacanang, Manila September 1993 to January 1996 Special Assignments/Tasks Secretariat, Presidential Fact-Finding and Policy Advisory Commission on the Protection of Overseas Filipinos); Technical Committee Member, Cabinet Committee on Maritime and Ocean Affairs (1993-1997); Secretariat, Office of the President Moral Recovery Program; Attorney V, Legal Office, Office of the President, Malacanang, Manila, January - March 1996. Guest Editor, MoneySaver Magazine, 1993 Contributing Columnist, Manila Chronicle (1992), Manila Standard (1987), Istudyante Magazine (1987) Research Assistant, Project Study on Child Labor in the Philippines, UP Department of Sociology, 1986 LANGUAGES Filipino, English, Cebuano, Basic Japanese PUBLISHED WORKS/OTHER PAPERS “Feasibility Study on Setting-up a Common Migrant Workers Resource Center for the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) States." The paper was co-written with Merliza Makinano, and presented and approved at the meeting of the Colombo Ten countries, organized by IOM, in Manila on September 2004. The Colombo Ten countries are the major Asian labor exporting countries, which include the Philippines, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Indonesia, etc. “Japan Immigration Law and Foreign Workers: Implications for the Philippines", World Bulletin, Vol. 14, Nos. 5-6, September-December 1998 (World Bulletin is the official publication of the Institute of International Legal Studies, UP Law Center). Published Poems in the Philippine Collegian, and Collegian Folio Magazines, University of the Philippines SELECTED AWARDS AND DISTINCTIONS Presidential Citation, conferred by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on 15 November 2006 for services in ensuring the safety and well-being of Filipinos during the Israel-Lebanon Crisis from 12 July to 14 August 2006 Presidential Citation Recipient, conferred by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on 19 July 2005, “for bearing sacrifices and readiness to serve beyond the call of duty despite known risks" in the successful rescue of Filipino hostage Roberto Tarongoy in Baghdad, Iraq, conferred on 19 July 2005. Outstanding Butuanon Awardee (for Professional Excellence), conferred by the Balik-Butuan 2005 Awards Committee, May 2005 Plaque of Recognition, conferred by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (2003) for commendable performance in assisting Filipinos in Kuwait during the US Invasion of Iraq in 2003. National Champion, Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition (National Rounds), Manila, Philippines, March 1991 Philippine Team Member, participated in the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competitions, (International Rounds), Washington D.C., USA, April 1991 Philippine Team Member, 2nd ASEAN Varsity Debate Tournament, University Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, August 1990 Champion, Law Freshman Debate Tournament, UP College of Law, 1987 Outstanding Graduate Awardee (for Campus Journalism), College of Social Sciences and Philosophy, University of the Philippines, April 1987 Medal of Excellence in Campus Journalism, Awarded by the National Press Club and co-sponsored Wendy’s International, 1986 MEMBERSHIP IN SOCIO-CIVIC AND PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATION Integrated Bar of the Philippines, (since 1995), Knights of Rizal, Tokyo Chapter, Association of Philippine Barristers SELECTED ACTIVITIES Director, Migrant Workers Multi-Purpose Cooperative (Sari-Sari Koop ng mga Migranteng Pilipino, July 1999. Paper Presenter, International Conference on Law and Security of Japan: Impact on the Philippines, 4-6 November 1998, University of the Philippines Law Center Philippine Government Sector Delegate, International Labor Organization Conference, Pattaya, Thailand, March 1996 Philippine Delegate, “Next Generation of Asian Leaders Program", Republic of Korea, sponsored by the Korea Press Center Philippine Delegate, “Friendship Program for the 21st Century," Japan, May to June 1986, sponsored by the Japan International Cooperation Agency, (JICA). SELECTED EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES Student Regent, Board of Regents, University of the Philippines System, 1992 Chairman, University Student Council, University of the Philippines, 1991-1992 National President, College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP), 1987-1988 Associate Editor, Philippine Collegian, University of the Philippines, 1987-1988