1st MOVE 2009 Achieved More Than 3000 Attendees

Immigrant Visa Centre (IVC) , the event organizer, announced that MOVE Expo 2009 reached up to 3,000 attendees in its first day.

Migration, Overseas Opportunities, Visas, and Employment or MOVE Expo 2009 was a two-day event that opened at SMX Convention Centre, Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay City last July 31 to August 1. For a first-timer migration fair, the response was really overwhelming and certainly, a success.

Speakers of the fair covered topics on Migration to Australia, Canada, New Zealand, USA, and the U.K., the Tier 4 student visas, and a British course to enable Filipino enhance their international competitiveness. There were 65 booths built up around the event area that accommodated hopeful immigrants.

IVC Director Crispin Aranda, one of the event’s speakers, expected that attendees would really double from their initial number the first day the Expo was held.

This first ever MOVE Expo 2009 Migration Fair was sponsored by Business World , Digiprint , Rachell Allen Reviewers , Western Union , Grand Monaco , Bobson , National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) , Manila Bulletin, SMX, SM Mall of Asia , Jobstreet.com , and Italianni’s Restaurant .

For more information, contact 634-8717, 0906-440-4777, or e-mail move2009.visacenter.org.

Empowerment and Human Rights, Main Focus in Second Migration Forum -- (Press Release)

From October 27 to 30, 2008, delegates from all over the world convened for the 2^nd Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD) held at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC), CCP Complex, Roxas Boulevard, Metro Manila.

Guided by the theme, “Protecting and Empowering Migrants for Development”, the agenda of the 2nd Global Forum was based on the findings of the First Global Forum conducted at Brussels, Belgium in July 2007. The Brussels Forum concluded that special emphasis should be given to the protection and empowerment of migrant workers all over the world, placing high importance on the protection of human rights and promotion of regular migration.

The Forum was divided in to two general meetings, namely the Civil Society Days, scheduled from October 27 to 28 and Government Meeting from October 29 to 30.

The event’s roundtable discussions were divided into three topics: Migration, Development, and Human Rights, Secure, Regular Migration can Achieve Stronger Development Impact, and Policy and Institutional Coherence and Partnerships.

The Department of Foreign Affairs acted as lead agency for the Philippine Government for the 2^nd GFMD. Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs, Esteban B. Conejos Jr., served as the Special Envoy for GFMD, and the Overall Chairman of the Philippine GFMD Preparatory Committee.

Members of the private sector, academe, and the civil society comprise the Philippine Organizing Committee for the Civil Society Days. These include the Ayala Foundation, Inc., which was enlisted as the secretariat; SyCip Gorres Velayo & Co., Magsaysay Maritime Corporation, University of the Philippines, Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, Economic Resource Center for Overseas Filipinos Philippines, Inc. (ERCOF), Migrant Forum in Asia, Manpower Resources of Asia, Inc., and Alliance of Progressive Labor.

The objective of the GFMD is to assemble government officials and experts from all over the world to enhance dialogue, cooperation, and partnership in the areas of migration and development. Moreover, it is intended to mutually identify and solve international migration issues that affect development of countries.

Pinoy Seafarers Preferred by Japanese Ship Operators -- (News)

Japanese ship operators, managers and owners still prefer to hire Filipino seafarers for their ships. This was revealed by the Chairman of the International Mariners Management Association of Japan (IMMAJ)

Capt. Takao Manji, Chairman of IMMAJ shared during the 2nd Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD) held at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC), CCP Complex, Roxas Boulevard, Metro Manila, that the reason Japanese companies hire Filipino seamen is because of their reliability, flexibility, diligence, and discipline.

The chairman expressed his appreciation to the Filipino seafarers who serves as the backbone to the expansion and domination of Japan in the shipping industry. According to the website of Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL), one of the oldest shipping companies in Japan, 60 percent of their seafarers are Filipinos. Second are Indians with nine percent. Only four percent of their crew members are Japanese.

In return, these companies give their Filipinos employees generous salaries, good accommodation in the ship and special privileges, such as free calls to their families and two months paid vacation when they are off board.

In addition, Japanese shipping companies have invested in training centers here in the Philippines. In 1993, MOL built a training center in Dasmariñas, Cavite. This training center is in partnership with Magsaysay Maritime Corporation. On the other hand, Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha Ltd. (“K”-Line) opened its "K" Line Maritime Academy in Pasay City last February of this year.

Web Philippines, Inc. thanks the following sources:

Japan Corporate News (JCN) Network. Opening Ceremony of "K" Line Maritime Academy – Philippines (Posted February 22, 2008) Retrieved October 29, 2008
http://www.japancorp.net/Article.Asp?Art_ID=17085

GMANews.tv Filipino seafarers remain a top choice of Japanese ship owners. (Posted October 28, 2008) Retrieved October 29, 2008
http://www.gmanews.tv/story/129907/Filipino-seafarers-remain-a-top-choice-of-Japanese-ship-owners

Manila Times Internet Edition. For Japanese, Filipino seafarers still top pick (Posted October 29, 2008) Retrieved October 29, 2008
http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2008/oct/29/yehey/top_stories/20081029top4.html

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. CSR and Environment Protection. Seagoing Employees - Seafarer Education and Training
http://www.mol.co.jp/csr-e/society/employee/sea/02.shtml

Philippine News Agency. RP seafarers still the top choice of Japanese ship owners and managers. (Posted October 28, 2008) Retrieved October 29, 2008
http://www.gov.ph/news/?i=22645