Red Dot Pinoys

The uneasy expats

2012-04-26T22:39:00.000+08:00

Apr 26, 2012

More and more expats in Singapore are feeling the tightening immigration policy.

The following is an article posted in http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC120423-0000001/The-uneasy-expats
from Mr. Richard Hartung, a consultant who has lived in Singapore since 1992.

A contact for a story said: "We need to talk this week." The reason, as it turned out, was that he had to leave town because his employment pass had not been renewed. And he is not the only one. Other employment pass holders have also been forced to leave and even some permanent residents' (PR) re-entry permits have not been renewed.

While there is plenty of discussion in Singapore about having too many foreigners here, the buzz in the expat community is about how uncertain it is whether they can continue to live here.
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New immigration guidelines for departing Filipino passengers from Philippines

2012-02-17T23:48:00.000+08:00

Feb 18, 2012

Finallly, Philippine Government has laid out the guidelines and rules for departing Filipino passengers from all airports and seaports in the Philippines.

I. TOURIST TRAVELERS

A traveler intending to go abroad with a tourist/temporary visitor’s visa shall be subjected to:
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Thousands of former Filipinos reacquire Philippine citizenship

2012-02-16T18:05:00.000+08:00

Feb 16, 2012

A total of 116,059 former Filipinos have reacquired Philippine citizenship under the dual citizenship law, according to the Bureau of Immigration (BI).

In a statement, Immigration Commissioner Ricardo David Jr. said those who reacquired Filipino citizenship since the BI began implementing the law in April 2004 were 36,851 individuals who filed their petitions at the BI main office in Manila and 79,208 who applied at Philippine consulates abroad.
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Airport Immigration Officers prevented Filipinos from leaving the country

2012-01-31T11:53:00.003+08:00

Jan 31, 2012

“Aida”, not her real name, trembled as she recalled her traumatic experience of being "offloaded" at the airport last Nov 2011.

“Nato-trauma nga ako. Pag nagising ako sa hapon o kaya umaga nanginginig ako,” said Aida, who was prevented by Philippine immigration officials from leaving the country because of suspicions she would be working abroad illegally.
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Guidelines for OEC Processing on Jan 15 and 22

2012-01-18T02:55:00.006+08:00

Posted on: Jan 18, 2012

Attention to OEC/OWWA applicants planning to visit the Philippine Embassy on 15 January and 22 January.
A quota will be imposed on the number of OEC applicants received at the Embassy and the Embassy’s OEC extension service at Lucky Plaza.
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PR converts apartment in Lucky Plaza into budget hotel

2012-01-15T17:09:00.005+08:00

Jan 15, 2012

Following the report on a new HDB flat in Yishun being advertised as a "budget hotel" by a Filipina, a similar story has emerged. This time in the prime shopping and entertainment district of Orchard Road. According to a source, several private apartments in Lucky Plaza are being used for cheap lodging.

From http://www.propertyguru.com.sg/property-management-news/2012/1/32095/pr-converts-apartment-in-lucky-plaza-into-budget-h:
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Update on: Filipina's ad caused an uproar

2012-01-14T23:16:00.002+08:00

Posted on: Jan 14, 2012

An update on a Filipina's ad about transient rooms: Tenancy agreement was terminated, owner warned by HDB.
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Filipina's ad caused an uproar

2012-01-14T22:31:00.002+08:00

Posted on: Jan 14, 2012

"Hi, we have transient rooms and bedspace for rent for Filipinos, located in Yishun." This is the ad that caused 800+ comments in Singapore Yahoo News this week. Apparently, it was posted by a Filipina in websites such as Facebook. The ad also stated that a night's stay only costs S$25 per head.

However, offering your rooms on a daily/nightly basis is not allowed by HDB. First of all, renting out of rooms or the whole flat should be intitiated be the owner. But, allegedly, the flat is being rented only by the Filipina. Hence, she is not allowed to have the rooms rented by other persons.

Also, there is no hotel permit to have the rooms available for transient occupancy.

So when some netizens spotted the ad, it was reported on various online and social media sites. Photos of the unit were also downloaded, before the account was deleted, which helped others trace the flat.

Full story in Singapore Yahoo News -->

A new HDB flat at Yishun has been converted into a "budget hotel" by a Filipina, who advertised her transient home service on various websites, including Facebook. As it was an affordable place to stay, many short-term visitors and job-hunters, mainly Filipinos, started making enquiries.

One advert read, "Hi, we have transient rooms and bedspace for rent for Filipinos, located in Yishun."

It also stated that the new apartment comes equipped with different amenities for a comfortable stay. Much cheaper than regular budget hotels in Singapore, a night's stay at the unit only costs S$25 per head. However, some netizens who spotted the ad have reported it on various online and social media sites. Photos of the unit were also downloaded, before the account was deleted, which helped others trace the flat.

The flat was found to be located at Block 450 in Jade Spring on Yishun Ring Road, which is close to several shopping and commercial amenities. The BTO unit was completed about six months ago, which means only Singaporeans are eligible to purchase a unit. It is unclear whether the foreigner was a new citizen or was renting it from a Singaporean.

However, she was unlikely to have been granted any license to operate a hotel out of the HDB flat, as the Hotels Act (Chapter 127), section 7(1) states, "No person shall keep or manage any premises for the purposes of a hotel unless he is the holder of a valid licence granted in respect of the premises in accordance with the provisions of this Act."

Moreover, Section 16(7) declares that, "Any person guilty of the offence shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding S$2,000 and, in the case of a second or subsequent offence, to such fine or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to both."

Human Trafficking of Filipinos

2008-02-05T17:30:00.000+08:00

According to last night's TV news, Philippine Embassy has claimed that human trafficking of Filipinos is at all-time high in Singapore.

It said the modus operandi was to attract women through promises of legitimate jobs in the services sector. But on reaching Singapore, they had ended up working in pubs and having to pay back a few thousand dollars to their handlers. The report said they got the money through sexual services to customers or commissions from alcoholic drinks.

However according Singapore's Home Affairs Ministry, there was no increase in the number of trafficking cases reported to the Police. The ministry added that it has a 3-pronged approach to combat the problem. These include prevention with tight border checks, enforcement action to protect women and help for the victims.

The Philippine embassy attributed the reported rise in human trafficking cases to four main factors: Budget airlines which have lowered the cost of travel, a network of illegal recruiters and syndicates, the large number of nighspots in Singapore's red light districts fuelling the demand for Filipino women, and poverty and joblessness in the Philippines.

To read full story, visit TODAY online.

15 Pinoys jailed in Singapore for using fake tickets

2007-11-15T17:24:00.000+08:00

Just like in other countries, Singapore requires every tourist to present a return ticket upon arrival. However, some stubborn Pinoys chose the easy way. Instead of presenting valid return tickets, they used manufactured/edited fake electronic ones. They were sent to jail and now not allowed to enter Singapore for 2 years. Aiyoh!

This makes me feel sad and embarrassed at the same time. I know how expensive tickets are to most Filipinos. Even the cheapest Tiger Airways or Cebu Pacific ticket can mean a lot for someone looking for a job and whose family depends to no one but him/her. It could mean meals for weeks or tuition for a son or medicine for an ailing mother. However, I feel embarrassed and can only hope that Singaporeans will not think that all Filipinos are dishonest.

Click here to read the full report.