FILIPINO MIGRANT NEWS NEW ZEALAND

PINOY NZ LIFE

REACHING FILIPINOS ACROSS NZ FOR OVER 18 YEARS! Vol 8 No 130 Published Fortnightly. Circulated Nationwide.

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Helping the migrant in a sea of uncertainty

By NOEL BAUTISTA Imagine getting involved i n a c a r - a n d - t r a i n a c c ident, less than a month after you arrive in New Zealand.

Imagine suffering a brain aneurysm as a new OFW in this country.

Or imagine falling from scaffolding while hard at

work a few days into your job, despite all the health and safety precautions that were taken.

Now imagine having no protection at all against the health and financial (and other) consequences of these terrible events.

Knock on wood and God forbid, we hope and pray these things won’t happen

IS IT TIME FOR A SHAKE UP?

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Why we need to pay attention to the Auckland local body elections.

Plus an interview with Mayoral candidate - John Tamihere.

to us. And God willing, they probably never will.

But believe it or not, to an unlucky few of our k a b a y a n , t h o s e e x a c t m i sfortunes described above happened to them when they were barely getting their feet wet, or were still getting the shoe-polish aroma out of their shiny new work boots.

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The effects of these accidents and health episodes were profound and long lasting, affecting t h e l i v e s , c a r e e r s a n d f a milies of our kabayan long after the incidents.

But equally terrible, due to the suddenness and unexpectedness of the events, were the loss of lives, jobs and incomes to

our fellow OFWs and migrants; things that will never be replaced.

Which is why, even on the cusp of a new life abroad and with your dreams almost within reach, OFWs and new m i g r a n t s a l i k e a r e c o nstantly advised to protect against uncertainty and plan for the future.

PAGEANTS IN REVIVAL MODE Four Filipinas are vying for the title - Mrs Universe NZ - this year.

Is there revived interest in joining pageants around the world?

And the best way to do t h i s , a c c o r d i n g t o e x p e r ienced and expert kabayan advisers in New Zealand, is to purchase insurance.

Your feedback about this seminar is welcome. Email: filipinonews@xtra.co.nz

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NUN’S CANONIZATION Venerable Maria Beatriz Rosario Arryo - founder of a Filipina-run Dominican congregation.

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BUHAY NZ

ISSUE 130

EVENT REPORT

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Over a 1 0 0 F i l i p i n o - K i w i H e r o e s honoured by Filipino Migrant News since 2014 : w w w . f i l i p i n o h e r o e s . n z

The pageant season is alive, well and in revival mode

Mrs Universe New Zealand 2019 pageant contestants from left: Christine Alcoseba, Carmela Evora Laylo, Jennet de las Penas-Dixon and Aileen Dela Rosa with Jazz Vidamo - the Opera Princess. Photo credit: Facebook page of pageant contestants.

OPINYON

By MEL FERNANDEZ AUCKLAND – Just when you thought that things had quietened down a bit, along comes a new lot of pageants to cater to a sector of society that seems to have a penchant for pageantry.

And the variety of pageants that have been dreamt up worldwide for pageant lovers is just mind-boggling.

Now there are pageants for just about everyone – from the very young to the not so young.

So kids, teenagers, young men and women,

mothers and even grandmas are welcome to parade around with gay abandon at their respective beauty pageants.

At one stage beauty pageants had copped a bit of bad press – they were viewed as politically incorrect due to the focus on beauty and the requirement for females to prance around in swimwear.

But some enlightened pageant organisers have veered away from this obsession to celebrate inner beauty and goodheartedness.

I was in conversation recently with a group of

pageant aficionados at a fundraiser for ‘Shine’ – a national domestic abuse charity – and surprisingly, it was the general consensus that there were far too many pageants around in New Zealand.

By the way, this particular group of pageant goers were attending a benefit concert titled ‘Sounds of Aroha’ featuring talented young singers, including our very own Jazz Vidamo, the Filipino Opera Princess.

The event was organised by Aileen Dela Rosa, a contestant in the Mrs Universe New Zealand

pageant. The three other Filipinas participating in the pageant are Carmela Evora Laylo, Christine Alcoseba and Jennet de Las Penas-Dizon - and each has organised a charity event in their patch.

Carmela Evora Laylo from Palmerston North organised a Brunch with Charm on 14th

September to raise funds for Save the Children NZ. Christine Alcoseba held a fundraising Tea Party in Orewa for KidsCan (supporting disadvantaged Kiwi kids).

And Jennet de Las Penas-Dizon organised a Salo Salo night (Disco and Videoke) in Lower Hutt on 31st August to raise funds for the Women’s

Refuge of New Zealand.

Best of luck to the Filipinas at the finals of the Mrs Universe NZ Pageant.

Editor: We welcome press invites to cover your community event. Or you can forward a report of the event with photographs to: filipinonews@xtra.co.nz

JAZZ VIDAMO

2019

filipinonews.nz Music Awards

Over a 100 Filipino-Kiwi heroes honoured to date

This year the Filipino Migrant News/ Pinoy NZ Life HERO AWARDS focuses on the unsung heroes who have been championing Pinoy workers rights.

Whistleblowers. Journalists. Unionists.

Migrant Advocacy Groups.

And others ...

We welcome your input. email: filipinonews@xtra.co.nz mobile : 027 495 8477

ISSUE 130

BUHAY OVERSEAS

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Filipina nun among the Catholic Church’s new Venerable An Independence Day blessing Nearly ten years since the cause for the canonization of Maria Beatriz Rosario Arroyo, OP, was launched, finally the Vatican declared this founder of a Filipina-run Dominican congregation as Venerable.

Pope Francis approved the promulgation of decrees for eight causes of canonization, including that of Arroyo, from Prefect Cardinal Angelo Becciu of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints.

Approved were the heroic virtues of Arroyo (or Rosario of the Visitation), co-founder of the Dominican Sisters of the Most Holy Rosary of the Philippines. She was born in the district of Molo in Iloilo City on February 17, 1884. She

died at age 73 on June 14, 1957.

The declaration of Arroyo as Venerable follows that of 17-year-old Darwin Ramos as Servant of God, issued by Becciu last May 31. Ramos’ cause was advanced by the Diocese of Cubao in Metro Manila. Servant of God is the first of four steps for a candidate for sainthood to be elevated to the Altar of Saints. It is a term associated with people who were said to be pious in the Catholic faith. The title Servant of God meant that the person’s life is deemed worthy for consideration for sainthood.

Those given the title Servant of God were stamped with nihil obstat (meaning nothing hinders). The next step is for

a candidate to be declared Ve n e r a b l e .

Parties to such candidacies must provide evidence of the heroic virtues of their candidates through collected documents and personal tes- Venerable Maria Beatriz Rosario Arroyo timonies.

A candidate is beatified intercession.

Venerable Arroyo is as Blessed (the third step) when one miracle is said to be the grand-aunt proven through the candi- of former First date’s intercession, in Gentleman Jose Miguel addition to the recogni- Arroyo, the husband of tion of heroic virtue or ex-President Gloria martyrdom. Finally, the Macapagal-Arroyo.

Accounts say that candidate is called a Saint through canonization, Maria Beatriz was chriswith a second miracle tened as 'Maria Beatriz required to be proven del Rosario' at the Sta. through the candidate’s Ana Church in Molo on

By JEREMAIAH OPINIANO The Filipino Connection February 20, 1884.

Beatriz was said to frequently participate in corporal works of mercy since she was young, amid being part of an affluent family.

She attended elementary school at Colegio de Sta. Ana and then finished at the Colegio de San Jose (administered by the Daughters of Charity, and where Beatriz received her first communion). She then joined the religious life in the Beaterio de Sta. Catalina in Manila, professing her vows on January 3, 1914. She then became a Dominican nun.

Beatriz and two other Dominican sisters cofounded a Filipino-run congregation called the Dominican Sisters of the Most Holy Rosary on February 18, 1927.

Beatriz was elected as the congregation’s first Superioress-General during the group’s First General Chapter (or assembly) on January 3-6, 1953. Beatriz served the congregation for 32 years.

The congregation, says its Facebook page, currently has over 250 professed sisters. It runs numerous schools and colleges, clinics, orphanages, retreat houses and several missions abroad. The congregation is present in the archdioceses of Capiz, Jaro and Manila and in the dioceses of Bacolod, Imus, Mati, San Jose de Antique and Tagum. The congregation also has communities of sisters in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Kenya, Italy and the United States.

On July 28, 2009, Archbishop of Jaro Angel Lagdameo, DD, initiated the diocesan process for Beatriz’s cause for sainthood. This cause officially began on October 7, 2009, at St. Anne Parish Church in Molo.

Arroyo joins five other venerables whose causes for sainthood were lobbied for from the Philippines.

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I 27th Year of Publication

Why we need to pay attention to the Auckland local body elections their costs blow-out

By LOUIE ENCABO then the central governAUCKLAND - It is said that ment is forced to intervene, the Mayor of Auckland is the costing nationwide taxpayers third most powerful person in (e.g. the Auckland City Rail New Zealand, after the Prime Link).

Minister and the Finance Allocating large sums in the Minister, due to the sheer country’s annual budget to amount of resources under Auckland spending often their control. arouses the ire of New It is estimated that the Zealanders from outside the Auckland Super-City has an region, denouncing it to be annual budget of $3 billion, unfair to non-Auckland taxemploys more than 9,000 payers. staff, has jurisdiction over However, given the sheer thousands of hectares of pub- number of people living in the lic land and is the largest city country’s most populated council on the entire Oceania region and the scale of comcontinent. Not to mention the merce located there also, it fact that the region is home to makes sense that the central 1.6 million residents, nearly government exercises duehalf of the 4.9 million popula- diligence with the Auckland tion of the entire country. super-city.

Infrastructure projects of Hence, the affairs of the the Auckland City Council, Auckland City Council should such as team bases for the not be the concern of upcoming America’s Cup Aucklanders only. The rest of competition, can cost more New Zealand should take ($250 million) than the entire heed of the developments in annual revenue of many the region, given that it could smaller New Zealand cities, potentially affect them, albeit such as Whangarei ($147.8 indirectly, as well. million for FY 2017/18).

As mentioned, the City Rail In that same light, infra- Link (CRL) – an understructure projects located in ground rail project in central the Auckland region are of Auckland – saw a billion dolsuch great importance that if lar cost increase in April this

OPINYON

year. The infrastructure project is jointly funded by the Government and Auckland Council, therefore every New Zealand taxpayer would have grimaced at the report of the cost blow-out.

Central government has also contributed at least $136.5 million to various projects related to the upcoming America’s Cup – an international sailing regatta set to be hosted by Auckland in 2021.

Whether a sporting event is a practical use of public funds has been debated, but the project stands to only benefit Aucklanders post-Cup, despite receiving funding from the rest of the country as well.

There are more big-ticket Auckland infrastructure projects that will also receive central government funding if they are pushed through; among these is the $6.7 billion light-rail link connecting Britomart to Auckland Airport. This proposed modern tram is the subject of intense scrutiny because of its cost and practicality and also because of the evident superiority of building a heavy-rail link instead.

Take note, the Auckland light-rail project is only one

Phil Goff, 66, is completing his first term as Mayor of New Zealand’s most powerful local body - Auckland City Council.

What are his chances for getting re-elected for the top job?

part of the wider Auckland Transport Alignment Project (ATAP), which is a joint spending plan between the central and local Auckland governments and amounts to $28 billion in total. If one project of that entire proposal is already the subject of intense debate, will the others be too?

The future of the Ports of Auckland is also a salient issue that every New Zealander should pay attention to. There are plans to relocate the port to another region and instead redevelop the existing site into a new commercial district for Auckland or a new stadium, but it generates an estimated $50 million in dividends to the Council each year and could burn a hole in the supercity’s future plans.

The local body elec-

tions will be a referendum on Phil Goff’s performance as Mayor.

Being one of the busiest ports in the country, all New Zealanders should show concern for what the eventual decision regarding the Ports of Auckland’s future will be. A relocation could be welcome news for a struggling region elsewhere, but could leave Auckland’s finances in a mess that will require more bailouts from central government in the future.

Again, more reason for every New Zealander to be vigilant about Auckland’s affairs.

Decision-making comes from the Auckland City Council, chaired by the Mayor of Auckland. While the latter is the de-facto leader of the super-city, they are one vote in a council of 20 other councillors.

Thus, the race for councillor in the different wards is just as vital, given that it is ultimately the majority vote of the Council that determines the actions it takes. With a lot at stake, it goes without saying that the Auckland local body elections are more than an

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Engage ... to ensure your voice is heard organizations in Auckland.

He has worked for central and local government in Wellington and Auckland. He holds post graduate qualifications in communications and international communications from Australia and New Zealand.

“We migrants come to New Zealand to live and raise our families and the local elections offer us an unique opportunity to be part of civic life and participate in the democratic process,” says Kumar.

“When you talk about Monina Hernandez - the local elections and paronly Filipina campaigning ticipating in local elecin West Auckland tions I feel that we need to do three things.

“Firstly, we must engage. We do have a very strong multicultural community here, but we cannot just be looking inward and engaging exclusively with our own communities. We do need to look at the wider community.

“Secondly, we must understand the democratic and High profile Singaporean-Kiwi, political processes Murali Kumar, is walking the talk. we can call it the He is seeking a seat in the educational part.

Henderson-Massey Local Board as We must make an well as the Waitakere Licensing effort to underTrust. stand how the votAnne Degia-Pala is tack- ing process works and ling the Whau Ward. how our voices can be And seeking a seat on the heard.

Henderson-Massey Local “Thirdly, we need repBoard are three Asian resentation. The only candidates, one of whom way to do this is enrol to is Murali Kumar. vote, to stand as candiKumar is a well known dates and to support Singaporean migrant those who are standing who has been actively for election. This ensures involved in ethnic cultur- that our voices are heard. al events. He sees his par“I believe that balancticipation in local politics ing professional and as a progression from community work is in developing and imple- itself a skill. The passion menting community to be with people and based programs for work with and through Auckland Council and people is important for his involvement in advis- being successful in coming and supporting a munity work and that’s number of community my philosophy.”

At the last local body elections in West Auckland two Filipino candidates - Francisco Hernandez and Monina Gesmundo - were vying to be local representatives. Now there is one ...

Campaigning for the local body elections is in full swing and at every turn you see the smiley faces of candidates on endless rows of billboards peering at you to solicit your vote.

If you bother to take a closer look at the election hoarding you may ask – who are all these people and why would you want to vote for them?

Except for the odd seasoned politician or a vaguely familiar face from a previous election campaign, most of the candidates are veritable strangers.

At the end of the day, there may be very few names on your voting forms that you could confidently give a tick of support to.

At the last local body elections two Auckland Filipino candidates – Francisco Hernandez and Monina Gesmundo were vying to be representatives for their community in West Auckland. Sadly, they were unsuccessful.

But Monina, a health professional, is back in the race as the Labour Candidate for Waitemata District Health Board.

In contrast, the number of new aspirants from the migrant community is steadily rising, but is nowhere near proportional to the numbers of the migrant population in Auckland.

In West Auckland oldtimer Peter Chan, an Independent, is battling it out in the Waitakere Ward and former New Zealand First candidate

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By MEL FERNANDEZ

AUCKLAND – Local elections will be held on 12 October 2019. The clock is ticking for voters to choose candidates that will represent them in the city, district and regional councils, local boards and community boards as well as district health boards and licensing trusts. The top job on offer is that of the mayor, who leads the council and chairs the governing body.

In a recent straw poll conducted by Filipino Migrant News via its social media channels, it was ascertained that Rates, Housing, Jobs and Safety are primary concerns for settled migrants and newcomers. These are issues that the 14 hopefuls in the running to be the new Auckland mayor have to tackle.

In this, the first of our interviews with some candidates in the Auckland election, we feature John Tamihere (JT) - one of the front-runners for the Mayoral post.

As Christine Fletcher (a former Auckland City Mayor, a former National Government Minister and current Auckland Councillor, says: “The city is crying out for a strong leader who will sort things out, who knows how to get the best out of people and unite them, a man who has committed his life to helping people. This city needs John Tamihere.”

A similar sentiment is voiced by well-known social commentator Thakur Ranjit Singh: "We need to add colour to Auckland Council to reflect the demographic makeup of the city. And JT is the man to do it by engaging with Maori, Pacifica, Indian, Chinese, Asian and other ethnic communities."

We asked JT if a freeze on rates is doable?

“Yes - for 3 years, but look, no one gets a free lunch forever. The balance sheet is 5.7 billion dollars expenditure for the year. I just need to save 1% per year, which is 86.6 million dollars a year.

If I cant save 1% across the whole business then there is something wrong with the business. I need to bring financial rigour and probity to the city.

JT emerges as strong mayoral contender ...

“I know that there is significant waste. We’ve got to bring discipline back into the financial management of the city.

You have to set a very hard line in order to send the message to bureaucrats that are at the moment out of control.

“Point 2 - there are four stealth taxes which have been brought into the city.

One - the 11? % tax on petrol that only applies to Aucklanders. If it applied to all other cities then I’d cop it. But 11? cents will gouge out anyone who earns less than $16,000. It is a regressive tax regime and it also affects rents and the cost of living.

“Why I am running is because I am sick of how people on low incomes are being constantly gouged out. And it can be fixed.”

FMN: Housing is one of the three top concerns for migrants - especially for the newcomers who face the prospect of competing for a limited supply of rental accommodation and ever rising rents.

Owning a home is a dream that may never come true for them.

“Housing is the reason why I got tipped into this race, as we build social houses. We can’t build affordable houses because people earning below $80,000 a year can’t afford to get into the market. A lot of our wages and taxes are going on rent we are just treading water.

“So what we have got to do is to lift the supply side of housing. The restraint on that is predominantly two things. Firstly, the supply of land at a reasonable value and two - the cost of developing on that land, from resource consenting all the way through to the cost of materials.

“It is 800 to 1,200 dollars cheaper a square metre to build in Australia than in New Zealand. That’s got to tell

you that something is corrupt or wrong. So straight away on that number you know that in some parts of the construction industry all is not well and needs to be addressed.

“For vulnerable communities, new arrivals and those on lower wages and salaries, we have to lift the supply of housing.

The private market won’t do that. So it requires local authorities and central government to work together.

“Local authorities have got the best land holdings in their brownfields.

Brownfields are where infrastructure is already in place and close to transport. That’s where vulnerable communities have to be housed. They should not have to be pushed out to South Auckland and up to the North, as the cost of coming in and out and the pressure and stress it puts on their whanau obligations are huge.

“Where is the extra land? Council’s got lots of it. The extra land is around the margins of hospitals and schools and the state owns hectares of it and all I want is access to this and we can build social housing.”

FMN: Is Auckland Council taking the lead in achieving greater diversity in employment and in the social and cultural scene?

“I don’t think that a lot has been done by council in this area. There is a lot of smoke and screens and a lot of noise in council with regards to diversity.

“We are all Auck-landers, but we are all not the same. We’ve got every right to have support for our own separate languages, traditions and cultures without someone saying you have to be English.

“We’ve got every right to explore these things and there should be

funding for parades etc.

Our diversity has to be acknowledged.”

FMN: Safety is another issue for migrants as there have been some horrific incidents that have freaked them out in recent years.

“As regards safety, there are three issues here. A lot of people of colour are picked on.

There is a racism issue in this country that needs to be stared down. I suffered it. My mother suffered it for marrying a brown man. So I understand it. It is sophisticated and it is deep, because they never acknowledge it. I would rather have honest racists. We need to drive cultural change in the non-coloured population.

“The second issue is

John Tamihere (JT) greater security and safety and that really is a policing issue. If you have homelessness in town then you bring in bad elements. Under the crimes act and under the summary offences act, anyone can be arrested for loitering. I don’t want to take a heavy criminal justice

approach. I want to take a more compassionate approach: can I help you off that street? If you are not going to give up that street because you are unwell mentally and you are a menace to other citizens, well then you go into the lock up or a facility that can help you.”

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TRABAHO

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How crucial is volunteering to finding a job? “It’s a big thing,” says Lulette Carnie, an Employment Co-ordinator. “As migrants like Jody really want a job in their profession, they can use the volunteer scheme as a foundation to land their dream job.”

By MEL FERNANDEZ

Like so many migrants before them, Jody Arsenio, husband Jethro and son RJ made a momentous decision in February 2011 – they were going to relocate to New Zealand.

By going down that track, they were leaving behind their close-knit family circle, friends, secure jobs and wellestablished networks to plunge into the unknown.

In spite of being well qualified, finding a job in New Zealand was not as straightforward as Jody and her husband thought it would be.

The fact that they were very new to the country was obvious to the employers who received their CVs, Jody tells Migrant News.

Putting the ‘V’ into C.V. “Why didn’t they give us a chance? I realised I had to do something about this,” says Jody. “I can be discouraged or take this as a challenge. I chose to stay positive and hopeful. I saw from the pamphlet in the library that the Auckland Regional Migrant Centre (now branded as Belong Aotearoa) was providing different seminars for new migrants.”

She attended job search seminars there and became aware of what was missing in her CV, something many migrants are in denial about, the lack of any New Zealand experience.

“At the seminar new skilled migrants are encouraged to seek volunteer experience to gain NZ work experience,” says Lulette Carnie, a former Regional Employ-

ment Coordinator at Belong Aotearoa.

“They also gain knowledge about NZ business culture and the workplace environment, improve their language and communication skills, gain confidence, get connected with Belong Aotearoa networks and can access their other programmes and services.

“In the course of volunteering, volunteers will have access to see the Employment Programme Coordinator for individualised consultations, coaching and mentoring.

We have volunteer positions in reception, communications and IT at Belong Aotearoa.”

Carnie took Arsenio on as a volunteer Employment Project Assistant.

“She was responsible for administration work, database management,

customer service, preparing work packs and clients’ follow ups,” s a y s Jody Arsenio - Lecturer Carnie.

“The advantage of vol- Belong Aotearoa she unteer work was that it found part-time work as gave me confidence,” says an economics tutor in two Arsenio. “I was helping private training establishmigrants and doing office ments (PTEs); this experiwork with people from ence embellished her CV. “Jody’s attitude was different cultural backpositive. She was outgogrounds.

“In the Philippines I ing, proactive and profeswas doing administration sional in communication work, as we had our own and appearance,” says hardware and construc- Carnie.

“She is a team player, tion business. I also taught economics for five has a willingness to learn years at the University of and gave me more than Santo Tomas and six what was expected and years at the Polytechnic required as a volunteer.

University of the Philip- She is also innovative.”

This glowing reference pines. I had to find a job in my field to get a resi- and New Zealand experience in administration at dence visa.”

During her stint at Belong Aotearoa plus

teaching economics parttime helped her find a dream job.

Her role at Oxford International Academy was as an administration manager.

“I had a challenging job and it involved dealing with the Ministry of Education, Immigration New Zealand, Public Trust, doing other office work and attending to students' and tutors' needs. “I was also teaching economics part-time at the school.”

Jody told MN that it took about five and a half months to find part-time work and seven months for full time. She is delighted that she is working in her own field, as she was able to apply for a residence visa.

“On the same day I started my job, my husband also started his work in a Primary School.”

Editor: Jodie later moved to Palmerston North to join the high profile International Pacific College and subsequently moved on to other senior roles in the education field.

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set:

d re KiwiBuil

The Government has announced new initiatives to help more New Zealanders into home ownership through its KiwiBuild reset.

“By making improvements to our build programme we can get more New Zealanders into warm, dry, secure homes whether they be public, rental or affordable KiwiBuild homes,” said Housing Minister Megan Woods.

The reset includes: • New ways for people to become home owners, such as shared-ownership schemes • Boosting supply by building more homes where evidence shows that

A glimmer of hope for home ownership? they are needed • Letting friends and family join their $10,000 deposit assistance together • Reducing to 5% the deposit required for a government-backed mortgage • Reducing the amount developers receive for triggering the government underwrite rather than selling to KiwiBuild buyers “We will also be dropping the target of 100,000 houses over ten years. It was overly ambitious and led to contracts being signed in places where there was little first home buyer demand,” Megan Woods said.

“Instead of the target, we will focus on building as many homes as we can, as fast as we can, in the right places. Each month we will release a dashboard of housing statistics, so New Zealanders can easily measure our progress.

“Homes in Te Kauwhata, Canterbury and

Kiwis raise $1.6m to provide free kids’ counselling Mike King and being is to New the mental health Zealand. We had charity I AM over 500,000 peoHOPE asked ple upload the Kiwis to wear Facebook frame gumboots on Friwhen launching day 5 April 2019 as Gumboot Friday a fun way to raise and we’re excited money for kids' to be partnering counselling. again to grow the Over $1.3 milimpact even furlion was raised on ther.

Gumboot Friday, To find out how with another to access Gum$300,000 donated boot Friday fundin the weeks foling for kids go to Mike King - Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year lowing. w w w. i a m h o p e .

Kiwibank New Zealander schools, businesses, clubs org.nz. of the Year, Mike King, and kindergartens right NZ Mental Health said: “Professional mental across the country.

Statistics” health support is now avail“The success of the first Figures released last year able for any young person Gumboot Friday shows that by the Ministry of Justice who needs it, up to the age Kiwis care deeply about showed that New Zealand’s of 19. There’s no tricky cri- improving the mental health suicide rates had increased teria or waiting list; just of our rangatahi. My heart- for four consecutive years book an appointment and I felt thanks goes out to and that we are one of the AM HOPE will pay.” everyone who got involved. leading countries in the Since 5 April 2019 1,299 By chucking on your gum- world for youth suicide. kids have reached out for mies and talking about menLast year in New Zealand free counselling and over tal health you made a big 137 young people died by 300 registered counsellors, difference to kids who are suicide and it is estimated psychotherapists and psy- struggling,” he said. that another 3,500 attempted chologists have signed up Head of Brand and to take their own lives. with I AM HOPE to provide Marketing Communications While Government agenhelp to kids in need, with the at Kiwibank, Simon cies are doing their best, numbers growing every day. Hofmann, said: “The sup- some kids are waiting up to Mike and his team were port shown for Gumboot six months to receive the overwhelmed with the Friday 2019 really proved counselling they so urgently fundraising efforts of how important mental well- need.

Wanaka that haven’t sold will be released to the open market, allowing us to reuse the government capital to get more developments underway where there is clear demand.

“We will also be making changes to the Government underwrite, reducing the amount available for future developments

so that developers are incentivised to sell to KiwiBuild first home buyers instead of triggering the underwrite, which may be at a lower level.

“The Urban Development Authority, Kainga Ora – Homes and Communities, will coordinate developments across New Zealand, making sure that we get a mix of public housing, market priced homes and KiwiBuild homes. We will now target those homes to areas where there is a clearly identified demand and need. We will look for opportunities for build to rent with long term institutional investors through these developments.”

This reset of the build programme sits alongside other actions the Government has already taken to begin to address the housing crisis: • Banning overseas speculators from the market • Stopping the sell-off of state houses • reforming tenancy rules • Helping hundreds of homeless people get into a home with wrap around services, including addiction services and mental healthcare • Building record numbers of state and public houses • Starting off reform of the RMA

Scam targeting visa holders continues Visa holders in New Zealand are being contacted by a person pretending to be from Immigration New Zealand.

They are demanding that money be sent to them in order to maintain or correct their immigration status in New Zealand. This is a scam.

Callers are posing as INZ staff and demanding payment from people to avoid deportation for various reasons, including incorrectly completing an arrival card and a failed police check.

The scammers are using a technology known as the caller id spoofing scam that allows a legitimate phone number to appear when the call is actually being made from another number.

No matter how important the caller

may sound, do not pay, report the call to the Police.

Immigration New Zealand would never make demands for money such as this over the phone.

How to recognise if the call is a scam.

The caller tells the person that there has been a problem with their visa or arrival card information.

They demand that they pay money into a Western Union account or face serious consequences, such as deportation.

Often the caller has some details of the person they are speaking to such as their name, date of birth or address, so the calls appear genuine.

Their caller ID comes up as 09 914

Auckland landlord ordered to pay $180k

An Auckland landlord has been ordered to pay n e a r l y $180,000 for deliberately not lodging tenancy bonds.

The Tenancy Tribunal found Widhani Iskandar, also known as Debbie, failed to lodge bond money in 81 cases, adding up to $119,625.

It was the largest group of applications investigated by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.

The ministry said lodging tenants' bond money was a

fundamental responsibility for landlords.

"Trust is a key component in the relationship between a landlord and a tenant, and for a landlord to breach that trust on a scale such as this is unacceptable," it said.

The tribunal also ordered Ms Iskandar to pay about $47,600 for committing unlawful acts under the Residential Tenancies Act and about $10,500 for tribu-

nal and application costs.

In 2016, the Salvation Army had said it believed up to 150 people who have been living in Ms Iskandar's properties faced homelessness.

She was charging her tenants hundreds of dollars a week to and cram into single bedrooms.

Back then, social agencies and some former tenants seemed to agree that she was running a scam and ripping vulnerable people off.

- RNZ

ISSUE 130

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ISSUE 130

INSURANCE

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www.migrantnews.nz : New Zealand’s first MULTICULTURAL newspaper. Published since 1991.

Why should you ensure you’re insured?

In New Zealand Kiwis tend to take out an insurance policy to cover themselves against financial loss as a result of death, fire, theft, sickness, job loss and the like as a matter of course.

For a new migrant to the country the necessity of getting insurance cover may not rank so highly on their ‘must do list’. Until, of course, something untoward occurs and they are left stranded without protection.

So why are migrants inadequately protected against financial loss?

Rowena Sabdao a professional in her field, gave us a few clues as to why this is so.

FMN: In the Philippines we don’t really buy insurance, right?

ROWENA: Yes, because it is expensive over there.

But over here, because we have term insurance, which means that you are covered as soon as you pay the premiums, it’s cheaper to buy insurance.

You can pay for your insurance premiums in one

lump sum annually, monthly or even weekly. Please note that in the case of students and work permit holders the term of the insurance will be dependent on the length of time they are allowed to stay in the country.

FMN: Could you give us a scenario where insurance cover could have helped?

ROWENA: I’ve known a

family that believed that they were fully insured until the sudden death of the husband.

He was earning about $80,000 a year, but he didn’t have any insurance. The stress that the wife suffered was huge. She’s still struggling.

My role is to let people know the importance of hav-

ing good insurance policies in place and to familiarize them with products in the market that are affordable.

FMN: Is insurance an expense we should factor into our family budgets?

ROWENA: Buying insurance is not an expense – it’s really an investment in a way … because all of us will die sooner or later and hav-

ing a good life insurance policy in place will give your family peace of mind during the most trying times.

For example, you could pay off your mortgage and other financial commitments and still leave something for your family to replace the loss of income to the household.

Likewise, many of my

clients have mortgages. So instead of just offering them insurance to cover the mortgage we actually do a full loan profiling (assessment of income, expenditure, bank loans, dependents, residency status etc.) for our client. This way we can offer them a whole lot more cover besides mortgage cover.

For example we can provide cover for a lot of things, right up to the education costs of the last child who will go to college. What’s required is really a good loan profiling and insurance profiling for the client.

Editor – This series on the various types of insurance policies – health, home and contents, income protection, travel insurance etc. - continues in forthcoming editions.

PHOTO (left) :Speakers at the insurance forum sponsored by Good Heart PH-NZ Foundation and the Philippine Embassy: (from left, back) Bobby Chua, Eddie Katigbak, Ambassador Jesus Gary Domingo, Ulrike Yukei and Romy Udanga. (from left, front) Dennis Panes Magcalas, Alicat Lozano Edgar, Cora SitchonLaquindanum, Lani Larsen, Mary Ann Guiao and Steven Friedman.

A community focus drives success for AIL. A D V E R TO R I A L A focus on community service initiatives accounts for the unparalleled success of A m e r i c a n I n s u r a n c e L i f e ( A I L ) in New Zealand.

According to S t e v e F r i e d l a n d e r , Managing Director of AIL of New Z e a l a n d L t d , who has been contracted to AIL for the past 40 years, two of the company’s no cost programs have been very well received by community groups and labour unions and are driving the success of its other insurance products for these sectors.

The flagship community service promotion of the company is providing a N O - C O S T C h i l d S a f e K i t for the children or grand-children of parents who are members of the aforementioned preferred groups.

The Child Safety Kit is packed with vital information that can save and protect children if they go missing. In fact, parents can text a copy of the Kit to authorities to speed up rescue efforts, as time is of the essence in these situations.

According to Friedlander, an equally important offering for members of community groups and unions is a NO-COST loyalty benefit: a $ 2 , 0 0 0 A c c i d e n t a l D e a t h a n d D i s m e m b e r m e n t B e n e f i t (one each for husband and wife) for which no medical questions will be asked. This gift certificate of cover is complementary for the first year and renewable for just $2 a year. (But one is not com-

pelled to carry on after the first year.)

Last but not least is a ‘ F u n e r a l a r r a n g e ments form’ (AIL Family Information G u i d e ) which clients of AIL can fill in so that any pay-out to beneficiaries for their choices of their funeral arrangements can be dealt with expeditiously either in New Zealand or overseas. Instructions for repatriation back to the Philippines can be spelled out in advance so the surviving members of the family will be able to handle arrangements with less stress and can know what to arrange with the appropriate funeral homes.

AIL was established in New Zealand 25 years ago after a holiday from the USA was the inspiration to move here and is proud of its 'A+ Superior' rating from A.M. Best Company.

“Currently it is the largest provider of supplemental insurance to labour unions, credit unions and associations in New Zealand,” says Friedlander.

He adds that AIL is the official insurance provider to members of G r e y P o w e r and 90% of all trade unions and many credit

unions. For the last five years AIL has been the official insurance company for the Federation of Filipino Associations, S o c i e t i e s a n d C l u b s in New Zealand and the rest of its chapters. Many of the families that are signing up are from recommendations by group families as according to Friedlander 'word of mouth' is still the very best form of advertising.

AIL provides affordable insurance cover and special arrangements can be made to pay the premiums weekly, fortnightly or monthly. Its products can be customized for Filipino families with worldwide coverage across all occupations. He adds that unlike some other companies AIL does not charge increased premiums for occupational risk - office-based staff and those working on building sites pay the same premiums.

AIL offers Lii f e I n s u r a n c e , F u n e r a l C o v e r , A c c i d e n t C o v e r a g e and C a n c e r P r o t e c t i o n policies. Steve Friedlander points out that any payouts of benefits for injury is in addition to what employees are entitled to

from ACC. All Filipinos living in New Zealand are being invited to take advantage of AIL’s no-cost community service products like the C h i l d S a f e K i t and the $ 2 , 0 0 0 A c c i d e n t a l D e a t h a n d D i s m e m b e r m e n t B e n e f i t if they are members of Filipino community groups.

In addition, readers of Filipino Migrant News (FMN) are also being invited to text F M N to 9 8 8 7 for details on how to receive the aforementioned no-cost community service offerings from AIL. AIL is a sponsor of the F i l i p i n o R e u n i o n event in October in Hamilton. Readers of FMN are invited to meet representatives of the company who will be present at the show. Please mention that you read about AIL’s special promotions in Filipino Migrant News.

Text supplied.

AIL of New Zealand Ltd Tel: 0800-894-121 www.ailnz.co.nz

DISCLAIMER: Filipino Migrant News does not receive a commision for any policies taken up with AIL. Please practice due diligence when entering into any financial arrangements.

ISSUE 130

INSURANCE

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www.migrantnews.nz : New Zealand’s first Multicultural newspaper. Published since 1991.

Helping the migrant in a sea of uncertainty

our kabayan long after the incidents. But equally terrible, due to the suddenness and unexpectedness of the events, were the loss of lives, jobs and

Opinion

By NOEL BAUTISTA

I magine getting involved in a car-and-train accident, less than a month after you arrive in New Zealand.

INSURANCE SEMINAR organised by the Good Heart PH-NZ Foundation in partnership with the Philippine Embassy and the Philippine Consulate in Auckland.

Imagine suffering a brain aneurysm as a new OFW in this country.

Or imagine falling from scaffolding while hard at work a few days into your job, despite all the health and safety precautions that were taken.

ADVERTORIAL New Zealand is one of the few places that has a government backed Accident Insurance p r ogramme. Even if you are a casual visitor to NZ and you have an accident related injury, ACC will pick up the tab. There is no c o s t t o y o u o r y o u r i n s u rer, be it travel insurance or health Insurance.

T h i s i s o n e o f t h e r e asons that Health Insurance in NZ is so much cheaper than (say) Australia or the USA where there is no ACC. Other than that, if you have a medical emergency in NZ (say a heart attack) and you do not have Inbound Travel Insurance or Private Medical I n s u r a n c e t h e n t h e N Z s y stem will still treat you.

But then they will send you the bill and that can b e i n t h e t e n s o r e v e n h u nd r e d s o f t h o u s a n d s o f d o llars.

To have NZ based Medical Insurance you must be eligible for free NZ treatment by the Public Health System

Now imagine having no protection at all against the health and financial (and other) consequences of these terrible events.

Knock on wood and God forbid, we hope and pray these things won’t happen to us. And God willing, they probably never will.

But believe it or not, to an unlucky few of our

kabayan, those exact misfortunes described above happened to them when they were barely getting their feet wet, or were still getting the shoe-polish aroma out of their shiny new work boots.

The effects of these accidents and health episodes were profound and long lasting, affecting the lives, careers and families of

until you have it arranged.

Fortunately, most Travel Insurances have this cover as part o f t h e i r s t a ndard Policy Wording.

However, what if you have a long term Visa (over 2 years) and standard Medical Insurance?

Only one of these has t h e o p t i o n t o a d d r e p a t r i ation cover to the policy and this can in many cases b e d o n e f r e e o f a n y a d d itional costs.

W h e n l o o k i n g a t r e p a t r iation cover it is important to ensure that the policy wording has been approved by POLO.

Medical Care, Insurance and your Visa This means that you must have a Visa that is valid for more than 2 years at the time you get it.

Anyone with Visa totalling less than 2 years w i l l n o t b e e l i g i b l e f o r p u blic health funding so travel insurance is the choice to cover medical expenses.

The Visa needs to be exactly two X 365 days to b e e l i g i b l e f o r p r o p e r m e dical insurance and eligibile for hospital stays.

For Visas with a shorter term you will need Inbound Travel Insurance that is tailored to your Visa. A S t u d e n t V i s a w i l l h a v e d i fferent requirements and costs than a work Visa.

These policies can, of course, also cover you for your personal belongings

Under the new POLO requirements all Filipino Citizens travelling on any Visa are required to have cover to return their remains in the event of their death. This is referred to as a Repatriation Clause. If you return to visit the Philippines during your stay and cannot satisfy this clause then they will prevent your return to NZ

Where your best insurance is a damn good broker.

incomes to our fellow OFWs and migrants; things that will never be replaced.

Which is why, even on the cusp of a new life abroad and with your dreams almost within reach, OFWs and new migrants alike are constantly advised to protect against uncertainty and plan for the future. And

the best way to do this, according to experienced and expert kabayan advisers in New Zealand, is to purchase insurance.

At an insurance forum organised by a new Pinoy initiative, the Good Heart PH-NZ Foundation, experts and insurers from different areas of insurance expertise spoke before an audience of new migrants and OFWs, not to sell their products but to explain the whys and hows of insurance protection in New Zealand.

For instance, the health insurance speaker, Bobby Chua of Peak Insurance, informed us that because the population pressure on the public health sector increases by 40,000 per year (from migration alone), delays in receiving badly needed health services are becoming a problem.

Ordinary, non lifethreatening surgery might require anywhere between six months to one year of waiting. continued on pg 12

Bobby Chua, Senior Adviser bobby@ peakfinancial.co.nz 021 239 5335

Ulrike Balanon RFA ulrike@ peakfinancial.co.nz 021 025 28759

Richard Alonso RFA richard@ peakfinancial.co.nz 021 161 0229

https://www.facebook.com/ peakfinancialservices/ www.peakfinancial.co.nz

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INSURANCE

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Understand insurance, especially if you are a migrant on work or resident visa!

• What is insurance for repatriation?

• Should you get a medical insurance?

• What is life, trauma and total disability cover for?

• Why and what should you insure?

• How can you provide for your family back home?

Bone surgery or those more urgent (but still not life threatening) surgeries could require a two to sixmonth waiting period.

There have been cases of patients dying a day before their scheduled surgery.

The best way to lower the risk of aggravating health problems because of undue waiting, would be to purchase health insurance, available to anyone who has held at least a work visa for the last two years.

Funeral insurance also helps prevent the double

tragedy of first, the loss of life and second, the problem of returning the deceased’s remains to the Philippines.

Good if your parents are wealthy and can afford to spend at least NZ$20,000 on shipping the remains home, but the overwhelming majority of

Demand a refund for mis-sold insurance, Consumer NZ says Consumer NZ is advising car buyers who have been missold mechaRaybon Kan nical breakdown insurance to demand a refund.

Consumer NZ chief executive Sue Chetwin said that the insurance was heavily promoted by car dealers and could add more than $1000 to a vehicle's purchase price.

But she said that the cover was hardly worth having and complaints showed that the insurance continued to be sold with misleading claims about the protection it provided.

Comedian Raybon Kan, a Consumer NZ member, was sold the insurance by Palmerston North car dealer Lee European. The dealer claimed that the policy would cover faults with the vehicle’s air-conditioning and transmission, which a pre-purchase inspection had indicated might require repair.

However, the dealer not only failed to provide a copy

of the policy, but it also didn’t tell Mr Kan that the insurance excluded preexisting faults and that he wouldn’t be able to claim on it if the air-conditioning or transmission problems turned into a major expense.

Mr Kan successfully took Lee European to the Motor Vehicle Disputes Tribunal, which ordered the dealer to pay $2000 for the insurance and $2200 for subsequent repairs to the air-conditioning system.

“Dealers claim that the insurance will protect you if vehicle parts suddenly fail and need repair. But the policies typically have long lists of problems that aren’t covered, including any preexisting faults with the car and anything deemed the result of faulty repairs,” Ms Chetwin said.

“Car buyers already have protection under the Consumer Guarantees Act (CGA) and don’t need to rely on mechanical breakdown insurance,” she said.

“If a car dealer sells a vehicle that’s not of acceptable quality, then it has a legal obligation to sort out

Call or txt Romy to answer your questions!

It’s FREE!

Protecting you and those who depend on you!

Romy Udanga, MBA, MF Director and Insurance Adviser 021-222-8157 romyudanga@gmail.com

continued from pg 11

• What benefits can you get from ACC and the public health system?

• What insurance should you get if you are buying a house?

the problem.”

Ms Chetwin said that you’ve got grounds to request a refund if: • You were misled about what the insurance policy covered. For example, you were told that it covered all faults with the vehicle.

• You were told that the insurance was compulsory.

• Insurance was added to your car loan without your knowledge.

• You were sold insurance, but never received a copy of the policy.

• You were misled about your rights under the CGA. For example, the dealer claimed that you needed the insurance if you wanted cover for faults.

Ms Chetwin said that car dealers were keen to promote mechanical breakdown insurance because they stood to earn a commission on each policy sold.

“In our view, this insurance isn’t worth the cost.

You’re better off spending your money on a pre-purchase inspection and getting the vehicle regularly serviced after you buy it.”

our Filipinos do not have this luxury, according to Romy Udanga, financial planner and specialist.

His Excellency Ambassador Gary Domingo also pointed out that the Philippine Embassy cannot be expected to be a source of funds every time tragedy befalls our Pinoy

brethren, as it is not a mandate of the Embassy to provide such.

Insurance protection therefore becomes just as important to the migrant as basic needs like food, clothing and shelter.

So the next time you sit down and make serious planning, please remem-

ber our kabayan who suffered serious accidents, not just for the sacrifices they and their families continue to make, but for the examples they set.

Migrant life is full of surprises, but we needn’t face them unprepared.

ISSUE 130

ECO-TOURISM

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By Sarwell Meniano & Roel Amazona BURAUEN, Leyte – With extensive promotion and the backing of experts, this town is off to a good start in its goal to market the area as the springs capital of Leyte.

The local government has been consulting with industry experts on how to develop the town’s ecotourism sites in a sustainable manner.

In an interview, town Mayor Juanito Renomeron said that with the limitations of the local government they have been seeking assistance from experts and advocates on how to carry out the Burauen Ecotourism and Sustainable Tourism (BEST) project.

“We are embarking on something new to us, yet we are aware that this is something that will help improve our economy. We have to recognize the need to develop tourism as a way to improve the lives of people,” Renomeron said.

The mayor noted that many tourists have been coming to their town to visit cold spring resorts,

what’s unique in the mountains of Leyte.

“This is a very good step forward for everyone to recognize that they will be able to see something different in the heart of Leyte. We are happy to work with Burauen to strengthen sustainable tourism activities and protect Burauen’s biodiversity,” Lim told summit participants.

Gabor, in her message, lauded the local government for allowing local stores instead of big Lake Malagsum, within the Mahagnao Volcano Natural Park in Burauen, Leyte, chains to flourish. is one of the natural tourism assets in this town. (Photo credit: Burauen local government) “I was touched to especially during sunny ment and promotion of tainability is the heart of see stores selling local days, but a lot of work has Bojo River in Aloguinsan, the program. products unique to to be done to develop Cebu.

“With eco-tourism visi- Burauen. Tourists will nature tourism.

On August 2 experts tors are looking for new come here not to buy sou“The town has many came to the town for the and exciting places and venirs and taste the food potential areas for eco- first ever tourism summit they want to connect with available in big cities, but tourism since we have been to share market develop- nature. We are here to sup- to get something that they gifted with a lot of cold ment, heritage, civil society port and we’ll be coming have not seen in other springs. We hired a team of and private sector partner- again to experience places,” she said. consultants to help us with ship, farm tourism and tourism first hand,” she Renomeron said that the our effort in the next two conservation. said. local government initially years,” he added.

Taus said that these Lim, meanwhile, said identified eco-tourism sites The team is headed by efforts put Burauen town that through sustainable in the villages of Matinao, Joselito Costas, founder of ahead of other local gov- tourism and promotion Tambis, Villa Rosas, Grassroots Travel, the ernment units in the coun- efforts more people would Abuyogon, Cansiboy and group behind the develop- try, especially because sus- be interested in seeing Kagbana.

Leyte town counts on springs to boost tourism

These areas are seen as an addition to Mahagnao Volcano Natural Park, a site proclaimed as a national park in 1937. The site is endowed with other natural attractions – a lake, falls, multi-coloured mud, virgin forests and a lagoon. Mahagnao, which has been drawing natureloving tourists, is 18 kilometres away from the Burauen town centre.

Burauen is derived from the word 'Burabod', which means 'spring'.

The town is known as the fountainhead of several rivers - the big Daguitan and Marabong rivers and the Guinarona and Hibuga rivers that pass through several neighbouring towns, as well as several smaller rivers.

The town, with a land area of over 30,000 hectares divided into 77 villages, has its own water system.

From Tacloban City, where the airport is located, the site is an hour long trip by land of about 50kilometres. The town is situated in the central part of Leyte Island, near to two cities and eight other towns. (PNA)

ISSUE 130

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TOURISM

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DOT has all-out support for Manila's tourism development

By Joyce Ann L. Rocamora MANILA - Tourism chief Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said that the national government stands ready to assist the City of Manila in improving its tourism industry as she lauds the initiatives of Mayor Francisco 'Isko Moreno' Domagoso in cleaning the capital.

"Mayor Moreno is for heritage tourism, maintaining the old-buildings and having a clean city.

Indeed, we can have sustainable tourism in the city," the Tourism Secretary said.

The Tourism chief joined Domagoso for an ocular inspection of major areas in the Manila 'tourism circuit', including the Bonifacio Shrine, the Plaza Roma in Intramuros where the two officials rode the iconic bamboo bikes and the Rizal Monument in Luneta.

For the remaining three years of

the administration's term, RomuloPuyat vowed that DOT attached agencies such as the Intramuros Administration will focus on addressing the problem of informal settlers and on developing a hub for the creative industry inside the walled city.

The National Parks Development Committee, along with the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA), will also lead in the redevelopment of Rizal Park, particularly the Esplanade and the Children’s Playground, to attract people to visit Rizal Park anew.

Romulo-Puyat said she sees the potential of increasing arrivals in the capital, as Manila serves as a 'drop-off point' for a number of foreign and local tourists.

"With the help of the Mayor we toured around Manila. I'm impressed, it's very clean now.

Tourists can visit more places now," she said. (PNA)

INTRAMUROS SCOOTER. Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat tries the GrabWheels scooter which will roll out next month in Intramuros as part of the DOT and GrabPH's freshly forged partnership.

GrabPH is committed to deploying 30 scooters inside the famous walled city. (PNA photo)

GrabPH scooter rentals to roll out in Intramuros MANILA - Tourists who want to experience a more personal yet still convenient trip within Intramuros are in for a treat when the Department of Tourism (DOT) and Grab Philippines GrabWheels - a scooter hailing service with the pilot area to be inside the famous walled city.

Tourism chief Bernadette Romulo-Puyat and Grab Philippines President Brian Cu signed a memorandum of understanding, with the ride-hailing company committing to deploy 30 units of scooters, free of charge for a period of three months, for tourists

to experience the historic destination in Manila.

Romulo-Puyat said that this partnership is in keeping with the DOT's effort to inculcate a culture of sustainable tourism in the Philippines.

"We want visitors to have access to an ecofriendly, but fun mode of transportation," she said.

According to Cu, Grab Philippines will be setting up booths inside Intramuros where visitors can readily use the scooters. After the pilot testing, the rentals will be made available via a mobile application called GrabWheels.

"This is a pilot to see

what the uptake will be; if we see that there is a good response from the visitors to this area, then we might extend the trial period or select other locations," he said in an interview.

Romulo-Puyat said that no new destination has been agreed upon yet, but the DOT wants to put up a similar service at Rizal Park and Paco Park in Manila.

"It's just for Intramuros for the meantime and when we see how it goes then we'll expand," she told reporters. "This is the good thing about having a partnership with the private sector; there's

more involvement in promoting the country's tourism."

I n t r a m u r o s Administration chief Guiller Asido, for his part, is optimistic that these personal mobility devices will significantly reduce traffic congestion inside the walled city.

"After a month we will review its reception and determine the necessary mechanisms and setting of fees to make it sustainable," he said. (PNA) Check out our Travel website: travelgalore.nz and our new Food website: www.halohalo.nz

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