GOVPH

Filipinos affected by Shanghai lockdown receive grocery vouchers

Shanghai, 16 June – As recovery assistance for OFWs most affected by the two-month total lockdown in Shanghai, the Philippine Consulate General (PCG) began distribution on 14 June of grocery vouchers to Filipinos who registered for such aid.

Verified members of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) each received grocery vouchers worth RMB 1,334 (USD 200). Meanwhile, non-OWWA members each received vouchers worth RMB 700 under Welfare Assistance extended by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

Over 400 beneficiaries have claimed their vouchers, to date. Consul General Josel F. Ignacio and other PCG officials were on hand to greet and assist recipients. Many of the beneficiaries expressed their sincere appreciation to OWWA, DFA and PCG for this assistance.

Registered beneficiaries may claim their cards at the PCG daily, including weekends, for the entire month of June. From July onwards, the cards may be claimed during regular office hours. The list of beneficiaries is available online at the PCG’s website (shanghaipcg.dfa.gov.ph).

The voucher distribution represents the latest lockdown-related assistance to Filipinos in the city. On 7-9 May and again on 22-24 May, the PCG arranged the delivery of emergency food packs to 247 and 288 Filipinos, respectively.

Shanghai went on partial lockdown on 28 March, and entered full lockdown on 1 April in response to a COVID-19 surge. After clearing communities of cases and putting transmissions under control, city authorities restored the movement of people, transportation and limited business operations on 1 June. END

TNK Webinar plants seeds of Agribusiness entrepreneurship among Shanghai Filipinos

Shanghai  – Over a hundred overseas Filipinos in Shanghai and surrounding provinces gained crucial know-how on diving into agribusiness in the Philippines during the Trabaho, Negosyo, Kabuhayan (TNK) webinar on June 11.

The Webinar is the second of the TNK series co-organized by the Philippine Trade and Investment Center-Shanghai (PTIC) and with local Filipino organization The Filipino Teachers in Shanghai (TFT).

Featured resource speakers from the Department of Agriculture (DA) were Philippine Agricultural Counsellor in China Ana GM B. Abejuela, Executive Director Jocelyn Alma R. Badiola, OIC Assistant Director Antonieta J. Arceo and Supervising Agriculturist Ludivina Rueda.

The Webinar covered key topics for prospective and budding agribusiness entrepreneurs. DA’s experts provided profile of the Philippine agribusiness sector and shared tips on starting an agribusiness enterprise. A rundown of specific investment windows followed, covering Philippine export champions, the agribusiness value chain and specific priority commodities.

Participating OFWs also welcomed the briefing on the DA’s various training programs, e-courses, learning sites and extension services in the Philippines, as well as credit facilities such as the Agrinegosyo (ANYO) for OFWs keen on venturing into the sector.

Opening the webinar, Consul General Josel F. Ignacio urged participants to consider becoming overseas Filipino investors (OFI) in agriculture, a key pillar of the Philippines’ growth strategy. Closing the event, Philippine Trade and Investment Center Vice Consul Mario C. Tani underscored the value of agricultural and agribusiness investments in underpinning Philippine food security amidst pandemics, climate change and economic upheavals. END

Paggunitâ ng Punong Konsulado ng iká-124 Taóng Kaarawan ng Pagpapahayág ng Kasarinlán

SHANGHAI, 12 June 2022 – Maalab na nakiisá ang Punong Konsulado sa Shanghai sa paggunitâ ng sambayanán sa iká-124 na Taón ng Pagpapahayág ng Kasarinlán ng Pilipinas.

Sa gitnâ ng patuloy na paghihigpít sa Shanghai sa malakihang pagtitipon bilang pag-iingat sa COVID-19, isáng payák na palátuntúnan ang idinaos ng mga kawanì sa pangunguna ni Consul General Josel F. Ignacio. “PAGSUONG SA HAMON NG PANIBAGONG BUKAS” ang gabáy-nilay ng pagdiriwáng sa kasalukuyang taón.

Matapos ang Pambansáng Awit at panunumpâ sa Watawat ay pinakinggán ang pahatíd na pagbatì ng Pangulong Rodrigo Roa Duterte at ng Kalihim ng Ugnayang Panlabás Teodoro L. Locsin, Jr.

Nagbigáy-pugay si Kalihim Locsin sa mga kababayang nasa ibayong-dagat bilang “source of pride and inspiration”. Ani ng Kalihim, “we, in the Department of Foreign Affairs, did not let a pandemic stop us from cultivating foreign partnerships, securing much-needed vaccines, upholding our sovereign rights, getting overseas Filipinos out of distress, and sharply increasing already considerable consular services”.

Nagbahagì namán si Consul General Ignacio ng halaw mulâ isáng makasaysayang talumpatì: “The Philippine independence of 1896 was too brief. Our independence of 1946 was quickly misused and finally betrayed. In 1986, independence came purely by Filipino effort. That independence had to be won from fellow Filipinos. I want today to be a day of celebration. A celebration commemorating the past sacrifices and noble achievements of the Filipino people in the cause of freedom and independence, a celebration of people power, power that can assure that freedom and independence for all time.” END