Government to give free language program for returning OFWs

Saturday, July 16, 2011
AT LEAST P5 million was allotted for returning overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) expected to be displaced by the nationalized employment program in Saudi Arabia, a Cabinet official said Saturday.
Among others, the stand-by fund will be used for free review classes to be offered to OFWs. This will allow them to seek fresh opportunities for employment, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) said.
“It’s a stand-by fund that the government will be using to reduce the negative effects of so-called Saudization policy. So far, no Filipino has been affected yet but still we have to be ready for any eventuality,” Tesda Director General Joel Villanueva told Sun.Star.
The classes are open to OFWs interested in working in Australia and Canada, which Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz earlier identified as possible countries that may absorb the Filipinos to be affected by Saudization.
However, prior to issuance of working visa, both countries require proficiency in English as a Second Language (ESL) in certain occupations.
This is on top of the usual specific requirements for skills certification, according to Villanueva.
An initial 1,000 slots will be allotted for the workers to allow them to undertake review classes under the International English Language Test System (IELTS) and Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), which are among the acceptable English language test requirements in those two countries.
Tesda will give full subsidy of P5,000 to each trainee for the language review as the fund will be sourced from the Training for Work Scholarship Program (TWSP), one of Tesda’s main scholarship programs.
The Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) and the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency (POEA) will come up with the criteria for selecting the OFWs eligible to avail of the assistance.
They will also issue certification as proof that the OFW is entitled to receive the assistance.
A pre-assessment process such as online assessment guide for IELTS prior to availing of the Tesda assistance is also being considered to maximize resources.
More than a million Filipinos work in Saudi Arabia as household service workers, nurses, construction workers, doctors and as other professionals. (Virgil Lopez/Sunnex)
Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/manila/local-news/2011/07/16/government-give-free-language-program-returning-ofws-167242

Established in 2002, YATS WINE CELLARS is a wholly-owned business unit of Hong Kong-based Yats International which owns and operates resort, wine shops, wine bars and fine-dining restaurant properties in Clark Freeport in The Philippines. YATS WINE CELLARS and its wine stores in Manila, Angeles City, Clark, Pampanga cater to a clientele of discerning wine lovers from all over the world. This wine shop is generally regarded by wine lovers to be the best place to buy wine in Manila. Besides a good selection of wine for everyday enjoyment, YATS wine stores offers a unique selection of aged vintage wines made available to wine enthusiasts at remarkably affordable prices. Vintages span over a century and the selection of old- and new-world wines covers all major wine regions.

To enable wine lovers in Asia to learn more about wine, public wine tastings are held from time to time in Clark, Pampanga and sometimes in Manila. Tickets range from p500 to p1500 for these themed events that are professionally run –no wine merchants sponsorship, pushy wine salesmen or tacky banners to ruin the evening. Each wine tasting ticket contains a certain number of stubs that can be redeemed for a tasting pour of a wine among those on a line-up which often contains wines that are quite old and expensive.

Wine-paired dinners are organized either at fine dining Y A T S Restaurant in Clark or in collaboration with other restaurants and organizers. Private wine dinners can also be organized for groups of 14 or more. Even Asian cuisines can be a part of a Yats Wine-paired dinner.

Wine stores of Yats Wine Cellars offer interesting gift packs for all occasions. Wine gift baskets from these wine shops have to contain something more interesting than just a colorful packaging with very mediocre content. The wine has to be a bit more than marginally drinkable. Last year many people were disappointed with the wine gifts they received when they went around to drinking the wine.

Wine from all major wine regions are available, including fine wines from Bordeaux, Burgundy, Rhone, Loire, Sauternes Barsac, Champagne, Chablis, Meursault, Cote Rotie and Romanee Conti are all available here. In addition to French wines, this leading Philippines wine supplier also has a good selection of wines from Spain, Italy, Portugal, Germany and Australia. The selection of Brunello, Chianti, Rioja, Riesling, Gruner Veltliner and Ice wine are impressive.

Yats Wine Cellars Philippines
3003C East Tower, Philippines Stock Exchange Center (Tektite)
Exchange Road, Ortigas Center, Metro Manila, Philippines
(632) 637-5019 0917-520-4393 ask for Rea or Kristine

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For inquiries and orders, Click here to for inquiries and orders

For wine lovers in Hong Kong, Macau and China:

Yats International HK Sales Office,
Room 1302, 13/F., The Centre Mark
287-299 Queen’s Road Central Sheung Wan,
Hong Kong SAR

Tel: (852) 2788-0738 ask for Miss Eva Leung

Wine@Yats-International.com

If Philippines is part of an upcoming travel and holiday plan, wine lovers might want to visit Clark Freeport Zone just 70 minutes from Manila. This bustling new city that is slated to replace Manila as the new capital of the Philippines has the largest wine shop called Clark Wine Center. For more information, log on to

http://www.ClarkWineCenter.com

Clark Wine Center
Bldg 6460 Clark Observatory Building
Manuel A. Roxas Highway corner A Bonifacio Ave,
Angeles Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga 2023
0922-870-5173 0917-826-8790 (ask for Ana Fe)

Getting to this wine shop in Pampanga Angeles City Clark Freeport Zone Philippines from Manila
Getting to the Clark Wine Center wine shop from Manila is quite simple: after entering Clark Freeport from Dau and Angeles City, proceed straight along the main highway M A Roxas. Clark Wine Center is the stand-along white building on the right, at the corner A Bonifacio Ave. From the Clark International Airport DMIA, ask the taxi to drive towards the entrance of Clark going to Angeles City. From Mimosa, just proceed towards the exit of Clark and this wine shop is on the opposite side of the main road M A Roxas.

Looking for famous tourists spots, places to visit and see, relax and unwind in Clark, Pampanga, Philippines? You may want to check out these sites also:

Wedding couples looking for wedding reception venues and beach wedding venues can log on to this Philippines Wedding Venue web site for free information and assistance:

http://www.PhilippinesWeddingVenue.com

While in Clark, it might be a good idea to enjoy an evening of wine-and-dine in the fine dining Yats Restaurant and Wine Bar that features an award winning 2700-line wine list. It is located in Mimosa Leisure Estate of Clark Freeport Zone. For more information, visit http://www.YatsRestaurant.com

YATS Leisure Philippines is a developer and operator of clubs, resorts and high-class restaurants and wine shops in Clark Angeles Philippines http://www.YatsLeisure.com

http://www.LondonPubClark.com

If you are traveling to Pampanga, Subic, Angeles City, Clark Freeport, Philippines, you can get assistance to hotel and resort booking by logging on to
http://www.HotelClarkPhilippines.com

http://www.ClarkPhilippines.com