DFA Consular Office Issues Advisory on Passport Applications

DFA Consular Office Issues Advisory on Passport Applications

04 May 2011 - The Department of Foreign Affairs-Office of Consular Affairs (DFA-OCA) wishes to inform the public that measures have been put in place to address the delay in the processing and releasing of passports which are caused by the recent unprecedented increase in passport applications and other technical concerns.

The DFA will extend up to one year the validity of the current expiring passports of applicants who have urgent travel. The extension will be free of charge while the applicants are waiting for the release of their new electronic passports (ePassports).

Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and applicants who need their passports on emergency circumstances (e.g., medical concerns, death in the immediate family) are advised to go to the Passport Director's Office, for assistance. The Passport Director's Office is located at the ground floor of the DFA-OCA at the Aseana Business Park along Macapagal Avenue.

Also, the DFA-OCA has extended its work hours, and opened its services on Saturdays. Passport processing services is now available until 8:00 p.m. on weekdays and from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 pm on Saturdays.

The DFA advises the public to file for their passport applications at least 12 weeks before their intended date of travel.

The DFA is exerting all efforts and is committed to resolve the delays at the soonest possible time, and requests the public's patience and understanding, particularly those who applied at its Regional Consular Offices (RCOs).

For additional information, the public may call the DFA-OCA at telephone nos. (02) 737-1000 and (02) 556-0000, send an email to oca@dfa.gov.ph or visit the Department's website at www.dfa.gov.ph. END

gulfnews : Ministry of Health to close three nursing schools

gulfnews : Ministry of Health to close three nursing schools

Ministry of Health to close three nursing schools

Private institutions the alternative as standards at the schools inadequate

• By Aghaddir Ali, Staff Reporter
• Published: 00:00 June 10, 2011
• 

• Be the first to comment
• 1Share

• Image Credit: Gulf News archive
• Students training at the Institute of Nursing in Sharjah. The Ministry of Health has decided to close its nursing institute in the emirate as well as those in Fujairah and Ras Al Khaimah.

Dubai: People wishing to take up nursing as a career will now have to apply to private institutes and universities after the Ministry of Health decided to close down the nursing education programme at its three schools in Sharjah, Fujairah and Ras Al Khaimah.

A source from the ministry told Gulf News Thursday the three nursing schools were closed apparently after it was found that they offered a "low level" of education in nursing.

"The responsibility of training and educating nurses shall be taken up by accredited universities and institutes in the country or abroad.

"Those who are interested in becoming nurses are required now to join colleges and universities accredited by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research," said the source who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Colleges, universities

"Recently, a number of colleges and universities set up nursing schools in the UAE. The ministry believes there is no reason to keep its nursing schools open any more," the source added.

He said nurses in the UAE used to be employed after obtaining their licences without proper testing methods.

Standard 'not adequate'

Applying a comprehensive method of assessment, the ministry realised the standard of its nursing schools was not adequate and was lagging behind those in advanced countries. The decision of closing down the schools of nursing run by the ministry will help in improving the standards of the staff, added the source.

"The 105 nurses graduating this year will be the last from ministry of health's institutes," he said.

The source added that there will be 28 Emirati nurses among the 105 graduates from the three schools this year.

The total number of students in the past three years at the three nursing schools has reached 214. The number of Emaratis among them was 47.

The Ministry of Health also decided this year to stop accepting new requests from those wishing to join its nursery staff.

The nursing school graduates previously used to work in any of the facilities of the Ministry of Health for a period equal to the duration of their study, said the source.

The first nursing school was established in 1972. Their number expanded later with other branches, added the source.

• Print
• Email a friend
• 1Share

Comments (0)

Share your views

Post Comment

gulfnews : Abu Dhabi 2011

gulfnews : Abu Dhabi 2011:

Abu Dhabi 2011

Abu Dhabi based filmmaker Beno Saradzic showcases the magnificent growth that the UAE’s capital has seen in only a few decades in this magnificent time-lapse film. Twenty-one thousand images were captured over a period of eight weeks to make Abu Dhabi 2011

• Supplied
• Published: 14:01 May 29, 2011

21-year-old Filipino carves amazing wooden car sculptures — Autoblog

21-year-old Filipino carves amazing wooden car sculptures — Autoblog

Franco Cagayat and his automotive sculpture – Click above to watch video after the jump

We've seen some pretty amazing things happen when talent mixes with the proper medium, but this takes the cake. Top Gear Philippines magazine is featuring a story on Franco Cagayat, an autistic 21-year-old sculptor who specializes in carving detailed vehicle models from a single block of wood. Complete with doors that open and close, full interiors and complete engine bays, the vehicles are unlike anything we've ever seen. Cagayat says he got started by drawing every vehicle he saw and eventually learned to translate that talent into sculpting.

The artist first became a fan of Top Gear when a classmate offered to trade him a copy of the magazine for a wooden Ferrari Testarossa. We think Cagayat probably got the short end of the stick on that one, but he now uses the photos in the publication for reference when it comes time to carve the newest supercars of the world. Hit the jump to take a look at a video interview with Cagayat.

[Source: Top Gear]

Filed under: Etc., Videos, Toys/Games, Design/Style

Tags: carving, franco cagayat, top gear, top gear philippines, wood car, wood carving, wooden car

gulfnews : I'm not a criminal: Freed Filipino man makes tearful apology

gulfnews : I'm not a criminal: Freed Filipino man makes tearful apology

• Image Credit: © XPRESS/Javed Nawab
• Joseph Abutan who visited the XPRESS office says he does not blame his three children in the Philippines for being angry with him, but he hopes they will forgive him someday

Dubai: A man jailed for accidentally killing his wife in a car mishap has made a tearful apology to his three children in the Philippines who still refuse to talk to him.

In the first media interview since regaining his freedom, Joseph Abutan, 37, said on Wednesday: "I just want to tell my children that I seek their forgiveness and that I'm not a criminal."

Dubai Police Chief Lt Gen Dahi Khalfan Tamim ordered his department on May 10 to pay diya, or blood money, as a humanitarian gesture to free Abutan.

The family of Abutan and his three children - Allysa, 15; Andrew, 14; and Al Joseph, 12 - will be the beneficiaries of the amount, as per Sharia Law.

"I have already suffered enough for what happened. I appreciate the humanitarian gesture and thank [Lt] General Dahi Khalfan Tamim for giving me another chance to put my life back in order," he said.

Abutan and his wife Imelda met with an accident on June 5, 2009, at around 6.30am near Dubai's Century Mall. Traces of alcohol were found in his blood.

While he sustained only minor injuries, his wife suffered a severe cervical neck injury and died after 23 days in hospital.

A judge ordered Abutan to pay a Dh10,000 fine and Dh200,000 diya. But his inability to pay meant he had to stay in jail indefinitely.

From his jail cell following the accident, Abutan said he promised his wife who was battling for her life in hospital, that he would take care of their children no matter what happens.

It's been three years since he last saw their children - all high school students and living with Imelda's parents in Balagtas town in Batangas province.

Abutan said he can't blame them if they were angry.

"I've been told that my children are not happy I am out of jail, that two years are not enough," a tearful Abutan told XPRESS in the Tagalog language.

"That's hurtful. I hope they can find a place in their hearts to forgive me. I did not want the accident to happen. And I do miss my wife."

Abutan, who embraced Islam while in jail and is now known as Abdullah, blames himself completely for what he termed the "biggest challenge" in his life.

"After spending time in jail, you would not want to hurt another human being," said Abutan, who is currently looking for a job either as a driver or AC technician in Dubai.

"I want to earn enough so I could go home someday and talk to my three children face to face."

And while he is happy to be free, Abutan said the only thing that would complete his happiness is being able to talk and embrace his three children.

His message to all drivers: "Life is so precious that we can't simply waste it in a few moments of carelessness."