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PR-40-2020

10 Aug 2020 – PCG Toronto officials and staff, led by Consul General Orontes Castro, partnered with the Filipino-Canadian Community House, led by its President, Maria Guiao, to hold an online Seminar on Money Management and Budgeting on 6 August 2020. Ms. Elena Jara, Director of Education, Credit Canada Debt Solutions Inc., was the Resource Speaker for the event. The other participants of the online seminar conducted via ZOOM were POLO Toronto officials and staff, Pag-Ibig Representative Elizabeth Borres and members of the Filipino Community.
Ms. Guiao welcomed the participants and emphasized that the seminar is very useful for everyone as it is applicable for personal purposes and in the workplace. Consul General Castro, in his remarks, thanked the participants for joining the seminar and stated that the event is very timely considering the difficulties faced by everyone due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the relevant advice that can be gathered by the participants on the efficient use of resources.
Ms. Jara’s discussion covered the importance of understanding a Credit Report and the factors underlying the credit scores such as Payment History, Credit Utilization, Length of History, Account Mix and Inquiries. She stated that during the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada, lending institutions allowed borrowers to defer payments on loans but their credit utilization still remained high. She also discussed the importance of securing credit cards or loans that charge low interest rates as this would effectively help consumers minimize their future payments. The seminar also covered important financial information that would be very helpful for newcomers to Canada. -END

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PR 38-2020

5 Aug 2020 - Consul General Orontes Castro and other PCG Toronto officials participated in the Trabaho Negosyo Kabuhayan (TNK) Webinar Series: “Balik Ka, Kabayan. Guiding Overseas Filipinos (OFs) around the world in becoming successful investors and entrepreneurs” via ZOOM on 30 July 2020. The event was organized by the Philippine Trade Section Office of PCG Toronto, headed by Senior Trade Commissioner Ma. Roseni Alvero. Speakers in the webinar were Salve Duplito, Resident and Financial Advisor ANC On The Money and Mon Abrea, Chairman and Senior Tax Advisor, Asian Consulting Group.

Philippine Ambassador to Canada, Hon. Petronila Garcia, in her special message, stated that despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the Philippines continues to enjoy an investment-grade credit rating, reflecting the country's strong economic fundamentals and the government's secure financial position. The Philippine economy is expected to rebound strongly next year, and such projection is supported by the improving business sentiment in the country. She mentioned that there are emerging opportunities in several Philippine industries such as e-commerce, wireless service, agri-tourism, sustainable farming, food production and information technology. She encouraged overseas Filipinos to invest in the Philippines and help their kababayans.

Ms. Duplito discussed about the current business and investment environment, the need to improve financial literacy among Filipinos all over the world to enable them to live better lives and developing a long-term financial plan. She discussed steps to improve the financial situation of Filipinos during these challenging times which include dealing with one’s debt, regularly setting aside funds as savings no matter how small, understanding and dealing with risks, investing intelligen
tly and finally, finding time to enjoy life.
Mr. Abrea’s discussion covered a wide range of issues, including financial and tax discipline, factors to consider before making decisions on investments or starting a business in the current challenging business environment due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and understanding the relevant tax policies affecting one’s investments or businesses. He talked about the various investment options faced by investors and the risk issues that should be considered when making investment decisions. He also enumerated online resources that could help investors and entrepreneurs learn more about the Philippines’ tax policies. - END

 

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PR 39-2020

7 Aug 2020 – The Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) Toronto, under the leadership of Labor Officer Rachel Zozobrado-Nagayo, has extended assistance to OFWs who were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in recent months and residing under POLO Toronto’s jurisdiction. To date, POLO Toronto has provided a one-time financial assistance under the DOLE-AKAP scheme to 644 qualified OFWs.

The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Toronto has also distributed medical assistance to OFWs who contracted COVID-19 and groceries to OFWs who sought help in recent months. PCG Toronto assisted in the distribution of some of these groceries. -END

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 PR 37-2020

29 July 2020, Toronto, Ontario - The Philippine Consulate General in Toronto, in collaboration with the Kalayaan Cultural Community Centre (KCCC), conducted an online Information Session on the different consular services, as well as SSS and Pag-ibig services, via Zoom on 23 July 2020. KCCC President Mr. Resty del Rosario welcomed the participants and thanked the Philippine Consulate General, Toronto for conducting this year’s Information Session, which started in 2018.

The team was headed by Consul General Orontes V. Castro who expressed his appreciation to KCCC for organizing the online information session and emphasized the importance of such events for the Consulate General to inform and update Filipino-Canadians on the various services it offers the Filipino community, especially on the systems adopted by the office since its reopening to the public on 25 May 2020, after the lockdown brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. He also mentioned that KCCC is one of the Consulate General’s partners in serving our kababayans in Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).

Consul Edna May Grecia-Lazaro discussed about notarization and authentication services while Consul Edwin Gil Q. Mendoza talked about passport services. The officers also informed about the need to book an appointment for the different consular services before coming to the Consulate. The effects of reacquiring or retaining Filipino citizenship under Republic Act No. 9225 otherwise known as the “Citizenship Retention and Re-acquisition Act of 2003” were also discussed during the Q & A which followed.

Pag-ibig Member Services Officer Ms. Elizabeth Borres talked about the various savings and investment schemes available to overseas Filipinos and ways they can take out loans from Pag-IBIG. SSS Representative Roberto V. Roldan, on the other hand, discussed the process of how to become an SSS voluntary member or otherwise reactivate membership in SSS without need of going home to the Philippines, as well as the seven (7) benefits, from maternity to eternity, being offered by SSS to its members: maternity benefits; sickness or injury benefits; disability pension; retirement pension benefits; dependent’s pension; death pension benefits; and SSS loans. Mr. Roldan informed the participants that SSS pensioners may apply for their pension benefits online. He added that the SSS Toronto office also adopts the appointment system and that it has suspended this year the annual confirmation of membership, as long as members have done so in 2019.

The information session was well-received by the participants, drawing a request from the Kalayaan Centre for another session in the near future.

Initially founded in 1983 as the Kalayaan Filipino Cultural Organization (KFCO) for the purpose of celebrating Philippine Independence Day, the Kalayaan Centre has evolved to become a pillar for promoting Filipino heritage and culture and a community hub for programs and services for the benefit of Filipino-Canadians mostly residing in the Peel region. END