TR EMERITUS

Singapore is one of the best destinations for Filipinos seeking greener pastures. Top reason for working here is the higher salary compared in our country. It is located 3 hours away from the Philippines and air fare is ranging only from Php 2000 to Php 5000. Climate here is same as in our country so you don’t need to adjust. How much can you earn here? If you are a degree holder of any course, you are entitled to earn a monthly income of USD1,800 (exchange rate of USD1=Php29) minimum. Salary has no limit and you can earn up to several thousand depending on your expertise and position. They have a government branch called ‘Ministry of Manpower’ who sees to it that you are well compensated. Otherwise, they will not allow you to be employed. Salary also can vary depending on the company that will hire you and the degree that you have. The IT personnel have the advantage of having the highest salary in all the fields. With this salary, for sure you can go back home every month. How to go to Singapore? As mentioned earlier, air fare is ranging only from Php 2000 to Php 5000. Since Singapore is an ASEAN member country, you don’t need a visa. Passport and a plane ticket are that two things that you must have. There are two options that I will discuss on how to go to Singapore fast. First is by using a tourist pass. Once you are here, the immigration personnel will grant you 14 to 30 days pass to stay. In most cases, they will grant you 30 days. After that, you can ask for an extension for another 30 days for a total of almost 2 months. You can use that to look and apply for a job. Another option is by applying for a long term social visit pas or the EPEC. If you have this pass, you are allowed to stay in Singapore for a year to look and apply for a job. Applying for EPEC is online and free. However, there are only few accredited schools in the Philippines. Try this link to apply for an EPEC online. http://epec.mom.gov.sg/epec/index.do;jsessionid=HCPV26PLJy1YVkmGf6qJ1cCXPx2s4pvrCZ6rGTYSrkvtnvBnNWpj!1475350604 or visit the MOM website http://www.mom.gov.sg/ How to apply jobs? Here in Singapore, 95% of jobs are posted online. All you need is a resume with attached photo. Although application is done online, you need to be here before you start emailing them or it will be wasted. They will only entertain applicants who are in Singapore. How to work in Singapore? Unlike other countries, you are not binded by a contract once you are working. You will receive same privileges and benefits as the local personnel. Probationary period is ranging from 3 months up to 6 months before you become a regular employee. There are different work passes that you can have depending on the salary. The S Pass is given for workers with salary of USD 1800 up to USD 2499 while E Pass is given for workers with salary of USD 2500 or more. Do you have a future in Singapore? After working for 6 months, you can apply for a Permanent Residence pass. Once approved, you can now bring your immediate family to stay in Singapore. Having this pass also entitles you to buy and own a house at a very affordable price. Singapore Citizenship can be attained if you stay for straight 2 years as Permanent Resident. Taken from: http://howtoworkinsingapore.blogspot.com/  Read More →

The Reform Party has released 19 policy pledges in its election manifesto online which it will implement should it gain a majority in the government one day. Though it admits that it may not form the government at the next general election, it promises to ensure that the voices of Singaporeans will be heard in Parliament by its elected MPs. "Imagine how much more effective the Reform Party will be once we get into Parliament. And we do not want to leave it there. At the next election after this we hope to be in a position to be taken seriously as the alternative government in a genuine two-party system," it said. Some of the policy pledges includes providing cheaping housing for the lower income families, paying a basic old age pension to all Singaporeans, imposing a Minimum Wage system, reduction of National Service to a year and requiring new citizens to serve National Service. The pledges are likely to be widely popular among Singaporeans who are feeling increasingly marginalized under the rule of the pro-foreigner PAP. The Reform Party said it "believes that Singapore belongs to its people and that government should serve the people and not the other way around." and pledged "to build a first-class modern nation, in line with the rich and advanced democracies of the world." Though Singapore is one of the richest countries in the world, its government is akin to totalitarian states like China, Burma and North Korea ruled and dominated by a single political party. The ruling PAP has governed Singapore continuously for more than fifty years. While elections are held frequently, the opposition hardly stand a chance due to unfair election laws, rampant gerry-mandering and pork-barrel politics. The people-centric policies of the Reform Party will win widespread support from ordinary Singaporeans. Please read more about the Reform Party's policy pledges here.   Please join our Facebook page here and invite your friends to do so to create awareness of the current affairs affecting Singaporeans. Please use our online web form to contact us.  Read More →

I refer to the recent announcment made by Housing Development Board (HDB) regarding the proposed increase of Overnight Parking with effect 1st November 2010, from the current $2 to $4. This move was supposedly touted to be a measure that could ensure that there are enough parking places for season parking holders, who apparently are facing a shortage of carpark spaces. I call such a measure implemented to be short-sighted and inappropiate. Raising Fees does not equate to More Parking Lots The relevant authorities that proposed this measure had failed to recognised an increase of pricing does not translate to more parking places. No matter how high the charges are, when a car owner had to park his/her car, he/she would pay the parking fees that is required. Raising fees would only mean more revenue for HDB, but parking woes will still remain. To solve problems like parking woes, the root problem must be tackled (i.e. more parking spaces created). Worst, with the increase of Overnight Parking, it would mean potential problems for private housing residents that are located near or beside HDB areas as car owners may resort to parking at such places to save money. Some notable areas would include Westville in Jurong, Villa Verde at Choa Chu Kang and Lakegrove at Lakeside. HDB should also take a leaf from LTA and its much touted ERP system to understand that raising price does not equate to solving road problems. Despite the relative high amount that motorist have to pay during peak hours, traffic jams are still a common sight in places where ERP gantries are being put in place. Thus, as a concerned citizen of a country that had prices of almost everything rising, apart from the pay, I humbly propose a few solutions that does not need a rocket scientist to figure out: (a) More car parks to be converted to 'season parking only' carpark during the period of 10.30pm - 7am. Such a move would ensure that the parking lots are only meant for season parking holders and ensure that those who are not would not get to park in the carpark. Whilst there are chances that car owners who are not season parking holders would take the chance and park at the carparks that are not designated for them, it would also deter many from taking chances if carpark wardens are deployed to the carparks on a more frequent basis. (b) Do not over-sell Season Parking Tickets Many times than not, it is the HDB who over-sell the Season Parking Tickets that caused such a problems to surface. The question is thus, does the HDB sells 110 season parking tickets when there are only 100 parking lots? Instead of selling season parking based on zones, the HDB should sell parking based on blocks. That would mean that if there are 10 blocks sharing a carpark that have 1,000 parking lots, each block would have an allotment of 100 season parking tickets each, available on a 1st-come-1st-serve basis. (c) Increase the Fine of Vehicles parking in 'No Night Parking' carparks The increase of fine would be a good deterrance for car owners without season parking tickets to park at car-parks not meant for them. To ensure maximum effect, HDB should also not waive off summons issued for such offence. In addition, a fine of around $200 (half of what would be fined for handicapped lot parking) would mean that car owners feel the pinch should they park at such carpark without a proper season ticket. With the implementation of the above, it would be way better as opposed to raising overnight parking fees to $4. The problem, in which HDB failed to realise, is that there are more season-parking holders than lots that are available. Whilst it is understood that HDB have to be mindful of profit-margin, such a move does not 'free-up' more parking lots but only increase their revenue by the fold. Why should we boost the coffers of HDB when it had already earn a lot of money in terms of sales of HDB flats? Perhaps the next thing that they would do is raise the season parking ticket amount by 1-fold as well!   Fernando Fonseca  Read More →