Advisories for Filipinos overseas

The Department of Foreign Affairs says they welcome the new initiative of the Saudi Arabia to abolish the kafala system for migrant workers.

"The new move will allow foreign workers the right to change jobs by transferring their sponsorship from one employer to another, leave and re-enter the country and secure final exit visas without the consent of their employer," the department says in a statement. 

The Philippines extends its condolences to Canada after nine people died and at least 16 got injured when a driver drove his van through a busy sidewalk in Toronto, the Department of Foreign Affairs says.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Embassy in Ottawa says it has not received any report of Filipinos among the dead or injured and that the Philippine Consulate General in Toronto is still checking with authorities and members of the 270,000-strong Filipino Community.

Ambassador Petronila Garcia says authorities have already arrested the suspect and are still investigating the incident.