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As of now, the number of OFW’s keeps rising and so, I decided to create a blog that could possibly help new OFW’s be informed. I chose the campaign, STOP Philippine Customs to Impose Tighter Rules for Balikbayan Boxes. It is all about the imposition of the Bureau of Customs of tighter rules and additional tax to balikbayan boxes as well as the inspection of boxes without the owner’s permission.

This imposition of the Bureau of Customs became a stir and led to multiple complaint and petitions. Kris Ann Sandoval commented in the petition, “the authorities doesn't have the rights to open that without our permissions” in which I agree, because those boxes are the workers’ personal property. Moreover, even if they say that it is for security purposes, there is no guarantee that the products inside the boxes would still be complete or still be in the same state after the inspection. “Panibagong korapsiyon nanaman” said many, “If smuggling is the concern, implement a systematic way of input to balikbayan boxes to make it possible to see through the scanners, what the products are, and how many.” Stephanie Banaag added. I strongly oppose this new rule of Bureau of Customs because this will only give burden to the OFW’s. That’s why I’m very much pleased when I read that arbitrary inspection of balikbayan boxes stopped .

Many people signed this petition making it confirmed victory. This petition has 85,957 supporters including Miriam Defensor Santiago. This petition paved the way for the Senate Resolution No. 1534 which was filed by Miriam Defensor Santiago herself.

In just a few steps those ordinary people who signed made a difference. This would not have been possible if those 85,957 didn’t worked together. Look how working hand-in-hand can make a difference. Change can be accomplished more effectively and efficiently when people work together towards a common goal.

EVERY SIGN COUNTS!

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Social media has played a significant role in helping families, social workers, and government agencies gather information during calamities. Here are a few ways in which social media has been used for this purpose:

Sharing updates and alerts: During a disaster, social media can be used to quickly disseminate important information, such as evacuation orders, shelter locations, and emergency response updates, This can help families and individuals stay informed.

Connecting with loved ones: Social media can be a valuable tool for families and individuals who are separated during a disaster. It can help people locate their loved ones and communicate with them, even if traditional forms of communication are disrupted.

Gathering and sharing information: Social media can be used to identify areas where assistance is needed and to gather and share information about the extent of disaster, including severity of damages, as well as the needs of affected communities. This information can be used by government agencies and aid organizations to better understand the situation and respond appropriately.

Social media has proven to be a valuable resource for gathering and sharing information during calamities, and has helped to facilitate more effective and efficient response efforts.

One of the main differences between the past and today is the speed at which information can be disseminated. With social media, information can be shared almost instatly, whereas in the past it could take hours or even days for news to be reported through mainstream media channels. This can be particularly important in times of crisis or emergency,when timely information is critical.

While mainstream media still plays a important role in providing information, social media has greatly expanded the range of sources and the speed at which information can be shared, which has had a significant impact on how we consume and share news and information.

Photo from: Maryville University- The evolution of social media Search Engine Journal - 16 reasons why social media is important to your compony