MANILA, March 2, 2009—A Church official has raised concern on the plight of Filipino migrants and their families in the face of global recession.
Fr. Edwin Corros, executive secretary of the Episcopal Commission for the Pastoral Care for Migrants and Itinerant People said he wants to know how the OFWs and their families can gain from the programs the government claimed it prepared for them.
He was speaking at the OFW Family Services Forum jointly organized by the CBCP’s Episcopal Commission for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People, Archdiocese of Manila’s Ministry to Migrants and their Families and the Philippine Women’s University last Feb. 27.
Corros criticized President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo stimulus package for OFWs, saying part of the fund comes from members’ contribution to OWWA.
We want our migrants to watch and see if the fund is really being used for them, said Corros.
Corros lamented that the government is even promoting migration instead of creating job at home. He cited the President’s Administrative order 247 which mandated POEA’s paradigm shift from regulations to full-blast marketing development efforts, exploration of frontier placements which may be subjected to long debates by stakeholders.
He said the government should not depend on labor export to support the economy.
This is not the right way to develop our country economically, Corros said.
Corros said they invited government officials to the forum to explain what displaced overseas workers can expect from widely-publicized assistance programs in times like this.
He said the economic crisis last year significantly reduced the demand for consumable products like computers, garments and other related export products slowed down that forced other economically-developed countries to declare recession
Countries dependent on exports to the United States of America suffered similar effects to their economy many of them are advanced industrialized nations like Japan, Singapore, Korea, Hong Kong and Taiwan.
The church official said that in August of 2008, some Taiwan-based workers were either sent home or asked to resign. But in November of the same year, they came in large numbers although DOLE reported some 5,000 workers have been sent home due to the global recession.
He noted most Filipino workers earned their keep while working in these countries for so many years.
Philippine Women’s University President Dr. Amelou Benitez-Reyes, in her opening remarks confirmed reports of overseas Filipino workers’ concerns about losing their high-paying jobs.
“During our last meeting attended by various university and college presidents south of Manila, various executives reported their respective alumni associations have been receiving reports of their professionals losing their jobs,” Benitez-Reyes said.
She called on government and various organizations to empower women for them to become productive members of society.
“China and India would not have prospered without the able support of their women,” Benitez-Reyes said as she underscored the need for women to consider micro-finance and self-help programs.
She added the country’s stakeholders should not only be concerned of the plight of overseas workers but be aware of Filipinos who cannot find work in the Philippines.
Among the resource persons in the forum were OWWA Director Vivian Tornea, POEA Director Melchor Dizon and DoLE Director Saul T. Vries. The forum was attended by various church-based organizations, overseas Filipino workers and their respective families. (Melo M. Acuna)
