I did not hesitate to say yes when asked to write about this topic because this is a subject close to my heart.
Having been around a little longer than what I intended to, I have been a witness to the five previous administrations’ policies and attitude towards the saviors of the country’s economy- us OFWs. Each one had a distinct way of addressing our plight that certain policies come to mind when their names are mentioned. Marcos – labor export program; Cory – new economic heroes ; Arroyo- supermaids, hello Garci; Ramos – internationally shared human resources, Philippines 2000; Erap – increase in government fees , PNoy – tuwid na daan, and the list goes on. Top administrative seats may have changed but unfortunately, there has been no significant improvement in our lives.
In the just concluded elections we were again bombarded with different platforms from the presidential candidates. But the promises of change, better economy, better public services, did little to appease many disgruntled voters who had lost confidence in the electoral process. With a new administration coming in, I could only hope the president-elect would vigorously deliver what he promised during his campaign. I have a multitude of suggestions but given the limited space, I will write what I think are the priorities.
Top on my list is the review of the Omnibus Policies that virtually allows agencies to overcharge job applicants under the guise of training fees. In line with this, recruitment agencies should be strictly monitored not only for job orders but also for their collection of fees and their unholy alliances with clinics that handle medical examinations. There should be an improvement of the contents of the pre departure orientation seminars or PDOS where applicants are not only informed about remittance channels but more on the policies and the culture and traditions of the host country. Ex–OFWs should be exempted from taking the PDOS which is the practice until now.
We have in the past been minimally represented in the OWWA (Overseas Workers Welfare Administration) Board of Trustees which gives us a lesser voice when it comes to decision-making. We should be given more slots and the representatives should come from organizations that truly promote our rights and welfare.
The provision of medical services is another area that must be looked into. OFWs feel more comfortable about opening up about their ailments when talking to their countrymen so Filipino doctors should be again be deployed overseas. Our families should also benefit from free or cheap medical and health services. While it is true we have Philhealth, its services are selective in terms of who can avail and which hospitals are accredited.
We all know that a majority of OFWs are university graduates who, in the absence of employment opportunities or the low salaries back home, have taken up domestic work for a living. The consulates should arrange for board exams appropriate for each profession so that they can be ready to be employed back home should they wish to do so. In relation to this and as the budget for the education needs of our children takes up a big chunk of our salaries, I hope the new administration could regulate the university tuition fees that increase annually. Another burden for us is the implementation of the K-12 scheme which added more years to the secondary school while diminishing the job opportunities and monetary benefits for university professors.
We are exempt from paying the airport terminal fee, therefore, its collection should be stopped. An hour of waiting for our turn to refund the P500 fee is better spent being with our families. The latest series of offensive behavior targeting overseas Filipinos: tanim-bala and bukas-box are both highly condemnable and must also be stopped. There should also be an in-depth investigation into this matter, and the surveillance of the airport personnel up to the highest rank must be undertaken. We are not out of our minds to plant a bullet into our stuff that could cost us our names, our jobs and lead us to expensive litigation. Also, everything that we painstakingly packed into the boxes that we send to our family back home, make them almost sacred and untouchable as they were bought with our hard-earned money.
Thinking of how we will be retiring someday, many of us pay SSS contributions, hoping to have something to rely on in our old age, albeit small. An increase in the pension is very much needed and necessary, given our contribution to the economy.
Lastly, as breadwinners, our salary is stretched to the limit when it comes to budgeting for the household, education, medical and miscellaneous expenses. The new administ-ration should regulate the prices of basic commodities in order for us to cope with the burdens of inflation.
The new administration must heed our demands as OFWs and as citizens. The incoming officials must fulfill the promises that got them into the positions they are in now. Like with past administrations, they must work hard to leave behind a legacy that would make its mark in our colorful history.
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“How I wish my fellow OFWs would be more involved with every issue that affects us—not only as migrants but as citizens of the Philippines and the world. If only others could see the relationship of every aspect of life-economic, political, social-cultural which are so much inter-related we would probably allot more time for deeper study and analysis, like how is the price of bagoong related to the abuses of OFWs. Seems farfetched but there is still a link”. This was how long-time community leader Josefina Pingkihan explained her keen desire to get involved in events that are happening around her. Pingkihan arrived in Hong Kong in June 1996, and shortly thereafter became a member of Pinatud a Saleng ti Umili, composed mostly of Cordillerans who advocate the promotion and protection of migrants' rights and welfare. Josie then spearheaded the formation of Cordillera Alliance in Hong Kong in October 1998, and remained its chairperson for 16 years. She stepped down when she was elected as deputy secretary of Bayan Muna HK-Macau Chapter in 2014. At CORALL-HK, Josie led the campaign for migrants’ rights and welfare, especially for those coming from her region. In particular her group brought to public attention the cases of Jocelyn Dulnuan who was abused and murdered in Canada, and “Grace”, a rape victim in Saudi Arabia. Her group also led the campaign to prevent mall giant SM from cutting all the trees at its vicinity in Baguio City, and helped rescue distressed Filipinos in the Middle East.— Ed)
