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Unifil's new ExeCom led by Balladares take oath before Migrante International's Ramon Bultron |
After five years, United Filipinos in Hong Kong (Unifil-Migrante HK) held its annual congress again, and re-elected Dolores Balladares as chairperson for the 19th straight year.
At the same time, Eman Villanueva, who was first
elected as Unifil’s secretary-general in 1998, begged off from serving another
term, thus ending 25 years of serving as a leader of one of the oldest migrant
workers’ groups in Hong Kong.
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PINDUTIN DITO! |
However, Villanueva will still head Bayan Hong Kong
and Macau, an equally militant migrant workers’ organization in Hong Kong.
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Villanueva served as Unifil's SecGen from 1998 to 2023 |
The changing of the guards at the biggest and most
active Filipino community groups in Hong Kong took place yesterday, Nov. 26, at
Wesleyan House in Wanchai, with about 200 members from 34 affiliate
organizations in attendance.
Balladares was elected unopposed, along with current
vice-chair Shiela Tebia from Gabriela Hong Kong.
The three other members of Unifil’s executive
committee were also unopposed and will serve as officers for the first time: Lia
Quirante of Mission Movers, who replaced Villanueva; Mimi Ysulat of Filipino
Migrants Association as deputy secretary general, and Ivy Alamid of Filipino Lesbian
Organization as treasurer.
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PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE |
The new officers will serve for the next three years, or until 2026. They took their oath before Ramon Bultron, deputy secretary general of Migrante International and general manager of Asia Pacific Mission for Migrants.
Unifil last held its annual general assembly in
2018, in the wake of massive pro-democracy protests across Hong Kong, and shortly
before the Covid-19 pandemic wrought havoc all over the world.
But despite the severe pandemic restrictions and a slowdown
in most outdoor activities, Unifil continued many of its activities, albeit in
smaller numbers, including the yearly demand for an increase in the minimum
wage of migrant domestic workers.
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About 200 representatives of 34 affiliate organizations took part in the 17th Congress |
In her five-year report, Balladares noted that
Unifil continued to wage a campaign against exactions by the Philippine
government on MDWs; the illegal collection of fees, illegal recruitment and
trafficking by employment agencies; and such national issues as human rights
violations, corruption, and opposition to the return to power of the Marcos
family.
Together with other migrant-serving organizations
like the Mission for Migrant Workers and Bethune House Migrant Women’s Refuge,
Unifil also extended help to Covid-stricken Filipinos during the most severe
pandemic-related restrictions imposed by the HK government.
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PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE |
Balladares also listed among Unifil’s
accomplishments in the past five years its successful campaign to stop the
collection of higher government fees such as Pag-IBIG and PhilHealth
contributions in the Philippines as well as its stringent opposition to
allegations of job-hopping of MDWs in Hong Kong.
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BASAHIN ANG DETALYE |
With membership fees being suspended during the past
five years, Unifil incurred a slight deficit, with a big part of its funds
being used for Covid-related assistance and relief operations for victims of typhoons
and other natural disasters in the Philippines.
However, due to its savings from past years, the organization
has managed to retain some funds in the bank.
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PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE |
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PADALA NA! |
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