The Presidentiables & their Plans for OFWs
Noynoy Aquino - “Kung walang corrupt, walang mahirap!”
From a government that treats its people as an export commodity and a means to earn foreign exchange, disregarding the social cost to Filipino families,
To a government that creates jobs at home, so that working abroad will be a choice rather than a necessity; and when its citizens do choose to become OFWs, their welfare and protection will still be the government’s priority.
Jamby Madrigal
According to Madrigal, she doesn’t want to look at the Filipino migrant workers like a commodity that the county uses to gain funds. Since the OFWs are a great help to the economy of the Philippines, she promise to protect their welfare especially those who are in the death row. If elected she said she assures renegotiation and immediate legal attention for those in the death row and immediate repatriation for stranded OFWs.
The Senator said that there are many OFWs on death row because the Philippine government failed to provide legal assistance during the critical hours.
She also said that aside from legal assistance, she would freeze Administrative Orders 247 and 248, which were signed by President Arroyo last year. She said these law legalize slave trade.
The two AO’s were implemented as a response to the global economic crisis. Under AO 247, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) was ordered to refocus its functions from regulation to full-blast market development and the exploration of job markets for OFWs.
AO 248 assigns the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) to “take the lead in carrying out the government’s payback program for the expatriate Filipino workers”.
Manny Villar - "Sipag at Tiyaga"
He dreams of a time when a Filipino do not have to go outside the country to earn a living. His long-term plan is to provide jobs for Filipinos in the Philippines while his short term plan is to provide safety nets to ensure the welfare of OFWs. Here are some of his plans for OFWs:
1. Create a safety net until such time as we can create jobs in the Philippines like provide for placement for workers who were victimized or a return trip back to the Philippines.
2. Increase the Department of Labor & Employment (DOLE) budget.
3. Have to change structure of Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) so more Filipinos can be sent out.
4. Send more lawyers for OFWs
5. Provide Hospitals for OFWs
6. Help OFWs find ways to invest.
7. Create government programs for small and medium enterprises.
8. Change the banking system to ensure flow and credit for small and medium enterprises
9. Teach and encourage Filipinos to be entrepreneurs
