Seriously considers evacuating Pinoys out of Egypt now, Filipino migrant group urges Aquino govt.

Press Release

30 January 2011

Seriously considers evacuating Pinoys out of Egypt now, Filipino migrant group urges Aquino govt.

Pointing out that the political situation in Egypt is now escalating marred by massive protests by thousands of Egyptians demanding the ouster of Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak who have been in power for 30 years, a Filipino migrant rights group in the Middle East today urges the Aquino administration to seriously considers evacuating Filipinos out from Egypt.

“The political situation in Egypt has already escalated amid the continued massive protests by the Egyptian people and there is no indication that it would be resolved calmly though we prayed for its peaceful resolution, -but the disgruntled Egyptian people is so determined to oust a regime that wrought misery unto their lives,” said John Leonard Monterona, Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator.

Monterona said, citing reports from local media in the Middle East, neighboring Arab nations such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Lebanon, and Jordan are now preparing to evacuate their citizens out of Egypt.

He cited Cairo airport officials quoted in the local media reports saying that there are Arab nations who have already organized flights to take their nationals and diplomats out of Egypt.

Local media reports said that there were a hundred casualties already recorded when violent clashes occurred between the protesters and police authorities erupted on Friday in Cairo, Alexandria and Suez.

Monterona noted that it would be easier for those Filipinos who are in Cairo as the airport are there and where the PHL embassy is located. “But what worries us are those living in Alexandria and Suez as it would take them to travel first to proceed to Cairo for evacuation,” the Saudi-based OFW leader added.

Thus, Monterona said: “As the political turmoil in Egypt escalates and we could not see any indication of peaceful resolution, the Aquino government must now seriously consider the immediate evacuation of OFWs, even undocumented, and our Filipino diplomats out of Egypt.”

Monterona said the number of Filipinos in Egypt released by the Department of Foreign Affairs, 6,569 is too conservative and may not include the undocumented and over staying Filipinos.

“Based on the account made by our fellow OFWs and affiliate in Egypt, there are about 20,000 Filipinos in Egypt, a considerable number works as domestic workers and care givers,” Monterona added.

“May kasabihan nga tayong mga Filipino na ‘daig ng maagap ang masikap’; under this uncertain and deteriorating peace and order situation in Egypt, it is wise and prudent to prepare now and starts evacuating our fellow OFWs and Filipinos out of Egypt,” Monterona ended. # # #

Reference:

John Leonard Monterona

Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator

Mobile No.: 00966 564 978 012

Bare contingency plan to assist OFWs in volatile Egypt, migrant group urges Aquino govt.

Press Release

29 January 2011

Bare contingency plan to assist OFWs in volatile Egypt, migrant group urges Aquino govt.

Raising serious concern on the volatile situation in Egypt, home to about 20,000 OFWs, an alliance of Filipino migrant group in the Middle East today urges the Aquino administration to bare its contingency plan to assist overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) working in the now politically volatile country.

“The volatile political situation in Egypt marred by massive rallies staged by thousands of discontented Egyptian protesters demands a closer look and serious concerns on the part of the Aquino administration as there are about 20,000 OFWs working there,” thus urged today by John Leonard Monterona, Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator.

Citing international media reports, thousands of Egyptian protesters demanding the ouster of Egypt President Husni Mubarak clashed with local police Friday, which resulted to several casualties on the part of the protesters.

It was reported that the Egyptian government has shut down major communication facilities such as internet and other social major website in its vain attempt to contain the political turmoil in the country.

Monterona said the Presidential Middle East preparedness team headed by former General Roy Cimatu must be tasked to assess the political situation in Egypt and secure the safety of the 20,000 OFWs working in Egypt.

“We are urging the Aquino administration to bare its contingency plan for OFWs in Egypt, if there is any, as the political situation in Egypt had already escalated,” Monterona added.

Solidarity with the Egyptian people

Monterona said his group could very well understand the grounds and motivating factors that led the Egyptian people to protest against its government, specifically demanding the ouster of its president.

“Chapters of Migrante in the Middle East support the Egyptian people in their present struggle against unemployment, economic hardships caused by massive corruption in the government and anti-people economic policies, repression of their political and socio-economic rights, and their struggle for national and social liberation from imperialism and local reactionary regime, as the Filipino people shares the same adverse situation with the Egyptians and other oppressed people around the world,” Monterona averred.

“People’s resistance in Tunisia, and now in Egypt, and maybe in other countries as well is inevitable as their respective governments are becoming repressive causing havoc to the economic and socio-political life of its own people,” Monterona ended. # # #  

Reference:

John Leonard Monterona

Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator

Mobile No. 00966 564 978 012

Clarify reports on deployment ban of OFWs in Saudi, migrant group urges labor department

Press Release

28 January 2011

Clarify reports on deployment ban of OFWs in Saudi, migrant group urges labor department

An alliance of Filipino migrant rights group today urges the Philippine labor department to clarify ‘unconfirmed’ reports about OFWs deployment ban in Saudi Arabia, China, Japan, among others, recently imposed by the Department of Labor and Employment.

“We just freshly received the information that there is a recent deployment ban of OFWs in Saudi Arabia, China, and Japan, among other countries, imposed by the DoLE, and we want to be clarified what is the basis for such imposition,” John Leonard Monterona, Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator.

Monterona said there are aspiring OFWs bound to Saudi Arabia who are asking from us to verify such information as they are worried that they may not get the job and eventually be barred from going to Saudi for work because of the deployment ban.

Monterona hinted if the certification requirement has been cited as basis for the imposition of deployment ban in Saudi, China and Japan, among other countries, then, he said: “The DoLE-POEA again did not consider the effect of the ban to the thousands would-be OFWs desperately looking for jobs amid the scarcity of local jobs in the Philippines and the recent series of prices increases of basic commodities and services.”

Monterona added if these countries failed the criteria set forth by the newly amended Migrant Workers Act (RA 10022) in the deployment of OFWs, for whatever reason, it should not be at the cost of the right of OFWs to find jobs even if it is overseas as the government failed to create jobs in the homeland with decent pay and benefits for our Filipino workers.

RA10022 or the amended Migrant Workers Act required as a guarantee that OFWs rights will be protected by the host country, it must have to comply any of the following: 1) it has existing social and labor laws protecting the rights of workers, including migrant workers; 2) it is a signatory to and/or a ratifier of multilateral conventions, declarations or resolutions relating to the protection of workers, including migrant workers; and 3) it has concluded a bilateral agreement or arrangement with the government on the protection of the rights of overseas Filipino workers. (Sec3, RA10022)

Monterona said how could, for instance, in Saudi Arabia a certification be issued if this has not been thoroughly and properly discuss with the host government. “But without PHL ambassador to Saudi as head of the diplomatic post at present, how could it be possible to discuss the certification requirement as mandated by RA10022,” Monterona averred.

“The Aquino government has the duty to explore all diplomatic means to forge a bilateral agreement on OFWs protections with the host governments including Saudi Arabia, though the latter may not ratify or become a signatory to international instruments that guarantees migrants rights,” Monterona added.

“The Aquino government must exercise prudence in terms of imposing deployment ban as it will badly violates the rights of unemployed  who are anyway will be forced to look for jobs overseas because of the government’s failure to create decent jobs in the homeland,” the Saudi-based OFW leader ended.

Saudi Arabia has been the no.1 OFWs destination since 2003-2009 according to POEA records and there are about 1.2-M OFWs in the oil-rich Kingdom which remittances recorded to about US$1.5-M on 2009.

Reference:

John Leonard Monterona

Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator

Mobile No. 00966 564 978 012

News: Migrant group chides P-Noy on ‘unfulfilled’ promised of protection and swift action on OFWs deplorable conditions

Press Release

January 24, 2011

Implement OFWs protection provision as mandated by the Migrant workers Act

Migrant group chides P-Noy on ‘unfulfilled’ promised of protection and swift action on OFWs deplorable conditions

Citing policy pronouncements made by President Benigno Simeon Aquino III even during his inauguration as President-elect on June of last year by issuing a marching order to all concerned government agencies to swiftly act on OFWs issues and concerns, a progressive alliance of Filipino migrant rights group in the Middle East conveys dismay over the President’s ‘unfulfilled’ tall order of swiftly acting on numerous OFWs woes.

Citing the issued press release on January 22 by Coop-NATCCO party-list representative Cresente Paez seeking for repatriation of thousands distress and stranded OFWs in Saudi Arabia, Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator John Leonard Monterona said Rep. Paez statement is an affirmation of what Migrante had long been pressing the government  - that OFWs condition in the Middle East specifically in Saudi Arabia is worsening, and this is quite alarming sans government concrete program providing protection to deployed OFWs.

Rep. Paez is part of the four-man team delegation from the Congressional committee on Overseas Workers Affairs (COWA) headed by Akbayan party-list Rep. Walden Bello who had visited Saudi Arabia that conducted an investigation on the numerous reports of abuse and maltreatment which started from January 13-18, 2011.

Monterona said the recent COWA congressmen visit to Saudi Arabia is not the first. “In fact, some of the preceding Congress COWA-member congressmen including Representatives Rodriguez, Padilla, and Ilagan went to Saudi last November 2009 and unanimously concluded on its reports finding the deplorable conditions of OFWs who have been victim of abuse, maltreatment forcing the distress OFWs to run away and seek assistance from the PH embassies,” he added.

Monterona said the concurrent COWA-member congressmen, as per their latest visit to Saudi, were all ‘shocked’ on the ‘incomparable’ extent of abuse and maltreatment victimizing OFWs, and many of the distress are still seeking for their repatriation, some are staying at the PH embassy-run Bahay Kalinga.

Monterona cited for instance the case of about 40 stranded OFWs, some of them with children, temporarily seeking refuge at Jeddah’s Khadara Bridge.

“Yearly, thousands of stranded OFWs seeking refuge at Khadera Bridge and at the Bahay Kalinga is a concern for almost a decade now like a vicious cycle, but the government has not done good to prevent these abuses from occurring again; the government has only been reactively works for their repatriation by batches after batches of distress and stranded,” Monterona observed.

“At the Bahay Kalinga in Riyadh, there are about more than 100 distress OFWs, and we have learned there also 70 distress OFWs at the Filipino Workers Resource Centers (FWRC) in Bahrain, less than a hundred in Kuwait, Qatar, Lebanon, and Jordan; indications that there is no stopping on OFWs abuses and maltreatment, and as victim of labor malpractices by erring employers,” Monterona added.

Monterona revealed citing records of cases Migrante chapters have handled and documented, there was a 10% increase on the numbers of distress and stranded OFWs who have sought help from Migrante. It recorded 1,800 individual cases of distress OFWs in 2009 to nearly 2,000 last year.

“Notably, the increase is attributed such as it involves not only a single OFW victim, but affecting a group or a number of OFWs working in the same company or employer  -from individual cases to larger numbers,” he continued.

He cited the case of about 30 distress OFWs working for Al Nusha and Al Afras companies, who have staged a silent indoor protest action on January 22, inside the POLO offices compound in Riyadh demanding that their case must be given utmost and proper attendance by POLO officials, among others.

Bilateral agreement on OFWs protection

“Unless a bilateral agreement is inked between the PH government and the host government, it is only then that OFWs could ‘breathe a fresh air’ out from abuses and maltreatment,” Monterona opined.

He challenged the Aquino government, if it has political will and could stand on equal footing with its counterpart OFW-host governments, to forge a bilateral pact providing concrete OFWs protection while working at the host country.  “In fact, this is clearly mandated in the newly amended Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act or RA10022, P-Noy has to implement the law,” he continued.

“Previous administration failed to do so because they lack genuine concern on the plight of OFWs and their dependents; by all indications, it seems that the Aquino government will follow suit,” he ended. # # #

Reference:

John Leonard Monterona

Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator

Mobile No.: 00966 564 978 012

News: Distress OFWs stage silent protest inside PH labor office compound

Press Release

January 22, 2011

(Photos of today's silent indoor protest by the distress OFWs along with KGS-Migrante officers/members will be posted soon.)

Distress OFWs stage silent protest inside PH labor office compound

To convey their disgust on the snail-paced handling by Philippine Overseas Labor (POLO) officials on their respective labor cases against their erring employers, about 30 distress OFWs Saturday stage a silent protest inside the POLO compound in Riyadh, Saudi’s capital.

The OFWs working from Al Nusha Company and Afras Company, both located in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, led a silent protest demanding proper attendance on their case and legal assistance from POLO-Riyadh headed by Labor Attache Albert Valenciano.

The distress workers from both companies have stopped working, for almost a year now, as their employer deliberately violating the terms and conditions set forth in their respective employment contract. 

Salary and other unexplained deductions, non-payment of overtime work, and no health insurance, are among the complaints of the distress OFWs.

“It is almost a year now when the distress OFWs have filed their complaints, with our group assisting them, against their erring employers, until now, there is no clear showing that it will be resolved in favor of our aggrieved fellow OFWs,” said Eric Jocson, chairperson of the Riyadh-based Kapatiran sa Gitnang Silangan (KGS), Migrante-Saudi Arabia affiliate organization.

The 30 distress OFWs dressed in white T-shirt with printed slogans such as ‘Distress OFWs, tulungan!’, ‘Inutil na embassy, labor officials, sibakin!’, ‘Proteksyon sa OFWs, hindi koleksyon!’, ‘Ibasura OWWA Omnibus Policies!’, ‘Karapatan at Kagalingan ng OFWs, ipaglaban!’.

For about 15 minutes they formed a human chain and later walk silently in circular formation inside the POLO compound to dramatize their disappointment against what it called ‘incomparable criminal neglect’ on distress OFWs like them.

Incompetent labor official

Migrante-Middle East (M-ME) and the distress OFWs deplores a Philippine labor attaché Albert Valenciano, whom they alleges ‘does not know what he is supposed to do’ in his capacity as labor official and as head of the POLO.

MIgrante-ME regional coordinator John Leonard Monterona said Labor attaché Albert Valenciano has been the subject of numerous complaints Migrante has been receiving from distress OFWs and from other OFW organizations as well.

“One serious complaint we have received against Labatt Valenciano is the allegation that he does not know how to handle labor cases, and he lacks knowledge on the host government labor laws,” Monterona added.

Monterona further said being a labor attaché he must know the basic aspect of the labor disputes processes and of the Saudi labor law in order to protect the labor rights of every Filipino migrant worker.

On December last year, a group of mechanical engineers lodged a complaint against Labatt Valenciano for not allowing them to visit the more than 200 distress OFWs at the embassy-run Bahay Kalinga so that the group could directly give them goods and clothes. The group had initiated a signature campaign calling for Labatt Valenciano’s recall.

‘Shame & Recall’ campaign

“Migrante chapters in the Middle East is now readying to launch a signature campaign dubbed as ‘Shame & Recall’ campaign of inept embassy, consular, and labor officials,” Monterona declared.

The Saudi-based OFW leader said: “Public office, elected or appointed, is a public trust; but if we have officials that are not doing their job and are only sitting pretty at their offices, then OFWs and their families have all the rights to campaign for their recall and demand a replacement that would live on the expectations of doing honest-to-goodness public service to OFWs and their dependents.

“The distress OFWs silent protest inside the POLO offices is a prelude to the launching of ‘Shame & Recall’ campaign to be followed by press conferences, indoor action inside the PHL embassy premises, and on-line and actual signature campaign to urge the OFW-apathetic Aquino government to replace inept embassy and labor officials of those who are ever willing to provide genuine public service to OFWs,” Monterona ended. # # #

References:

Eric Jocson

KGS-Migrante chairperson

Mobile No.: 00966 566170173

John Leonard Monterona

Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator

Mobile No.: 00966 564 978 012

News: Filipino migrant rights group conveys solidarity with Saudi HR group calling to end arbitrary arrest & detention

Press Release

January 21, 2011

Filipino migrant rights group conveys solidarity with Saudi HR group calling to end arbitrary arrest & detention

The progressive alliance of Filipino migrant rights group in the Middle East today expresses its warmest solidarity to a Saudi human rights group that calls to end arbitrary arrest and detention perpetrated by state authorities.

“As a leading Filipino migrant rights group in Saudi Arabia and in the Middle East working to uphold and defend migrant rights, we are duty-bound to support, within the bounds of the law and legal processes prescribed by the host government, the call by the Saudi Civil and Political Rights Association (with acronym ACPRA) to end arbitrary arrest and detention,” said John Leonard Monterona, Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator.

On January 19, the Saudi-based human rights (HR) group Saudi Civil and Political Rights Association (ACPRA) calls for a 48-hour hunger strike to end arbitrary detention, demand rule of law, and show solidarity with arbitrary detention victims in Saudi prisons as posted on its website (http://www.acpra.net/news_view_104.html).

“Because of absence of legal means to defend the detainees through a due process of the law, ACPRA invites all human rights activists and the families of the victims to go on a 48-hour hunger strike on Thursday and Friday, 10 and 11 of February 2011,” said the Saudi HR group as stated on its issued statement.

The two-day hunger strike aims to show solidarity with the victims of arbitrary detention who are presently languishing in Saudi prisons and in protest against the violation on rule of law, the HR group added.

Monterona said there are Filipino migrants who have been victim of arbitrary arrest and are still detained.  “Some of them lamented that they have been victim of trump up charges or have been framed up for a crime they never committed,” the Saudi-based migrant leader added.

He cited, as an example, the case of two OFWs who have been apprehended by local police for alleged illegal possession of heroin when the latter raided their accommodation in Hail City, Saudi Arabia sometime on August 2010. The 2 OFWs have been sentenced to 3 years imprisonment plus 600 lashes even without a lawyer to defend them in court during trials which the PH embassy failed to provide.

Monterona added there are also those who complained they have been victim of baseless accusations and criminal charges filed by their erring employer when OFWs tried to assert their labor rights such us unpaid salary and overtime work, end of service benefits, against the former.

“In response to the righteous call by the Saudi Civil and Political Rights Association, officers and members of various Migrante chapters in Saudi Arabia and in the Middle East will be urged to observe the 2-day hunger strike as a manifestation of our group’s solidarity to all victims of arbitrary arrest and detention,” Monterona ended. # # #

Reference:

John Leonard Monterona

Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator

Mobile No.00966 564 978 012

Email: migranteme@gmail.com

Migrante to P-Noy: Recall inept embassy, labor officials

Press Release

January 20, 2011

Migrante to P-Noy: Recall inept embassy, labor officials

A progressive alliance of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the Middle East today calls on President Benigno Simeon Aquino III to recall inept embassy, consular, and labor officials in Saudi Arabia who, instead of providing an honest-to-goodness service to distress OFWs, are becoming remiss on their job.

John Leonard Monterona, Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator, cited as an example the dilly-dally handling accorded by Consul General Ezzadin Tago to the 40 run away, mostly women and some with children, stranded OFWs in Jeddah who have camped out under Khandara Bridge in Jeddah weeks ago.

On January 15, Migrante-Jeddah chapter chairperson Bob Fajarito issued a statement confirming that they have a conversation with Consul General Ezzadin Tago on January 11 and that Migrante officers in Jeddah endorsed this case to his attention and action. “Consul General Ezzadin Tago supposedly promised to send his staff and check the OFWs camped under Khandara”, Fajarito added.

“Yet Friday came, and still nobody came,” Fajarito laments. “It’s just as frustrating as their ‘amnesty logbook,’” referring to the record book at the Philippine Consulate where ‘stranded’ Filipinos sign up to express their willingness to avail of the ‘amnesty’ program offered by the Saudi government. 

Monterona said this is not the first time, and in fact in several instances, we have received complaints from distress OFWs seeking help from the Philippine Consulate general (PCG) only to be neglected by the PCG official.

“Complaints from distress OFWs alleged that CongenTago is not accessible and that he seldom hears and takes OFWs cases hands-on, would easily dispatch OFWs cases to his subordinates, until the case has been forgotten or neglected,” Monterona added.

Monterona said Congen Tago has been on his job for quite some time now but without a case he himself had been handled and resolved in favor of the distress and abuse OFWs.

Monterona added his group is also receiving scores of complaint against Vice-Consuls Roussel Reyes and Paul Saret, both are based at the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh, and Labor attache David Des Dicang of POLO-Eastern region.

Inexperience labor attaché

The migrant group also deplores a Philippine labor attaché based in Riyadh, whom it alleges ‘does not know what he is supposed to do’ in his capacity as labor attaché.

Monterona said Labor attaché Albert Valenciano has been the subject of numerous complaints Migrante has been receiving from distress OFWs and from other OFW organizations as well.

“One serious complaint we have received against Labatt Valenciano is the allegation that he does not know how to handle labor cases, and he lacks knowledge on the host government labor laws,” Monterona added.

Monterona further said being a labor attaché he must know the basic aspect of the labor disputes processes and of the Saudi labor law in order to protect the labor rights of every Filipino migrant worker.

On December last year, a group of mechanical engineers lodged a complaint against Labatt Valenciano for not allowing them to visit the more than 200 distress OFWs at the embassy-run Bahay Kalinga so that the group could directly give them goods and clothes. The group had initiated a signature campaign calling for Labatt Valenciano’s recall.

‘Shame & Recall’ campaign

“Migrante chapters in the Middle East is now readying to launch a signature campaign dubbed as ‘Shame & Recall’ campaign of inept embassy, consular, and labor officials,” Monterona declared.

The Saudi-based OFW leader said: “Public office, elected or appointed, is a public trust; but if we have officials that are not doing their job and are only sitting pretty at their offices, then OFWs and their families have all the rights to campaign for their recall and demand a replacement that would live on the expectations of doing honest-to-goodness public service to OFWs and their dependents.

“We will initiate the ‘Shame & Recall’ campaign next week through press conferences, indoor action inside the PHL embassy premises, and on-line and actual signature campaign,” Monterona ended. # # #

Reference:

John Leonard Monterona

Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator

Mobile No.: 00966 564 978 012

Migrant group urges Congressional committee to conduct inquiry on unsolved cases of murdered OFWs

Press Release

14 January 2011

Migrant group urges Congressional committee to conduct inquiry on unsolved cases of murdered OFWs

A chapter of Migrante-Middle East in Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia today urges the Congressional committee on Overseas Workers Affairs (COWA) chaired by Representative Walden Bello to conduct an investigation in aid of legislation on the unsolved cases of murdered OFWs in Saudi Arabia and in other parts of the Middle East.

On January 12, the members of the COWA headed by Rep. Bellow held a marathon dialogue, before flying back to Manila, with OFWs leaders and the Filipino community at the International Philippine School in Al-Khobar as part of their itinerary to presumably get first hand information on the worsening condition of OFWs amid numerous complaints of abuses and maltreatment.

More than a hundred OFWs have attended the said consultation; many of them are victims of abuse, maltreated, run away and undocumented.

“We thought that the members of the COWA headed by its chair Rep. Bello would not only hear the numerous woes of OFWs but will himself take the initiative to investigate the case of murdered OFW Romilyn Eroy-Ibanez and other victims of abuse,” said Gerry De Guzman, Migrante-Saudi Arabia Vice-Chairperson for the Eastern region.

“Well, like the November 2009 Congressional visit, this recent visit is not worth spending government budget from tax payers’ money, as we doubt if the COWA could convince P-Noy and the concerned government agencies to ink a bilateral agreement with the host government providing protection to our OFWs here in Saudi Arabia and neighboring Arab states,” De Guzman averred.

De Guzman said his group presented to Rep. Bello a copy of the signature campaign initiated by Migrante chapters in Saudi Arabia demanding government’s action and intervention on the numbers of unsolved cases involving mysterious deaths and sexual abuse.

The petition highlights, among other OFWs mysterious deaths documented by Migrante on previous years,  the case of Al-Khobar based 22 year-old Romilyn Eroy-Ibanez who was found soaked with blood, was rushed to the hospital in critical condition, then hours later was declared dead by attending doctors of the hospital.

As of yesterday, there are about 236 have signed in the petition online while there are 22 OFWs organizations supporting the petition aside from the 300+ actual signatures gathered by Migrante chapters , and still counting.

On his part, Abdulrahman Parcarey, lead convenor of the Al-Khobar based Muslim-Christian Alliance for Justice and Peace in the Philippines (MCA-JPP) said he is hoping that what the COWA congressmen have promised during the consultation to convey to President Aquino the issues and concerns of OFWs would be acted upon with sincerity and genuine service.

“Rep. Bello explained more about the programs of the Aquino government, but here in Saudi Arabia we didn’t feel or see any government action and program protecting our OFWs from abuse, maltreatment and labor malpractices by erring employers,” the Muslim leader added.

Even without invitation, Migrante officers and members were able to attend on the series of COWA consultations in Riyadh, Jeddah, and Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia.

The COWA congressmen have also conducted consultations with OFWs in Riyadh and Jeddah on the 9th and 11th January, respectively. They ended their 5-day Saudi visit and flew back to Manila on January 12.

Reference:

Gerry De Guzman

Migrante-Saudi Arabia Vice-Chairperson, Eastern Region

Mobile No.: 00966 507373906

Abdulrahman Parcarey

Convenor, Muslim-Christian Alliance for Justice & Peace in the Philippines (MCA-JPP)

Mobile No.: 00966 568166322

OFW group seeks accounting of the P1-B OWWA loan assistance fund

Press Release

January 13, 2011

OFW group seeks accounting of the P1-B OWWA loan assistance fund

Invoking transparency and public accountability in regards to the Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) funds held in trust to the government through the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), an agency adjunct to the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE), a migrant rights group in the Middle East today seeks to account the P1-B OWWA loan assistance fund for returning OFWs.

The OWWA trust fund is a collection of US$25 compulsory membership fee from every departing OFWs held in trust to the government. It is believed to have reached more than P13-B.

Early December last year, President Benigno Simeon Aquino III ordered OWWA to allocate a P1-B “reintegration fund” to let returning OFWs who would stay ‘for good’ in the country to borrow an amount to finance the start up of their own businesses.

“It is a public knowledge that there were alleged misuses and misallocations of the OFWs trust funds by past administrations especially during the Arroyo regime; OFWs and their organizations must be vigilant now on how their own trust funds will be spent by the government to the benefits of stakeholders,” said John Leonard Monterona, Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator.

Monterona explained the creation of OWWA emanates from a Constitutional mandate for the State to affirm labor, local and overseas, as a primary social economic force, and to guarantee the protection of the rights of overseas workers and the promotion of their interests and general well-being.

“Despite this constitutional mandate, OWWA was created as a self-sustaining agency where all its operational costs have been taken from OFWs contribution amounting to US$25 each OFWs and without a single allocation coming from the national government” Monterona added.

Monterona added that though OWWA fund is a trust fund, previous administrations including the present Arroyo administration have attempted and some have succeeded, to divert the use of these funds in a form of investments and creation of task forces presumably to help distressed OFWs abroad during emergency situation and war for OFWs immediate evacuations.

The Saudi-based OFW leader cited as an example of the 2 anomalous misuse of OWWA funds by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) such as the alleged illegal granting of P40 million incentives and allowances to its officials and employees for the past three years, and the other one is giving permission to its Executives and employees who were issued mobile phones to download about P796,000.00 worth of games, tones and picture messages and other unauthorized items.

“We are demanding from OWWA to publish the agency’s latest financial statement which contains expenses and income and a balance sheet; a certified copy must be posted in all its regional offices and Philippine embassies and consulates for the information of all stakeholders,” Monterona added.

Monterona said his group is also asking OWWA to account the disbursement of the P1-B loan assistance fund and divulge its beneficiaries. (end) ###

Reference:

John Leonard Monterona

Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator

Mobile No. 00966 564 978 012