Wasted amnesty

Press Release

30 December 2012

Wasted amnesty

Distressed, undocumented Jordan OFWs asked to pay airfare, processing and overstaying fees

A Filipino migrants rights group in the Middle East providing assistance to distressed and undocumented overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) today assailed the Philippine Embassy’s ‘greedy act’ of charging the OFWs 50% of airfare cost, full amount of the processing and overstaying fees.

Migrante-Middle East (M-ME) regional coordinator John Leonard Monterona said early December (2012), the Jordanian King granted one-month full amnesty to all overstaying and undocumented migrants.

“Around 62 distressed and undocumented OFWs in Jordan conveyed to us that they are supposed to avail the amnesty granted by the host Jordan government. Unfortunately, many of them have yet to file an application to avail for the amnesty,” Monterona said.

Thirty-two of them have been staying at the Filipino Workers Resource Center (FWRC) since 2011, while 30 of them opted to stay outside the FWRC.

The FWRC is being run and manage by the Philippine Overseas Labor and Overseas Workers Welfare offices (POLO-OWWA) under the supervision of the PH embassy in Jordan.

‘It was so unfortunate that the cause of OFWs failure to avail the amnesty were due to greed and ineptness of PH embassy, labor and welfare officials in Jordan as the OFWs complained that they were told to pay 50% of their airfare and pay the corresponding fees for processing of their papers and overstaying penalty,” Monterona added.

The OFWs were pointing to a certain Sonny Saculdito, who allegedly asked them to pay the required fees in order to proceed the formalities of the amnesty application.

“This is contrary to the information we have received from our Migrante staff in Manila, which the DFA through its case officer Ariel Gatchalian confirming that the fees will be taken from the Assistance to the National (ATN),” Monterona averred.

“Undocumented at distressed OFWs na nga kinu-kutongan pa. Sana sinagot na ng PNoy govt. at DFA ang mga nasabing bayarin pamasko nila sa mga naturang OFWs. Asan ang diwa ng pasko sa kasong eto?” Monterona averred.

Aside from the 62 distressed and undocumented OFWs who wanted to avail the amnesty, there are 23 OFWs at a deportation center in Nadara, Jordan.

The amnesty will end January 4, 2013.

Reference:

John Leonard Monterona

Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator

Mobile No. 00966 543547736

OFWs group New Year’s wish to PNoy: Slow down on politicking; get real running the economy

Press Release

24 December 2012

OFWs group New Year’s wish to PNoy: Slow down on politicking; get real running the economy

A week to go before entering a new year, a Filipino migrants’ rights group today conveyed its only wish to President Benigno Simeon Aquino III ‘to slow down politicking’ and urges the latter ‘to get real on running the economy.’

“We find it necessary to convey our new year’s wish to PNoy: Slow down politicking, but rather focus on running the economy,” said John Leonard Monterona, Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator and Vice-chairperson of MIGRANTE Sectoral Party of OFWs and families.

Monterona added there will be mid-term elections next year, “PNoy and members of his Cabinet should not be too preoccupied themselves by campaigning for the administrations candidates and pour in the government’s resources for the ‘sure win’ of the administrations candidates in the fulfilment of its partisan objective of controlling the Senate, the House of Representatives, and even local elected positions.”

M-ME issued this statement after it noted that last week PNoy confirmed and vowed to be actively campaigning for the administration’s senatorial candidates during the May 2013 elections.

‘Too much politicking at the expense of getting real on running the economy is not a good trade-off,” Monterona, noting that PNoy, a holder of economic degree, has more to do as far as running the economy is concerned.

For one, Monterona said PNoy administration has not performed well in local jobs generation.

Citing the National Statistics Office (NSO) October 2012 data released on the country’s unemployment rate stood at 6.8% or about 2.8 million unemployed compared to October 2011 6.4%.

“The NSO data is a conservative estimate; the number of unemployed and underemployed is higher than that,” Monteria citing IBON, research think-tank, data estimated to have reached about 10-M combined.

On December 4, M-ME statement noted on the reported 3^rd quarter 7.1% PH GDP growth, “certainly OFWs remittances contributed to this, but how does it positively impacted the lives of OFWs and their families is a good question to ponder amid good peso appreciation against dollar, rising prices of basic goods and services.”

M-ME’s Monterona added that the 7.1% PH GDP growth is a positive bulletin only for the 1% rich families; while for the 99% poor and middle-income families, it won’t be felt.

“PNoy administration has been duplicitous by issuing public statements that it is aiming to stop Filipinos forced migration while on the other hand it is not performing well in generating local jobs with decent pay and benefits and in fact is intensifying the peddling of Filipinos services abroad by continuously exploring overseas labor markets,” Monterona lamented.

“Since PNoy decided not to pursue a romance-filled love life ‘til his term ends, we hope to see him get focus on improving the economy, prioritize the passage and implementation of laws and policies that directly affects our poor peoples’ stomach and thereby reducing poverty. He could only do so if its takes away from the US-dictated neo-liberal economic policies of globalization, liberalization, privatization, and deregulation. He should instead implement genuine agrarian reform program and push for the nationalization of PH basic industries to the benefits of Filipinos, not of the multinational and transnational corporations,” Monterona concluded. # # #

Reference:

John Leonard Monterona

Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator

Mobile No. 00966 543547736

Manifest intent to vote, group urges OAV registrants who failed to vote twice

Press Release

16 December 2012

Manifest intent to vote, group urges OAV registrants who failed to vote twice

OFWs register as absentee voters (OAVs) at the Philippine Consulate in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. October 19, 2012)

Registered overseas absentee voters (OAVs) who failed to vote twice during the National elections on 2007 and 2010, respectively, were given an opportunity to vote this coming May 2010 elections as per the Commission of Elections (COMELEC) resolution recently issued.

COMELEC Resolution No. 9567 allowed concerned OAVs to vote in the May 2013 elections provided they will submit a manifestation of intent to vote until December 21 this year so that their names will not be removed in the National Registry of Overseas Absentee Voters (NROAV).

Said COMELEC resolution provided 3 options for the concerned OAVs to manifest intent to vote.

One option is to submit the manifestation of intent to vote to the PH embassy or consulate.

Another option is to submit the manifestation to the Commission on Overseas Absentee Voting (COAV) online at www.comelec.gov.ph/coav or through fax at fax number (+632) 521 2952.

And the 3^rd option is to submit the manifestation of intent to vote directly with the COAV at COMELEC in Intramuros, Manila.

Overseas Filipino workers group Migrante-Middle East (M-ME) hailed the COMELEC for giving a chance to OAV registrants who failed to vote twice.

“We welcome COMELEC En banc in issuing Resolution No.9567, which will not only give a third chance for OAV registrants who failed to vote during 2007 and 2010 national elections but also for reminding them their duty of exercising their right to vote,” said John Leonard Monterona, M-ME regional coordinator and Vice-chairperson of Migrante Sectoral Party of overseas Filipino workers and their families.

Monterona added that the manifestation of intent to vote need not be long. ‘Simply saying ‘I manifest my intent to vote in the May 2013 elections and I ask that my name to remain in the NROAV’ would do. Then, file it to the PH embassy or consulate, or to those who have access to internet just visit www.comelec.gov.ph/coav or through fax at fax number (+632) 521 2952. If on vacation in the Philippines, they can directly visit COMELEC offices in Intramuros, Manila.”

As per COAV records, there are 398,554 new OAVs ‘til the end of the registration on October 2012.

On 2010 elections, there were 589,830 OAVs making the grand total of OAVs 988,384 considered a historical milestone of the Philippine overseas absentee voting system.

“We are facing a tough challenge on how to increase the overseas absentee voters’ turnout to at least 50% out of the grand total registered OAVs. This would mean massive information dissemination and voters education campaign,” Monterona added.

Monterona added, “Exercising our right to vote does not end with our registration as overseas absentee voters. We must exercise our right to vote, meaning we must vote. But we must be wise voters too, so who will be elected are honest and capable public officials.”

Monterona said their group and allied organizations will intensify voters’ education campaign by conducting traditional voters’ education activities such as mass distribution of OAV leaflets and posters, conducting series of group discussions among OFWs groups to using the internet and social media sites as new medium to propagate voters’ education.

Reference:

John Leonard Monterona

Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator

Mobile No. 00966 543547736

Group urges fellow OFWs to intensify fund drive to aid Pablo victims

Press Release

12 December 2012

Group urges fellow OFWs to intensify fund drive to aid Pablo victims

Migrante-Middle East (M-ME), a coalition of various Filipino migrants’ groups active in providing assistance to distress, undocumented, and run away migrants in the Middle East, today urges anew its fellow OFWs to intensify fund drive to aid Filipinos in Mindanao devastated by typhoon Pablo.

“We renewed our call to our fellow OFWs and their organizations and to the Filipino communities in the Middle East to help in our fund donations campaign for typhoon Pablo victims,” said John Leonard Monterona, M-ME regional coordinator.

Monterona said per reports from Migrante affiliates in Mindanao, there were at least 40 thousands OFWs dependents that were devastated by typhoon Pablo and are in need of aid.

“The OFWs dependents were badly affected by typhoon Pablo in Mindanao particularly in Campostela Valley and Davao Oriental. There were OFWs kin died and their houses destroyed,” Monterona added.

Migrante-Davao, according to Monterona, has been distributing relief goods including food, water, and clothes in remote places of Campostela Valley and Davao Oriental that started on December 8.

“Tomorrow, our Migrante colleagues will proceed to Baganga to continue their relief operation,” Monterona added.

Monterona added that the funds raised by his group will be coursed through the Nonoy Librado Development Foundation Inc., with Account No.2083-8702-09, BPI-Claveria, Davao City.

Last week, Monterona confirmed that Migrante chapters in the Middle East reactivated its ‘Sagip Migrante’ fund drive aimed ‘to provide aid to OFWs kin affected by typhoon Pablo’.

‘Sagip Migrante’ was first launched by Migrante International as a response to calls for aid by OFWs to their kin in the Philippines devastated by deadly typhoons Ondoy, Pedring, and Sendong.

 “Just like our previous ‘Sagip Migrante’ fund drive and relief operations, we will be providing report and will properly account the contributions from our fellow OFWs and their organizations,” Monterona assured.

Reference:

John Leonard Monterona

Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator

Mobile No. 00966 543547736

OFWs soak under heavy rain pour during EOW long queue

From: Migrante-Middle East
To: RiyadhPE
Cc: 
Date: Sun, 9 Dec 2012 13:56:07 +0300
Subject: COMPLAINT ( Embassy on Wheels - December 6, 2012 – Jubail, Saudi Arabia )

The Philippine Embassy

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Sir/Madame:

Below is a complaint I have received from a certain OFW Elmer B. Tabal. He is based in Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia.

We call on the Department of Foreign Affairs and PH Embassy in Riyadh to investigate this incident in view of improving its consular services via embassy-on-wheels (EOW).

This is not the first time we received complaints from our fellow OFWs regarding the inefficient consular services. 

Attached photos showing long queu of OFWs under heavy rain pour outside the venue where the EOW took placed.

We urged the PH embassy to assess the conduct of its Embassy-on-Wheels in order to improve its services.

For OFWs welfare,

-John Leonard Monterona

Migrante-Middle East

-------------------------------------------------------------

OFWs from Jubail, Al-Khobar and other parts in the Eastern region of Saudi Arabia long queue, soaked due to heavy rain pour to avail consular services via Embassy-on-Wheels

December 8, 2012 ALBERT DEL ROSARIO Secretary of Foreign Affairs Manila, Philippines Subject:        COMPLAINT Embassy on Wheels December 6, 2012 – Jubai, Saudi Arabia Sir: This refers to our sad experience at the Embassy on Wheels (EOW) on December 6, 2012 in Jubail, KSA. I, together with my companions, left Al-Khobar at 5:30 a.m to apply for renewal of our passport.  We arrived at the designated place as early as 7:30 a.m.   To our surprise, the applicants on queue outside the premises of EOW reached by hundreds. Rain started to displease the applicants.  At around 8:30 a.m., a pad paper was being passed on to list down our name and corresponding queue number.  I was the 795th. The list reached over 800 and many were still coming. There was rain for hours but many decided to stand on their line despite the possibility of getting sick for fear of losing the order of priority on “first-come-first-serve” basis. When we finally entered the premises, more people are lined up braving the rain and cold wind. At around 10:00, we saw a commotion near the office.  Upon inquiry, I witnessed a volunteer-Marshall explaining to applicants that EOW can only accommodate 450 applicants.  I told that Marshall to officially inform the people on cue so that we can just leave but he refused because he said that he is busy entertaining questions from angry applicants. Tanong #1:  Grabe.  450 applicants lang pala ang kayang trabahuhin ng EOW pero bakit pinaabot pa ng 10:00 a.m. bago namin nalaman yan? Tanong #2:  Bakit wala man lang taga-embassy na nag-inform sa aming mga nasa bandang hulihan ng pila na hindi na pala kami kayang asikasuhin?  Bakit hinayaan nyo kaming mababad lang sa ulan at lamig ng walang katuturan? This is my message to the embassy people assigned on that particular EOW: Mga wala kayong kwentang lingkod-bayan.  Wala kayong habag sa kapwa tao nyo.  Alam nyong walang silungan ang lugar. Naka-expose kami sa ulan at lamig ng hangin pero hindi nyo man lang kami pinagsabihan ng maaga na napaka-limitado lang pala ng capacity nyo.  May pinag-aralan kami, imposibleng hindi namin maintindihan yan kung ipapaliwanag nyo lang ng maayos. Wala man lang taga-embassy ang humarap sa amin para magpaliwanag sa totoong sitwasyon.  Kung hindi pa ako nakitsismis sa umpukan doon banda sa malayong unahan ng pila ay hindi ko pa malalamang nakapila na lang pala kami nang walang saysay.  Maraming matatanda sa pila.  Yung iba alas-dos pa lang ng umaga ay nakapila na. Nagtiis na maulanan kahit hindi pa nakakapag-almusal.  Maraming nagmula sa malalayong lugar na sakto lang ang dalang pamasahe ang naghirap na bumyahe ng maaga basta maserbisyuhan lang ng EOW pero ito pa ang napala namin.  Sinayang nyo lang ang mahalagang oras at pagod namin. Kung marunong lang kayong makipagkapwa-tao ay hindi na ako magrereklamo.  But based on how you treated us, you do not deserve my respect.  Kung gusto nyong makapaglingkod ng tunay sa aming mga OFW, magsipag-resign na kayo.  Yan ang pinakamagandang bagay na magagawa nyo sa bansa. Kung hindi man kayo kusang mag-resign sa posisyon nyo, sana palitan kayo agad-agad. For your info. Sincerely, ELMER B. TABAL  Al-Khobar, KSA

PNoy, OWWA urged to implement calamity assistance for OFWs kin affected by TS Pablo

Press Release

6 December 2012

PNoy, OWWA urged to implement calamity assistance for OFWs kin affected by TS Pablo

Migrants rights group Migrante-Middle Eat (M-ME) today urges President Benigno Simeon Aquino III to ask the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), the PH government premier OFW welfare agency, to implement a calamity assistance program that will provide aid to OFW families that were affected by typhoon Pablo.

“As per our monitoring, there were a number of OFW families badly affected by typhoon Pablo in Mindanao particularly in Cagayan Valley and Davao Oriental. There were OFWs kin died and their houses destroyed,” M-ME regional coordinator John Leonard Monterona, citing reports from Migrante local chapters in Davao City.

Monterona said, “PNoy administration should better utilize the OWWA fund believed to have reached P13-B in providing calamity assistance to its OFW-active members.”

Monterona cited that previously, there was a calamity assistance program by OWWA. But when the OWWA Omnibus Policy was implemented on 2004 by the anti-OFW Arroyo administration, the calamity assistance among other OWWA programs and services was abolished.

Monterona added the calamity assistance program must be activated and made available to OFWs dependents all year round and during calamity or as the need arises.

He suggested that a portion of the US$25 OFWs membership fee, let’s say US$5, should be allocated to calamity assistance and related relief programs to OFWs and their dependents.

“Perang galing sa OFWs, dapat ibalik sa OFWs at kanilang pamilya,” Monterona adding “huwag mapunta sa masasamang kamay ang pondo na para sa aming mga OFWs at pamilya.

Meanwhile, Monterona said Migrante chapters in the Middle East have reactivated its ‘Sagip Migrante’ fund drive aimed ‘to provide aid to OFWs kin affected by TS Pablo’.

‘Sagip Migrante’ was first launched by Migrante International as a response to calls for aid by OFWs to their kin in the Philippines devastated by deadly typhoons Ondoy, Pedring, and Sendong.

He urged fellow OFWs, the Filipino communities and OFWs organizations to start collecting their donations and course through to ‘Sagip Migrante’.

“Just like our previous ‘Sagip Migrante’ fund drive and relief operations, we will be providing report and will properly account the contributions from our fellow OFWs and their organizations,” Monterona assured.

Reference:

John Leonard Monteria

Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator

Mobile No. 00966 543547736

Thousands undocumented migrants, OFWs affected by Saudi’s SIM card registration policy

Press Release

4 December 2012

Thousands undocumented migrants, OFWs affected by Saudi’s SIM card registration policy

With Saudi’s Communication and Information Technology Commission (CITC) full implementation of a new regulation requiring its customers to register or update their personal information to avoid disruption of their SIM card services, thousands of undocumented or illegal migrants were affected by this new regulation according to a Filipino migrant rights group.

The new regulation, which was announced as early as July this year, requires customers to input their national identification number (Iqama) immediately after entering their prepaid card number to charge SIM cards, recharge, or transfer balances. 

In compliance to this regulation, Saudi telecommunication companies imposed a deadline day last week that face disconnection of SIM card services of customers who failed to follow to register or update the information required.

Asked for a reaction, Migrante-Middle East (M-ME) regional coordinator John Leonard Monterona said, “This is an internal policy of the host government that we fully respect and abide.”

Monterona, however, added that it is a common knowledge that there are thousands of undocumented migrants, including OFWs, in Saudi Arabia.

“Obviously, the Iqama or identification card of an undocumented is expired, and then he or she could not update or register his personal information to continue or get a new SIM card,” he explained.

Because of this, many undocumented OFWs just like other undocumented migrant workers are having a hard time to make phone calls especially to their families in the Philippines, according to Monterona.

“Some of the distressed and undocumented OFWs we are helping also asked us for credit load transfer so that they can call us or their families during Christmas and New Year,” Monterona revealed.

According to Monterona, there are estimated 10 million migrants workers in Saudi Arabia. India got the most number, followed by Pakistan, Egyptian, and then OFWs. A conservative estimate of 4 percent (4%) out of 10-M are undocumented.

Reference:

John Leonard Monterona

Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator

Mobile No. 00966 543547736

85 troubled women OFWs in Jordan await ‘precious’ Christmas gift of repatriation

Press Release

4 December 2012

85 troubled women OFWs in Jordan await ‘precious’ Christmas gift of repatriation

There are at least eighty-five women overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who are in deplorable situation in Jordan pleading for repatriation, according to Filipino migrants’ rights group Migrante-Middle East (M-ME).

M-ME regional coordinator John Leonard Monterona cited his group’s records that twenty-three out of the 85 are detained at Nadera Detention Center in Jordan, 32 are at the POLO-OWWA Bahay Kalinga, while 30 are living outside with their friends after they’ve decided to leave from the Bahay Kalinga hoping to find a part time job.

‘We’ve found out the distressed OFWs were victims of human trafficking and illegal recruitment who have suffered labor and physical abuses forcing them to run away from their respective employers” Monterona noting that the PH govt. imposed a ban on the deployment of OFWs in Jordan until it lately reconsidered the lifting of the ban early this year.

Monterona said most of the OFW detainees, who were apprehended by local police, were charged of absconding. “Nineteen of the 23 detained women OFWs have already completed their jail term for absconding case filed by their respective employers,” Monterona who urged the PH Embassy in Jordan to arrange for the required formalities of their deportation including free airfare tickets.

While the 32 OFWs at the PH embassy-run Bahay Kalinga in Jordan have been there since 2011, according to Monterona.

“The distressed OFWs were told by a PH embassy official to raise an amount for payment of overstaying fee and for their airfare. This will explain why some of them leave the Bahay Kalinga in the hope of raising an amount,” Monterona revealed.

On Sunday, M-ME said there are 185 distressed women OFWs, 30 of them with with kids, in Saudi Arabia pleading the PH government of their repatriation.

“Distressed, abused, and run away OFWs stories became a never-ending saga. This will only be stopped, if not minimized, if the PH government will also put a halt on its intensified peddling of unemployed Filipinos abroad through its labor export program and starts generating local jobs with decent pay and benefits,” Monterona averred.

M-ME renewed its call to the Aquino administration to intensify government on-site assistance and efforts in repatriating distressed OFWs in the Middle East.

Reference:

John Leonard Monterona

Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator

Mobile No. 00966 543547736

For the nth time, no Christmas for distressed OFWs and kids

Press Release

2 December 2012

For the nth time, no Christmas for distressed OFWs and kids

Some of the distressed women OFWs at the PH Consulate-Bahay Kalinga in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Barely three weeks to go before Christmas. But for distressed overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Saudi Arabia, again there will be no Christmas to celebrate as they continue to plead for their repatriation.

According to the migrants rights group Migrante-Middle East (M-ME), there are around 185 distressed OFWs whose supposed temporary stay in PH embassy and consulate-run Bahay Kalinga and Filipino Workers Resource Centers (FWRCs) became permanent as many of them have been staying there for more than 6 months to 1 year to 3 years.

“The distressed OFWs from Bahay Kalinga in Riyadh and Jeddah, respectively, and at POLO-OWWA shelter in Al-Khobar, all in Saudi Arabia, regularly calling us to plead for their repatriation,” said M-ME regional coordinator John Leonard Monterona.

Monterona noted that as per to their latest estimate, there are about 100 distressed women OFWs, 30 of them with children, staying at the Bahay Kalinga in Riyadh, Saudi’s capital.

While at the Filipino Workers Resource Center (FWRC) inside the PH Consulate in Jeddah, there are 45 of them awaiting repatriation, though they’ve been there for more than three to 6 months to 1 year.

Around 40 distressed women OFWs are also under the care of the Philippine Overseas Labor and Welfare offices (POLO-OWWA) in Al-Khobar, eastern part of Saudi Arabia.

Maria Rina Daut, 37, from Antipolo City, is among the distressed women OFWs staying at the PH Consulate-run Bahay Kalinga (BK). “I have been at the BK since August 2011. No Christmas last year, there’s no Christmas also this year. I really longed to reunite with my families,” she lamented.

She was one of the 52 women OFW cleaners who complained against their employer over numerous violations of their contract such as illegal salary deduction, non-payment of overtime work, contract substitution, among others.

OFW Silva (not her real name) with 2 kids, stayed at the PH Bahay Kalinga in Riyadh since mid-2010. She had been an undocumented for 8 years and gave birth to 2 kids on that span of time, until she decided to seek their repatriation along her 3 and 1 ½ year old kids, respectively.

“Hindi alam ng mga anak kong eto kung ano ang ibig sabihin ng Pasko (My kids really don’t know what is the meaning of Christmas),”OFW Silva averred.

“OFW Silva, like other distressed women OFWs with kids at the Bahay Kalinga, hopes they could be repatriated before Christmas,”Monterona, who had spoken with OFW Silva via phone call.

Monterona renewed his group call to the Aquino administration through the Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of Labor and Employment, and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, to intensify its efforts and assistance to 185 distressed women OFWs in arranging their repatriation with the concerned Saudi authorities.

“Repatriation is the best Christmas gift PNoy administration could give to the 185 distressed women OFWs, some with kids, to celebrate Christmas with their relatives in the Philippines and rebuild their lives this coming new year,” Monterona concluded. # # #

Reference:

John Leonard Monterona

Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator

Mobile No. 00966 543547736