The Philippine government has realized that although remittances sent home by its migrant workers push the economy forward, it cannot merely rely on the long-standing ‘labor export policy’, as tens of thousands of overseas Filipino workers across the world lost their jobs.
In a live interview with The Filipino Times, Presidential Spokesperson Secretary Harry Roque said that the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has enabled the country to rethink its economic policy, moving forward.
“Hindi tayo pwedeng umasa lang na maka-abroad ang mga taga-Pilipinas, kailangan maging mas reliant tayo sa ating domestic economy,” said Roque, adding that it is now time to plan how to provide Filipinos adequate source of income without the need to go abroad.
The spokesperson said that about 100,000 OFWs have already come home since the onset of the pandemic following job loss and retrenchment. He added that they expect the total number to go as high as 300,000 in the coming months.
He also said that merely relying on the remittances of OFWs is no longer sustainable, stressing that there will come a time many Filipinos will be forced to return home once they have exhausted all their opportunities abroad.
“Dadating ang araw na kapag naubos na ang silbi ng mga Pilipino sa iba’t ibang lugar ay pababalikin din sila sa Pilipinas,” added the spokesperson.
Roque added that part of the government’s goal is to provide jobs for Filipinos with compensation and benefits that can equal those OFWs get abroad.
The labor export policy began in the mid-1970s when then President Ferdinand Marcos found sending Filipino workers as a way to stimulate the declining economy.
PHP5 BILLION BUDGET APPROVED
The secretary said Duterte always had a soft spot for OFWs due to their sacrifices and contribution to the country.
“Ang ating ekonomiya ay naging ganito kalakas bago tumama ang COVID-19 dahil sa OFWs, [especially] dahil sa remittances ng ating mga OFW,” he said.
Recently, President Duterte has approved an additional Php5 billion budget to provide assistance for OFWs who have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III confirmed the announcement, stating that the money will be used for repatriation, of which a huge part of the funds will be allocated for the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration to help send OFWs home.
“Dahil po mahal na mahal ni Pangulong Duterte ang ating mga bagong bayani, ibinigay po nya ang kailangan nating dagdag na pondo para sa repatriation at tulong para sa ating mga OFW,” said Bello.
Roque also noted how some sectors have been fortified due to the purchasing power of OFWs, including the real estate industry, and how the country’s GDP was strengthened due to their remittances.
“‘Yong mga pinapadala niyo sa Pilipinas, ‘yan ang dahilan kung bakit mayroon tayong kayamanan na natikman bilang isang bayan,” he said.
He also said that OFWs are paying high social costs, sacrificing distance from their loved ones just to work and provide a better life for their families.
“Kayo talaga ang mga bagong bayani, so tama lang na ngayong kayo ang nangangailangan, dapat nandyan ang gobyerno para magbigay ng tulong,” added Roque.
SUPPORT PROGRAMS
The spokesperson said that about 100,000 OFWs have already come home since the onset of the pandemic, and that they expect the total number to go as high as 300,000 in the coming months.
Roque furthered that to assist affected Filipino expats, the government has launched a number of initiatives to help cushion the blow of the crisis on them.
Among the programs he cited include the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)-AKAP program, the one-time cash assistance worth PHP10,000 given to those who have lost their jobs, or are under no-work-no-pay status.
“‘Yong AKAP program natin [ay para sa] lahat ng mga nawalan ng trabaho. Binibigyan natin [sila ]ng kahit paano ay maliit na ayuda,” he said.
The spokesperson also said that Duterte has ordered Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) to provide returning OFWs training so they can have the capacity to attain their own source of livelihood in the country.
Roque also cited the scholarships being provided by the President to OFWs who want to return to school through the Commission on Human Rights (CHR).
“Madami din tayong pinapautang galing sa DOLE para sa mga dating OFW para sila ay makapagnegosyo,” said Roque.
He also discussed how President Rodrigo Duterte’s ‘BUILD, BUILD, BUILD’ program promises to provide OFWs in the construction center a new chance to get a competitive livelihood.
“Para sa mga nawalan ng trabaho sa construction, ‘wag po kayong mag-alala dahil napakadami po nating ‘BUILD, BUILD, BUILD’ projects na tinutuloy so kung ano ang trabaho niyo dyan ay gagawin niyo din sa Pilipinas at hindi pa magkakalayo ang sweldo ninyo,” Roque underscored.
