The letter that is most anticipated…and now most cherished by the OFWs in Nigeria is shown below sent by Ms. Ellene Sana, Director of CMA, Center for Migrant Advocacy who championed our cause. Her relentless efforts to pursue the lifting of the travel ban imposed by our government truly reflected the spirit of oneness not only with Pusong Pinoy but for all OFWs here in Nigeria. When she first heard of our plight, she immediately took this crusade and in constant communication with Pusong Pinoy. She made good of her promise, ‘I’ll never forsake your cause.’
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From: ellene sana [mailto:ellenesana@yahoo.com]
Sent: 17 December 2008 10:43
Sent: 17 December 2008 10:43
To: info@cfo.gov.ph; Mr. Lito Nucum
Cc: 'Benjamin Nadado'; 'Vangie Novio'; 'John Hernandez'; 'jun torres'; 'Janette Alican'; 'Fely Ramos'; cma; eunice cordova
Subject: good news for ofws in nigeria!!
hi all. it will be a merry Christmas to you in nigeria after all. why? today, i attended a congressional meeting in the house of representatives convened by the committee on overseas workers affairs. we discussed about the situation of ofws in the middle east who are being victimised by illegal recruitment and other misfortunes. we discussed the escort system and how illegal recruitment takes place. then the representative from the bureau of immigration was asked to share what BI was doing to curb illegal recruitment. that was an opportunity for me to make an intervention and i did and of course i mentioned the case of the deployment ban in nigeria and how this was being used by unscrupulous immigration people to earn a few dollars. and here was the answer of the representative from immigration:
hi all. it will be a merry Christmas to you in nigeria after all. why? today, i attended a congressional meeting in the house of representatives convened by the committee on overseas workers affairs. we discussed about the situation of ofws in the middle east who are being victimised by illegal recruitment and other misfortunes. we discussed the escort system and how illegal recruitment takes place. then the representative from the bureau of immigration was asked to share what BI was doing to curb illegal recruitment. that was an opportunity for me to make an intervention and i did and of course i mentioned the case of the deployment ban in nigeria and how this was being used by unscrupulous immigration people to earn a few dollars. and here was the answer of the representative from immigration:
first, he was not aware of it;
but SECONDLY and MOST IMPORTANTLY, he said that those ofws in nigeria who have residency status there --will be allowed exit without hassles. kailangan lang sabihan natin sila na residente kayo. as for those who are migrant workers -- please go to POEA's balik manggagawa program to secure your oec (overseas employment certificate) -- you will just need to show this to the immigration officer to give you exit permits.
ang ibig sabihin, DE FACTO the travel and deployment ban to nigeria ONLY applies to new OFWs; those who have active existing work contracts and with residency cards from the nigerian government will be allowed exit from the philippines.
hay salamat po Panginong Hesus!
you may want to say thank you to the immigration officer --Atty. edgardo Mendoza-- who clarified the matter before the committee. you may contact him at his cellphone: +63 9175374793. for returning filipinos to nigeria, please send a fax message to his office that you are a resident of nigeria or a balik manggagawa with an active existing work contract there. syempre, isama na nyo kaagad yung proof of status. the fax number is +63 2 3384459.
o ipakalat na itong magandang balita huh!
finally, we want to say thank you too to cfo for exerting its best to assist the ofws in their appeal to lift the ban. no less than secretary dante ang, chair of the cfo, endorsed your request to the office of the vice president.
unfortunately, there is no response yet from the office of the vice. pero ok na yon kasi puede naman pala sa level ng bureau of immigration e. basta maraming salamat din kina cfo executive director jenny gonzales and secretary dante ang. all for now.
maligayang pasko sa lahat!
ellene
When we thought we had exhausted all the avenues and still failed (just imagine the volumes of letters, money spent on petitions, frustrations, tensions running high, detractors having a field day and all imaginable scenarios conceived and perceived to escape this scourge), when our hopes were raised with the meeting of our President GMA with the 5 ambassadors of the ‘troubled’ nations only to receive the news that the ban still stays and our spirits were dampened once again, then came her good tidings –
To Ellene, MARAMING MARAMING SALAMAT!
When we thought we had exhausted all the avenues and still failed (just imagine the volumes of letters, money spent on petitions, frustrations, tensions running high, detractors having a field day and all imaginable scenarios conceived and perceived to escape this scourge), when our hopes were raised with the meeting of our President GMA with the 5 ambassadors of the ‘troubled’ nations only to receive the news that the ban still stays and our spirits were dampened once again, then came her good tidings –
To Ellene, MARAMING MARAMING SALAMAT!
Pusong Pinoy Officer Vangie Novio and Director Ellene Sana at CMA office
At UP Forum for Migrant Workers where Pusong Pinoy representative heard the travails of MiddleEast OFWs
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