While every ‘Pinoy Worker’ here in Nigeria is frantically raking his brain on how to hammer through the heads of our very stubborn government officials that Nigeria is the safest haven of Pinoy workers, (Is it not enough guarantee that there are many Pinoys who are still in this country for 25 to 30 years and still going strong?) for ‘them’ to lift this very odious TRAVEL BAN, organizations like CMA (our frontrunner) is also pooling all its resources to come to our rescue. On January 20, 2009, CMA Director Ellene Sana spearheaded a meeting with government officials who are in direct control of our ‘fate’ - DOLE USEC Ms. Luzviminda Padilla, POEA Administrator Ms. Jennifer Manalili, OWWA Representative, Mr. Gerardo Montano, Immigration Officer, Mr. Edwin Pajarez, Commission of Filipinos Overseas (CFO) Representative, Commission on Human Rights (CHR) Representatives.
The excerpts of the meeting as reported by the Pusong Pinoy Association President Lito Nucum is as follows:
Mga kapuso,
Hereunder are the highlights of our meeting with DOLE-POEA on 20th Jan. 2009, attended by the following:
DOLE USEC Ms. Luzviminda Padilla
POEA Administrator Ms. Jennifer Manalili
OWWA Representative
CMA Director , Ms. Ellene Sana,
Mr. Gerardo Montano, Immigration Officer
Mr. Edwin Pajarez, Commission of Filipinos Overseas (CFO) Representative
Commission on Human Rights (CHR) Representatives
Lifting of Deployment Ban to offer job opportunities to other Filipinos DOLE could only recommend the lifting of deployment ban as the decision to do so falls to the DFA office. For DOLE to recommend they are asking us more vivid details on the safety of Filipino workers in Nigeria and a sort of assurance that no Filipino workers would be kidnapped. Pusong Pinoy or any Filipino Association in Nigeria, for that matter, is not in any position to give a qualified statement attesting to the security/ peace & order situation in Nigeria.
However, even in our absence CMA, together with other NGOs and related government offices engage on the issue of deploment ban, will try to arrange another meeting with DFA, whilst awaiting the recommendation of Special Envoy Roy Cimatu this coming March 2009.
Filipinos with Residence Permit (CERPAC holder)
This is where we fall under. The mandate of CFO is to look after the Filipino migrants all over the world.. CFO read our case as migrant workers because we are a holder of a residence permit.
(Through this email we are addressing Mr. Edwin Pajares asking their office how, we Filipinos in Nigeria, could be officially recognized by them as Migrant workers in Nigeria and what are the requirements. Membership or processing fee we were told involve only a very minimal amount).
Meaning we are not even considered by DOLE/POEA as OFWs and therefore does not affect us at all on the issue of deployment ban.
To avoid hiccups at the Immigration we are still insisting the appropriate office (DFA) to issue the guideline to Bureau of Immigration to facilitate our exit at the airport immigration without any hassles. The representative of the Immigration, Mr. Montano quoted that it was clear with them that deployment ban does not involve Filipinos with residence permit in Nigeria. Although no document is available to back up his statement.
The Commission on Human Rights is also helping us on our right to travel or work abroad by issuing a request letter to Immigration Commissioner, but with hundreds of Filipino going back to Nigeria, it would be almost impossible with them to issue letter to those who seek their assistance. Hence, CHR is now very much in the picture helping us.
Filipino Seafarers "act" affecting land-based Filipinos in Nigeria.
This is entirely a different issue that POEA is putting extra eye to the like ot SEA GEM.
What is unfortunate is that every sad news as a result of their involvement in the "oil bunkering" business affect us all as well, because Filipinos are now considered by the Nigerian press as "thieves". Napakasakit Ate Glo.
To summarize or to advise our Balikbayan or bakaysionistang kababayan nakatira sa Nigeria:
1. We shall continue to pray for the lifting of the deployment ban to open the door for other Filipinos to work in Nigeria.
2. We are "migrant workers" being a holder of a residence permit to Nigeria. We shall refrain from categorizing ourselves as "returning workers" or OFWs when we fill-up the disembarkation card.
3. Do not contact Immigration people just to have safe exit at the airport (although to do so is entirely the prerogative of those who wanted to "maglagay". But if we act as one body fighting for our right, then we will have back our freedom to work anywhere abroad.
Other sidelines will be discussed when I am back in abuja on Sunday, 25 Jan. 2009.
God bless all,
Lito
The excerpts of the meeting as reported by the Pusong Pinoy Association President Lito Nucum is as follows:
Mga kapuso,
Hereunder are the highlights of our meeting with DOLE-POEA on 20th Jan. 2009, attended by the following:
DOLE USEC Ms. Luzviminda Padilla
POEA Administrator Ms. Jennifer Manalili
OWWA Representative
CMA Director , Ms. Ellene Sana,
Mr. Gerardo Montano, Immigration Officer
Mr. Edwin Pajarez, Commission of Filipinos Overseas (CFO) Representative
Commission on Human Rights (CHR) Representatives
Lifting of Deployment Ban to offer job opportunities to other Filipinos DOLE could only recommend the lifting of deployment ban as the decision to do so falls to the DFA office. For DOLE to recommend they are asking us more vivid details on the safety of Filipino workers in Nigeria and a sort of assurance that no Filipino workers would be kidnapped. Pusong Pinoy or any Filipino Association in Nigeria, for that matter, is not in any position to give a qualified statement attesting to the security/ peace & order situation in Nigeria.
However, even in our absence CMA, together with other NGOs and related government offices engage on the issue of deploment ban, will try to arrange another meeting with DFA, whilst awaiting the recommendation of Special Envoy Roy Cimatu this coming March 2009.
Filipinos with Residence Permit (CERPAC holder)
This is where we fall under. The mandate of CFO is to look after the Filipino migrants all over the world.. CFO read our case as migrant workers because we are a holder of a residence permit.
(Through this email we are addressing Mr. Edwin Pajares asking their office how, we Filipinos in Nigeria, could be officially recognized by them as Migrant workers in Nigeria and what are the requirements. Membership or processing fee we were told involve only a very minimal amount).
Meaning we are not even considered by DOLE/POEA as OFWs and therefore does not affect us at all on the issue of deployment ban.
To avoid hiccups at the Immigration we are still insisting the appropriate office (DFA) to issue the guideline to Bureau of Immigration to facilitate our exit at the airport immigration without any hassles. The representative of the Immigration, Mr. Montano quoted that it was clear with them that deployment ban does not involve Filipinos with residence permit in Nigeria. Although no document is available to back up his statement.
The Commission on Human Rights is also helping us on our right to travel or work abroad by issuing a request letter to Immigration Commissioner, but with hundreds of Filipino going back to Nigeria, it would be almost impossible with them to issue letter to those who seek their assistance. Hence, CHR is now very much in the picture helping us.
Filipino Seafarers "act" affecting land-based Filipinos in Nigeria.
This is entirely a different issue that POEA is putting extra eye to the like ot SEA GEM.
What is unfortunate is that every sad news as a result of their involvement in the "oil bunkering" business affect us all as well, because Filipinos are now considered by the Nigerian press as "thieves". Napakasakit Ate Glo.
To summarize or to advise our Balikbayan or bakaysionistang kababayan nakatira sa Nigeria:
1. We shall continue to pray for the lifting of the deployment ban to open the door for other Filipinos to work in Nigeria.
2. We are "migrant workers" being a holder of a residence permit to Nigeria. We shall refrain from categorizing ourselves as "returning workers" or OFWs when we fill-up the disembarkation card.
3. Do not contact Immigration people just to have safe exit at the airport (although to do so is entirely the prerogative of those who wanted to "maglagay". But if we act as one body fighting for our right, then we will have back our freedom to work anywhere abroad.
Other sidelines will be discussed when I am back in abuja on Sunday, 25 Jan. 2009.
God bless all,
Lito
Pusong Pinoy past presidents- Marisa Mercado & Bernie Mercado, Lito, Benjie(left) and during the meeting (right) and with government reps (below)
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