Fwd: [Worldwide-Filipino-Alliance] Fw: [Buhay Pinoy ...] OWWA: OCCIDENTAL MINDORO HOLDS CONSULTATION

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: fortunato esguerra <fores_727@yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, May 5, 2011 at 10:02 AM
Subject: Re: [Worldwide-Filipino-Alliance] Fw: [Buhay Pinoy ...] OWWA: OCCIDENTAL MINDORO HOLDS CONSULTATION
To: vangienovio@ymail.com, pusongpinoytayo@gmail.com
Cc: waldenbello@yahoo.com, waldenbello@hotmail.com

Dear all,

I just hope that the OWWA representative and Family Welfare Officer were a former OFW so he can relate well the hardships of being one.

As for my contribution to OFWs welfare I made this proposal hoping the concerned govt. officials would endorse it and make it into a law.

PROJECT PROPOSAL FOR THE WELFARE OF OFWS:

Proposed Program:

Legal Assistance for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in KSA

Action Needed: To hire / retain Saudi Law Firm to properly represent or defend OFWs during court hearings

Initial Coverage: Kingdomwide (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia)

Possible Sources of Funds:

·         Appropriation from Government budget. (seems not possible)

·         $5.00 /2yrs to be taken from the $25 OWWA contribution ($2.50/yr) No additional cost to OFWs or to Philippine Government

Background

There are approximately 1.2 million OFWs working in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Every OFW is required to pay an OWWA membership contribution of $25 (SR94/P1150) every contract (some OFWs have yearly contract while others have every two years). This is a form of insurance where in the OFW is entitled to P200,000 for accidental death or P100, 000 if death is due to illness, and P20,000 burial fee.

Another $22 (SR85/P1000) contribution is being paid for PhilHealth as medical insurance to cover part of hospitalization expenses of an OFW and his/her dependents. This is also mandatory and the payment is yearly. If the OFW is on 2 years contract, he/she can ask any relative to pay the fee in any Philhealth office in the Philippines during his/her absence.

Mostly domestic helpers (housemaid, family drivers) have experience labor problems from their employers of unpaid or delayed salary, physical or sexual abuse and other forms of maltreatment

Lately due to the new system of sub-contractual basis of employments, the original contracts are substituted upon arrival in the KSA by which the salary is being reduced by nearly one-half.

Due to this predicament, many of these maltreated OFWs escape from their employers and seek shelter in the Embassy's or Consulate's OWWA Filipino Resource Center. This sector of OFWs comprises the bigger percentage of the most abused sector and a chronic headache to our Embassy and Consulate and to the POLO/OWWA.

Despite the huge amount of money being collected from these two sources, POLO/OWWA still hesitates to hire Saudi lawyers to defend an OFW during court hearings because of the possible big amount of attorney's fee it will pay.  This is quite revolting because parts of OWWA funds are being used to invest in other businesses that do not benefit OFWs.  Even some Philhealth funds are allegedly used by politicians' campaign fund. 

We have Filipino lawyers in our Embassy and Consulates but they function as conciliators and are not permitted to practice as lawyers to defend OFW's in court due to language barrier and unfamiliarity with Sharia law. Only an interpreter is sent to accompany the OFW during court hearings and their job is only to translate (explain in English or Tagalog) what is being discussed in court. This is the reason why many OFWs lose in their complaint against the employer and some who are accused of even imaginary crimes are convicted because of the lack of legal defense.

In this context, the idea of hiring a Saudi Law firm comes into picture. This idea has been suggested by a Saudi lawyer long time ago but it did not materialize because of lack of funds and it will be additional burden on the OFWs who have already spent a lot before going abroad. Even the government did not bite the idea because of the huge amount it might entail.

Solution

As they say, we do not need to re-invent the wheel. I have already discussed this matter to a Saudi lawyer who is presently defending an OFW who is accused of breach of contract by a Saudi businessman. He has a soft heart for Filipinos because he used to work in an Islamic charity foundation in Asia and he is willing to help us in coordination with the Embassy and Consulate/POLO/OWWA because he can compel his fellow Saudis to attend in court hearings, unlike our DFA/Labor personnel here that are usually snubbed despite the repeated summons they are sending to these employers.

Now, the idea is to deduct $5.00 ($2.50/yr) from OFW's OWWA contribution and make a contract with a Saudi law firm. The amount that will be collected is to be paid to that firm who will in turn represent the OFW in all court litigations. This law firm can also be a Consultant /in-charge of PDOS given to OFWs before they are deployed overseas because of its familiarity with the local customs and traditions. With the amount of money that can be collected, it can be arranged that this law firm would also arrange to pay for the least amount of "blood money" if required and not our government as it has done in the past cases. This means no additional expenses from either the OFW or the Philippine government but with additional benefits to both.

This law firm will not replace the function of ANS, POLO and OWWA but would rather cooperate, complement and coordinate with these agencies to reduce if not fully eradicate OFW problems that result to big number of distressed OFWs being housed inside the Embassies and Consulates and more TNTs roaming around the Kingdom. Can you imagine that these are the "Bagong Bayani' that keep the Philippine economy afloat through its $20,000,000,000.00  a year remittances! 

OFW hospital:

This has been the "impossible dream" of the OFWs for several decades now.

The hospital will be funded by OWWA/PhilHealth contributions and should be under OWWA administration but should be managed and staffed by mostly ex-OFWs to serve OFW dependents and OFWs who have gone home for good and not possible to apply for a job in hospital due to age factor and stiff competition with younger applicants.

Services:

Hospitalization of OFW dependents and former OFWs to be paid partially by Philhealth.

Pre-employment medical check-up for those applying for a job abroad can also be done there.

Nursing and other paramedical graduates who can not find jobs and are paying some hospitals to let them work just to get experience can be employed in the OFW hospital without salary but with some forms of allowance to give them the chance because personnel who are hired without experience are exploited by foreign employers by paying them low salary that they are forced to accept because of the need to work and earn money immediately.

This hospital can also be used as an affiliation of Medical schools and including those offering courses such as nursing, radiologic technology and medical or laboratory technology.

This hospital must be equipped with modern facilities so ex-OFWs or dependents from far away provinces could be treated here if facilities are not available in their areas.

Another Option:

 Being an OFW for 28 years as a CT Scan and MRI supervisor and a former (2008) and current *(2011) Chairman of OFW Cooperative Council (OFWCC), I propose the formation of an OFW Cooperative Hospital that will be owned and funded by OFWs' and former OFWs' contribution as cooperative member. OFWCC is a federation of Cooperatives in Jeddah that was given accreditation by Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) in Manila to propagate Cooperatives here in Jeddah and other parts of Saudi Arabia by conducting Pre-Membership Education Seminar (PMES). 

This gives OFWs the opportunity to invest their hard-earned money in a sure and viable business.

Second hand but refurbished equipments  such as Laboratory, X-ray, CT Scan and even MRI machines can be supplied and serviced by OFWs or former OFWs(engineers)  to minimize expenses.

Suggestion: There are rumors that Veterans' Memorial Hospital will be sold to a private company to be turned into a commercial complex, why can't we negotiate with the government and transform portion of it into an OFW Hospital while other portion into a commercial center. Stalls would be rented out to OFWS. If there are still spaces, residential units (condo BLISS type) could be constructed and sold to OFWs who could not afford to buy expensive house and lot. Park and playground should be provided for their children for this "OFW Village"

 

Prepared by:

FORTUNATO (Atoy) L. ESGUERRA

Senior Supervisor,

     Magnetic Resonance Imaging Department

     Dr. Erfan & Bagedo Gen. Hospital, Jeddah, KSA

President (2000), Batangas Brotherhood International, Jeddah, KSA

Chairman (2008) OFW Cooperative Council, Jeddah, KSA

Re-elected Chairman, (2011) – OFW Cooperative Council 

OWWA: OCCIDENTAL MINDORO HOLDS CONSULTATION

OWWA -  Occidental Mindoro Holds Consultation

By: Eunice Barbara C. Novio

The one million mark of OFW deployment in the world was reached in 2006, thus making the country the producer of workers for the world. The Bagong Bayani or the Overseas Filipino Workers’ contributions keep the economy afloat. However, migrant workers and their families left behind are facing tremendous problems, though not financially, but coping up with loneliness, depression and stress. The impact of migration gives the Filipino society a new concept of family. The advent of technology seemed to lessen the loneliness of the OFW and her/his family. She/he could connect with them through the internet, text messaging, or video calls. Still, the consequences to the emotional well-being of both the migrant workers and their families must not be undermined. The government, civil society and the individuals must all look up to address the growing numbers of OFWs.

OFWS in all categories including those into 3D jobs

Overseas Filipino Workers from Occidental Mindoro are scattered across the globe as seafarers, in various professions such as teachers, chefs, engineers, construction workers, caregivers, nurses, doctors and the entertainment industry, and also those who are into 3D (dirty, dangerous and demeaning) jobs, mostly domestic workers, particularly women. The migrant workers in all kinds of jobs still share the same sentiments: homesickness and other work related problems. At home, the families they left behind are also experiencing difficulties in coping up with the loneliness and the sudden changes in lifestyles.

In connection with this, the Overseas Workers Welfare Association together with the DOLE decided to hold Consultation Workshops to address the growing needs, issues and concerns of the OFWs and their families as a first step to recognize the importance of the Bagong Bayani and their families.

Kenneth Pangilinan, the OWWA representative and Family Welfare Officer (FWO) in Occidental Mindoro gathered 15 participants from two municipalities in Occidental Mindoro, namely San Jose and Magsaysay to attend the event. According to him, budget constraint and limited time hindered the agency to invite participants from the whole province. Pictured above: Kenneth D. Pangilinan, Family Welfare Officer explains the objectives and the workshop process during the Consultation.

OWWA AND DOLE: FIRST EVER PROVINCIAL CONSULTATION WORKSHOP

The first provincial consultation workshop on the specific needs and services of OFWs and their families was held on April 30, 2011 at the Senior Citizen’s Hall in San Jose, Occidental Mindoro. Sponsored by Dole and OWWA, the consultation aims to identify issues and concerns of OFWs and their families towards the development of new programs and services, particularly the consultation/workshop shall come up with solutions and strategies as well as the economic conditions and the challenges faced by the overseas Filipino Workers and their families.

After the provincial level, regional consultation will be done on May 9-11, 2011 in Manila and the National Consultation will be held on June 2011 at the SMEX Convention Center at SM Mall of Asia in June.

The workshop covered the problems of the OFWs on Job site, their families and the reintegration of the returning OFWs and the possible solutions were discussed.

OFWS most prominent problems

The most prominent problems faced by the OFWs are: contract violations particularly those that are deployed in the Middle East and in Taiwan. Loneliness and depression came next both for the OFWs and the families left behind. Delayed salaries and unpaid overtime pay were also issues that need attention. Inhuman conditions, sexual abuses, no insurances and other benefits were also raised.

The participants both returning OFWs and their kin during the workshop

 

Social Cost of Migration

The social cost of migration evidently shows on the behavior of the children. Based on the workshop presentation, children tend to become materialistic, distant, marry at early age and difficult to discipline, especially if the mother is the one left at home. The children have difficulties in understanding the phenomenon of belonging to a “different” families, thus, may encounter stress or having to cope up with the notion that OFW children are rich or financially capable to buy the latest gadgets or to be in the latest fashion. Husbands or wives of OFWs are also caught up with this kind of attitude. Many also mentioned that some husbands and wives cheated both those who remained at home and in abroad.

Ms. Bea Nuyda-Pangilinan, a former migrant worker and a wife to an OFW explains the difficulties of the families left behind by the OFWs

 

Possible Solutions

The participants were able to identify solutions to the raised issues and concerns. To the On Site OFWs, seeking the assistance of the POLO, OWWA or the Philippine embassies/consulates in their host countries is the primary solution to address the problems they encountered. The local agencies who recruited the distressed workers must be reported to POEA so that proper measures such as closure or blacklisting must be done. Strengthening Filipino communities as well as support groups in host countries must be done not only to facilitate help from the concerned offices but also as surrogate “families” to the OFWs. Philippine embassies across the globe should provide counseling to OFWs to cope up to their new environments as migrant workers and to their loneliness, especially during the first 6 months.

At home, OFW families must be organized and to the existing organizations, to be strengthened to be support groups. Concerned agencies like OWWA should give psychological help and assign Social workers to counsel families of OFWs particularly the children in coping with their loneliness and depression. Children of OFWs must also undergo orientation on gender issues as well as other concerns on migration.

Ms. Eunice C. Novio, a migrant advocate and also a wife of an OFW discusses the rights of the migrants as mandated by the international treaties such as UN Convention on the Protection of the Migrant Workers and their families

OWWA Membership

-        During the consultation, the participants raise the issues on the membership of OWWA. Those OFWs who missed paying the membership do not have benefits anymore, even though she/he paid her/his membership for many years.

-        PDOS orientation is also being questioned due to the hasty and homogenous treatment of the migrant workers. The participants wanted to invite officials from OWWA to explain the various programs and projects for the OFWs and their families.

-        OWWA ID must be issued again to lessen the transaction processes.

-        Separate office of OWWA is needed so that the OFWs and their families know where to go in case of emergency or in need.

-        Records of the OFW must be consolidated to monitor their situations.

-        Strengthening the OFW organizations in San Jose must be done and come up with programs and projects like scholarships and request for trainings on livelihood to encourage the members to participate in activities of the organization and of OWWA.

Presently, the San Jose OFW Association and also the Magsaysay Chapter are being reactivated in the hope of getting benefits from the programs and projects of OWWA to the returning OFWs and their beneficiaries.