OPENING REMARKS: Senator Joel Villanueva

Mapagpalang araw po sa ating lahat.

The legislative measures that we will discuss today are part of our general approach to strike a delicate balance between combating the pandemic and restoring our economic activities.

We would like to thank all our colleagues for their unshakeable commitment and desire to boost the morale of our workers and support our modern-day heroes, our Overseas Filipino Workers: We have here today, Senator Grace Poe (SBN 317 and SBN 937), Senator Bong Revilla (SBN 801, SBN 300, and SRN448), and then we have Senator Nancy Binay (SBN 566, SBN 1369, and SRN 420), we have Senator Sonny Angara (SBN 135), Senator Risa Hontiveros (SBN 357) Senator Frank Drilon (SRN 417) and Senator Leila De Lima (SRN 426). For our part, we filed SBN 1745, SRN 234, SRN 338, SRN 384, and SRN 397.

Let me point out that many of the issues that we're currently facing are not only urgent concerns but also formidable life and death issues and concerns for the majority of our kababayans, most especially our OFWs.

We believe that the bills and resolutions that form part of our agenda are time-sensitive measures that will greatly impact the state of Filipino migrant workers across the globe.

It's also clear to us that in the midst of a global crisis such as the COVID-19 pandemic, our OFWs are not spared and they are in fact one of the hardest hit sectors by the COVID-19.

Our OFWs were already vulnerable before COVID-19 and the pandemic has illustrated the fact that they are in a very precarious situation from the very start. The economic strain, prolonged isolation and quarantine, work stoppage, restricted travel, panic and depression, among others, exacerbate the vulnerabilities of our OFWs.

Kapag nawalan po ng trabaho ang isang OFW, minsan hindi lang isang pamilya kundi magkakamag-anak ang nawawalan ng pagkukunan dahil karamihan po sa kanila nakasandal sa kanilang kaanak na OFW. Malaking problema po ito dahil kung susumahin, halos kada pamilyang Pilipino ay may isang miyembro na OFW.

Base po sa resulta ng 2019 Survey on Overseas Filipinos na inilabas ng PSA noong June 4, 2020, may 2.2-milyong OFW ang nagtatrabaho sa ibang bansa[1].

Sa pag-aaral po ng Ateneo de Manila University, tinatayang aabot sa 400,000 ang mga OFW na mawawalan ng trabaho o makakaranas ng "salary cut" dahil sa pag-shutdown ng mga pinagtatrabahuhan nilang kumpanya abroad.

Nakapagtala naman po ang DOLE ng mahigit 600,000 na mga OFW na lumapit na sa ahensya na humihingi ng assistance. As of August 19,from DOLE, umabot na sa 394,044 ang mga displaced OFWs, 79,858 ang mga stranded, at 152,946 ang mga repatriated[2].

Wala na pong ibang panahon para maisabatas ang mga panukalang credit assistance at mga benepisyo at insentives para sa mga OFWs gayundin ang matagal nang kahilingin ng mga Marinong Pilipino, ang Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers.

In less than a week, "ber" months na po at maririnig na po natin si Jose Mari Chan and his famous songs. It's usually the time of the year na masarap maging balikbayan. Pero hindi po ngayong taon. Kapag may Pilipinong umuuwi ngayon, posibleng na-lay-off sa trabaho at walang katiyakan kung kailan muli makakabalik sa abroad. At hindi po tulad ng dati na masaya silang sinasalubong ng kanilang mga kamag-anak, ngayon napakahaba ng kanilang paghihintay bago makalabas ng mga quarantine facility.

Para sa mga nakabalik na sa Pilipinas, swerte pa rin daw sila kumpara sa mga kababayan nating hanggang ngayon ay naghihintay pa rin ng repatriation, lalo na ang mga wala ng makain at matuluyan, nakansela na ang resident permit, overstaying at mga matatanda at buntis na nangangailangan ng atensyong medikal.

We understand the problems and sentiments of our OFWs. Gayundin po ang mga kababayan nating dumaranas ng matinding depresyon na epekto na rin po siguro ng napakataas ng joblessness rate dito ngayon sa bansa. Dagdag pa po ang hinaing ng mga health workers na apektado ng deployment ban, yan din po ay nais nating mapagusapan. Ito po ang dahilan kung bakit hindi natin masikmura ang pagdagsa ng mga iligal na dayuhang manggagawa na nakikipag-kompitensya pa sa mga trabaho at oportunidad na para sana sa ating mga kababayan.

While we work for the welfare of OFWs, especially the ones who were displaced by the pandemic, we also recognize that in the post-COVID-19 future, it is for the best interests of Filipinos that they should find enough employment opportunities at home that could sustain a stable and comfortable life for themselves and their families.

Again,we hope that through the measures that we will tackle today, time will come sooner than later, when Filipinos will go and work abroad only because it is their convenience and desire, and not because it is a necessity for survival.