HONTIVEROS: FROM REPATRIATION TO REINTEGRATION, GOV'T MUST EXPAND HELP TO OFWs AND THEIR FAMILIES

"Ngayong National Heroes Day, alalahanin sana natin ang mga bagong bayani na nangangailangan ng tulong na makauwi sa kanilang mga pamilya."

This was the statement of Senator Risa Hontiveros on Monday, who urged government to expand its efforts to help displaced Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) waiting to be repatriated and reintegrated into the country.

In a recent hearing of the Senate Committee on Labor, Hontiveros urged relevant government agencies like the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Department of Labor (DOLE) and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) to better ensure the speedy and safe repatriation of Filipinos workers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, many of whom remain stranded in foreign countries, with little or no income and unable to go home.

During the hearing, it was noted that there are still an estimated 14, 285 OFWs awaiting repatriation this August, from 19,591 OFWs as recorded last June. "Sadly, wala pa sa kalahati ang nakauwi na. Marami pa ang naghihintay, either na makakuha ng exit visa o ng flight schedule. Ilan sa kanila, nagkakasakit, naaabuso, pinagtatrabaho pa rin kahit tapos na ang kontrata at walang sahod," Hontiveros said.

"While we are thankful for what the government has done for OFWs badly hit by the pandemic, there is more work to be done. Malinaw na kailangang palakasin at palawakin pa ng pamahalaan ang tulong nito sa mga OFW na nagaabang ng repatriation para sila ay ligtas na makauwi sa ating bansa," she said.

Hontiveros said that relevant government bodies need to monitor and work more closely with recruitment and manning agencies to ensure that proper assistance is being given to OFWs who want to go home. "Magmula sa pagkuha ng exit visa at iba pang documentary requirements, hanggang sa pagkuha ng tamang sweldo o benepisyo, dapat ay siguraduhin natin na umaaksyon ang mga manning agencies at tinutupad ang kanilang contractual obligations sa ating OFWs," she said.

"Government should not hesitate to clamp down and impose the proper legal or administrative sanctions on recruitment or manning agencies which are leaving OFWs to be stranded and without pay, or subject to other abuses," she added.

Another reform that government agencies should look at, Hontiveros said, is extending greater assistance for the repatriation of undocumented OFWs, who are afforded less protections and benefits than legally documented OFWs. "May mga kababayan tayong nasa ibang bansa pero walang agency o employer na masasandalan pagdating sa repatriation. These people have no one to turn to but government," she said.

The senator also said that government must equally expand its reintegration program to provide ample jobs, along with proper retraining and skills development, to all displaced OFWs and their families who have lost their means of livelihood.

"Sa bawat OFW na mawawalan ng trabaho at uuwi ng bansa, documented man o hindi, may isang pamilya ang siguradong apektado ang kabuhayan. Dapat may nakahandang programa para sila ay makapagsimula muli."

Hontiveros said that present reintegration programs by government should be expanded to allow the spouses or other close family member of OFWS to avail of services under such programs.

"OFWs remain to be our country's modern-day heroes. Decreased remittances do not make them less of heroes. Hindi natin sila pwedeng pabayaan. Kahit ang mga bayani ay minsa'y nadadapa rin. Ito ang panahon na mas dapat silang bigyan ng atensyon at tulong," she concluded.