Press Release
January 26, 2009

OFWs are RP's concern, not Obama's -- Loren

Senator Loren Legarda urged today the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) to live up to its mandate by providing assistance to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in distress, including those who are losing their jobs due to the global economic slowdown. "It's appalling to hear OWWA pin too much hope on US President Barack Obama as some kind of a 'savior' for OFWs," said Loren. "We, Filipinos, must make our own destiny and government should always have this in mind."

"The US is in dire straits too and its leaders can be expected to promote first the interest of its people before aiding other countries, if they are so inclined to do so," she added.

The senator asked OWWA to make a complete report on its financial status and programs to help OFWs in the face of numerous complaints against OWWA reaching her office.

With millions of OFWs paying OWWA membership fees of at least $25 each, Loren said it's hard to disregard the complaints from OFWs that OWWA has not been living up to its mandate.

But noting the new leadership now in place at OWWA, Loren urged the agency to "deliver the goods."

OFWs are credited as a potent economic force due to their annual remittances, which in 2008 was expected to reach a record-high $17 billion. In October 2008 alone, remittances reached $1.4 billion, the highest monthly inflow recorded since 1989. It brought the ten-month remittance figure to $13.7 billion, 15.5 percent higher than the inflows for the same period in 2007.

The remittances boost the amount of foreign currencies revolving within the country, while increasing the purchasing power of many OFW families.

"Hindi naman pwede na puro lang pakabig ang pamahalaan sa mga OFW. Dapat ay tumbasan nila ng serbisyo ang paghihirap ng mga OFW (Government cannot just take from OFWs. They must repay with service the sacrifices made by OFWs)," she said.

OWWA is regularly put under the spotlight due to the big number of runaway OFWs who are awaiting repatriation from their host countries.

Last year, Loren had to aid several Filipino youths victimized by a human trafficking and prostitution syndicate in Malaysia, financing their trip home.

"The repatriation of abused and exploited OFWs is a basic duty of government. If it cannot assure the immediate and safe return of distressed OFWs, how can OFWs expect to receive benefits due them under the OWWA charter," she said.

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