Philippine Lawmaker filled a bill to fine $50 Dollars all OFW Filipinos leaving to work abroad

A proposed law Bill No. 6195 has been filed by Manila lawmaker Ma. Theresa Bonoan-David aimed at generating funds for the repatriation program of troubled Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW)s, but the funds will be collected from them.

The bill, which seeks to amend Republic Act 8042 or the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995, provides that for every worker recruited or deployed overseas, recruitment agency or its employer, in addition to the obligation to repatriate its workers shall contribute $50 to OWWA's Emergency Repatriation Fund.

The House measure provides that for every worker recruited or deployed overseas, the recruitment agency or its employer shall contribute $50 to Owwa's Emergency Repatriation Fund.

 "The bill intends to provide the necessary measures for the government to carry out its responsibilities to assist distressed OFWs in cases of war, epidemic, disaster or calamities, natural or man-made, and other similar events, and promote their general welfare," said Bonoan-David.

RA 8042 has already created and established an Emergency Repatriation Fund under the administration, control and supervision of OWWA with an initial funding of P1 million.

"There are millions of OFWs all over the world which the Philippine government is mandated to protect and safeguard under RA 8042 but it seems incapable to efficiently help distressed OFWs due to financial constraints," said Bonoan-David.

Under the bill, distressed OFWs can be repatriated during wars, epidemics, disasters or calamities, natural or man-made, and other similar events.

The bill will also establish and maintain an up-to-date database and locator system of OFWs for their repatriation, as well as the necessary disaster preparedness and mitigation measures

OFWs opposed for the no-knowledge law maker for ₱13 billion OFW fund

The overseas Filipino workers' group Migrante-Middle East is opposed to a legislator's proposal to collect an additional $50 fee from every departing OFW to help sustain the government's emergency repatriation fund under the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA). 

Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator John Leonard Monterona said that Manila Rep. Ma. Theresa Bonoan-David's proposal "is ill advised."

"She may be misinformed because the issue is not about lack of funds," Monterona said in a statement issued on Saturday.

According to him, the OFW trust fund under OWWA is now about ₱13 billion and is earning. However, the OWWA allegedly does not have enough programs and welfare services to OFWs and their dependents.

"The OWWA has not been transparent on the real status of the OFWs trust fund and where it is being spent," Monterona said.

He claimed that Bonoan-David's proposal "is clearly anti-OFW" because it would just be an added burden to Filipino migrant workers. Monterona also said that it is against the mandate of Republic Act 10022 or the Migrant Workers Act of 2010.

"Instead of imposing additional fees or charges upon our heavy shoulders, considering the huge contribution of OFWs in terms of yearly remittances posting to $1.7-B on April 3 to 4 percentage point higher than the same month of last year, Rep. Bonoan-David must give up and volunteer to channel her millions of pork barrel allocation to OWWA's emergency repatriation fund," Monterona said.

Migrante hopes that Vice President Jejomar Binay, presidential adviser on OFWs concern, will defend the interest of Filipino migrant workers.

"We hope that....[he] is on our side as we have heard him several times issuing statements against additional unnecessary fees and charges overburdening our OFWs," Monterona said.

MIGRANTE International scored a lawmaker's proposal to require overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to pay $50 or around ₱2,100 as contribution to the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (Owwa) Emergency Repatriation Fund before leaving the country.

Who to blame for the OFW Philippine Economy Army (PEA) exodus?

The Philippines have already suffered for the highest unemployment rate of 6.9% as of April 2012 lower than the previous years with the 94 Million people living within the country.

Counting the more than 10 Million Filipinos working abroad as jobless if they remain in the country, it would sum up to approximately 17 Million Filipino jobless or 18% unemployment rate of the country which might lead to the collapse of the Philippines.

The Philippine Government just failed to address the need of the people resulting to the exodus to find a living outside the country.

The exodus also give a better effect to the Philippines economy as it help the Philippines afloat in spite of the US and European financial crisis as the Filipinos working abroad keep on supporting their family and relatives in the Philippines which accounted $1.7 Billion USD in the month of April 2012 alone which grew 5.3% year on year.

The Overseas Filipino Workers or OFW has been praised and named as the Modern Day Heroes or "Bayani in Filipino term" for helping the Philippines to survive from the global financial crisis.

In fact, International economist named the Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) as Philippine Economy Army (PEA) as the Philippines had been so dependent on the OFW Remittances for the foreign currency needs of the country as its export earnings could not sustain the needs for the demand of Dollars.

OFW tried to survive even in the midst of turmoil in their host countries particularly in the Middle East, a home of Millions of Filipinos investing their lives just to support the needs of their family back home.

The Anti OFW bill of Manila lawmaker Ma. Theresa Bonoan-David is an act of shameless jealous to the OFW after helping the country to survive, they would be penalized for leaving the country.

Many OFW criticized this law maker as selfish, inggitera at "Walang utang Na loob" for the proposed additional $50 US Dollar fine for leaving the country to work abroad.

Pagkatapos makikinabang ang Pilipinas sa pinag hirapan namin na kahit mahirap at mapanganib ay hinarap namin, kahit parang si kamatayan ay halos nasa tabi na namin pinilit namin, ibinubuwis namin ang buhay namin mapakain lang ang pamilya naming naiwan sa Pilipinas dahil walang trabaho sa Pilipinas at iyon ay dahil sa kapalpakan ng govyerno tapos ngayon pag multahin kami, pag bayarin kami ng $50 Dollars kasi lalabas kami para makapag hanap ng trabaho? Bakit lalabas ba kami kung may trabaho diyan? decried by many OFWs.

read more in OFW Forum

Continue reading

China’ funded communist in the Philippines will Block VFA Australia

Australia is caught in a political row in the Philippines over American forces in Asia and the Pacific.

Against a clamor from activist groups, the Philippines senate leader has warned that with China flexing its muscle, now is not the time to block Australian forces.

Anti-war and civil society groups in the Philippines are campaigning against the renewal of a military agreement with Australia.

The Visiting Forces Agreement, or VFA, with Australia goes before the Philippines senate next month for a final vote on ratification.

Philippines non-government organizations see the agreement with Australia as part of a US-led military build-up in the Asian region, and plan to stage a protest outside the Australian embassy in Manila later this week.

60 per cent American Power in Asia

The protesters point out - as recently announced - that America plans to station about 60 per cent of its war fleet in the Asian region by 2020.

Agreements on big US bases in the Philippines were revoked after the fall of dictator Ferdinand Marcos.

However, activist groups say since then Philippines governments have used the VFAs to effectively re-base significant US military forces there.

Corazon Fabros, lead convenor of the Stop the War Coalition in the Philippines, told Radio Australia's Asia Pacific program: "The presence of foreign troops in our country does not help in terms of maintaining peace and security."

She claims the Philippines constitution prohibits a US armed presence.

The coalition says joint military exercises are bad for local communities because they generate prostitution and sexual abuse of women.

Also, "we've had many experiences with the United States forces of injuries and damage to properties," Ms Fabros said.

"We feel that the VFA has been a way for the United States and our government to get around the prohibition against the presence of US troops in our country."

Overseas forces, she said. are not bound by local laws. "We've had a very controversial experience in the recent past, of the rape of a Filipina by a US marine.

"That had been a classic example of how a US soldier has been treated and privileged, if they commit a crime on Philippine soil."

The Philippines senate will be considering the issue of the VFA with Australia at the end of July.

Philippines Senate president Juan Ponce Enrile has warned that now is not the time to abandon the VFA with Australia - especially given China's muscle-flexing in the West Philippines Sea (South China Sea).

Ms. Fabros said the "China question" is often trotted out as a justification.

"We are definitely against using our territory for the training and military exercises," she told Radio Australia.

"We're not at war with any country; we need to uphold the Philippine constitution. We need strong allies, far beyond being used as military training ground and the rest and recreation of foreign troops.

"The Philippines should develop strong diplomatic ties with other countries, especially with its neighboring nations, around Asia and the Pacific, to forge cooperation.

"We need to maintain our friendly relations, our independence, our neutrality."

Reasons:

China funded communist party in the Philippines want to block the VFA Australia for the following reasons:

• The coalition says joint military exercises are bad for local communities because they generate prostitution and sexual abuse of women.
• Philippines is independent and must stand alone without Australia or US Powers

The Question is.. What shall be done? Who to stand with? 

ABC Radio Australia

Continue reading