Plans for OFWs: What PH presidential candidates want
The Philippine election is fast approaching, however, some Filipino Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) might still be undecided on who to vote for this coming April 10 in the Overseas Election Vote in the UAE. OFWs make up 9.66 percent of remittances to the Philippines' GDP in 2020. When choosing the right leaders, it is important to know each candidate's platform, what they've done so far and what they can contribute to the OFW community. ALSO READ: Embassy announces schedules for Filipino voters in UAE The recent survey by Pulse Asia shows that Bongbong Marcos is leading garnering 56 percent of people vying to vote for him, followed by Leni Robredo at 24 percent, Isko Moreno at 8 percent, Manny Pacquiao at 6 percent, and Ping Lacson at 2 percent. With that in mind, here are your presidential candidate's platforms for OFWs.Bongbong Marcos
According to Bongbong Marcos' official website, Marcos supported our OFWs when he was still in the senate by initiating various legislative measures to safeguard their rights. He also formulated measures so that a portion of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) fund would be set aside to help distressed OFWs who are in need of lawyers who could assist them especially when they've been detained, maltreated, and victimized by illegal recruiters. Marcos, in his vlog on April 2, said that the separated departments for OFWs is no longer working, hence he highlighted providing a focused service to OFWs in accordance with the Department of Migrant Workers law. Marco's plans for OFWs are the following:- OFW hospitals with subsidized healthcare for OFWs
- Scholarships for OFW dependents
- Retraining and reskilling expansion
Leni Robredo
During Robredo's term as vice president of the Philippines, she set up a Migrant Resource Center for OFWs in Naga City that seeks to give a holistic approach to migrant workers where they are provided training and skills-jobs matching. The center spearheaded by Robredo has screened recruitment agencies to ensure valid and suitable work for future OFWs, taught financial skills to family members of the OFW left at home, and helps in the reintegration of the returning OFWs. Robredo vows to copy this program nationally. When asked about OFWs in a lot of her interviews, Robredo stresses the need to improve the country’s economy to create more jobs so that Filipinos would go abroad for work only by choice and not out of necessity. Robredo's plans for OFWs are the following:- Increase the DFA Budget
- Improve the economy by creating more job opportunities
- Create a single agency for OFWs
- Improve the repatriation program
Isko Moreno Domagoso
Domagoso, during his time as Mayor of Manila, has offered free COVID services in Manila for OFWs so they don't have to pay for tests when they go back to the Philippines. He has also been vocal about seeking contingency plans for 150,000 OFWs in Taiwan. In a presidential one-on-one interview with Boy Abunda, one of the Philippine's top interviewers, Domagoso hopes to see lesser Filipinos working abroad. Domagoso vows to improve services to OFWs and extend what he did to Manila on a national scale. Damagoso's plans for OFWs are the following:- Generate foreign direct investments to create more jobs in the country
- Put professional people in the Embassy abroad
- Provide free COVID-19 services for OFWs
- Contingency plans for crisis
Manny Pacquiao
Pacquiao, in his time as senator, was the primary author of Republic Act No. 11227 or the “Handbook for Overseas Filipinos Act" which is now a law and has provided assistance to hundreds of distressed Filipino migrant workers., During a statement, Pacquiao said that his advocacy and purpose is to ensure truthful service to the poor so they won't have to go to another country to seek jobs. He also stressed the adversities that OFWs faced and vows to help them overcome them and prioritize the welfare of Filipino OFWs Pacquiao's plans for OFWs are the following:- Put an end to corruption
- Increase salary standardization in the country
- Strengthen allegiance with all nations
Ping Lacson
In an interview by Boy Abunda, Lacson expressed his opinion on OFWs being called the "new heroes" and said that OFWs are not treated as heroes in the Philippines because of the lack of services for them such as retirement plans. He also mentioned improving the information and communication technology in the Philippines to help OFWs connect with their loved ones in the Philippines and solve homesickness. During his term as a senator, Lacson has sponsored the information and communications technology (ICT) budget. Lacson vows that OFWs can rely on DFA in his term as president. Lacson's plans for OFWs are the following:- Government intervention and programs for retirement
- Implementation of Department of Migrant Workers
- Increase research and development budget
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