Integration of OFWs deemed also important

CEBU, Philippines -  In line with the 2012 Celebration of the Month of Overseas Filipinos and International Migrants Day, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration-7 with the cooperation of Inter Agency Committee and the Philippine Migrants Rights Watch conducted the First Regional Forum on Migration yesterday at the Pag-ibig Auditorium, Cebu Business Park.

With the theme “Reintegration and Development: Partnerships and Challenges”, the forum discussed the best practices of mainstreaming migration and development by the local government, the experiences in the reintegration to the Philippines and the success stories of overseas Filipinos and the role of civil society in migration and development.

PMRW president Carmelita Nuqui said that there are existing initiatives from non-government organizations, the private sector and some government agencies aimed at tapping the development potentials of migration.

“A few LGUs have established migration desks, or an office dedicated to address OFW concerns,” she said, clarifying that in some cases, such an office is integrated in the PESO and its activities consist mainly in organizing job fairs.

She believes that migrants’ desks can provide various programs to support returned OFWs and their families, including harnessing their potentials as development partners.

“As migration is temporary, it is imperative to plan for the imminent return and reintegration of OFWs. The inclusion of the international migration dimension in the local development plans and prospects of local governments can be explored so that in the future, Filipinos have alternative options to migration,” Nuqui said

She also said that this is the first time in five years the activity was held outside the National Capital Region and they chose Cebu as the venue.

“We chose Cebu because we see that there are many migrants and overseas coming from this part of the region and we would like to share what we have to our migrants,” said Nuqui.

She said that migration can be tapped in the development of local communities and the economy.

“Many Filipino families, as well as the Philippine economy, benefit from the remittances sent by overseas Filipinos. But migration isn’t just about it nor is it all about deployment. There are many possibilities with migration, one of which is development,” said Nuqui.

With the first regional forum on migration yesterday, they aimed at pondering on the possibilities of tapping overseas migration for development, to develop and strengthen partnerships between local government units, OFWs and other stakeholders in the migration process.  (FREEMAN)