'Most OFWs prefer to stay abroad than put up businesses in Phl'

MANILA, Philippines - Most Filipino workers still prefer to go abroad rather than stay in the country and become entrepreneurs, the Overseas Workers Employment Administration (OWWA) reported yesterday.

OWWA chief Carmelito Dimzon said government programs are in place to encourage more Filipino workers abroad to return and stay in the country for good.

“We have a comprehensive reintegration program to give workers from abroad the choice to undergo skills upgrading or facilitate their redeployment abroad.

“We also offer loans which they can use as capital for a business that they intend to put up,” Dimzon said.

“But out of the 10 OFWs who have returned to the country, eight would still prefer to go back and work,” Dimzon said, even in the midst of hostilities in various countries in the Middle East.

But Dimzon remains optimistic that in the near future, more OFWs would choose to remain in the country as a result of the government’s comprehensive reintegration program.

The party-list Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketers’ Association (LPGMA) also said yesterday enterprising OFWs, cooperatives and non-government organizations (NGOs) may avail of affordable loans to establish a gasoline station business.

LGPMA Rep. Arnel Ty said under the gasoline station lending and financial assistance program of the Department of Energy (DOE), eligible borrowers may obtain loans for the purpose of putting up new gasoline outlets or auto LPG stations.

Established by the Downstream Oil Industry Deregulation Law, the program is meant to forcefully drive free and fair retail competition in the fuel markets, he said.

“Energy Secretary Jose Rene Almendras has issued a new department circular improving the program’s implementing rules to encourage more qualified borrowers to avail of the loans,” he said.

Borrowers may get loans of up to P10 million or 80 percent of the total cost of the business venture, whichever is lower, he said.

Misleading OFWs

The recruitment industry, meanwhile, accused the government of misleading the OFWs, particularly those employed in Saudi Arabia, by claiming there is alternative employment available to them.

Recruitment officials said countries like Australia and Canada, as mentioned by Malacañang, cannot accommodate or would not require the skills of workers from Saudi Arabia.

Middle East countries, the biggest employers of OFWs, have banned the hiring of Filipino household workers and would soon require companies to get local workers.

But if there is one sector that is satisfied with President Aquino’s one-year presidency, it’s the maritime industry.

The Luneta Seafarers Welfare Foundation (LUSWELF) expressed satisfaction with Aquino’s performance and vowed to continue supporting his programs.

Anfred Yulo, LUSWELF administrator, said President Aquino served well on his first year and tried his best in improving the working conditions of Filipino workers, including seafarers. – With Paolo Romero