Review of migration policies sought

MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Juan Edgardo Angara has called for a review of the country’s migration policies to make them more responsive to the present needs of overseas Filipino workers (OFW).

Angara has filed a resolution directing the Senate Committee on Labor, Employment and Human Resources Development to conduct “a broad reexamination” of the government’s migration policies, including labor laws and regulations in light of the continued issues, problems, abuses and exploitation faced and experienced by the OFWs.

“It has been two decades since the controversial execution of Flor Contemplacion in Singapore for allegedly killing a co-worker and a young boy. This caused a national trauma that compelled both the executive and legislative to enact legislation protecting OFWs worldwide,” Angara said.

“Twenty years after, the resulting public outcry for more protection on the welfare of OFWs seems to be the same public outcry up to this moment,” he added.

Citing a report from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Angara noted that the number of OFWs facing death penalty cases, most of which are drug-related, has reached 88 as of March this year, up from 80 in 2013.

The DFA also reported that cases of human trafficking has reached 1,135 in 2013 from 1,029 in 2012.

The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) handled an average of 1,600 illegal recruitment cases from 2007 to 2011, while the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) handled more than 50,000 cases on-site annually from 2009 to 2013.

Angara has been designated as the acting chairman of the Committee on Labor, Employment and Human Resources Development while Sen. Jinggoy Estrada is in detention.

Last month, the committee conducted a hearing on various bills seeking to establish an assistance program for OFWs in distress and to put up a P1-billion assistance fund to cover OFWs’ repatriation, medical expenses, immigration fees, legal assistance, payment of blood money, reintegration, among others.

The Center for Migrant Advocacy, represented by executive director Ellene Sana, pointed out in the hearing that while they appreciate the intent of the bills, most of the benefits under the proposed assistance program are already provided for in existing laws, specifically Republic Act 8042 or the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995, and that what is lacking is the proper implementation of the law.

Angara said “despite the innovative objective of the Migrant Workers Act to consolidate all government efforts that aim to protect the welfare of our OFWs, different government agencies – including the Department of Labor and Employment, DFA, POEA, OWWA, Commission on Overseas Filipino – are performing individual, separate and most of the time uncoordinated functions.”