EDITORIAL - Staying put

A ceasefire is on but tension remains high in the Gaza Strip. With their lives in danger from regular bombardment, only 12 of an estimated 120 Filipinos have expressed interest in leaving the Gaza Strip, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs. Of the 12, only four reportedly want to be repatriated; the rest prefer to be brought to Egypt where they want to sit out the latest outbreak of hostilities between Israel and the Palestinians’ Hamas.

So far, the 41,000 Filipinos in Israel have expressed no interest in leaving the country either, even with the heavy bombardment by Hamas. Israel said the rockets were fired from hospitals, schools and residential areas, with civilians used by Hamas as human shields.

The behavior of the Filipinos is not new. Even in the most dangerous situations in recent years in Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya and Syria, Filipino workers typically preferred to stay put, sitting out the storm and hoping for a quick end.

Credit this to a combination of courage, and a pressing need to hold on to employment. In previous conflicts, overseas Filipino workers expressed concern that they could lose their jobs for good if they returned to the Philippines when hostilities erupted. In several cases, OFWs sought out jobs in the most dangerous situations, lured by the unusually high pay that is typically offered in such risky environments.

Little wonder then that in almost every armed conflict around the world, Filipinos often get caught in the crossfire. Sometimes they emerge unscathed; sometimes they are sent home in a box.

Their situation should provide additional impetus to the Aquino administration to improve the investment climate in the Philippines. The President has said his long-term goal is to make it unnecessary for many Filipinos to look for decent employment overseas.

The investments that will generate those types of jobs need a certain environment. Despite strong business confidence in the Aquino administration, investment levels still do not match the expressed confidence. Seeing Filipinos putting their lives at risk to keep their jobs in conflict areas should challenge the administration to do better.