What's the government's policy on outward labor migration?

Many foreign observers are asking questions on Filipino migration and what is the direction of the newly assumed administration. Here in one university colloquium in Vienna, Austria, back from my quick trip back to Cebu last week to speak before the city league's national convention, I am being put to task to explain what is our government's policy on the continuing outward migration of Filipino human capital. I could only refer to official documents for answers.

The truth of the matter is that there are no less than 12 million Filipinos in 200 countries all over the world right now. These are the educated estimates of global NGOs that monitor the movement of people for work in foreign countries. The official figures of the Philippine Statistics Authority are not reflective of the facts on the ground. The POEA statistics reflect only those who followed the official procedures. They do not include Filipinos who flew out as tourists and never came back. And so, what is the government's policy on the diaspora of Filipino talents? Is the creation of the Department of Migrant Workers a palpable evidence that the government continues to abet the brain drain and the outward movement of our human capital? RA 11641 signed into law as a midnight legislation of the previous administration, was signed into law by President Rodrigo Duterte on December 31, 2021 and took effect in February 2022.

RA 11641 declares in Section 2 that "The State does not promote overseas employment as a means to economic growth and national development and shall continuously aim to make it a choice and not a necessity. The State shall institute measures that will strengthen the domestic labor market for the effective reintegration of OFWs." This is always the official mantra, but we have not seen any concrete action and definite timetable along this line. Any promise like this is just an empty politicking that is good to hear and signifying nothing. The same slogan was expressed in RA 8042, the law passed in 1995, after the unjust and cruel execution of Flor Contemplacion in the early nineties. The Magna Carta for OFWs promised: "While recognizing the significant contribution to the national economy through their foreign exchange remittances, the State does not promote overseas employment as a means to sustain economic growth and achieve national development." Easier said than done. No visible sign of sincerity.

RA 10022, which was supposed to be an amendment of RA 8042, stated in 2010 that "the most effective tool of empowerment is the possession of skills by migrant workers. The government shall provide them free access and accessible skills development and enhancement programs. Pursuant to this, and as soon as practicable, the government shall deploy and/or allow the deployment only of skilled workers." This law begs for two questions: First, if it is not the policy of the State to promote outward migration, why is government offering free skills development as a means to protect them? Second, if only skilled workers are to be deployed, why does the government continue to send hundreds of domestic helpers to such countries as in the Middle East, where women are made to do dirty, difficult, dangerous, degrading and deceptive work? The government is not sincere.

Every day, no less than five thousand Filipinos are leaving our country to seek jobs abroad, leaving families to become dysfunctional, marriage vows to be broken, families to be shattered and children suffering from drug addiction, teenage pregnancy, child prostitution, cybersex, other juvenile crimes and other forms of delinquency, and even immorality.. Outward migration is destroying the foundation of our society, which is the family. It also deprives our own economy of the much needed human capital to get our development going. We are losing nurses and our hospitals, clinics and rural health centers are undermanned. In the name of the almighty dollar remittances, our government abets the diaspora of talents, and deprives our country the knowledge and skills of our young labor force. The government says one thing in laws but continues to do the complete opposite.

Government officials continue to keep mum on the need to openly declare the policy of government. But action speaks louder than words. The POEA keeps on approving job orders and work contracts even for the unskilled like domestic helpers. They just count the billions of foreign exchange infusing the Philippine economy with loads of dollars from OFWs in various countries. The POEA never reports how many are raped, killed, maimed and maltreated on the ground. Officials appear very compassionate to distressed OFWs when facing the cameras. But on the ground, millions are feeling left on their own, Many of them come home inside sealed coffins, lifeless and unable to testify on their tragedies and travails.

The government keeps on saying it does not promote outward migration. Tell that to the marines. The people know better. I know whereof I speak. I have been a labor attaché for many years, in Taiwan, Malaysia and Kuwait. The facts on the ground do not tell any lie.