Around 30 protesters marched to the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) in Pasay City yesterday to denounce the government’s failure to deliver promised assistance to overseas Filipino workers.
The protesters included members of Migrante International and retrenched OFWs from Taiwan.
Gina Gaborni, Migrante International deputy secretary general, criticized the government for its continued negligence of the retrenched OFWs.
“This Filipino Expatriate Livelihood Support Fund is a hoax. Just like the cheques that were handed down in Malacañang,” she said.
She said President Arroyo issued Administrative Order 248 in December 2008 as the government’s “payback” to OFWs for helping the economy with their dollar remittances.
“The government allotted P250 million for this program but so far, has not benefited any returned OFW. And to add insult to injury, the government’s assistance package is actually a loan, which OFWs must repay to OWWA,” Gaborni insisted.
According to Migrante, only 10 percent or P5,000 of the allotted P50,000 for each expatriate worker is available, the rest are in goods. They also claimed that before anyone can benefit from the program, they have to attend seminars, training activities, draw a feasibility study for a livelihood program and submit other requirements.
“The process was intentionally designed to actually discourage anyone to claim the said assistance package,” Gaborni pointed out.
The protesters dispersed at about 11:55 a.m., according to Pasay City police chief Senior Superintendent Raul Petrasanta. – Rhodina Villanueva, Philippine Star
September 18 –
International Equal Pay Day
“Increase wages now,
more than other cost items.
For widespread, practical equality!”
Invoke Article 33 of the ILO Constitution
against the military junta in Myanmar
to carry out the recommendations of the 2021 ILO Commission of Inquiry
against serious violations of protocols of
Forced Labour and Freedom of Association.
Accept the National Unity Government (NUG)
of Myanmar. Reject Military!
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October –
Monthly Observances:
Industry and Commerce Safety Month
National Statistics Month
Local Government Month
Consumer Welfare Month
Cooperative Month
National Quality and Productivity Improvement Month
National Health and Wellness Tourism Month
National Indigenous Peoples Month
Weekly Observances:
Week 1: Elderly Filipino Week
Week 2: National Health Education Week
Local Government Week
National Mental Health Week
October 17-23:
National Week for Overcoming Extreme Poverty
October 18 – 24:
United Nations Week
Last Week:
Nurses’ Week
Consumers’ Protection Week
Week of the 4th Sunday:
Barrio Farmers’ Week
Daily Observances:
First Monday (Oct 4): Universal Children’s Day i
n the Philippines
Oct 5: National Teachers’ Day
Oct 10: Local Government Day
Third Thursday (Oct 14): Conflict Resolution Day
Oct 21: Tenants’ Emancipation day
Oct 24: United Nations Day
Oct 29: National Indigenous People’s Thanksgiving Day
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