Erap, Jinggoy bring home 32 distressed OFWs

Thirty-two distressed overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) were repatriated yesterday through the efforts of former President Joseph Estrada and Senate Pro-Tempore Jinggoy Estrada.

The OFWs were among those that the former President and senator met when they went to the Middle East for the Independence Day celebrations last June.

Estrada, who was at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport to meet the 32 repatriated OFWs from Abu Dhabi, also slammed the government for its failure to come to the rescue of OFWs, many of whom are languishing in jails in Saudi Arabia on imagined charges.

The OFWs were brought home by the younger Estrada who shouldered their expenses for

repatriation to Manila. The former chief executive Estrada was at hand when the workers arrived at the NAIA l.

The former President was literally mobbed by the returning OFWs, who broke into tears upon seeing the elder Estrada. They narrated their sad stories to the former Chief Executive between sobs.

The OFWs comprise the distressed workers from Abu Dhabi and Dubai, whose names were recommended by the Philippine Overseas Labor Offices (POLO) in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

“This is my fulfillment of the promise I made to these distressed OFWs during my visit to the UAE last June together with my father, President Joseph Estrada and my mother, former Senator Dr. Loi Estrada, when we were invited as guests of honor in the Kalayaan 09 Philippine Independence Day celebration in Middle East organized by the Philippine embassy and the Filipino community,” the senator said.

Senator Jinggoy personally went to Abu Dhabi to fetch and ensure the safe journey home of the OFWs . They arrived yesterday at the Airport Centennial 1 at 11:10 a.m. via Gulf Air.

“I feel the hardships that our OFWs go through, of being away from their families just to earn a decent living and send money home; some of them have to endure physical and verbal abuse from their employers. That is why Senator Jinggoy and I have promised them that we will do our best to help them in any way that we can,” the former president said.

The former president recalled that when he was president, he not only made sure that OFWs were given the heroes welcome that they deserve when they returned to the Philippines, such as granting the returning OFWs special passes and other benefits upon their arrival at NAIA, and also exerted all efforts to increase employment levels and wages in the Philippines so that Filipinos would not be forced to work abroad.

Meanwhile Senator Jinggoy vowed, “As Chairman of the Senate Committee on Labor, Employment and Human Resources, I am exerting and will continue to exert all efforts to assist distressed OFWs. This is the third batch of OFWs that I have helped repatriate. I am committed to helping all those who have been hurt physically or verbally by their employers abroad and who would like to come home.”

Meanwhile, in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, President Arroyo hailed last night OFWs as partners in uplifting the Philippine economy.

In her speech before some 1,000 OFWs representing the 1.3-million strong Filipino community here, the President said OFWs remittances, together with tough economic reforms, have been instrumental in helping the country weather the global economic crisis.

“Your remittances have been a very big help in continuing the progress of the Philippines),” the President said.

Noting the sacrifices OFWs make to provide for their families back in the Philippines, the President said improving the work environment of OFWs is a priority of her administration.

“I realize the hardship and sacrifice our OFWs have to go through: to work in foreign lands with different cultures and to endure the feeling of loneliness and of being away from family and loved ones. That is why we are working toward training Filipinos for jobs in high-paying industries so that those who plan to work abroad will do so a career choice and not because it is the only choice),” the President said.

She said that while two-thirds of the world’s economies were reeling from the effects of the global recession, the Philippines posted a 17 percent increase in private construction and a 16 percent increase in mining. Since 2001, she said the business process outsourcing, (BPO) sector has grown from an initial 4,000 workers to 400,000 as of February 2009.

Government’s partnership with OFWs has also resulted in infrastructure investments such as the North Luzon Expressway and the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway that have made travel to and from Manila and the northern provinces of Luzon shorter and more enjoyable.

“Your remittances have defied expectations. They haven’t gone down but has instead gone up. The country thanks you,” the President said. –with Conrado Ching, Charlie V. Manalo and PNA.