OFWs voice grievances before Congressional delegation

RIYADH: A delegation from the Philippine Congress met with the Filipino community on Sunday night and, although they did not promise anything, listened and took note of grievances relayed to them.

“We have come to the Kingdom in high spirits. The government is enjoying an 80 percent rating, which means high confidence from the people. There’s a sense that reforms will be achieved and Congress is determined to help in coming up with a new era for Filipinos,” said Rep. Walden Bello, an author and former professor at the University of the Philippines at Diliman.

Bello and his delegation were welcomed by Charge d’Affaires Ezzedin H. Tago and key embassy officials as well as Filipino community leaders. The delegation, which is coming for the second time, leaves for Jeddah on Tuesday and will then proceed to Alkhobar on Wednesday.

It is in the Kingdom on a fact-finding mission to address the concerns and issues adversely affecting the country’s estimated 1.4 million Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs).

True to his known speaking style in Congress, bereft of rhetoric but full of depth and substance, Bellow said, “We are not politicians and we come here often without biases. However, we have come here this time to listen to issues that concern you, without making promises but we’ll do our level best as members of the Congressional Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs (COWA).” Bello is chairman of COWA.

He also showed real knowledge of issues. After OFWs had vented pent-up emotions, Bello said, “We know that there are imperfections here and there. Nobody is perfect. The Saudi Labor Law, for instance, does not cover OFWs with low salaries. There has to be a bilateral accord on this…” He was referring to OFWs working as domestic helpers, household drivers and farm hands in the Kingdom.

He also expressed knowledge of undocumented women with children at the Bahay Kalinga (BK), a woman’s shelter administered by the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) and run by the Philippine Embassy. He added that the case of women at the BK would be given high priority when their report is submitted to Congress.

He said that he and his delegation will present a report to the Congress on the results of their mission to the Kingdom. “When we get back to the Philippines, we’ll make a frank and unvarnished report,” he said.

Other members of the delegation include Representatives Cresente “Cris” C. Paez (Coop-NATCO Party-List), Emmeline Y. Aglipay (DIWA Party-List), and Maria Zamora-Apsay (District 1, Compostela Valley Province).

Each one of them took turns in addressing OFWs who hung on to every word they said in anticipation of solutions to their problems. They talked about the establishment of cooperatives in the Kingdom, bilateral agreements on labor protection and the repatriation of undocumented OFWs.

Rep. Aglipay said that “the composition of the delegation is balanced. The cooperative, labor and women sectors are represented. I represent the women — mothers and wives.”

On the suggestion that an OFW hospital be set up, the delegation expressed doubts about its feasibility, saying that it may not be able serve all OFWs. Instead, the delegation said that there’s a pending bill creating wards for OFWs in various hospitals.

Francisco “Boy” Naval, board chairman of the 8,000-plus member United OFW, also took the opportunity to give suggestions to the delegation, saying that OFWs prefer to receive pensions instead of benefits under the compulsory insurance imposed by the government for first-time OFWs. He also suggested the establishment of a depository bank for cooperatives.

“I also suggest that housemaids be taught Arabic before they leave the Philippines. Their lack of knowledge of it often leads to misunderstanding between them and their employers,” he said.

He also suggested that OFWs be represented in Congress, not through the Party-List but by continent, and asked that three should come from Saudi Arabia because the Kingdom has the second highest concentration of OFWs after the United States.

Present on the occasion were Third Secretary and Vice Consul Roussel R. Reyes, Administrative Officer Arimao Cotawato, Labor Attaché Adam Musa and Welfare Officer Cesar Chavez of the POLO-Central Region, Cultural Attaché Rose G. Malicse and Attaché Sheila Solas. The Filipino Channel (TFC) represented by Christopher and Marilyn Lavina was also present.

Third Secretary and Vice Consul opaul V. Saret served as emcee on the occasion, while Labor Attaché Albert Q. Valenciano of the POLO-Riyadh introduced guests. –ODOLFO ESTIMO JR. | ARAB NEWS