While the nation still grieves over the execution of three overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in China yesterday, San Juan City Rep. Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito yesterday asked the Aquino administration to realign its position in cutting 50 percent of its Legal Assistance Fund (LAF) to OFWs worldwide.
“It is in our best interest that the Aquino government reconsider its position as there are still 227 OFWs jailed in China for drug offenses and 36 more in the Middle East on death row. We do not want a repeat of what happened yesterday,” Ejercito said.
The solon added as much as possible, the government should grant enough legal aid to the bereaved OFWs so as to release them immediately from their grim situation.
He said budget constraints implemented on the 2011 national budget by the Aquino administration is one of the main liabilities why services to the OFWs are now very limited.
“According to the computations of Migrante International, a meager P7,000 is allotted now for each OFW since the LAF’s total budget has been cut in half this year. Given that small amount of provision, how could the 36 OFWs in the Middle East even cope with the expenses when the cost of hiring a lawyer there is about $10,000 per case? It is quite odd that while we recognize the OFWs as our ‘bagong bayani,’ the government spends less for their protection and welfare while they are in distress.”
Ejercito further commented: “If we could appropriate billions of funds to AFP, which is prone to corruption, and the CCT project of DSWD, all the more that we should provide good services to the OFWs commensurate to the billions of dollars they contribute to the economy annually.”
The solon also proposed that the OFW Trust Fund of OWWA, which amounts to P13 billion, could be used to boost the LAF and that the government should provide effective mechanisms in administering support services to the families of the afflicted OFWs.
Ejercito also bared he intends to file a House resolution calling for the Aquino administration to urgently increase the allocation for legal aid and other support services to the OFWs. Charlie V. Manalo, Daily Tribune
Sept 5 – Oct 5
National Teachers Month
“Pay teachers decent wages,
Pay attention to teachers!”
Invoke Article 33 of the ILO Constitution
against the military junta in Myanmar
to carry out the 2021 ILO Commission of Inquiry recommendations
against serious violations of
Forced Labour and Freedom of Association protocols.
Accept National Unity Government (NUG)
of Myanmar. Reject Military!
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September
Monthly Observances:
Health, Safety, and Sanitation Month
Clean-up Month
Civil Service Month
National Peace Consciousness Month
Social Security Month
Rule of Law Month
National Teachers’ Month (Sept 5-Oct 5)
Weekly Observances:
Sept 17 – 23:
World Clean and Green Week
Week 2: Education Week
Week 4: Medicine Week
Last Week: Family Week
Daily Observances:
Third Saturday: International Coastal Clean-up Day
Third Monday: World Health Day
Last Friday: National Maritime Day
Sept 8: National Literacy Day
Sept 15: Philippine Medicine Day
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