MANILA, Philippines – Exporters expressed dismay yesterday over the plan of the government to issue bonds specifically for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
In an interview, Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc. (Philexport) president Sergio Ortiz-Luis said that the bond will not really benefit OFWs but people who have savings.
“They are just using the OFWs. We don’t believe that their target are OFWs,” Ortiz-Luis said.
He explained that the bond issue, which is scheduled in April, will make the peso stronger against the dollar. This means that the dollars earned by OFWs will now have a lesser value given the low exchange rate.
“It would be like shooting themselves on the foot. Why would they sacrifice their earnings for a very small interest,” Ortiz-Luis said.
“If the peso is strong, then the money earned by OFWs when converted to peso will be smaller when compared to the value of their overseas income when the exchange rate is high,” Ortiz-Luis added.
“I think they are just using the name OFW bond to make it sound better but if you ask the OFWs if they will avail most of them will say no,” Ortiz-Luis said.
He said that the money of OFWs is mainly used to purchase everyday needs. He said OFW money fuel consumer spending. This means that it does not go into savings, investments or even bond buying.
Earlier, the Treasury Department said they can sell up to $500 million of dollar and euro-denominated debt to OFWs. In January, the government has sold $1.5 billion worth of global bonds and $1.1 billion worth of Samurai bonds in February. –Ma. Elisa P. Osorio (The 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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