Drilon calls for gov’t action to help unemployed workers, OFWs

FILE PHOTO – Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon, during the Committee on Constitutional Amendments and Revision of Codes virtual hearing Wednesday, May 27, 2020. (Screen grab/Senate PRIB)

MANILA, Philippines—Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon called on the government to implement support programs to mitigate the impact of unemployment on 7.3 million jobless individuals including those Overseas Filipino Workers who were laid off due to COVID-19.

Drilon expressed alarm over the possible economic and social consequences if unemployment isn’t taken care of.

“The government should roll out livelihood programs and augment funding for programs that provide temporary jobs and loans to people who’ve lost jobs and their sources of income to the pandemic, including our modern day heroes–thousands of them returned to the country with meager savings and no means of income,” said Drilon in a statement. “The government must act swiftly.”

Drilon, the country’s Labor Secretary from 1987 to 1990, called on Silvestre Bello III, the current head of the Department of Labor and Employment, and Hans Leo Cacdac, the Overseas Workers Welfare Association Administrator to help returning OFWs.

OWWA has over P20 billion in assets, Drilon said, that can be used to help the OFWs instead of having the agency rely on the national government in consideration of the increasing budget deficit.

He added that those funds can be used to provide OFWs with adequate financial and livelihood assistance.

“The OWWA Fund was specifically created for the purpose of providing social and welfare services to OFWs. Secretary Bello and Administrator Cacdac should stop thinking of OWWA’s return on investment, but the OFWs’ welfare,” said Drilon.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has gravely affected Filipino workers abroad, with about 250,000 OFWs requesting assistance from DOLE and around 80,000 repatriated OFWs without prospects of re-employment,” added Drilon, who was also once an OWWA Administrator.

Drilon already filed Senate Resolution No.417 that calls for an inquiry, in aid of legislation, on the sufficiency of the OWWA assistance to the OFWs who have been affected with the COVID-19 pandemic.

He also appealed to the government and the private sector to continue providing benefits, such as hazard pay, to its employees including the media and health workers at the frontlines.