IMAGE: Daniella Agacer
MANILA, Philippines — Less than 40 days before the polls, the tandem of Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and Inday Sara Duterte-Carpio courted overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and promised more jobs in the country so they no longer have to leave their families to work abroad.
During their hybrid OFW Miting de AvanceFriday, Marcos Jr. looked back at former president Ferdinand Marcos Sr.’s labor-exporting policy, saying the government at that time found an “opportunity” for workers in the Philippines to work abroad.
Through the years, however, many OFWs have suffered from harassment, violence, and abuse. Philippine Overseas Labor Offices abroad reported that in 2020 alone, 4,302 cases of abuse of OFWs were recorded, according to Senate labor committee chairman Senator Joel Villanueva.
READ: Nearly 5,000 cases of abused OFWs recorded in 2020
“Kailangan talaga na ang susunod na administrasyon ay kinikilala ng mabuti ang ating mga bagong bayani. Ngunit hindi lamang tatawagin na bagong bayani, kung hindi dapat talagang ipawi natin ang inyong sakripisyo at bigyan natin ng suporta at proteksyon ang ating mga OFW,” Marcos Jr. said.
“Kami dito sa UniTeam ay marami kaming iniisip at pinaplano upang bigyan ng mas magandang buhay pa ang ating mga kababayan na nagt-trabaho sa abroad,” he added.
Marcos Jr. said the next administration should implement the creation of the Department of Migrant Workers, which President Rodrigo Duterte already approved in December 2021.
The Department of Migrant Workers is established to regulate the recruitment, employment, and deployment of OFWs and launch investigations and file cases concerning illegal recruitment and human trafficking cases involving OFWs, among others.
READ: Dep’t of Migrant Workers ‘excellent solution’ to help OFWs – Marcos Jr.
Marcos Jr. said there should also be a re-training program for returning OFWs who wish to again work abroad. Livelihood programs should also be available for OFWs who have decided to return and stay in the country, he added.
Further, Marcos Jr. said the government should also be able to support and provide assistance to the families left behind by OFWs—through housing and scholarship programs—to acknowledge the contribution of migrant workers to the country.
“Ang talagang pangarap natin ay mangyari na dumating ang araw na hindi na kailangang umalis ang ating mga kababayan para makahanap ng disenteng trabaho,” he said.
This could be done by creating more jobs in the country, he said.
Meanwhile, Duterte-Carpio said she will personally push for the creation of more jobs in the country so that OFWs no longer have to leave their families.
“Ang aking personal na isusulong — trabaho para sa maraming Pilipino. Naniniwala ako na kung mayroong sapat na trabaho sa ating bansa, mas pipiliin ng mga Pilipino na manatili dito kaysa makipagsapalaran pa sa ibang bansa,” she said.
The vice-presidential candidate likewise said that she will push for the creation of more one-stop-shop service centers in the country and expanding livelihood programs for OFWs—such as the “Balik Pinas, Balik Hanapbuhay” Program and the Livelihood Development Assistance Program.
“Bilib ako sa tapang nga mga OFWs. Hinaharap ninyo ang lahat ng uri ng panganib sa inyong trabaho. Tinitiis ninyo ang hirap. Balewala sa inyo ang lungkot. At kahit na may sakit, tuloy lang ang trabaho. Walang pahinga. Halos walang day-off,” she said.
“At ginagawa ninyo ito hindi para sa inyong mga sarili, kundi para sa inyong mga pamilya,” she added.
According to Duterte-Carpio, OFWs are the most “selfless” workers.
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