House panel OKs bill creating loan facility for OFWs

04/30/2008 | 10:50 PM

MANILA, Philippines – The House committee on Filipino Overseas Workers unanimously approved Wednesday House Bill 161 or the Overseas Credit Workers Assistance authored by Aurora Rep. Juan Edgardo Angara.

Under the bill, migrant workers who have valid contract certified by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration can avail themselves of loan of up to P50,000 even before they leave the country for posting abroad.

The loan facility is proposed to be coursed through the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, which managed the P100-million borrowing program that was suspended in 2005 after just two years in operation.

“This bill is our little contribution to help OFWs who we called the new heroes of our generation,” Angara said.

The panel chaired by Compostela Valley Rep. Manuel Zamora unanimously approved the bill. The committee secretariat was instructed to prepare the committee report to be submitted for the plenary approval.

Angara’s proposal provides for a maximum loan amount of P50,000, payable in 12 months at a preferred interest rate of not more than six percent a year.

Angara said the program was intended to ease the financial burden of departing OFWs who usually end up leaving behind their families in huge debts due to the costs of processing of their overseas employment contract.

The loan amount would be covered with loan redemption insurance from the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), with the OFW paying the premium through an account with any domestic or foreign banking institution authorized to do business in the Philippines, with a member of his or her family designated as a co-borrower.

Deferred

Meanwhile, the panel deferred Iloilo Rep. Arthur Defensor’s House Bill No.1740 that seeks to grant benefits and special privileges to former OFWs.

Panel members including Reps. Zambales Rep. Milagros Magsaysay and Valenzuela Rep. Rex Gatchalian moved to defer the deliberation of the measure because of some questions on the content of the bill.

Defensor was not present to clarify the queries of his colleagues.

One of the resource persons – a representative from the Department of Social Welfare and Development – did not object to the bill but suggested to make revisions on some provisions.

Under the bill, returning OFWs who can get a 20-percent discount on some privileges, should at least be 50 years old, have been deployed abroad for at least 10 years and earning not exceeding P60,000 a year.

With the given criteria, the representative of DSWD expressed apprehension that no former OFWs would pass the guidelines.

Zamora then moved to defer the discussion on the bill and instructed the secretariat to invite representatives of various establishments that will provide 20 percent discount to the beneficiaries.

Under the bill, former OFWs will be entitled to 20-percent discount on transport services, lodging, recreation facilities, medicine and others. - GMANews.TV

http://www.gmanews.tv/story/92523/House-panel-OKs-bill-creating-loan-facility-for-OFWs

Repost: Petitio to lift the employment ban against Nigeria

This is a report of last year’s petition, which until now, has not been acted upon by DFA, DOLE, POEA. The total ban against Nigeria is still in place.

Last week of April 2008, Energy Sec. Angelo Reyes visited Nigeria. The Filipinos in Lagos had an audience with him and presented him with position papers and petitions, including this one.

It is really unfortunate that the government would shrug-off the potential of Nigeria as a major employment destination for white-collar Filipino workers and as a place for business opportunities.

All just because Malacanang wants to avoid embarassment when their are OFWs kidnapped or killed in SOutheast Nigeria.

Tsk. tsk.tsk.

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PETITION TO LIFT THE BAN

ON FILIPINO WORKERS GOING TO NIGERIA

This is in reference to the continued ban of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) to Nigeria.

Late last year, the Philippine government declared a total ban of workers going to Nigeria on the account of the successive kidnapping incidents in Nigeria’s oil areas which involve OFWs. The action may have been justifiable at that point. The ban affected not only New Hires but vacationing OFWs as well, even those OFWs who are working in Lagos and non-oil areas.

Early in 2007, upon the strength of the petition of some expatriate companies in Nigeria, the OFW association in Nigeria and endorsement of the Philippine Embassy, the Total Ban was scaled-down to Partial Ban, allowing only the vacationing OFWs with valid work visa to return to Nigeria.

After the resolution of the kidnapping issue, which involved not only Filipinos but other nationals as well, the Philippine government still maintained the ban on New Hire.

Recently, returning OFWs to Nigeria found themselves barred by Immigration and POEA officials at the NAIA because they were told a total ban is in effect. An unnamed official at the Abuja Philippine Embassy said the embassy is not aware of any memo about a total ban. We heard that it was the DFA Secretary, no less, who asked for Total Ban on the day an abducted Filipino was released.

By declaring a ban on Nigeria on issue of security of the country, the Philippine government is no less insulting the capabilities of the host country to maintain its internal peace and order. The present administration of His Excellency President Yaradua is doing huge effort to secure the oil areas and guaranty the safety of all expatriate workers.

The OFWs themselves in the oil-areas have sent numerous letters to the Philippine embassy assuring the embassy that they feel safe with the present security efforts implemented in their workplace.

One thing is certain in our minds, the kidnapping incidents in specific areas of Nigeria is not a mirror of the entire country’s state of security.

We assure the government and our loved ones that Nigeria is a decent and relatively safe country to work and stay.

In fact, it baffles us why only the Philippines impose a ban, where other countries only gave caution or warning to their citizens working alongside Filipinos.

The recent news about DOLE and DFA calling for Filipinos in Nigeria to come home shows just how the DFA and POEA handles the OFWs situation – by knee-jerk reaction and ‘play-safe’ policy.

We, the OFWs in Nigeria, believe that the imposition of a ban is not and never the solution to this issue of kidnapping, which for the record, also involved other nationalities. The continued ban is just hurting every Filipinos’ chances of getting a decent work and a chance to contribute to the Philippine economy.

We oppose the new plan of the DFA to impose, yet again, a total ban to Nigeria, despite the recommendation of the Philippine Embassy here to lift the ban. We will avail ourselves of all means possible to get the attention of the government to have the ban to Nigeria lifted the soonest.

We also strongly request that the DFA open and maintain a Consular Office in Lagos, considering that Lagos is the entry and jump-off point of incoming OFWs.

For a reality check, we invite Vice-President Noli de Castro, DFA USec Conejos, DOLE Sec Brion and POEA Administrator Baldoz to come and visit Lagos and have a dialogue with the OFWs here so they will know the real situation and sentiments of the Nigeria OFWs — sentiments and information that may have not been made available through government official channel.

To this end, we affix our signatures to show our solidarity in calling on the government to completely lift all ban to Nigeria.

Mabuhay ang OFWs !!! Sama-sama sa kaunlaran !!!

OFWs in Distress

Note: This is a repost. Just in case this has not been acted upon.

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May we request the concerned provincial governors and NBI, DFA to act on this matter immediately.

This is over the alleged illegal recruitment conducted by a Chinese national named Albert Wu, married to a Filipina, residing in Tierra Nevada, Gen Trias Cavite.

They recruited Pinoys and Pinays for 400USD/mo job but until  now they havent been paid.

The names of the Filipinos are:

Nigeria:
1. Grace Suson – Garcia-Hernandez, Bohol (but her family is in
Binabag, Bogo, Cebu. Husband: Marcelo Suson)
2. Christian Uy – Quezon Province
3. Alfred Domingo Jr – Bulacan

Ghana:
1. Teresa Busnilla – Pangasinan
2. Analy Solis – Pangasinan
3. Bernald  – Batangas

Burkina Faso:
1. Anatalio Revilla – Isabela

The modus operandi of Albert Wu is to send FIlipinos as tourist to Shanghai China, and from there, they will sign a 3-year contract for 400 USD/mo. Then they are sent to African countries such as
Burkina Faso, Ghana and Nigeria.

These OFWs were maltreated and misled as to their nature of jobs. and they claimed that for 3 months now they were not paid by their chinese employers.

Their supposed job is office employee. But it turned out to be hard labor – tindera at kargador. They were selling various chinese goods in public market of these African countries. They pack,
display, sell and pack again.

In the case of Ms. Suson, she was made a caregiver while in China for the mother of Albert Wu. Then when she was sent in Ghana where she was made an all-around laborer.

Ms Suson, who was later re assigned in Nigeria, attempted suicide after she learned that her son died in RP and her chinese employer refused to give her her salary and to let her go home

They wanted to return home but they have no money and their passports were withheld.

The one in Burkina Faso is said to be sick of malaria but the employer refused to send him to a hospital.

Please investigate and maybe request DFA to look into repatriation of all these victimized OFWs and to arrest Albert Wu in Gen. Trias Cavite.

Albert Wu should be made to answer on the illegal recruitment and be deported as persona non grata.

We call on the DFA, DOLE, NBI, BI and the provincial government of these victimized OFWs to help their respective constituents in getting them back home and to compel Albert Wu to pay the OFWs.