Law states 'full gov't responsibility' of repatriation of OFWs in times of crisis

Migrante International today reiterated that Republic Act 10022, or the amended Migrants' Act, clearly states that the Philippine government should assume full responsibility in the repatriation of overseas Filipino workers in times of emergency and/or crisis.

According to Garry Martinez, Migrante International chairperson, while Section 15. of RA 10022 states that the "repatriation of the worker and transport of his personal belongings shall be the primary responsibility of the agency which recruited or deployed the worker overseas", this only applies to "normal" circumstances".

The migrant leader made the clarification after Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Sec. Rosalinda Baldoz justified the government's yielding of primary responsibility to recruitment agencies and employers in the repatriation of OFWs from Libya in a hearing of the House of Representatives Committee on Overseas Workers' Affairs (COWA) last March 9, 2011.

Martinez was further dismayed, he said, when other government agencies present in the hearing, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and DOLE's attached agencies namely the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) and the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) "did not object to this falsehood."

"We advise Sec. Baldoz and other concerned government agencies to review the law and review it well," he said.

Martinez cited Sec. 15 of RA 10022 which states that "OWWA, in coordination with appropriate international agencies, shall undertake the repatriation of workers in cases of war, epidemic, disasters or calamities, natural or man-made, and other similar events without prejudice to reimbursement by the responsible principal or agency. However, in cases where the principal or recruitment agency cannot be identified, all costs attendant to repatriation shall be borne by the OWWA."

He added that it is for this purpose that an emergency repatriation fund of P100 million has been established. Baldoz, he said, reported to the same hearing that the DOLE and OWWA has so far only disbursed a total of P4.098 million for the repatriation of OFWs in Libya. "And the government's perennial reasoning is that we are short of funds, na hindi tayo kasing-yaman ng ibang mga bansa, pero may nakalaan namang pondo para sa mga kalagayang tulad ng ganito."

Martinez added that the law also does not discriminate or make a distinction between "documented" or "undocumented" workers in the matter of emergency repatriation.

Migrante expressed concern anew in light of the recent earthquakes and tsunami that hit Japan and the possible escalation of uprisings in the Middle East and North Africa region. There is an estimated 305,000 Filipinos in Japan while 3 million Filipinos are located in the MENA region.

"These conditions obviously call for decisive government assistance and intervention with regard to the safety and protection of our OFWs. Hindi na pupuwede ang katulad ng ginawa nila sa Libya na ipinaubaya sa iba ang pangunahing responsibilidad nila."

DFA's Conejos Failed to Win IOM Position

Department of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Esteban Conejos failed to win the Deputy Director General position for the International Organization for Migration. 

"We are relieved to find out that Undersecretary Conejos opponent won by a landslide," says Garry Martinez, chairperson of Migrante International.

"We see this failure of Undersecretary Conejos to bag the nomination as a vindication of our call that the Undersecretary does not deserve to head such an important migrant body."

Martinez, continued, "We were outraged when President Gloria Arroyo herself nominated Usec. Conejos last April as the country's nominee to the global migration body. It was of no consequence to her that, under his watch, the Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Affairs, has turned from bad to worse in terms of protecting the rights of migrant Filipinos. "

Migrante together with their chapters and network here and abroad sent a barrage of letters to the Director General of the IOM stating their strong opposition to the nomination of Undersecretary Conejos as IOM Deputy Director General. 

"Since Conejos appointment and assumption to Office as Under Secretary for Migrant Workers Affairs with the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs under the supervision of the Office of the President, cases of abuses, sexual, physical and mental and numerous cases of jailed Filipino migrant workers and on death row have tremendously increased in the absence of the Philippine government affirmative intervention. Numerous cases brought by our organization to his office has either not been acted upon or has been subject to numerous delays," Martinez explained.

The group claims that the Arroyo administration decided to nominate Conejos to the IOM after his appointment as co-chairperson of the 2nd Global Forum on Migration and Development which was held in the Philippine last year.

"We hope that Conejos failure to be promoted in an international body will serve as a lesson to government officials who have done disservice to distressed OFWs abroad. We believe that exposing Conejos' track record of incompetence and wanton disregard for the plight of millions of Filipino Migrant workers were the reasons why he dismally failed to win the said election," Martinez warned.

 "We would like to congratulate IOM and its new Deputy Director General Laura Thompson. We sincerely hope that Ms. Thompson would, indeed, serve the interests of migrants well," Martinez added.

Laura Thompson is a former Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Costa Rica to the United Nations Office before winning the IOM position. She was elected by a two-thirds majority vote of the IOM Council, which brought together the Organization's Member States including the Philippines.

 "Meanwhile, the only way Undersecretary Conejos can get back the trust of OFWS is if he sincerely and compassionately addresses migrants' rights and concerns," Martinez concluded.

DPWH Says Infomercials Promote Transparency and Accountability

A top official of the Department of Public Works and Highway (DPWH) has justified the use of infomercials saying that they have to inform the public about the newly completed roads and bridges in the spirit of service and transparency.

"Public Works Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. wants us to be fully accountable to the people with regards to infrastructure projects undertaken with the use of taxpayers' money," said Jaime A. Pacanan, the DPWH Assistant Secretary for Support Services.

Pacanan, who represented Ebdane during the recent Senate hearing on infomercials, said "people should be well-informed in terms of our department's accomplishments so that they can fully realize and actually use the roads to progress."

The DPWH was one of the departments taken to task by Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago for coming up with infomercials. The DPWH infomercials show Ebdane showcasing the DPWH accomplishments and how they are improving the lives of the people all over the country.

According to Pacanan, one of the reasons why the public has not been so appreciative of the DPWH's accomplishments was that, as engineers and architects, they have somehow taken for granted the need for them to drumbeat their accomplishments.

"Although we risk lives and limbs opening up roads in rebel- and terrorist-infested areas in far corners of the country, people have largely taken for granted our role in nation-building simply because we have been too timid in announcing our projects," said Pacanan, adding that this was also the reason that the DPWH has been falling behind in popularity surveys.

"This time, we want to tell people about our quality infrastructure projects and the difference these projects have made in their individual lives, their communities and the country as a whole. And to reach the people effectively, we have to make full use of the infomercials," Pacanan said.

Through Secretary Ebdane's marching orders to speed up the completion of projects, the DPWH has recently completed 38 out of the 154 State of the Nation Projects of President Macapagal Arroyo. The DPWH is rushing to complete 37 more projects by December 2009.

Pacanan argued: "How can people from the provinces, for instance, be aware that there is a more convenient way of going to other places if we would not inform them about the new or repaired roads through infomercials?"

Video docu, interactive tutorial software on sustainable devt launched inNEDA

The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Agriculture Staff ─which is the coordinating secretariat of the Philippine Council forSustainable Development (PCSD) ─ recently launched the video documentationon Sustainable Development (SD) Localization Best Practices and the SDMainstreaming Handbook Interactive Tutorial Software at the NEDA office.These outputs were developed under the assistance of the United NationsDevelopment Programme (UNDP) 2008 Country Program Action Plan-Environmentand Natural Resource-Capacity and Operation Enhancement (CPAP ENR CORE)Programme.

The 35-minute video documentation showcases four different modalities of SDlocalization practices representing various ecosystems (forest, coastal,water, and agriculture) in four distinct sites: Camarines Norte, LIPASECUmunicipalities of Antique; Maragusan of Compostela Valley; and Lake Mainitof Agusan del Norte and Surigao del Norte.

On the other hand, the SD Mainstreaming Handbook Interactive TutorialSoftware, uploaded in the PCSD website (www.pcsd.neda.gov.ph) allows forready access and use of specific tools, such as the SD Analyzer, tomainstream SD in decision-making processes.

In his opening remarks, NEDA Deputy Director General Rolando G. Tungpalan said that launching the two outputs will help NEDAns to “internalize theprinciples of sustainable development and put them into practice” thusmainstreaming SD in planning, programming, monitoring and evaluation. Headded that beyond raising awareness on SD, what is more important are theoutcomes which are put to practice, thus gaining the benefits of SD.

DDG Tungpalan also read Secretary Recto’s message: “We hope that ourplanners and decision-makers will be inspired by these best practices, movebeyond traditional, top-down and unilateral decision-making processes andconsider innovative ways in finding a common solution. We hope that morelocal decision-makers will be able to use the tools to guide them in their development processes and give their feedback on how to further refine thetools”.

Meanwhile, UNDP Philippines Country Director Renaud Meyer acknowledged themilestones of the PCSD in 17 years.

“We are delighted that NEDA has taken a step further to share the[Sustainable Development] Handbook to a lot of people,” Meyer said, addingthat the Documentation of SD Localization Best Practices has also been apowerful demonstration of UNDP and NEDA’s partnership that revolves aroundvarious development issues and commitment to share those practices to thelargest possible group of people.

NEDA JOINS ECO-PRODUCTS INT’L FAIR 2009

The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) joins the largest international environmental fair in Asia, the Eco-Product International Fair (EPIF) 2009 opening today at the SMX Convention Center at the SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City. The fair themed “Sustainable production, Sustainable Consumption and Sustainable Future” runs until March 22.

NEDA, a member of the EPIF National Executive Committee and its Technical Working Group, will set up a booth that will feature a photo exhibit titled “Science of and Solutions to Climate Change” and audio-visual presentations on “Jumpstarting Progress through a Sustainable Development Mainstreaming” and “Climate Change 101”. Also available at the NEDA booth are communication materials on climate change and organic agriculture. The booth will likewise provide information on the Economic Resiliency Plan.

The EPIF, which includes over 100 local and international companies, will showcase environment-friendly technologies, products and services. During the fair, there will also be an International Conference on Sustainable Consumption, Sustainable Production and Sustainable future.

The fair aims to (a) educate and involve the public in creating a better environment through the use of eco-products and eco-services; (b) provide a platform for international companies and industry players to exchange eco-information; (c) promote a marketing venue to showcase the latest eco-technologies and eco-products to the government, industry; and the public; and (d) provide a business platform for buyers and sellers to meet and explore collaborations and joint ventures and accelerate eco-knowledge and expansion of green markets in the Philippines.

NSO, SSS sign MOU on Multipurpose ID

The National Statistics Office (NSO) and the Social Security System (SSS) signed recently a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to build a central verification and enrollment system for the Unified Multipurpose ID (UM-ID) system. Signing on behalf of the two agencies were NSO Administrator Carmelita N. Ericta and SSS President Romulo L. Neri. Socioeconomic Planning Secretary and National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Director-General Ralph G. Recto signed as witness. The NSO is an attached agency of NEDA.

The MOU includes formulating the project implementation plan; designing the UM-ID System; preparing the bid tender documents including the functional and technical specification of the system; the bidding process and the selection of the service provider; developing and installing the system; and designing the space and the facility within the NSO premises where the system shall be installed.

The NSO will provide all the financial and other logistical resources for the project, while the SSS will be giving technical assistance, conduct the bidding process and the selection of the service provider for the project and will act as the biometric matching data center. Funding will be shouldered by the NSO at PhP650 million.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo issued Executive Order (EO) 420 in April 2005 establishing the UM-ID System which requires all government agencies, and government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs) to streamline and harmonize their ID systems. In August 2006, the President, together with then NEDA Secretary Neri, launched the UM-ID.

On January 2008, President Arroyo signed EO 700, transferring the implementation of a unified multi-purpose ID system from NEDA to SSS The NSO, as the central verification and enrollment agency, is also tasked to assist the SSS to implement the UM-ID.

NEDA-ICC endorses six projects worth PhP17.4 billion to NEDA Board

In a recent joint meeting, the National Economic and Development Authority Investment Coordination Committee-Technical Board and Cabinet Committee endorsed to the NEDA Board for approval six projects costing some PhP17.4 billion.

The ICC-TB and CC approved the Philippine Energy Efficiency Project, which costs about P2.17 billion. The project aims to reduce government expenditure on electricity by 20 percent in pilot government buildings as well as average cost of production by electric cooperatives by 10 percent.

The project also intends to increase the cooperatives’ electric consumption by 10 percent from 2007 levels. About PhP1.58 billion funding for the Project will be sourced from a loan from Asian Development Bank (ADB), PhP67.5 million from the ADB Clean Energy Fund grant, and the remaining PhP517.5 million will come from the Department of Energy’s counterpart fund.

In the report submitted by Assistant Director-General and NEDA Infrastructure Staff Director Ruben Reinoso to the ICC, he said that the project will “reduce peak demand in ECs through consumer savings for each compact fluorescent lamp, reduce energy consumption in 42 pilot public buildings by five percent from 2007 and recover residual mercury from fluorescent lights within 24 months to prevent it from entering the food chain.”

Among the components of the project are the National Residential Lighting Program and the creation of the Super Energy Service Company. The lighting program involves the distribution of 13 million (13,14 and 15-watt) CFLs to residential and small commercial sectors that cover about 6.68 million households nationwide. The Super ESCO will be created as a subsidiary of the Philippine National Oil Company under the DOE.

Endorsed also was the Credit Line for Energy Efficiency and Climate Protection project in the Philippines proposed by the Land Bank of the Philippines. This is intended to support the initiatives, programs and projects that promote energy efficiency and climate protection. The credit line will be available to private sector companies and entities which are at least 70 percent Filipino-owned. Local government units, National Government Agencies, and Government-Owned and Controlled Corporations may also avail of credit as sub-borrowers.

Three transmission projects were likewise approved. These are the P6.13-billion Abaga-Kirahon-Maramag 230kV Power Transmission Project, the P1.63-billion General Santos-Tacurong 138kV Transmission Line Project, and the P1.27-billion Wright-Calbayog 138kV Transmission Line Project.

All three projects aim to ensure continuous supply of adequate power to the areas mentioned. The ICC also approved the PhP4.52 billion Project on Forestlands Management of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, which aims to rehabilitate degraded forestlands to uplift the socio-economic conditions of affected communities in three critical river basins, i.e., Upper Magat and Cagayan, Upper Pampanga and Jalaur River basin.

BOC Seized Smuggled Agri Products

Commissioner Napoleon L. Morales on September 19 presented to the media fourteen forty-footer containers of smuggled apples, ginger and onions valued at over P24.8 million seized by Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service operatives at the Port of Manila.

All fourteen containers which arrived in two different shipments at the Port of Manila from Hong Kong and China were consigned to Futek Enterprises. CIIS operatives alerted the shipment after the 3D-day grace period in which the importers failed to file the necessary entries.

Inspection of the containers revealed that the four containers which arrived on board Fesco Trader from China , declared to contain apples, actually contained fresh apples and ginger. The other ten containers which arrived on board Ocean Park from Hong Kong were also misdeclared as garlic but actually contained yellow and red onions. Both shipments were not covered by any import permit from the Bureau of Plant Industry of the Department of Agriculture.

"We will unplug these reefer containers to speed up the decomposition process and we will finally dispose the contents either by rendering or burying underground," said Dino Tuason, Head of the Intelligence Division of CIIS.

"We are seeking the guidance of the Bureau of Plant Industry on how best to dispose these products," said Commissioner Morales, who also clarified that the shipments may not be sold through auction, "because these have not been cleared by the DA as fit for human consumption. We cannot allow these to enter the market. We have to protect our consumers."

The volume of the seized apples and ginger, if sold to the market, can fetch some P6.4 million. On the other hand, the volurT:Ie of onions is valued to be worth some P18.4 million.

Commissioner Morales also ordered the CIIS to review all overstaying containers in the container yards to determine what can be auctioned, or disposed of to decongest the container yard in preparation for the anticipated increase in volume of imports in the last quarter of the year due to the higher demand during the Christmas season.

TESDA Instructor Wins Dangal ng Bayan Award

Naida G. Lasangre, 51, an instructor at the Lupon School of Fisheries, a TESDA technical-vocational institution in Lupon, Davao Oriental, has won the Civil Service Commission’s 2008 Dangal ng Bayan Award.

She is one of the seven winners of the CSC’s yearly search for outstanding government employees, and was selected on the basis of her remarkable achievements in aquaculture education and development and community extension work.

As a government employee, she was also cited for her simple living and commitment to democracy.

Lasangre goes to work with her husband even during Saturdays and Sundays. She was one of those instrumental in enabling LSF to avail the highest amount of grant in Region 11 provided under the TESDA’s Jobs Directed Scholarship Program. It was she who prepared the Institutional Implementation Plan for Aquaculture, the LSF’s Distinctive Area of Competence (DAC), which hastened the release of an P8 million soft loan from the government of Germany for aquaculture processing tools and equipment.

A TESDA National Model Employee awardee in 2006, Lasangre, who has been teaching for 27 years, has been instrumental in the development of the LSF fishpond, which now greatly aids in the education of LSF’s aquculture students.

TESDA means Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.

“Because of her contribution to the development of the fishpond, LSF aquaculture students now train in bangus grow-out production hands-on, instead of through CDs and tapes which was the case before,” said Delia Lorica, LSF administrator.

“The LSF also now earns from the fishpond, it being the school’s second-highest income-generating project,” she added.

A mother of seven children, four of whom have ventured in tech-voc careers, Lasangre is an active member of the Couples for Christ and the Philippine Aquaculture Society. Her husband, Edgardo, is also an aquaculture instructor at the same school.

Her achievement in community-based training in agri-fishery is well known. She trained farmers in Barangay Rang-ay, Banay-banay, Davao Oriental in growing tilapia in a grow-out pond and taught them tilapia processing to add value to the product.

In Belayong, San Isidro, another Davao Oriental town, she trained a group of Muslims whose chieftain is a rebel returnee in growing tilapia in cages and processing them into ‘tamayo’. Today, about 50 families enjoy the fruit of her labors by engaging in tilapia growing.

TESDA director general Augusto Boboy Syjuco lauded Lasangre for her achievement when she met her and her husband in his office.

“TESDA is proud to have an employee winning the prestigious Dangal ng Bayan Award,” he said, noting how Mrs. Lasangre has motivated students in Lupon and other communities to pursue careers in tech-voc education.

Lasangre, along with the other awardees, will receive her award today from President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in Malacanang.

NGOs Call on Congress to Pass Law on People's Participation in Budget Process

Congress got two thumbs up sign from the Alternative Budget Initiative, a nationwide consortium of nongovernment organizations which pioneered civil society engagement in the national budget process, after House Speaker Prospero C. Nograles urged the private sector to actively participate in the congressional deliberations on the national budget.

Rene Raya, convenor of Social Watch Philippines, which led the ABI, said that the Alternative Budget Initiative proved that Filipino civil society is very capable of working with government for a national budget that works for equitable development.

Through the ABI campaign, since 2006 NGOs partnered with legislators in formulating and lobbying alternative budget proposals which prioritize social development, particularly on health, education, environment, agriculture and macroeconomics. They also propose alternative sources of funding for social development which includes transferring vague and unreasonably big allocations to expenditure for social services.

Recognizing the invaluable contribution of the Alternative Budget Initiative, the Congress Committee on Appropriations, for the first time in Philippine history, invited the non-government and people's organizations to participate in budget deliberations in Congress and to present their alternative budget proposals. Moreover, Congress approved Resolution No. 20: Urgent Resolution Allowing the Active Participation of Bona Fide People's Organizations in Public Hearings in Congress' Annual Budget Deliberations in November 2007.

The House Committee on People's Participation is now in the process of consolidating three bills on institutionalizing people's participation in the budget process. These are the bills authored by Guillermo Cua, Teofisto Guingona III, and Lorenzo Tanada III.

"Participation in the budget process is a right of every Filipino. We hope that Congress immediately pass the law which will set up the mechanisms for participation," Raya said.

"The experiences of other countries such as Brazil, India and South Africa proved that people's participation in the budget process improved the delivery of social services and empowered the people to directly influence priorities regarding their own development," Raya added.

The Alternative Budget Initiative campaign for the 2007 budget, the General Appropriations Act contained P5.2 billion allocations for social development, which are consistent with the alternative budget proposals. This includes P5.3 billion budget for the construction of more than 17,000 classrooms; P2 billion funding for food supplements such as milk, coco-pandesal and vegetable-based noodles, and rice under the Department of Education nutrition feeding program; P873 million for the hiring of new teachers; and P65 million additional scholarship fund for tertiary education.

Meanwhile, as a result of the ABI campaign for the 2008 national budget, a total of P6.3 billion were added to allocations for basic education, higher education, health, environment and agriculture.

NEDA Board approves P2.6-billion New Projects with USAID Grant

National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board, chaired by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, approved about PhP2.6-billion new projects under the Environment and Energy Program as provided in the Assistance Agreement between the governments of the Philippines and the United States. Of this amount, about PhP1.99 billion* shall be provided by the United States Agency for International Development while the remaining PhP656 million shall be provided by the Philippine government and other non-government partners.

The PhP1.99 billion is part of the total USAID assistance of PhP3.2 billion (US$73 million) which covers both new and ongoing projects under the Program. The remaining PhP1.22 million (US$27.822 million) is allocated to support the implementation of ongoing activities.

An initial grant of US$13.74 million will be provided in 2008. Meanwhile, the Philippine government implementing agencies—Department of Agriculture, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Energy and Department of Finance—and non-government grantees shall provide the counterpart contributions in cash or in kind but shall not be less than the equivalent of one-third of the total USAID contribution. The implementation will cover a six-year period from October 2008 until September 2013.

The ongoing activities include: The Philippine Environmental Governance Phase 2 project, Fisheries Improved for Sustainable Harvest (FISH) project, Energy and Clean Air project, Alliance for Mindanao Off-Grid Renewable Energy (AMORE) II and Philippine Water Revolving Fund (PWRF) Technical Assistance, among others. New activities will be identified and planned during the program implementation stage.

The ongoing projects are currently being implemented under the terms of the Memorandum of Understanding between NEDA and the USAID for Strengthening the Management of Productive and Life-Sustaining Natural Resources signed on May 30, 2002 and amended on May 18, 2005; Memorandum of Agreement among the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of the Interior and Local Government and USAID for the implementation of Environment Programs signed on June 1, 2005, and MOA among the Department of Agriculture, DILG and USAID for the implementation of the Fisheries Improved for Sustainable Harvest Project signed on March 1, 2005.

The Environment and Energy Program activities cover three areas—environment, infrastructure and health—which will be undertaken to promote economic growth and investing in people. Activities for the environment program area will focus on natural resources and biodiversity and clean productive environment while the infrastructure area will concentrate on modern energy services. The health program area will focus on water supply and sanitation.

Under the implementation arrangement, NEDA is the principal representative of the Philippine government while the implementing agencies are responsible for the overall implementation and management of their activities under the Program. The NEDA shall also facilitate coordination with other relevant lead agencies and other donor programs and provide policy guidance for the government and ensure that the objective, program areas and elements are consistent with the development strategies, plans and priorities of the government.


*US$1.00 = PhP44.00

An Open Letter for President Arroyo

Her Excellency
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
Malacanang, Manila

Subject: OWWA Diagnostic and Consultative Process on Administrator Appointment

Your Excellency:

There has been considerable public interest, in general, and utmost concern of the global Filipino community, in particular, on the governance and appointment of the Administrator of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration.

We appreciate Your Excellency's support of the objective of ensuring the efficient and sound operations of OWWA, cognizant of the impact on the well-being of contract workers and their families. To that end, the global Filipino community submits for your consideration its twin proposal for:

1. an institutional diagnostic of OWWA to be carried out by a team of qualified international consultants; and

2. the adoption of a consultative process, which includes the global Filipino community, the stakeholders of OWWA, of developing a short list and choosing a qualified candidate for the OWWA Administrator.

The Diagnostic

It is timely to undertake an OWWA diagnostic in light of the departure of top management. A fresh diagnostic will provide an objective assessment of the past and perspectives for the future. It will serve as the performance benchmark for a new management team.

We respectfully suggest that the appointment of a new management team should await the completion of the diagnostic.

The diagnostic will cover:

a. a SWOT analysis (covering OWWA's strengths, weaknesses, threats and opportunities);
b. an assessment of:
i. OWWA's legal framework and operating environment;
ii. institutional strategy, programs, policies, and organizational structure, in the context of
meeting OWWA's mandated goals;
iii. financial performance, financial condition (including, in particular, the quality of the
portfolio) and audit; and
c. assessment-based recommendations, including, among others:
i. greater and real representation of the global Filipino community in the Board and
management;
ii. independence of the Board;
iii. professionalization and autonomy of management;
iv. safeguards to protect portfolio quality and enhance financial performance;
v. content and format for quarterly report on operations, financial performance and financial
condition; and
vi. a capacity-building program.

The diagnostic will take one month to complete. It would initially build on the past assessments, audits and capacity building initiatives on OWWA. The entire process will involve consultations with relevant authorities and OWWA's stakeholders.

The global Filipino community will fund the cost of the international consulting team. The Leader and members of the international consulting team should be registered with multilateral or bilateral financial institutions.

Consultative Process for Search for OWWA Administrator

The global Filipino community proposes to develop a methodology, in close collaboration with the Office of the President, the Dept. of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Civil Service Commission, for the consultative process of finally choosing the new OWWA Administrator. The methodology will involve the following elements:

a. the job content and description;
b. the required qualifications;
d. a weighted Candidate Rating System (CDS) that would include:

i. the appropriateness and depth of experience;
ii. track record of professional performance;
iii. familiarity with issues relative to the position concerned;
iv. extent of interaction with the global Filipino community;
v. adequacy of exposure to and knowledge of the relevant bureaucratic environment;
vi. personality fit of the candidate in relation to the position concerned; and
vii. the vision defined by the candidate.

Thank you.


VICTOR S. BARRIOS
GFN Convenor

RP Gov’t Hikes Funding for OFW-related Agencies

By Ruben Jeffrey A. Asuncion

QUEZON CITY–TWO government agencies expected to help overseas Filipino workers received increases in funding for this year, budget records showed.

The 2008 General Appropriations Act bared that assistance projects for OFWs by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Department of Foreign Affairs got the increments the agencies proposed in last year’s budget hearings.

The labor department got a P33.3-million increase in allocated funds for its “Social Protection Program,” where the budget item “Workers Protection and Welfare Service to Overseas Filipino Workers” falls under.

The program was given P383.3 million this year, up nearly ten percent from its P350 million budget last year.

In addition, the labor department’s “Emergency Repatriation Program,” an item absent from its budget last year, was given P50 million. Another P50 million was allocated for the one-year-old National Reintegration Center for OFWs.

The center was formed during then-Labor Secretary Arturo Brion’s watch. It is expected to provide economic and psycho-social reintegration services to returning OFWs and to OFW families.

Another attached agency, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration also received increases in its budget. The POEA’s “Workers Welfare Assistance and Overseas Placement Services” line item received a budget of P39.5 million. This was nearly two-percent higher than its P38.8-million allocation last year.

A similar increase has also been made in the POEA’s line item “Adjudication Services” with P28.5 million for this year, compared with P27.6 million for last year.

But while these Manila-centric units got majority of the labor department’s total P6.3-billion pie, DOLE’s offices in the regions got a measly share for “workers’ amelioration and welfare services”.

In addition, these regions, where most prospective and former OFWs and OFW families live, saw budget for these services reduced by nearly P3 million to P36.6 million from the P38.2-million budget allocation last year.

In contrast, the labor department’s allocation for personal services (PS) continued to see year-on-year increases as against, for one, maintenance and other operating expenses (MOOE).
For the item “Workers Protection and Welfare Service to Overseas Filipino Workers,” for example, around P207.6 million for personal services was allocated for this year.

This amount is nearly double than the P168.2 million allotted for maintenance and operating costs for this year.

Last year, the program received P202.7 million for PS while its MOOE was allocated only P145.3 million.

Over all, the labor department’s budget this year increased by 28.24 percent to P6.271 billion from nearly P5 billion in 2007. POEA’s budget, which is part of the total budget, also increased to P238.9 million this year, from P231.6 million in 2007.

POEA’s budget is merely 20 percent of the total collection of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, if OWWA was able to collect the $25 from 3,000 OFWs leaving every day.

Since it is a government-owned and controlled corporation, the OWWA is excluded from the annual GAA and relies mainly on the membership fees being paid by departing OFWs, and not from taxpayers’ money. The US$25 contributions are for the provision of welfare and economic services to OFWs.

Assuming the a million OFWs left last year, OWWA’s coffer would be around a billion pesos at an average exchange rate of US$1=P42. That amount would just be 17 percent of the labor department’s budget.

OWWA’s Board of Trustees provides the annual budgets, which must be requested to them.
In 2006, says a Commission on Audit report, OWWA spent some PhP910.715 million while earning P2.062 billion.

Another agency tasked with the welfare of overseas Filipinos is the Department of Foreign Affairs, which also received an increased budget.

The DFA’s provision on the “Implementation of RA 8042” was increased by 170 percent to P236.7 million this year from only P87.7 million in 2007.

Being funded under this category are the Legal Assistance Fund for the litigation cases of OFWs and the Assistance-to-Nationals Fund. The latter is the department’s funds for the repatriation of OFWs.

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