News RELEASE
6 March 2004
Reference: Maita Santiago, Secretary General - 0919-3332803

Gloria again robs OFW funds for election campaign

Gloria again robs OFW funds for election campaign OFWs denied much needed OWWA services today denounced President Gloria's latest campaign gimmick - the OFW Groceria Project.

According to Migrante International, while the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration disenfranchised countless OFWs from receiving benefits and suspended some of its services -- it released P240,000 for President Gloria's OFW Groceria Project.

"It's outrageous that while they readily give funds for this project, they can't even give OFWs the much needed medical assistance and other benefits they need," said Maita Santiago, Migrante International Secretary-General during a Kapihan sa Cypress Press Conference this morning in Quezon City.

Under the OFW Groceria Project launched Thursday, "OFW family circles" are supposedly given P50,000 worth of groceries as loans - but no interest is charged and repayment dates are not clear. The Project aims to set up 1,000 OFW Groceria stores nationwide.

"Again, President Gloria is using us as pawns in her campaign. It's clear the OFW Groceria Project is meant to boost her image against the families of migrants workers. But no amount of deodorant will hide the stench of her numerous anti-migrant moves," said Sam Santiago, Kalipunan ng Migranteng Pilipino at Pamilya Chairperson.

"By not giving OFWs medical assistance, by refusing to repatriate our loved ones in distress and by daring to tell our loved ones that after decades abroad as OFWs - they aren't OWWA members just because they don't have current work contracts - parang basahan talaga ang pag-trato sa amin," said Santiago.

According Migrante International, they monitored 90 OFWs whose benefits were denied by OWWA over a two day period. The benefits range from burial assistance, medical reimbursements, loans and requests for repatriation.

Through the OWWA Omnibus Policies, countless OFWs are denied services because membership is now based on whether an OFW has a current working contract. This is in addition to the scrapping of services like medical reimbursements and repatriation for distressed workers.

In the past months, P520 million from the OWWA Medicare was also transferred to PhilHealth while P100 million was diverted into Malacanang's National Livelihood Support Fund.

"As part of the Macapagal-Arroyo administration's effort to channel more funds into President Gloria's campaign, they implemented the recent OWWA Omnibus Policies and blatantly transferred millions of pesos to Malacanang," said Maita Santiago.

"In the meantime, OFWs like Josephine Ramos are left to fend for themselves," she said.

After working 6 years in Saudi Arabia as a seamstress, Josephine was diagnosed with tuberculosis. But because she had already finished her work contract, she was told by OWWA that she was no longer eligible for any benefits.

Stranded OFWs in Saudi Arabia

Also at the press conference were Patria Villamaria and Anna Mondragon whose son and husband respectively are still stranded in Saudi Arabia.

Ernesto Villamaria and Danilo Mondragon are among the 16 OFWs that launched a hunger strike in Riyadh last December. Although four of their fellow hunger-strikers have already come home, the date of Ernesto and Danilo's return is still uncertain.

Patria and Anna added they too are worried that once their relatives come back to the Philippines, they will also be denied OWWA assistance because they no longer have current work contracts.

Ernesto was an OFW in Saudi Arabia for 19 years while Danilo left for his first work contract last January.

Santiago also underlined the case of Engineer Domeng Yalung, the hunger-strikers spokesperson. In an overseas call to the Migrante office last night, Engr. Yalung pleaded again for his repatriation.

"Please help me to come home. Iniipit na nila ako dito. Kung ano-ano na lang kaso ang sinasampa nila sa akin ngayon. Hindi ako makakilos at napipilitan ako magtago ng magtago dito," said Engr. Yalung on the telephone, referring to intimidation tactics by the Philippine embassy for his role in leading the hunger strike.

To conclude the press conference, Migrante International renewed its call to scrap the OWWA Omnibus Policies and to repatriate all stranded workers in Saudi Arabia and other countries.

"As we approach March 17, the 9th death anniversary of Flor Contemplacion, it's clear that many more OFWs continue to be victims of injustice. And under the current administration, President Gloria is among the main perpetrators," said Jem Batacan, Worldwide Alliance for the Rights of Migrants spokesperson.

Batacan said tomorrow, WARM, Friends of Migrante, Migrante and other organizations will hold a motorcade, with the Migrante Party List, around Metro Manila to project further the issues of overseas Filipinos and their families. #