6 October 2000

Reference:

Connie Bragas-Regalado
Chairperson

Tel: 94911039

Our Persistent Struggle Paid-off…

At long last, the long-overdue center for distressed migrant Filipinos has finally opened. This, after the consistent demands and actions of the migrant workers organizations to re-open the center is a welcome result. More than one year after its closure due to the tragic death of Glenda Giron-Lorio inside the old Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) shelter (currently named FWRC), this opening is an apparent victory for the Filipino migrant organizations who have ceaselessly put pressure to the Philippine government to provide this much-needed service to the migrant workers. But this is not all.

The Philippine Consulate, especially the Labor Section, still must account to the migrant Filipinos the funds supposedly allocated for the OWWA center during the 16 months that the center has been decommissioned. Despite the repeated requests of the migrant organizations for an accounted report of the said funds, and even after Asst. Labor Attaché Victor Cabe promised last June 11 to provide the report in two weeks time, the concerned government officials have yet to fulfill their commitment.

This lack of transparency seems to permeate the Philippine Consulate. A case for example is the shameless solicitation by Labor Attaché Esperanza Belmonte from employment agencies that has been brought to the attention of migrant organizations. This dubious donation amounting to HK$20,000 came from the Hong Kong Employment Agencies Association Limited (HKEAAL) - the same agencies which the Labor Attaché’s Office should be policing. What is more intriguing is that the cheque has been issued in the name of the Labor Attaché herself.

The acceptance of such a "donation" represents a conflict of interest as recognized by the Rules Implementing the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees (Republic Act No. 6713) which prohibits government officials from such practices. It states that:

Rule X - Grounds for Administrative Disciplinary Action, Section 1-F: "Soliciting or accepting, directly or indirectly, any gift, gratuity, favor, entertainment, loan or anything of monetary value which in the course of his official duties or in connection with any operation being regulated by, or any transaction which may be affected by the functions of his office…"

With her breaking of the public trust, the only decent action for her is to resign from office.

While they are busy "soliciting" from employment agencies, their efforts at exacting more money from lowly-paid migrant Filipinos are re-doubling as well. It won’t be a surprise if the Philippine Consulate will use the occasion of the FWRC re-opening to justify the OWWA Resolution 99-016 (annual collection of US$25 OWWA membership fee from each Overseas Filipino Worker) and the Executive Order 197 (minimum increase of 20% in all government fees and charges) considering their propensity for over-emphasizing their so-called "achievements" whenever they come out with new and higher fees and charges.

Our experiences have repeatedly thought us that the Philippine government will consistently invent numerous fees by coming out with numerous programs for overseas Filipino workers. But these "programs" are only in names or if provided are not genuinely free. Migrant workers will not benefit from paying more "welfare fees"; it will only add to their financial burden and lessen their hard-earned income. Even rank-and-file government employees will not receive increase in salaries from the collections. The more collections, the more spoil these top government officials can divide and use to further their own interest.

The re-opening of the FWRC is a cause for celebration. Moreover, it is a cause for continued vigilance. Migrant Filipinos must not standby while anomalies such as the unaccounted FWRC funds and the shameless "solicitations" by the officials themselves pervade the Philippine Consulate. We must not sit back and let the Philippine government exact more money from us through the OWWA Resolution 99-016 and the Executive Order 197. Let not this grandiose opening of the FWRC be used to cover up their wrongdoings and to extort more money from us by instituting new and higher fees.

This is our gain. This is our continuing fight for our rights and well-being.