Congress urged to investigate DFA, OWWA funds in light of delays in repatriation

9 August 2010

Reference: Garry Martinez, Chairperson, 09393914418

Migrante International today called on Congress to investigate funds of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) in light of the scandalous delays and lapses in the repatriation of remains of overseas Filipino workers.

Garry Martinez, Migrante International chairperson, said that there is a need to thoroughly probe where the P50 million and P100 million allotted for repatriation from the DFA and OWWA, respectively, have gone.

“We have been receiving consistent complaints from families of OFWs that they have been asked to shoulder costs for their kin’s repatriation. Walang palya ito. Worse, when sought for assistance, they were informed that is the policy of Philippine embassies to collect autopsy and airfare costs from the families. Saan ngayon napunta ang mga P150 million?” he said.

Martinez said that according to Republic Act 8042 or the Migrant’s Act, it is the responsibility of the employer, the recruitment agency and, ultimately the DFA or OWWA, to shoulder costs for repatriation.

“More often than not, employers and recruitment agencies cannot be depended upon to fulfill this task as the government has no soundproof mechanism to ensure such. It is therefore mandated by the law that the DFA and OWWA are responsible,” said Martinez.

He said that the OWWA has collected an estimated $12 billion in 2010 from the mandatory $25 contributions from OFW members, of which a portion should be earmarked for emergency repatriation. “For undocumented cases, the OWWA forwards processing and implementation to the DFA which also has funds for this purpose.”

The OWWA funds have been subject to numerous cases of misuse of funds from abusive board members. The DFA, on the other hand, has been complaining of alleged lack of funds “but has failed to repatriate remains of OFWs and those in distress over the years”.

Martinez said that there is a need to counter-check if the allotted funds are trickling down to much-needed welfare services and assistance to OFWs. “We call on Congress to audit and investigate these funds in the coming budget deliberations. Lagi na lang itong napapalagpas at hindi napaparusahan ang mga humuhuthot sa pondong dapat ay para sa mga OFW.”

He cited the cases of Mark Lloyd Carmen who was killed in Iran and Marilou Sables who died of cardiac arrest in Taiwan.  “Both the families of Carmen and Sables were asked to shoulder expenses for the repatriation of their remains.”

“While the DFA is claiming that costs for the return of Carmen’s remains were paid from its assistance-to-nationals fund, his mother attests that it was in fact a loan from the department and she was expected to pay them back,” he said.

Martinez added, “In Sables’ case, her ashes were brought home three months after she died. Philippine authorities in Taiwan finally exhumed her remains and brought her ashes home after series of protests from OFWs. Until now, however, she is yet to be united with her family in Iloilo because they are now being asked to shoulder shipping costs of her ashes from Manila to the province.”

He also asked the DFA to hasten the repatriation of unclaimed bodies of OFWs in Iraq. “Kung hindi pa iniulat ng kamag-anak sa amin, hindi pa malalaman ito ng DFA,” he said. ##

OFW group launches petition-drive vs. e-passport fee hike

August 3, 2010

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Reference: Garry Martinez, Chairperson, 0939-391418

Migrante International, an alliance of overseas Filipino workers worldwide, today launched a petition-drive calling to put an immediate stop to the recent increase in e-passport fees.

The petition was launched in light of allegations that the contract entered into by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), headed by Secretary Alberto Romulo, for the procurement of the new e-passport is illegal and tainted with corruption.

Migrante launched the petition drive at the seafarers’ recruitment center in T.M. Kalaw at lunch time today. (Attached is the full text of the petition drive)

Garry Martinez, Migrante International chairperson, said, “This petition drive will convey to the DFA and the government that Filipinos here and abroad are vehemently opposing this most recent fee imposition. Dagdag-pahirap ito sa ating mga OFWs at sa mamamayan.”

Martinez said that they will gather signatures from OFW communities and passport applicants converging in the POEA, OWWA and other passport application centers.

Migrante’s chapters abroad will also be disseminating the petition campaign to OFWs and supporters. OFWs from China, Hong Kong, the Middle East, Canada, Australia, United States, Italy, United Kingdom and other regions have been complaining of the recent e-passport fee hikes.

Signatures gathered will then be submitted to the DFA on August 23, anniversary of the Cry of Pugadlawin.

The new e-passport now costs P950 to P1,200 from P550 to P750 in the Philippines, while e-passport costs have risen abroad to as much as thrice as the previous rates and approximately $6 (USD) more than the fee prescribed for e-passports in the Philippines. ###

(full text of petition drive)

Itigil ang dagdag-singil sa e-passport fee!

Imbestigahan si DFA Sec. Romulo sa maanomalyang e-passport contract!

Kami, mga mamamayang Pilipino sa loob at labas ng bansa, ay mariing tumututol sa di-makatwiran, maanomalya at walang-abat na pagtaas ng singil sa e-passport.

Ang pagtaas ng singil sa e-passport ay dagdag-pabigat, lalo na ngayong panahon ng krisis. Hindi ito makatwiran dahil pilit na ipinapasa sa mamamayan ang gastusing dapat lamang na karguhin ng gobyerno.

Naglaan ang gobyerno ng P1.4 bilyon sa DFA para sa implementasyon ng proyektong e-passport, labas pa sa P530 milyong inutang ni Romulo sa Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) na nakalaan diumano para sa pagpapagawa ng bagong gusali at mga pasilidad sa Mall of Asia para rito.

Bakit ngayon nagtaas ng singil para sa e-passport kung may nakalaan naman palang pondo ang gobyerno para rito?

Lalong hindi ito makatwiran dahil batbat ng katiwalian, “tongpats” at anomalya ang mismong kontratang pinasok ng Department of Foreign Affairs sa ilalim ni Sec. Alberto Romulo para sa panibagong e-passport.  Tinatayang P120 milyon kada taong patong sa presyo ng laminates, o P50 kada laminate, para sa e-passport ang kinitang “tongpats” ni Romulo.

Kung gayon, lalong walang karapatan si Romulo at ang DFA na magtaas ng singil para sa e-passport gayong kinurakot na ang pondo para rito!

Malaking perwisyo rin para sa mga aplikante at mamamayan ang ubod ng bagal, walang sistema at mas pinahirap na proseso para sa application ng e-passport. Nasaan ngayon ang sinasabi ng DFA na para ito sa ikagiginhawa ng mamamayan?

Mariin ang panawagan ng Migrante International, sampu ng mga chapter nito sa loob at labas ng bansa, kasama na ang mamamayang nakapirma sa petisyong ito, na agad naITIGIL ANG DAGDAG-SINGIL SA E-PASSPORT FEE at IMBESTIGAHAN AT PANAGUTIN SI ROMULO SA PANGUNGURAKOT SA BUWIS NG MAMAMAYAN SA E-PASSPORT CONTRACT. ###

OFWs triumph over 2 abusive recruitment agencies

Reference: Garry Martinez, Chairperson, 0939-3914418

August 3, 2010

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Let this serve as a warning to others – Migrante International

Migrante International Garry Martinez today commended the vigilance of at least 300 overseas Filipino workers who have been granted their petition demanding the suspension of two abusive recruitment agencies.

The Philippine Overseas Employment Agency (POEA) released notices of suspension and resolutions dated April 10 and July 13, 2010 banning Annasban Manpower and PERT/CPM agencies, respectively, from participating in the overseas deployment program following complaints lodged against them by Migrante on behalf of the OFWs from the Middle East.(please find attached copies of the POEA resolutions)

Since last year, more than 80 Annasban workers have complained of said agency’s breach of contract pertaining to their monthly salaries, benefits and job descriptions as stipulated in their contracts. These have resulted in the OFWs’ request for repatriation.

Meanwhile, 189 SAPTCO bus drivers filed a complaint last April before the Philippine Embassy Overseas Labor Office-Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (POLO-OWWA) in Saudi against recruitment agency PERT/CPM which they accused of conniving with lending agencies. They also complained of overcharging of placement fees, loans with onerous rates, collection of fees without issuance of receipts, false information on employment and compensation and the harassment of their families by the lending agencies.

“The suspensions are a very welcome development and an initial victory for OFWs. These could not have happened if not for the unity and assertion of our OFWs of their rights and demands,” said Garry Martinez, Migrante International chairperson.

Martinez, however, said that the agencies are yet to give the OFWs their rightful monetary claims. “Hindi pa tapos ang laban. The agencies still have to pay our OFWs the monetary claims to which they are entitled.”

The Annasban workers are demanding that they be paid their back wages amounting to an average of P300,000 each, while the SAPTCO bus drivers are demanding a refund of their overcharged deployment fees amounting to at least P80,000 each, among others.

“Let this be a warning to other and all abusive recruitment agencies that our OFWs will not tolerate injustices and abuses. The next step now is to ensure that the POEA effectively and decisively implements the bans,” Martinez said. ###

Migrant rights group to P-Noy: Give OFWs option, economic relief

By Nora O. Gamolo

http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/6446631-migrant-rights-group-to-pnoy-give-ofws-option-economic-relief

An alliance of Filipino migrant rights group in the Middle East has brought the controversial issue of compulsory membership of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to Pag-ibig straight to Malacanang as it urges President Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III to revoke it.

The compulsory membership is contained in Memorandum Circular No. 06, Series of 2010 released by the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency (POEA), and is now known as POEA MC-06. It took effect on August 1.

“We are urging P-Noy (as Aquino is called) to immediately revoke the implementation of POEA MC-06, or the compulsory membership of all OFWs to Pag-ibig, as it is only an additional burden to already struggling OFWs and their families amid increases in the prices of basic commodities and services,” said John Leonard Monterona, Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator.

Making membership to PAG-IBIG compulsory for OFWs attacks their freedom of choice, and more so because they and their families have never been consulted prior to its implementation, Monterona said.

“Thus, MC-06, though its proponent would say that it is in accordance with the Home Development Mutual Fund law, is in violation to individual’s freedom to choose what an OFW and his family think is best for them,” Monterona added.

There is already an existing optional housing loan facility for OFWs provided by Pag-ibig. Under this optional program, OFWs and their dependents can decide which specific program is better, appropriate, and practical, based on their needs and capability to pay.

OFWS can consider just to secure a housing loan from Pag-ibig, or gradually improve their own house from their earnings.

Monterona wondered why the Pag-ibig housing loan program became compulsory, and said this is highly questionable.

“OFWs and their organizations have never been consulted. We have been told that Philippine democracy is alive after the election. P-Noy himself aptly said “kayo ang boss ko (you are my boss)”. Now, why was POEA MC-06 implemented without hearing the side of those who will be greatly affected?” he asked.

An OFW has to get an Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC) before he or she can depart from NAIA. To get an OEC, an OFW must pay P1,164 for OWWA membership, P900 for Philhealth. With MC-06, an OFW pays the newly imposed P600 for PAG-IBIG, plus the P100 processing fee, for a total of P2,764.

This amount is on top of other fees and charges imposed by the government and the placement fee collected by recruitment agency.

“This is another government’s hypocrisy, but this time on the highest level. Stop robbing OFWs by continuously imposing additional fees and charges on top of the already numerous government fees and charges. (OFWs) need relief, not additional burdens,” Monterona added.

The Saudi-based OFW leader said Migrante chapters in the Middle East are now preparing to stage protests actions and petition signing that would culminate on mid-August.

The petitions aim at pressing the Aquino government to stop imposing and collecting ‘unnecessary’ fees such as the new fees for passport renewal and replacement and compulsory OFW membership to PAG-IBIG, among others.

Filipino group to launch drive against passport fee hike

http://www.gulftoday.ae/portal/da85d2ca-a7fb-4df2-a1a3-cc2ca5e2a84c.aspx

BY MARIECAR JARA-PUYOD	August 04, 2010

AN organisation, whose goal is protection and welfare of all Filipinos worldwide, is set to launch a signature campaign on Wednesday against the “exorbitant” increase of passport fees by all the Philippine diplomatic posts around the world.

This includes the approximately 300,000 Filipinos in the UAE,

Migrante International (MI), the organisation, will be conducting the campaign in other parts of the Middle East, United Kingdom, United States, China, Hong Kong, Canada, Australia and Italy as well, according to its Secretary General of the UAE branch,  Nhel Morona.

“What we are against is the exorbitant fees exacted from all overseas Filipinos (OFs),

who are applying for passports in all diplomatic posts,” Morona told The Gulf Today on Tuesday.

“We are campaigning for the standardization of our passport fees,” he explained.

The signature campaign comes two days after the Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi began accepting applications for the electronic passports (e-passports) on Aug. 1. The Philippine Consulate General in Dubai started doing so last June 14, following directives from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) main headquarter in Pasay City, Metro Manila.

Morona said the campaign is being conducted because MI does not understand why OFs must pay higher fees than what is being charged by the DFA main and regional offices in the Philippines, which is Php950 (regular processing time of two weeks-Dhs79) to Php1,500 (expedited processing time at one week-Dhs125).

The two diplomatic missions in the UAE charge Dhs240 (Php2,880) for the e-passport, an increase from the Dhs200 (Php2,400) for the machine readable passports (MRPs) which had been phased out in June this year.

MI said that it had taken into consideration the costs of operations that all Philippine diplomatic missions around the world incur.

“Even if we have those microchips embedded in our e-passports and none in the MRPs, we believe the new passport fees are still high and burdensome to us who have to renew our passports overseas,” he added, when asked by this reporter if MI also considered the additional safety and security features of the e-passport.

Morona claimed that MI also included in their justification for the signature campaign the logistics expenses, specifically that of the parceling fees, since like the MRPs, e-passports are manufactured at a special section of the Central Bank of the Philippines.

Quoting from the unified press statement MI had released to the media on Tuesday, Morona said: “The new e-passport now costs Php950 to Php1,200 (Dhs79 to Dhs125) compared to Php550 to Php750 (Dhs46 to Dhs63) in the Philippines, while e-passport costs have risen abroad as much as thrice as the previous rates and approximately $6 more than the fee prescribed for e-passports in the Philippines.”

Migrants group to Aquino: Scrap compulsory membership to housing program

http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=599348&publicationSubCategoryId=200

MANILA, Philippines – A migrant rights group has called on President Aquino to scrap the memorandum circular of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) that requires Filipinos working abroad compulsory membership to PAG-IBIG housing program.

“It is only an additional burden to already struggling OFWs and their families amid the increases of the prices of basic commodities and services,” said John Leonard Monterona, Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator.

He said making OFWs’ membership to PAG-IBIG mandatory is an attack to one’s freedom of choice especially if OFWs and their families have never been consulted prior to its implementation.

“Thus, MC-06, though its proponent would say that it is in accordance with the Home Development Mutual Fund law, is in violation to individual’s freedom to choose that an OFW and his family think what is best for them,” he added.

Monterona said there is already an existing optional housing loan facility for OFWs provided by PAG-IBIG.

He added under the optional housing loan program, OFWs and their dependents would not be forced to get a loan from PAG-IBIG.

Migrante kay P-Noy: Walang mahirap kung walang nagpapahirap

Pahayag sa Media

2 Agosto 2010

Tutulan ang compulsory membership ng mga OFWs sa PAG-IBIG!

Nakabatay sa makaturungan at rasonableng dahilan ang pagtutol ng Migrante at ng OFWs at kanilang pamilya sa sapilitang pagpapasapi ng mga OFWs sa PAG-IBIG.

Una, matagal ng may housing loan facility program ang Home Development Mutual Fund o kilala sa tawag na PAG-IBIG, para sa mga OFWs. Ito ay optional. Ibig sabihin, nasa desisyon ng OFW at ng kanyang pamilya kung gusto nitong mag-avail ng nasabing housing loan. Nasa desisyon ng OFW at ng kanyang pamilya kung ito ba ay praktikal, mas makakatipid at mas magaan sa bulsa na nakabatay sa kung anuman ang prayoridad ng pamilya. Marami sa mga OFWs ang nagsisikap sa paunti-unting ipon nakakapagtayo ng bahay sa kanilang mga probinsya.

Sa paglabas ng POEA Memorandum No.06, Series of 2010 nitong 1 Agosto lamang, iniutos ang sapilitang pagpapasapi sa mga OFWs sa PAG-IBIG, inalis nito ang karapatang mamili kung ano ang mas angkop base sa pangangailangan ng pamilyang OFW. Akala ba namin ay demokrasya? Demokrasya ba itong walang malaganap na kunsultasyon tapos pipilitin kami?

Pangalawa, sapilitan nga ito dahil sa ikinabit ang bayarin sa pagkuha ng Overseas Employment Certificate or OEC. Kailangan ang OEC, sa katunayan resibo ito kung ano ang mga kaakibat na bayarin at siningil ng gubyerno sa OFWs, para makaalis ang OFW papunta sa bansang destinasyon para ‘magbanat ng buto’.

Kung walang OEC, ibig sabihin kung hindi ka nagbayad ng P1,164 OWWA membership, P900 Philheath, at P100 para sa processing fee at  idinagdag na ang P600 para sa paunang 6 buwan PAG-IBIG coverage, hindi makakalis ng bansa ang OFW para magtrabaho sa ibang bansa. Hindi ba ito paglabag sa karapatan namin na mabuhay at maghanap buhay? Ginagawa na kaming parang bagay na pinagtutubuan at pinagkakakitaan. Tao kami hindi kalakal na pinapatungan ng mga buwis o taripa sa porma ng mga sapilitang fees.

Pangatlo, ang compulsory coverage sa PAG-IBIG ay maituturing na buwis na dagdag pahirap lamang sa mga OFWs sa kabila ng marami nang mga singilin at bayarin na ipinitaw ang gubyerno, sa kabila ng patuloy na pagtaas ng presyo ng mga pangunahing bilihin. Lumalabas na dagdag na buwis ito dahil sa ginawa itong compulsory at di-makatuwirang ikinabit sa pagkuha ng OEC.

Pang-apat, may alinlangan tayo sa patakarang compulsory coverage ng OFWs sa PAG-IBIG dahil sa batbat ng alegasyon ng kurapsyon at misuses at mis-alokasyon ng pundo ang PAG-IBIG. Hindi naman basta-basta na ipapa-ubaya natin ang ating pinaghirapan sa mga kamay lang ng kung sinung kurap na opisyal ng PAG-IBIG. Silang mga opisyal ng PAG-IBIG na nagpapasasa sa ating kontribusyon na tumatanggap ng malalaking sahod at sobrang benepisyo. Walang kasegurauhan na bumalik sa atin ang ating perang pinaghirapan! Sabi nga ng marami pagnag-loan ka, ikaw pa ngayon ang nagka-utang eh samantalang kontribusyon mo ito. Di ba’t pag-gisa nga ito sa sariling mantika, wika nga.

Sa hirap ng buhay sa ngayon, dapat maging wais na tayo!

Wais tayo dahil sama-sama nating tututulan ang anumang dagdag na bayarin na pilit sinisingil sa atin ng gubyerno, sa kabila ng salat o wala namang mainam na serbisyo at program para sa ating mga OFWs at pamilya.

Wais na ang OFWs na nagsasabing “Walang mahirap kung walang nagpapahirap!”

Tutulan ang compulsory coverage ng mga OFWs sa PAG-IBIG!

Tutulan ang dagdag na singil sa Pasaporte!

Tutulan ang mga di makatarungan bayarin at singilin na ipinapataw ng gubyerno sa OFWs !

Serbisyo hindi perwisyo!

-Migrante-Middle East at mga kasaping balangay nito

2 Agosto 2010

Reference:

John Leonard Monterona

Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator

Mobile No. 00966 564 978012

Aquino intercession sought on 3 OFW death convicts

By ngamolo

Manila : Philippines | Jul 13, 2010

By Nora O. Gamolo

http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/6296134-aquino-intercession-sought-on-3-ofw-death-convicts

As President Benigno Simeon ‘Noynoy’ Aquino III prepares for his first ever State of the Nation Address (SONA), a Mid-east Filipino migrant group urges him to intercede for three overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) now on Saudi Arabia’s death row.

OFWs Victorino Gaspar, Jr., Paul Miquibas, and Edgardo Genetiano were found guilty by the Jizan General Shari’ah Court (trial court) of the crime of murder with robbery. They were convicted on a vote of 3-2 by a committee of five judges, and sentenced to suffer the penalty of ta’azeeran qati (death which cannot be settled by payment of blood money).

The Philippine Consulate General in Jeddah has been directed to exhaust all legal remedies to help the three OFWs.

In an email to media, Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator John Leonard Monterona says there are a big number of considerable numbers of OFWs on death row now awaiting government assistance to save them.

Aquino should now bare his plans to save them in his SONA, advises Monterona. The SONA is always a politically volatile performance for any Philippine president, as it is normally accompanied by rallies and demonstrations, criticizing the president on one hand, and glorifying him on the other.

Monterona asserts that OFWs are dissatisfied and disgruntled with the previous Arroyo administration, and have expressed high expectations of Aquino who ran on a platform of anti-corruption and moral and economic recovery.

“It is quite alarming because some cases of OFWs on death row are now aging. Some are under appeal. Some await final verdict. Nobody wants to witness an OFW execution,” said Monterona.

He bares that there are about 100 cases of OFWs on death row. About 50% of these cases are drug-related, involving OFWs apprehended in China on suspicion that they are mules or human carriers of drugs.

“Based on the initial investigation and discussion with some of the families of OFWs on death row, especially those who have been caught possessing illegal drugs in China and Iran, it appears that the OFWs have been victims of illegal drug traffickers who lured them in exchange for a huge amount,” said Monterona.

Monterona added that these OFWs include those who suddenly became unemployed or who suffer poor work conditions. They resort to illegal activities like transporting illegal drugs out of desperation to support their daily subsistence and send money to their families in the Philippines.

“The individual cases of the 28 OFWs in death row in the Middle East, mostly in Saudi Arabia is different. They were forced to commit a crime in defense of their person and well being under an abusive employers or attackers,” Monterona added.

Monterona cited the case of OFW Joselito Zapanta, who is still awaiting legal assistance form the Philippine government since his case is under appeal in the Saudi Appellate court.

In June 2009, OFW Zapanta killed his Sudanese landlord, but testified later that it was done in self-defense. He alleged that his landlord had beat him hard for not paying his rent.

He also cited the case of OFW Jakatia Pawa, a 33-year old domestic worker convicted in in Kuwait for allegedly killing her employer’s daughter in 2007. On January 2010, the Kuwait Court of Cessation affirmed Pawa’s death sentence.

“We are more than willing to hear from Mr. Aquino’s first SONA, for him to disclose his administration’s plan in saving the lives of OFWs on death row. But it must be accompanied by swift actions by various concerned government agencies, not just issuing directives and policy statements,” Monterona averred.

OFWs and their dependents are also looking for the implementation of adequate free on-site services and welfare programs for OFWs and their dependents within his 100 days in office.

Monterona said there are 28 OFWs on death row in the Middle East alone. Six of them had been executed under the “most anti-OFW and negligent administration of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.”

Meanwhile, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) will recommend to Aquino to personally intercede in the case of three OFWs convicted of killing and robbing another Filipino worker in Jeddah.

In the event the Supreme Court sustains its decision, the DFA said Aquino could make representations with the Saudi King for the grant of executive clemency to the three OFWs.

The Consulate General was also directed to closely coordinate with the families of the accused and of the victim, and to constantly monitor their case.

The three OFWs were convicted for the murder of Raymundo Dimaculangan, another OFW from Laguna, after stealing the latter’s 32,000 Saudi riyals which he borrowed from a bank.

The Consulate General has engaged the services of the Law Office of Abdullah Al Johani which is representing the three workers. This is the second time the DFA hired a lawyer to represent the three OFWs.

During the trial, the three OFWs said they did not have any motive and have valid alibi to prove they did not commit the crime. They also claimed they were forced to make a confession during detention.

According to the Consul General Ezzedin Tago, the legal counsel of the three Filipinos has filed an appeal before the Jizan General Court last July 4.

The Consulate General said it has been conducting regular jail visitation and extending consular assistance to the three convicted Filipinos and regularly giving their families updates on their case.

OFW group in Riyadh scores hike in passport fees

JERRIE M. ABELLA, GMANews.TV

07/05/2010 | 10:17 PM

http://www.gmanews.tv/story/195292/ofw-group-in-riyadh-scores-hike-in-passport-fees

A migrants’ rights group in Riyadh scored the Philippine Embassy there for the recent hike in passport fees after the implementation of the electronic passport (ePassport) program.

Migrante-Middle East accused the Embassy of “overcharging” Filipino workers in Saudi Arabia, after increasing its passport services to as much as 150 Saudi riyals (about P1,850).

“Instead of easing the burden of struggling OFWS and their families amid increases in prices of basic commodities and services, here comes the government increasing passport fees and overcharging OFWs,” said Migrante regional coordinator John Leonard Monterona.

According to the Embassy’s Web site, passport renewal now costs 240 riyals (P2,970) from 200 riyals (P2,470), while replacement of a lost passport is now pegged at 600 riyals (P7,430) from just 450 riyals (P5,570).

The P500-increase for renewing passports can instead be used to buy a sack of rice for one-month consumption, Monterona said. “That’s too much for an OFW here who earns just P10,000-P12,000.”

However, Consul Romulo Victor Israel of the Embassy said in a separate interview that the increase in passport fees came from a directive by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

“If it were only up to us, of course we do not want the fees increased. But we can’t do anything about it because it was sanctioned by the DFA,” Israel told GMANews.TV over the phone.

He said the increase, according to the DFA, was due to the materials now being used for the ePassport.

The new ePassport, according to Israel, uses a special kind of paper and ink, and also includes an embedded integrated circuit chip which contain’s the passport owner’s personal information.

“Said fees will help defray the additional e-passport production costs, including the more expensive biometric passport booklets with advanced security features and consumables,” a June 5 release posted on the Embassy’s website said.

The DFA earlier justified the universal increase of about US$10 in passport services across all Philippine posts in the world, after Filipinos in Hong Kong criticized the hike.

Meanwhile, Monterona said Migrante is conducting consultation among OFWs and organizations to protest the fee hikes.

“We smell something fishy in the unjustified increase in fees since the machine-readable passport was implemented but immediately replaced with the ePassport selectively being issued in countries where there is a large concentration of OFWs,” Monterona added.

The DFA started issuing the ePassport in August 2009, two years after it started implementing machine-readable passports, in the Philippines and is gradually introducing the system to Philippine posts across the world.

This was after the International Civil Aviations Organization (ICAO) gave countries until April 2010 to implement the ePassport, supposedly to combat fraud. - RJAB Jr/KBK, GMANews.TV

Poverty pushing workers to risky jobs overseas

By PAM BROOKE A. CASIN

July 6, 2010, 6:18pm

http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/265540/poverty-pushing-workers-risky-jobs-overseas

An alliance of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) based in the Middle East Tuesday said that the worsening unemployment situation and poverty in the country pushes workers to work in war-torn countries like Afghanistan.

Migrante-Middle East said that there are still a considerable number of migrant workers in Afghanistan and in Iraq despite the deployment ban imposed by the Philippine government.

“Millions of desperate Filipinos are willing to gamble just to land a job in war-stricken places than to see their families die of hunger and poverty in the Philippines,” Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator John Leonard Monterona said.

“Why? The present wage earned by our local workers is not enough to compensate the high cost of living in the country,” he said.

Monterona also said that the situation of local workers is being exploited by recruitment agencies. He said that they have been receiving reports of agencies that are still deploying workers to Afghanistan and Iraq using the Qatar and Oman as entry points.

“We have been receiving reports that Overseas Employment Certificates are being issued to those who are using their tourist and visit visas once they have entered the United Arab Emirates. This is highly irregular,” he said.