MANILA (Mindanao Examiner / Mar. 18, 2014) – Migrante said many Filipinos working abroad are up in arms against a proposal filed by the party list group called OFW Family that would impose a so-called “forced remittance” to their families back home.
Migrante branded the proposal as “notorious” and said the House Bill 3576 filed by Rep. Roy Seneres is a resurrection of (Philippine dictator Ferdinand) Marcos’ draconian Executive Order 857 which was protested widely by overseas Filipino workers around the world.
“Nag-aala-Marcos itong si Rep. Seneres, shame on him for once again shoving this down our throats. It is a blast from the past and a slap in the face of OFWs around the world that are already knee-deep in debt and barely coping with the global economic crisis,” Connie Regalado, chairperson of Migrante Sectoral Party, said in a statement sent to the regional newspaper Mindanao Examiner.
She said the proposed bill would require all land-based and sea-based OFWs to send regular remittances through the “Philippine banking system or any authorized credit unions, money transfer operators or through the postal mail” or else suffer penalties. Likewise, private recruitment agencies are authorized to facilitate and “assist OFWs in the remittance of their foreign exchange earnings.”
The bill also authorizes Ambassadors, Consul Generals, Chiefs of Missions or Charge d’ Affairs to order and direct OFWs to send support to his or her legal dependents as required by existing laws. And Section 5 of the House Bill 3576 further directs Philippine authorities abroad “to withhold the renewal or approval of the passport of an earring OFW unless proof of compliance of the remittance requirement” is submitted.
Marcos’ Executive Order 857 had compelled OFWs to remit up to 70% of their total monthly earnings and decree also prohibited the use of non-banking channels such and restricted OFWs to remit “only through government-authorized channels.” Those who failed to do so faced punitive acts such as losing their rights to renew their contracts and passports, thus effectively banning OFWs from eligibly working overseas.
Regalado has criticized Seneres for his “double-faced posturing,” recalling that he was one of those opposed to the same punitive measures when he became commissioner of the National Labor Relations Commission.
“We were in the same meeting, in the same congressional hearing years ago, asking for the review of the mandatory remittance and its punitive provisions in the Labor Code. Why the change of heart now? Is his party list connected to big remittance centers or recruitment agencies? These agencies will solely stand to benefit from this forced remittance bill, not OFWs and their families,” she said.
In 1985, the punitive provisions in the Labor Code were repealed following widespread protests from OFWs and their families worldwide. On May 1, 1985, Marcos was forced to issue Executive Order 1021, abolishing the punitive provisions of Executive Order 857. The OFW movement against forced remittances gave birth to the formation of the United Filipinos in Hong Kong from its precursor United Filipino Against Forced Remittance.
Regalado said that Seneres’ house bill clearly manifests “how he and his party list are obviously not in tune with the interests of OFWs.”
“It is stupid, unnecessary and obviously just another money-making scheme. It was precisely the previous forced remittance law that further drove OFWs in deeper debt. It gave rise to the proliferation of loan sharks and lending institutions that fed on the desperation of OFWs. Sagad sa buto ang pangungutang ng mga OFW nang ipatupad ang batas na iyon. Lalo na ngayon ang sitwasyon ng mga OFW ay baon na nga sa utang bago pa man makarating sa ibang bansa.” She said.
She said that Seneres should stop portraying himself as a “representative” of OFWs. “Clearly and certainly, he and his party list do not have OFWs’ interests and welfare at heart. It is more evident now that Seneres is toeing the line of the BS Aquino regime in institutionalizing state exactions and more taxes on OFWs to salvage the ailing economy. Like Marcos, BS Aquino is now banking on revenue from OFW remittances to cope with alarming fiscal deficits and huge external debt, alongside the government’s incapacity to generate much-needed income due to massive corruption and misgovernance,” Regalado said.
Under the bill, Seneres said it is in furtherance of relevant provisions of the Constitution, and the Family Code of the Philippines. He said as more Filipinos work abroad; the necessary consequence is for them to leave behind their families in the Philippines. He said Filipinos primarily go to work abroad in order to provide for the needs of their family, however, there have been reports of families or dependents of OFWs who have complained of the failure of their relatives to send support to them.
This is particularly true for many families of land-based OFWs since there is no law or rules and regulations which require them to remit a portion of their foreign exchange earnings to their families in the Philippines.
“Recognizing that the State also needs to protect the welfare of the families or dependents of OFWs who have been neglected and abandoned by their OFW relatives, this measure aims to mandate our OFWs to remit or send a portion of their foreign exchange earnings to their family or dependents in the Philippines.”
“In order to secure the solidarity of the family and the protection of children, this measure seeks to address the unfortunate experiences of families or dependents of OFWs who do not receive the financial support that they are entitled to under existing laws. For this reason, it also seeks to authorize Ambassadors, Consul Generals, Chiefs of Missions or Charge d’ Affairs to order and direct an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) to send support to his or her legal dependents as required by existing laws,” Seneres said. (Mindanao Examiner)
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