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Monday, July 31, 2006
House to probe 'missing funds' for evacuation of Pinoys from Lebanon
MANILA -- Although Ambassador to Lebanon Al Francis Bichara already apologized and clarified issues on the alleged lack of evacuation funds, the House of Representative will still investigate the matter and validate government's contingency measures to ensure the safety of Filipinos working abroad.
House committee on overseas workers affairs vice chairman Salacnib Baterina said despite Bichara's clarification, the committee will still look into claims by some sectors that there were no enough funds to evacuate and repatriate overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) trapped in the war-torn Lebanon.
"We laud him (Bichara) for exerting immediate effort to clarify a delicate issue such as the fund availability for evacuation of OFWs," said Baterina, but added that House members would still like to be enlightened about the overall contingency measures of the government to ensure safety of OFWs.
Earlier, militant lawmaker Joel Virador of Bayan Muna urged the House not only to validate contingency measures for OFWs but to oblige the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (Owwa) to account the P8.1billion OFW funds held in trust by the agency.
He also wanted special envoy to the Middle East Roy Cimatu to explain to Congress how he spent the US$293,500 support fund from the Owwa when not one OFW was evacuated from Iraq in 2003.
"This representation maintains that the Owwa release of US$2 million to fund the evacuation of Filipinos trapped in Lebanon cannot be equivalent to a government appropriation like the P150 million," he said.
But Baterina said government critics and fault-finders should stop using the fund issue any longer and instead contribute to government efforts to bring home OFWs from Lebanon.
"This is not the time for mudslinging and apportioning blame, especially on a non-issue. We should all unite for a common goal to save our OFWs. Politicking and grandstanding will not help them at all," he said.
The hearing which is soon to be conducted by the committees on overseas workers affairs and foreign relations would zero in on how systematic is the evacuation plan and what is the source of funding.
"The house members would like to be enlightened during the forthcoming hearings about the overall contingency measures to ensure OFWs safety in every country especially in war-torn territories. This is an administrative matter we can't just disregard considering the fact that we have millions of OFWs around the globe," Baterina added.
Another lawmaker, Antonio Cerilles, said the issue on the availability of evacuation funds has been settled, the House will also look into how much money needs to be allotted to carry out an effective contingency plan for OFWs.
Meanwhile, Malacañang welcomed the call of Lebanese consul Joseph F.K. Assad for local leaders to end the bickering and squabbling over the alleged missing evacuation funds and simply focus on getting Filipinos put of Lebanon.
Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said Assad's statement was well-meaning and they even agree with him.
Assad last Saturday said: "Petty bickering about funds" should be set aside and just focus on coming up with a "win-win solution to the situation. Put the funds out there for the Filipinos."
He added that while they are thankful for Filipinos working in Lebanon, they would understand if they opt to leave. He also advised OFWs planning to stay and continue working in their country to ask for "a little raise in their salary."
The Owwa said most of the 30,000 Filipinos working in Lebanon are domestic helpers and they get at least 200 dollars (roughly P11,000) per month.
More than 1,000 OFWs had already returned to the country since Israel started its attack in Lebanon two weeks ago.
Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said the government is not taking any chances on the lives of OFWs in Lebanon and the Philippine crisis team is "deploying all means to fix locations on our nationals in the four corners of Lebanon and take them out of harm's way."
Bunye, who is also the Presidential spokesman, said President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is committed to work out a policy that would limit overseas workers' deployment to safer places of work.
"The presence of Filipinos in potential conflict areas is an issue that we have to deal with perennially. These emotionally-wrenching episodes of innocent Filipinos caught in war in foreign lands should be avoided, and this administration intends to be proactive in keeping them out of strife-torn territory," he added.
He reiterated the Philippine Government's call for the halt of hostilities and the opening of "doors for humanitarian aid and facilitate the evacuation of non-combatants." (DBP/JMR/Sunnex)
(July 31, 2006 issue)
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