AS DABAWENYOS lined up for last-minute free shirt printing and preparations ramped up for a global prayer rally honoring former President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s 80th birthday on Friday, March 28, some overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) pledged to join the Zero Remittance Week from March 28 to April 4, 2025.
The movement aims to support calls for Duterte’s return amid his detention at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, Netherlands, where he faces charges of alleged crimes against humanity.
OFWs speak out
Despite warnings from Malacañang, several OFWs remain firm in their commitment to the remittance boycott, seeing it as a way to protest the Philippine government's alleged role in Duterte's arrest.
Juvi Endrina Ybañez, an OFW in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), vowed to participate, saying she was willing to make the sacrifice. “Sa panahon wala pami nag abroad buhi na daan among pamilya pinaagi sa pagpaningkamot aron makakaon. Laktud nga pagkastorya ang gobyerno ang dakong apikto kay wala na silay manakaw (Before we went abroad, our family was already surviving through hard work just to have food to eat. In short, the government is the main factor because they no longer have anything to steal),” she said
Shai, whose family is in UAE where her husband is an OFW, called the boycott a “peaceful and nonviolent form of protest. " “A lot of Filipinos abroad are hurting with what happened. This is our way of showing our support for Duterte,” she said. She and her husband planned to send remittances before March 28 or after April 4.
A 38-year-old Filipina migrant in Finland, who requested anonymity, informed her family about the protest but said her regular remittances fall outside the boycott period.
While she refrained from influencing other OFWs' decisions, she reaffirmed her pro-Duterte stance, citing his leadership’s support during her time as an OFW in the Middle East, where human rights abuses were rampant.
“Many of us here in Finland support Duterte. It’s their choice whether to join, but I know Digong did a lot for us,” she told SunStar Davao in the vernacular.
Seafarer Jackie Tutor Dayrit also pledged full support, calling the boycott “a small sacrifice for what Duterte has done for OFWs.” Meanwhile, Almer Casio, an OFW in Saudi Arabia for 13 years, saw it as a way to highlight the economic impact of OFWs. “This is a significant move. I understand its potential impact on the economy, given the importance of remittances,” he said.
Bennivie Galvez McMurry, a Dabawenya in Tennessee, USA, echoed the same sentiments.
"I'm deeply affected by what's happening to Tatay Digong. I feel compelled to support him, considering his contributions to OFWs and all Filipinos during his term," she said.
Ivy Attara, an OFW from Japan, sent money earlier to ensure her participation. “Oo gituyo naku, para makaapil ko para support (I planned it so I could support Duterte,” she said.
Prioritizing family
However, not all OFWs are on board with the remittance boycott. Joan Mae Anggalan, working in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, said she would still send money to her family in Kapatagan as the dates coincide with a family graduation and farming season. “If it weren’t for these events, I would have joined,” she said.
Lani M. J. Larsen, chairman of Good Heart New Zealand Philippines Foundation Charitable Trust, disagreed with the movement.
"A week without remittances is a significant problem, especially for struggling families. We can express our sentiments without harming our families," she said. "I've received messages indicating not all OFWs agree with this plan. They went abroad for their families; family comes first."
Boycott impact
Despite the protest’s strong sentiments, an economist with 19 years of experience, who requested anonymity, downplayed its potential economic effect.
Citing a recent Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey, he noted that 51 percent of Filipinos believe that Duterte should be held accountable for alleged drug-related killings during his administration, while 25 percent disagree.
Applying this sentiment to OFWs, he estimated that if 25 percent participate in the remittance boycott, it could temporarily delay up to $165 million in remittances — equivalent to seven days' worth of funds. However, he said that this amount is minimal compared to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) $108 billion in reserves.
"It's a drop in the bucket," he said. "Even if some OFWs delay sending money, their families back home will still need financial support eventually. This is why it's hard to tell if many will prioritize joining the protest over providing for their loved ones."
The economist also pointed out that most OFWs work abroad to support their families and meet essential household needs, making participation in political protests a lower priority for many.
While OFWs were not included in the SWS survey, the economist explained that using available data allows for an approximate gauge of potential participation. However, he remained skeptical about its overall effect, emphasizing that remittances are ultimately driven by necessity rather than political sentiment.
"We'll see if they follow through, but in the end, it's the families who will feel the impact of these political leanings," he added. MLSA, DEF, RGP, RGV