A DAVAO-based migrant organization is pushing for a comprehensive profiling and sustainable database for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) that would help them in closely monitoring the status of the migrant workers and their families.
In a bid to avoid a similar incident that happened to John Earl, the son of OFW Erlinda Cagalitan, who died on November 12 after suffering from corporal punishment while in the care of his relatives, Mindanao Migrants Center for Empowering Actions Inc. (MMCEAI) is again urging the government to come up with a comprehensive data of the OFWs.
MMCEAI executive director Inorisa Sialana-Elento said the sketchy data available on OFWs make it difficult to monitor them and provide assistance to their families.
To date, there are over 16 million OFWs already in over 195 countries.
There are data available, but many are not accurate or complete to serve as a basis in providing government services and information dissemination.
MMCEAI wants to address the concerns of the migrant sector by coming up with a database and submitting the OFW agenda to the peace negotiator in creating the Comprehensive Agreement in Socio-Economic Reforms.
“Tan-awon unta nila ang klarong ihap sa atong mga OFW (The government should ensure proper accounting of OFWs dispatched). But this would not only be an account of how many [OFWs there are] but we are calling for a comprehensive profile of OFW and their families [as well],” she said.
Their agenda state that the administration should provide platforms and spaces that would allow a meaningful and sustained participation of the migrant sector including the families of migrant worker.
“Database should include a comprehensive profile of families of migrant sector including the conditions of [their families who are] left behind [and to] seriously note sex/age disintegrated date profiling and periodically analyzing data to be integrated in policy formulation and service delivery programs,” she said.
In particular, they are calling to activate and operationalize Barangay (village) Council for the Protection of Children (BCPC) to co-facilitate monitoring and active interventions of the needs and situations of children of migrant workers/Anak OFWs.
Also, they are urging government to provide the OFWs assistance and trainings for parents and other relatives who are taking care of the OFW children.
“Government must think of ways to enhance the means of communication between OFWs, especially women OFWs and their children,” she noted, adding that government programs for OFWs and their families must, at all times, uphold the rights of children.
The government, she said, should act on the phenomenal increase of abandoned families and children of migrant workers and must provide legal, psychological and economic support for affected individuals and families. (JCR)