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

By Nora O. Gamolo

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.