MY POINT OF VIEW: "Migrants Rights are Human Rights"

 

Migrant Workers' Forum participants

 BY JUN ENRIQUEZ (President, Manggagawang Media ng Mindanaw)

My thanks and appreciation for inviting me during the event, Multi-stakeholders Forum on Safe, and Regular Migration, Environment, Peace and Development (MEPD) CSO network policy writeshop and action planning, held at Cagayan de Oro City on 20 September 2022. The statement “Migrant Rights are Human Rights” was bannered during the week-long annual celebration of the International Migrants Day, December 18.

With regards to the Forum, it has tackled to empowering Migrant Workers based in Mindanao whose families left behind suffered so much emotionally and psychologically. This is why created the Mindanao Migrants Center for Empowering Actions, Incorporated (MMCEAI), acquired its legal personality and started its operations in 2008.   

MMCEAI is a gender and culture-sensitive organization to serve and help the active, non-active and returned Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) particular in Mindanao. The MMCEAI is chaired by Prof. Rosena D. Sanchez, in her statement said that part of the MMCEAI objectives is to have free access to information through the freedom of information in order to ensure the safe migration and welfare of the migrant workers.

As a background, MMCEAI is a civil society organization based in Davao City, was conceptualized by the group of professionals, religious, academe, civil society, former OFWs and relatives of migrant workers to actively respond to the needs of migrants in distress situation, especially the women migrant workers who are in the frontline entering the international labor market.

There was a newly created government agency, the so called, Department of Migrant Workers, under the Republic Act (RA) No. 11641, signed by President Rodrigo Duterte  on December 30, 2021. The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) is headed by Secretary Susan Ople. the DMW is responsible for the protection of the rights and promote the welfare of the OFWs and their families.

Workshop participants during session

One of the partners of MMCEAI is the AWO International, established through the concept of the people affected by the conflict in World war I, specifically in Germany. Provided mental and psychosocial support, and shelter to the victims of conflict. A woman founder of AWO International in 1919 in Central America assists against the victims of human trafficking. 

The MMCEAI envisions and aims to operate a Mindanao-wide scale against illegal recruitment and trafficking for women and children. MMCEAI is a community of global trends responsive to the welfare and rights of the OFWs for uplifting their status, recognizing their contributions economically and empowering them. It will serve as the center for developing communities and building partnerships that promote and protect the rights and welfare, and empower the OFWs in Mindanao. It also provides and facilitates direct assistance and services to OFWs and their immediate families. Also establish partnerships and linkages with agencies, institutions, communities and groups supportive of the migrant workers’ agenda. 

Ms. Norie Elento, MMCEAI ED (2nd right), with Staff  

During the forum, MS. INORISA SIALANA - ELENTO, MMCEAI Executive Director, in a statement said that the purpose of gathering the CSOs and Government agencies on this day is to engage regarding the issues on migration, including gender and development on the context of ensuring safe migration, by looking at the migrant workers suffering ill-fated situation abroad. This will also identify the prevailing issues to address together with the CSOs network and concerned government agencies to gain clear direction to formulate solution and respond the problems of the migrant workers.

Government agencies based in Cagayan de Oro City who attended the forum are the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), Department of Social Welfare and development (DSWD), the local government of Cagayan de Oro City represented by the office of the City Social Welfare and Development (CSWD), Department of Interior and local Government (DILG) and National Economic Development Authority (NEDA), among others.

The POEA will extend legal services to migrant workers and their families. They will provide licenses to agencies and process the applications of the applicants and coordinate with other government agencies.

The DSWD will provide services on psychosocial, financial assistance and educational services and other support services to migrant workers. The CSWD has established satellite offices in barangays of Cagayan de Oro City, to serve the migrant workers on these areas. 

The NEDA is guided with the vision, Ambisyon Natin 2040, “Isang matatag, maginhawa at panatag na buhay para sa lahat,” aimed to reduce poverty with inclusive 8 point socioeconomic agenda, a plan for economic transformation until 2040. The NEDA will be at the forefront in dealing with these constraints by spearheading the formulation of the Philippine development plan 2023-2028, the 8-point socio-economic agenda serves as the Marcos Administration’s development blueprint for the medium term: 1. Protect purchasing power of families; 2.  Reduce vulnerability and mitigate the scarring from the COVID-19 pandemic; 3. Ensure sound macroeconomic fundamentals and government procedure; 4. Create more jobs; 5. Create quality job; 6. Create green jobs; 7. Ensure a level playing field; 8. Uphold public order and safety, peace and security. But most employers are doubtful of graduates during the 2020-2021, pandemic period, for reasons due to virtual education and lack of standard learning.

The OWWA established Balik Pinas! Balik Hanapbuhay! Program, a package of livelihood support/ assistance intended to provide immediate relief to returning member-OFWs (distressed/ displaced) amounting to Php 20,000.00, as start-up or additional capital for the livelihood project. The OWWA created a trust fund for OFW program, reintegration and repatriation for documented or non-documented OFWs. There will be assessment for the OFWs to avail the financial assistance and only active will be considered with component on scholarship; education and livelihood assistance program. The OWWA is aimed for the safe migration by conducting information and education to the OFWs before departure to orient them on cultural perspective to the place they are going to work. There will be a post arrival orientation seminar (TEOS). The OWWA will implement programs down to Barangay level through the Local government units (LGUs) based on the Mandanas-Garcia ruling. 

The DILG will implement program on migrant workers based on the Mandanas ruling. There is an established Violence Against Women and Children’s (VAWC) desk. They have coordination with the OWWA and other government agencies in implementing program for the welfare of the migrant workers.

The MMCEAI implement program and services to wit, Policy development, advocacy andcampaign underlying issues on Women and their children abandoned by OFW partners; Decent work for Domestic workers (not Domestic helper); Migration, Environment, Peace and development. Media and public education. Research and publication.

The MMCEAI also extends direct support services with four components: Counseling and referral; Organizing the migrant workers; Special missions for migrant in distress, in support of families and communities of migrant workers by environmental calamities and human-induced disasters as well a repatriated OFWs, who survived wars, epidemics and disasters from hos-countries. The MMCEAI also include programs on livelihood-building and partnership; and Facilitates partnership building with government agencies and diaspora organizations for co-financing of feasible and productive projects and ventures of OFWs and their families.

Finally, Elento said that this is the opportune time to submit recommendations to the NEDA and other concerned government agencies, based on the issues identified for the welfare of the migrant workers in Mindanao, for the possible program to be included in the crafting of the Philippine development plan (PDP) and Regional development plan (RDP). The MMCEAI is planning to establish satellite office in Cagayan de Oro City to cater the migrant workers in Northern Mindanao. 

In my point of view, it is heartbreaking to see that most of the situation of the families of the OFWs were disgruntled during their works abroad and ended up to break-up. Hoping that the MMCEAI will be the key to overcome and save the difficult situation of the lives of the Migrant Workers. 

My congratulations to Atty. Mary Ann Arnado, Vice chairperson of MMCEAI and now Member of the Parliament of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).