Back To NewsKASAPI CONGRESS Submits Resolution to Vice President Binay During a Dialogue in JeddahBy: Arman MuleemKASAPI CONGRESS(Kongreso Ng Kapulungan Ng Mga Samahang Pilipino) The alliance of Filipino Community Associations in the Western Region of Saudi Arabia Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
WHEREAS, the dreams and aspirations of more than 12 Million OFWs scattered in all corners of the globe, of which more than 1 Million are in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, have been discussed, and are still being discussed, in various fora; those dreams and aspirations remain unfulfilled; and, Middle Eastern countries have a negative impact on the millions of Filipinos working in the regions.
of more than 30 Filipino organizations/associations in the Western Region of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia), exhorts the Honorable Vice-President Jejomar Binay to support and endorse the following programs to the government of the Republic of the Philippines: 1a. Develop and disseminate plans and programs that will help the OFWs reenter the mainstream society and the economy; 1b. Support the skills training, assist in preparing business feasibility studies, research, establishment of various cooperative organizations, re-employment and other reintegration assistance;
1c. Easy access to credit facilities for those who want to invest in any business that may need bigger capital; and,
1d. Develop a lifetime medical insurance scheme for returning OFWs who have worked abroad for 10 years or more.
2. IMPLEMENT AND/OR STRENGTHEN R.A. 10022 (AN ACT AMENDING R. A. 8042 KNOWN AS THE MIGRANT WORKERS ACT)
2b. Put up safehouses for the distressed runaways or stranded OFWs;
2c. Immediate repatriation of stranded or distressed OFWs, including the remains of deceased compatriots;
in jail for various reasons. In all cases, the OFW should be represented by a Saudi lawyer. It is highly recommended that a Saudi Law Firm - which will handle all cases involving OFWs – be retained on an annual basis;
2e. Availability of fund to be used in emergency cases such as payment of medical expenses for sick and undocumented OFWs and their repatriation;
2f. Professionalism in dealing with distressed OFWs. Penalize government officials who exhibit rude behavior in dealing with OFWs;
2g. Protect departing and arriving OFWs against unscrupulous immigration officials at the airport especially the newly hired; and,
2h. Create an independent body that will handle cases involving Filipinos abroad to ensure that Filipino nationals get fair trial. The said agency will be assigned only to countries that have large numbers of OFWs.
3. MAKE OWWA MORE RESPONSIVE TO THE NEEDS OF THE OFWS 3a. As an agency funded by OFWs, OWWA must be accountable for all the money it has been collecting from departing OFWs, and should be transparent in all its transactions using the OFW fund; of which shall be subscribed to and purchased by OFWs;
3f. Availability of OWWA staff 24/7 to respond to emergencies;
3g. Since Saudi Arabia hosts a large number of OFWs, OWWA should provide for additional Welfare Officers in each region to better serve the sector; and,
3h. Assign Medical Officer(s) who can immediately respond to the medical needs of distressed OFWs (without iqama). 4. EMPOWER POEA FOR THE BENEFIT OF THOSE WHO WANT TO WORK ABROAD
salary from agreed amount, lessened benefits and other illegal recruitment and unfair labor practices, including undue denial of “No Objection Certificate” and blacklisting, thru bilateral labor treaties with host countries (if possible); assistance of local and on-site OFW NGOs to better prepare the OFWs from cultural shock, worksite realities, and other local factors;
4d. Impose strict penalties (such as fines and imprisonment) for Philippine Recruitment Agencies/POEA Officers and Staff who violate the provision of the law on Re-Processing and Contract Substitution.
5a. Legislation to provide incentives for OFWs to invest in cottage, small and medium scale industries similar to those comprising R.A. 7042 such as tax holiday, import tax and duty exemption, tax credit on raw materials and local capital equipment, additional tax deduction on labor expense, simplification of customs processing, export tax exemption and additional local government incentives; OFW Investments Incentives law especially crafted to facilitate and to enhance the establishment of OFW industries nationwide; and, 6. ESTABLISHMENT OF FILIPINO COMMUNITY RESOURCE CENTER (FCRC) 6a. In accordance with R. A. 8042, FCRCs should be established in areas with more than 20,000 Filipinos, particularly in localities that have social restrictions and limited venues; and,
7. GLOBAL FILIPINO NATION 7a. Formulate strategic plans and programs in order for the government to better address the Filipino Diaspora;
7e. Create of OFW Congressional District(s) in areas or places comprising more than 200,000 voters; and,
7f. Adopt Internet Voting System for Absentee Voting in regions more than 200 km away from voting centers. 8. OFW CONDITIONS OF PARTICULAR INTEREST TO JEDDAH FILIPINO COMMUNITY 8a. As the backdoor exit where many stranded OFWs go to as a last resort for repatriation, the addition of more Arabic-speaking staff who are familiar with local laws and customs, to the Philippine Consulate General in Jeddah and its attached offices like the POLO and OWWA. There is a dire shortage of consulate and attached staff to attend to complaints and cases of distressed OFWs due that the land area of the Western Region is larger than the Philippines where more than 300,000 Filipinos are spread; and, 8b. Considering the limited access to Makkah and Madinah, it is necessary to assign officers in the consulate and its attached offices who are able to enter these exclusive cities, attend to OFW problems in these areas, and personally follow-up their situation with local government officials and employers.
Signed:
_________________________ __________________________ Rodolfo “Boy” S. Cornejo Ed Mendoza Chairman Vice Chairman Adviser, AFTP President, FBA
_________________________ __________________________ Corlito Obtinalla Ali Ditucalan Secretary General Deputy Sec-Gen President, BISA Ex-President, IWATON
_________________________ __________________________ Rudy Dianalan Vic Aguila Chairman Emeritus Former Chairman Ex-President, MAISA Adviser, FILWOW
_________________________ __________________________ Jauhari Usman Former Chairman Chapter Cmdr. OKOR, Western RegionComments
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