ABS-CBN News Online Beta

Group urges OFWs to choose best leaders in 2010

By Maria Aleta Nieva-Nishimori, abs-cbnNEWS.com | 08/03/2009 1:35 PM

Printer-friendly version | Send to friend | Share your views

The country’s future president should be able to match words with actions, an advocacy group said.

“Hindi lang magaling magsalita o visible sa mga patalastas,” said Ellene Sana, executive director of Center for Migrant Advocacy (CMA).

Sana said that Filipino people should vote for candidates based on their track record and not on popularity.

“Minsan din ang hirap na magpupula tayo sa leaders natin kasi tayo din naman ang nag-e-elect sa kanila. Kilalanin natin ‘yong mga kandidato not only this time na sila ay tumatakbo pero ‘yong previous track record nila. Busisiin natin. Sila ba talaga ay makamasa, maka-Pilipino at mayroon translation iyong ganoong statements nila into something concrete at saka actions,” said Sana.

Sana pointed out that the Filipino people are still waiting for the day when migration will be a career option as promised by President Arroyo.

“Hindi naman bago iyong statement niya. Quote niya iyon sa GFMD (Global Forum on Migration and Development) noong October. That was end of October. December 4 may AO (Administrative Order) na siya 247 na go full blast. Maghanap kayo ng merkado for our OFWs. Baliktad. Nakakalito iyong kanyang mga statement and unfortunately hindi lang statements. The fact is pinakamataas ang bilang ng umalis na OFW last year,” said Sana.

The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) deployed a total of 1,236,013 OFWs in 2008.

“Indicative ‘yan na iyong mga macro economic statistics na very positive sa panahon niya hindi nata-translate o hindi nararamdaman ng mga mamamayan kaya ang option pa din nila maga-abroad muna ako. Hanggang kalian? ‘Yon ang ating tinatanong,” she added.

For Jillian Roque of the Public Services Labor Independent Confederation (PSLINK), the category of what a good president should be is very simple.

“Kailangang ang bagong leader ay mag-promote ng full employment sa halip na labor export policy. Iyon talaga ang pinakasentro ng aming kampanya,” Roque said.