By Estrella Torres
Reporter
ABOUT a million Filipino workers in
The workers are seeking an audience with President Arroyo, who is now on a state visit to the kingdom to enhance the steady supply of Saudi oil to the
“OFWs are of the opinion that OWWA funds should be administered by representatives of the OFW organizations. Movement of OWWA funds should not be at the whim of the administration’s Cabinet, who frequently refers to [us] as ‘the modern-day heroes’ but does not give these same ‘heroes’ the courtesy of any input in the decision-making process regarding their funds,” said the group’s petition.
The group of OFWs said it has already initiated moves to create an OFW bank to enable all the profits to benefit the Filipino workers and their families. The petition also said the OFW bank registration is merely awaiting final registration approval from the Securities and Exchange Commission.
The group has expressed surprise and disappointment over the transfer of the P1-billion OWWA fund to the Philippine Postal Bank despite the full support given by the labor department on the plan to put up an OFW bank instead.
The OFW cash remittances hit a record high of more than $10.7 billion in 2005, making the sector the single biggest earner in the
“We, the undersigned, strongly protest this newest move to exclude the opinion of overseas Filipinos in the disposition of OWWA funds,” said the petition signed by 500 OFWs.
http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/0509/eco03.php
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