The Capitol has taken a comprehensive inter-governmental agency approach in helping the plight of Cebuano Overseas Filipino Workers affected by the national government’s moratorium on the deployment of seasonal workers to South Korea.
“Kita molingkod para we can come up with a position paper here,” Gov. Gwen Garcia told Atty. Karl Arriola, director of Department of Migrant Workers Central Visayas (DMW 7), during a meeting on Monday, February 26.
DMW, the government agency tasked with protecting the rights and promoting the welfare of OFWs, suspended the deployment of seasonal workers to South Korea in January after receiving a number of complaints, such as unsafe labor conditions, underpayment of wages, overwork, and two cases of death.
Gov. Garcia told Atty. Arriola that they will have to meet with the regional directors of the Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of Interior and Local Government, and Bureau of Immigration regarding the expedited resolution on the moratorium as well as set guidelines for the deployment of workers to South Korea.
The Seasonal Worker Program allows for the legal hiring of OFWs to fill labor shortages in the agricultural and fishery sectors of South Korea during peak season by directly hooking Philippine LGUs and their South Korean counterparts.
“Let’s sit down with the RDs para this can also be given priority,” Gov. Garcia said.
The governor was acting on the request of San Francisco Mayor Alfredo Arquillano Jr., Bantayan Mayor Arthur Despi, and Alegria Vice Mayor Verna Magallon whose constituents are affected by the moratorium. They said these affected workers have already spent much on their papers only to be put on hold at the last minute.
Atty. Arriola made it clear to the mayors that their constituents whose visas were approved on or before February 1 will still be able to continue with their deployment. However, if their visas were approved after February 1, they will still have to wait for the guidelines set by the agency’s central office before they can be deployed.
“Let’s all pray nga ma-release na ang guidelines para wala nay moratorium regardless og kanus-a ni-apply og visa kay para mapadayon ni ang Seasonal Workers Program for South Korea,” Atty. Arriola told 𝐒𝐮𝐠𝐛𝐨 𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐬.
He also welcomed the proposal of the governor to come up with a government-to-government approach in ensuring the welfares of the OFWs.
“I’m very collaborative. I’m willing to work with anyone para sa kaayohan sa mga Sugboanon mga OFWs,” he added. | Babie Jane Revecoy