The decreasing peso value, currently at P58.71 per dollar, is encouraging more residents of Eastern Visayas to work overseas to get through the increasing prices of basic necessities in the country.
The latest data of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) records a total of 550,572 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), almost doubling the number in the past five years.
The number had also been continuously increasing every year and with the country's present condition, more workers are willing to try and chase after high-paying jobs abroad
“Five years ago, we only had about 300,000 migrant workers in the region. The number has increased significantly until this year. It’s the choice of our workers to seek employment opportunities abroad even if the government has been creating opportunities in our country,” Evangelina Filamor, OWWA Eastern Visayas regional director said during a press briefing.
Of the 550,572 OWFs, majority are from Leyte with 321,068 OFWs; 80,168 from Southern Leyte; 56,164 from Eastern Samar; 46,552 from Samar; 37,300 from Northern Samar; and 9,320 from Biliran province, most of them deployed in the Middle East as skilled workers.
In addition, out of the 550,572 OFWs, only 96,696 have active membership status with OWWA, and 453,876 are classified as inactive or are those who have existing working contracts but failed to activate OWWA membership or have not renewed their contracts.
"Waray man choice"
Several applicants told OpinYon 8 that they know the risks of going into foreign countries with six out of the ten interviewed applicants being first timers.
However, they confessed that it was their only best option to provide a better life for their families.
"Makurulba ngan makaradlok gad kay mahihirayo ak ha ira pero waray man choice. Kinahanglan ilubon kay magugutom liwat kami, " Jessel a first time applicant said.
"Di ko ilob it burunyog ngan bugos kami pero gutom liwat tam mga anak. Kinahanglan gud mag sakripisyo para man gihap ha ira kay bangin pa di magpakaiskwela tak mga anak kun mag laom la ak nga madako pa it sweldo dinhi ha at, " a former business owner and current applicant confessed.
Helping returning kababayans
Filamor noted that OWWA has been implementing three major reintegration programs to help overseas workers who choose to stay in their home provinces- the "Balik Pinas! Balik Hanapbuhay!" Program, Overseas Filipino Workers – Enterprise Development and Loan Program (OFW-EDLP), and "Tulong Pangkabuhayan sa Pag-unlad ng Samahang OFWs (Tulong - Puso)".
"Balik Pinas" is a package of livelihood assistance intended to provide immediate relief to returning distressed or displaced OFWs amounting to a P20,000 as a start-up or additional capital for the livelihood project. The OFW-EDLP is an enterprise development intervention and loan facility of OWWA, in partnership with the Land Bank of the Philippines and the Development Bank of the Philippines, intended to support enterprise development among OFWs and their families.
Meanwhile, the "Tulong-Puso" program is a one-time livelihood financial grant that supports the proposed business plan for both start-up and expansion of the OFW groups, duly recognized by the Department of Labor and Employment, Cooperative Development Authority, and the Securities and Exchange Commission.
In addition, Gerald Tan, director of the National Reintegration Center for OFWs, said they would continue to support returning migrant workers, both documented and undocumented.
“We must provide (for) the needs of families of OFWs to mitigate the social impact of migration. One of the initiatives is the formation of OFW Children’s Circle (OCC)," Tan said.
OCC project provides holistic programs and services for the benefit of OFWs' children and under the program, the government will help develop the skills and talents of the dependents' children and have them gain their full potential.