Congress urged to investigate DFA, OWWA funds

Congress urged to investigate DFA, OWWA funds in light of delays in repatriation

9 August 2010
PRESS RELEASE:

Migrante International today called on Congress to investigate funds of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) in light of the scandalous delays and lapses in the repatriation of remains of overseas Filipino workers.

Garry Martinez, Migrante International chairperson, said that there is a need to thoroughly probe where the P50 million and P100 million allotted for repatriation from the DFA and OWWA, respectively, have gone.

“We have been receiving consistent complaints from families of OFWs that they have been asked to shoulder costs for their kin’s repatriation. Walang palya ito. Worse, when sought for assistance, they were informed that is the policy of Philippine embassies to collect autopsy and airfare costs from the families. Saan ngayon napunta ang mga P150 million?” he said.

Martinez said that according to Republic Act 8042 or the Migrant’s Act, it is the responsibility of the employer, the recruitment agency and, ultimately the DFA or OWWA, to shoulder costs for repatriation.

“More often than not, employers and recruitment agencies cannot be depended upon to fulfill this task as the government has no soundproof mechanism to ensure such. It is therefore mandated by the law that the DFA and OWWA are responsible,” said Martinez.

He said that the OWWA has collected an estimated $12 billion in 2010 from the mandatory $25 contributions from OFW members, of which a portion should be earmarked for emergency repatriation. “For undocumented cases, the OWWA forwards processing and implementation to the DFA which also has funds for this purpose.”

The OWWA funds have been subject to numerous cases of misuse of funds from abusive board members. The DFA, on the other hand, has been complaining of alleged lack of funds “but has failed to repatriate remains of OFWs and those in distress over the years”.

Martinez said that there is a need to counter-check if the allotted funds are trickling down to much-needed welfare services and assistance to OFWs. “We call on Congress to audit and investigate these funds in the coming budget deliberations. Lagi na lang itong napapalagpas at hindi napaparusahan ang mga humuhuthot sa pondong dapat ay para sa mga OFW.”

He cited the cases of Mark Lloyd Carmen who was killed in Iran and Marilou Sables who died of cardiac arrest in Taiwan. “Both the families of Carmen and Sables were asked to shoulder expenses for the repatriation of their remains.”

“While the DFA is claiming that costs for the return of Carmen’s remains were paid from its assistance-to-nationals fund, his mother attests that it was in fact a loan from the department and she was expected to pay them back,” he said.

Martinez added, “In Sables’ case, her ashes were brought home three months after she died. Philippine authorities in Taiwan finally exhumed her remains and brought her ashes home after series of protests from OFWs. Until now, however, she is yet to be united with her family in Iloilo because they are now being asked to shoulder shipping costs of her ashes from Manila to the province.”

He also asked the DFA to hasten the repatriation of unclaimed bodies of OFWs in Iraq. “Kung hindi pa iniulat ng kamag-anak sa amin, hindi pa malalaman ito ng DFA,” he said. ##

--

Reference:
Garry Martinez,
Chairperson, 09393914418
Migrante International
http://migrantecampaign.ning.com
http://migranteinternational.org
#10 Banuyo St.Brgy.Amihan, Project 3, Quezon City
Telefax: 9114910

Publish OWWA Funds Statement

OFW leader, migrant group ask OWWA to publish OWWA funds Statement of Account

Press Release
21 February 2010

A leader of the most active Filipino migrant workers alliance in the Middle East and its members today send a letter to Overseas Workers Welfare Administrator Carmelita Dimzon asking the latter to provide them a recent Statement of Account of the OWWA funds held in trust to the government.

Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator John Leonard Monterona on its letter dated February 21, 2010 sent to OWWA Administrator Carmelita Dimzon invoked that as member of the OWWA, in which he just renewed his membership last February 9, 2010 with Official Receipt No. 5336980, and due to the demands of Migrante members who are also OWWA members requested the OWWA administrator to furnish them a recent copy of the OWWA funds Statement of Accounts.

“What decided us to send a formal letter of request to OWWA Administrator Dimzon to provide us a recent copy of OWWA Funds Statement of Account is out of apprehension that again these funds, a compulsory collection of US$25 per departing OFW, would be misused and diverted for partisan and electoral agenda by the present administration to favor its candidates for the May 2010 elections,” Monterona averred.

On the said letter, Monterona cited the previous ‘anomalies’ and misuses of the OWWA funds such as the P260M bogus claims exposed by then OWWA Administrator Virgilio Angelo himself just to justify OWWA Medicare fund transfer to Philhealth under the present Arroyo Administration, the un-audited US$293,500 for the Middle East Preparedness Team headed by General Roy Cimatu during the US war of aggression to Iraq where repatriation of OFWs never took placed anyway under the present Arroyo administration, the alleged illegal granting of P40 million incentives and allowances to its officials and employees for the past three years (2005 to 2007), the POEA giving permission to its Executives and employees who were issued mobile phones to download about P796,000.00 worth of games, tones and picture messages and other unauthorized items, among others.

“Invoking our rights to know the status of the OWWA funds and in the name of transparency and accountability guaranteed by the basic laws of the land, we demand your good office to provide us the most recent statement of Account of the OWWA funds,” Monterona said on his letter.

Migrante-Middle East also demanded from OWWA Administrator Dimzon to send a copy of the OWWA funds Statement of Account to all RP posts including those in the Middle East and to be posted at their respective offices for the information and knowledge of OWWA-member OFWs before and after the May 2010 elections.

“By doing so, OFWs who are member of OWWA would be assured that their contributions are spared from any partisan and electoral schemes by the ruling administration to advance its own political agenda,” Monterona said. (End) # # #

Reference:
John Leonard Monterona
Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator
Mobile No.: 00966 564 97 8012

Calamity loan? No way!

October 3, 2009
PRESS RELEASE

Calamity assistance not calamity loans! - Migrante

Calamity loan? No way!

Migrante International (MI) slammed Overseas Workers Welfare Administration’s offer of calamity loans “as it falls short on giving significant relief to our kababayans affected by the storm. This will only put the debts of OFW families from knee-deep to drowning heights. If they really want to help, OWWA should just give away calamity assistance packages.”

According to the Department of Foreign Affairs, donations from the international community has reached P566 million as of October 2. The National Disaster Coordinating Council on the other hand reported the initial total of affected as 512,092 families or 2,506,845 individuals.

Martinez cited the plight of OFW Danilo Catalon, a resident of Marikina City, who was helpless upon hearing the news that his wife was sick and his whole family was staying at the evacuation center in Nangka Elementray School. Their house was completely destroyed by the floods.

Catalon is one of the 200 workers who got stranded in the islands of Maldives. Fourty of them arrived yesterday in Manila “terribly” hungry and without any salary to give to their families.

“Wala na nga silang trabaho, bahay at pagkain, ibabaon pa sila sa pagkakautang,” Martinez lamented.

Migrante International also slammed OWWA’s “unfathomable callousness” in dealing with Catalon’s co-workers from Maldives.

“They languished for 6 months in the island-paradise because not a single assistance was given to them by any Philippine government agency. Not even a bottled water was extended to them upon arrival at the airport. And in the middle of the storm, they were being asked to leave the OWWA shelter,” exclaimed Martinez.

The workers are locals from Isabela, Cagayan, Pangasinan, La Union, Kalinga, Albay and Marinduque, provinces that are presently being hit by typhoon Pepeng. ###

Reference:
Gary Martinez/ Chairperson/ 09393914418
Danilo Catalon/ OFW from Maldives/ 09394911211

On OWWA's Special Calamity Loan

Press Release
30 September 2009

OFW group to OWWA:
Let ex-OFWs avail special calamity loan in recognition of their valuable contribution

The Middle-East based alliance of overseas Filipino workers’ organizations today said the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) should consider ex-OFWs to avail OWWA’s special calamity loan in recognition of their valuable contribution in the economy that has been remittance-dependent for the past few years.

“The government, through its supposed premier welfare agency –the OWWA, must consider Ex-OFWs to avail the Php.10,000 special calamity loan especially those who have been devastated by typhoon “Ondoy” in recognition of their valuable contribution to the country,” said John Leonard Monterona, Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator.

Monterona said in fact they are the ones that need help and assistance as most of them have no stable jobs at all and have only meager income after their retirement as migrant workers.

“Many ex-OFWs are on their retirement age, and if they were victims and were devastated by the typhoon, then it is but reasonable that they too should avail OWWA’s special calamity loan,” Monterona added.

Monterona explained that if special calamity loan will be sourced out from the OWWA trust fund, a compulsory collection of US$25 per departing OFWs, then ex-OFWs have all the rights to avail the special calamity loan where ex-OFWs previously paid membership fee and became OWWA members for many years. “These should be considered by OWWA allowing ex-OFWs to avail OWWA’s special calamity fund,” the OFW leader added.

Monterona express apprehension that the special calamity loan which source will come from the 12-B OWWA trust fund may not go to real beneficiaries.

“On previous similar programs, OWWA failed to secure the funds,” he added.

“Such is the case of the P260-M bogus claims exposed by then OWWA Administrator Virgilio Angelo himself only to justify OWWA Medicare fund transfer to Philippine Health Insurance Corporation or Philhealth,” Monterona claimed.

“We demand from OWWA full transparency and accountability on the disbursement of the funds to be used for the special calamity loan to ensure that the OFWs money held in trust to OWWA will go to rightful beneficiaries,” Monterona added.

Monterona is also urging the Commission on Audit (COA) to check and monitor the fund disbursement for OWWA’s special calamity loan to ensure that the OFWs’ money will not be misused. # # #

Reference:
John Leonard Monterona
Migrante Middle East regional coordinator
Migrante Sectoral Party Vice Chairperson
Mobile No.: 00966 564 97 8012

12-B OFW trust fund not safe under the Arroyo administration
Misuse and diversion of fund looms as election comes nearer

Press Release
3 September 2009

Migrante-Middle East, an alliance of overseas Filipino workers’ organizations in the Middle East, today said the 12-B OFWs trust fund is like gold in a pot which Malacanang is eyeing for its own use to advance its own political agenda and interests amid the public uproar on Mrs. Arroyo’s sons’ property acquisitions in the United States.

“Under the Arroyo administration that is perceived to be most corrupt, the 12-B OFWs trust fund is not safe; without OFWs close watch, it may disappear without notice,” warned by John Leonard Monterona, Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator.

Monterona said the OFWs trust fund is growing not because of the sound and judicious investments and wise fund management of OWWA but because there are more than 3,300 OFWs being deployed daily, all were compulsory charged of US$25 OWWA membership.

Monterona further said since the Arroyo administration continuously peddling OFWs abroad just like a commodity for export benchmarking its 1-M yearly target, no wonder the OFWs fund held in trust to the government will naturally grow every year.

From barely Php.6.2-B on fiscal year 2002, it is now believed to reach Php.12-B.

“Thus, OWWA administrator Dimzon could not validly claim that the OFWs trust fund is growing because of their investments and fund management; like previous OWWA administrators she too is misusing the funds as there are only few services, welfare programs and social benefits provided by OWWA to OFWs stakeholders and their families,” Monterona added.

Monterona said in fact there are previous OWWA investments which incurred huge losses instead of good dividends like the government’s buy out Frederick Hotel and the granting of loan to Landoil Resources during the Aquino administration; the Smokey Mountain Rehabilitation and Development project during the Ramos administration, among many others that were secretly made without consultations to OFWs stakeholders as the real owners of the fund.

“We are also witness how the Arroyo administration misuses the OFWs trust fund by secretly transferring Php.4-B OWWA Medicare fund to Philhealth by virtue of Executive order 182 which was used then distributing free Philhealth cards during the 2004 Presidential campaign of Mrs. Arroyo to woo voters in Pampanga and Visayas, the 70-M incurred losses for the pre-departure loan, the 260-M bogus claims of OWWA Medicare exposed by no other than then OWWA Administrator Virgilio Angelo, among other misuses and malversation of funds,” Monterona claimed.

Monterona said while the idea of putting hospitals for OFWs is for the benefits of OFWs and members of their families, it is objectionable if the OFWs trust fund will be used without properly consulting OFWs stakeholders and their organizations representing them, and without clear guidelines using the funds for that purpose.

“We are also questioning the timing of the proposal to put up hospitals for OFWs using the 12-B OFWs trust fund as elections is fast approaching; we suspect the same modus operandi on 2004 Presidential elections where a portion of OFW trust fund has been misused,” Monterona averred.

“We challenge OWWA Admin. Dimzon to publicly publish OWWA Statement of Account by posting it at different OWWA offices abroad and on its Main Office in Pasay, so that the almost 10-M OFW stakeholders may knew where these amounts are being spent by OWWA,” Monterona added.

Monterona is also urging members of the Congress especially the House Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs (COWA) to look into the OWWA trust fund during Congress deliberation of the proposed national budget for 2009, though there is no allocation provided by the national government to OWWA as its budget allocation comes from the US$25 compulsory contributions of OFWs but as a measure in safeguarding the 12-B OFWs fund from the hands of the crooks. –end-

Reference:
John Leonard Monterona
Migrante Middle East regional coordinator
Mobile No.: 00966 564 97 8012

GMA Appointment, Threat to OWWA Funds

Press Release
20 August 2009

Arroyo’s appointment of her own “trusted man” in the OWWA-BoT threatens the 11.7-B OWWA fund;
OFW group urging fellow OFWs to oppose such high-handed political pay off

“It’s no surprise at all that Gloria MAcapagal-Arroyo will appoint her “trusted men” and will continue to appoint until her term ended or even beyond if her plans to remain in power succeeded paying off his loyal allies; even the welfare-based government agency like OWWA is not spared from her undemocratic political appointments,” thus declared today by John Leonard Monterona, Migrante-ME regional coordinator.

Migrante chapters in the Middle East is reacting to the “mid-night” appointment, devoid of democratic consultations from OFWs and their organizations, of Mr. Joselito “Jojo” Sapio as land-based representative to the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration-Board of Trustee.

“This appointment made by Mrs. Arroyo is again hounded by controversies like many appointments she had made; it only spells out her undemocratic appointment of OFW representation to the OWWA, an government agency directly financed and funded by the millions of OFWs from their US$25 contribution,” Monterona added.

Monterona said appointing someone close to her and who had helped her cheat and win the 2004 Presidential elections threatens the 11.7-B OWWA funds held in thrust to the government.

“OFWs and their families should not forget that Mrs. Arroyo and her administration has a long list of alleged OWWA fund misuse and malversation devoid of consultations from OFWs stakeholders; thus we can’t simply give a nod to the appointment made a her “man” to the OWWA-BoT without giving OFWs the chance to be heard and consulted,” Monterona averred.

Migrante-ME said that it has been observed that the OWWA fund, a collection of $25 per OFW, has been misused not for the attainment of its own mandated purpose of providing welfare programs and services to OFWs and their families but becoming a “milking” fund by the past and the present administrations as revealed on the numerous cases of fund misused.

Migrante’s records revealed some of the alleged anomalous misuse and malversation of OFW funds under Arroyo administration:

• Transfer of P4B OFW Medicare Fund from OWWA to Philippine Health and Insurance Corporation by virtue of a secret issuance of Executive Order 182 devoid of consultations from OFWs as stakeholders of these funds.

• The P260M bogus claims exposed by then OWWA Administrator Virgilio Angelo himself just to justify OWWA Medicare fund transfer to Philhealth

• The un-audited US$293,500 for the Middle East Preparedness Team headed by General Roy Cimatu during the US war of aggression to Iraq where repatriation of OFWs never took placed anyway

Migrante-ME said aside from the aforementioned anomalous investments and misuse of OFWs fund, the OWWA Omnibus Policies was onerously implemented devoid of consultation from OFW-members that practically removed almost all welfare programs that were previously availed by OFWs and families such as the family assistance loan and medical assistance loan.

The OWWA as the main agency tasks to ensure the welfare of OFWs abroad, thousands in distress in the Middle East are hardly given an assistance who are begging for their immediate repatriation so that they could be re-united to their families back home.
Migrante-ME claimed that even the provision of giving airfare tickets for those who are ready for repatriation because they are sick and for humanitarian considerations, OWWA could not give the needed airfare tickets.

"Our OFWs are not beggars that every time they needed assistance to OWWA, they would repeatedly send request but leave un-responded and not acted upon by OWWA welfare officers abroad," Monterona added.

Monterona asked “where the fund is intended to be spent by the Arroyo administration?”

“The appointment of OFW land-based representation to OWWA-BoT is for political exigency; the President has given the freer hand to appoint. Obviously, this appointment became more political especially if the appointing power has the underlying hidden agenda to advance its political interests,” Monterona added.

Migrante’s Monterona further said to appoint someone whom Mrs. Arroyo could be trusted, that someone should be from her “political” company, a necessity for her political survival in the midst of her dwindling popularity and net-satisfaction ratings by the public who is more disappointed, enraged but are protesting her.

Migrante chapters in the Middle East are urging OFWs and organizations to join them to oppose Gloria Arroyo's appointment of his political operator Joselito "Jojo" Sapio to the OWWA Board of Trustee as land-based representative. Such appointment threatens the 11.7-B OWWA funds.

"Let us protect and safeguard the 11.7-B OWWA funds, a compulsory collection of US$25 from every departing OFWs," Monterona ended. # # #

Reference:
John Leonard Monterona
Migrante Middle East regional coordinator
Mobile No.: 00966 564 97 8012

Double Insertion

P250M OWWA fund to government’s ’stimulus package’ a double insertion
5 February 2009
http://migranteinternational.org/?p=499


Migrante International today staged a protest in front of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) building to criticize the seemingly ‘double budgeting’ of the Arroyo administration for its economic stimulus package.


“We smell something fishy with this stimulus package. And as usual, they are targeting the funds of OWWA, which belong to us OFWs,” Migrante Chairperson Garry Martinez said.


Martinez pointed out that the allocation from the stimulus fund will only create double budgeting for programs which already exists. He presented the case of the P250 million allocated from the fund of the OWWA which President Arroyo signed under Admistrative Order 248.


President Arroyo signed A.O. 248 last December 4 for OWWA to contribute 250 million to the stimulus package. The said amount was supposed to finance the program of OWWA which in fact, has been part of the agency’s annual budget since 1986.


“This program is not new. The president is deceiving OFWs when she presented this so- called package. It’s the duty of the OWWA,” he said.
He added Malacanang can now easily pocket the said 250 million while OWWA will just continue to utilize the original allotted budget for the said program. The President had already raided the OFW fund during her campaign in the last 2004 election, and she will probably do it again on this coming 2010 election!” exclaims Martinez.


The group was pertaining to the 540 million OWWA funds that were transferred to PhilHealth during the 2004 presidential election. PhilHealth insurance cards were distributed for free during President Arroyo’s campaign sorties.


Martinez distrust the economic stimulus fund of the present administration saying this would be another source of corruption to finance alleged plan of President Arroyo to perpetuate itself into power beyond 2010.


“How can we trust a corrupt ridden administration which has installed itself into power due to electoral fraud? P330 billion is more than enough to railroad President Arroyo’s charter change, to finance a possible coup-de-etat or another electoral fraud,” he explains.


“Enough is enough! We will not let the hard earned contributions of innocent OFWs be utilized again to finance the diabolical plans of the Arroyo administration. We will mobilize our chapters abroad to protest against this corrupt stimulus fund of President Arroyo,” Martinez ended.###

OWWA funds is now P10B

Press Release
19 February 2009

Sec. Roque's believer admits OWWA funds is now Php.10-B
But DoLE-OWWA has only few programs and services for OFWs and their families, migrant group said

Migrante-Middle East, an alliance of overseas Filipino workers' organizations in the Middle East today said a Philippine labor official admitted that the OWW funds is now P10-B, a compulsory collection of US$25 per departing overseas Filipino workers.

"This is the first time we heard a confirmation from a Labor official about the exact amount of the OFWs funds held in trust to the government; we have been challenging the OWWA for quite some time now to make full public disclosure of the funds but the OWWA administration refuses to do so," said John Leonard Monterona, Migrante-ME regional coordinator.

Monterona said during a visit in Dubai the other day of the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) Help Desk Mission head Labor Attache Jeffrey D. Cortazar is quoted saying "… the OFW funds has doubled within a year under Labor Secretary Marianito Roque from Php.5-B to Php.1-B…X X X"

Monterona said it is naïve and wrong to equate that the increase of OWWA funds is due to the appointment of Mr. Roque as DoLE chief.

"Obviously, Labatt Cortazar, a faithful believer of Sec. Roque trying hard to impress the latter, does not know what he is talking about. The increase of the OFW funds from Php5-B to Php10-B now has nothing to do, if no connection at all, with the appointment of Labor Sec. Roque. The mere fact that there are 3,000 OFWs deployed daily with OWWA charging US25$ per OFWs would certainly lead to the increase of OWWA funds," Monterona added.

Monterona said fellow OFWs have commented that following the line of Labatt Cortazar that it is to the credit of Sec. Roque why the OWWA funds grew, then Wall Street should hire Sec. Roque as it is only within a year he made the OWWA funds grew even twice.

"This is precisely the point why Migrante is alarmed as the OWWA funds continuously grew because of the huge numbers of departing OFWs going abroad and yet there are only few welfare and social programs and services for OFWs and their families," Monterona said.

"If the Arroyo administration does not have a selfish interests to the growing OFW funds held in trust to the OWWA, why it failed to develop and implement more welfare and social programs to the benefits of active OFWs, retired OFWs and their families amid the economic hardship with all prices of basic commodities and services increasing almost daily," Monterona queried.

Monterona said OFWs and their families are dismayed with Arroyo's Expatriate Livelihood support funds asking a lot of requirements and imposing a 5% interest per year to the meager Php50,000 loan for each laid offs OFWs.

"These are reasons why many of the retrenched OFWs until now have not availed the Expat livelihood funds and are not willing to avail at all," Monterona added.

Migrante chapters in the Middle East are urging fellow OFWs who were laid off or will be laid off to get in touch with them, "so that Migrante could provide them the needed assistance and guidance in their claims for a genuine financial support and other assistance that OWWA is to provide to them," Monteorona added.

"Retrenched OFWs who are already in the Philippines could get in touch with Migrante International at telephone number +62 421 0768, or email migrantecampaign@ gmail.com, or send email to migranteme@gmail. com," Monterona ended. # # #

Reference:

John Leonard Monterona
Migrante Middle East regional coordinator
Mobile No.: 00966 564 97 8012