10-Points Overseas Filipinos Electoral Agenda for 2022

The following 10-point OF Electoral Agenda for 2022 was united on during the National Consultation to
advance the Rights of Overseas Filipinos and their Families held on the 19th and 20th November 2021.
Leaders and members from OFW and Migrant groups, along with migrant and church advocates from
Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao, Asia and the Pacific, Middle East, Europe, Canada and the USA participated in
the Consultation.

Since the institutionalization of the Philippine labor export program, forced labor migration remains as one
of the vital sources of dollar income for the Philippine economy through its remittances. It contributes
billions of US dollars every year that supports the sagging economy of the country.

However, despite the immense economic contributions of Overseas Filipinos, they only receive words of
recognition and branded as economic heroes especially after the hanging of Flor Contemplacion in
Singapore. On the other hand, despite the enactment of the Migrant Workers Act of 1995 or RA8042 and
later amended by RA10022, its implementation and enforcement remains to be weak and the practice of
the Philippine government abandoning OFWs and Filipino migrants in distress continues. For decades,
there have been thousands and thousands of welfare cases in the Middle East, Europe, Asia-Pacific, North
America, and sea-based migrant workers in need of immediate assistance and protection on board foreign
vessels that demonstrate government inaction and grave neglect.

In this period of electoral exercises, we demand concrete action and plans from candidates running for
different government posts both in the national and local positions, and from our next elected government
leaders. We present our 10-point demands and challenge them to show their genuine commitment to
addressing the plight of Filipino migrants and OFWs.

1. KAGYAT NA AYUDA, LIBRENG REPATRIATION AT

TULONG PARA SA MIGRANTE AT PAMILYA!
At this time of the pandemic, we continue to demand for immediate cash relief
for all those affected and displaced. The cash relief must cover the reported 1
million repatriated OFWs and those who applied for DOLE-AKAP regardless
whether they are already recipients of DOLE-AKAP. In distributing pandemic
relief aid, families of OFWs must not be discriminated against. Free and
immediate repatriation to all stranded and distressed, including those who have
died abroad. Continuous welfare and medical assistance including vaccination,
food and drinking water and temporary shelter, including those who are
undocumented should be provided.

2. SUGPUIN ANG ILLEGAL RECRUITMENT AT HUMAN

TRAFFICKING LALO NA SA MGA KABABAIHAN AT IBA PANG KRIMEN.
PAPANAGUTIN ANG MGA PROMOTOR AT MGA KAKUTSABA!
At this time of pandemic, a lot more Filipinos are looking for whatever means in
order to survive. Their desperate conditions make them vulnerable to becoming
victims of illegal recruitment and human trafficking. Those who are found guilty
of illegal recruitment and human trafficking must be put to justice. Attention and
action have to be given especially to migrant women victimized by these
exploitative acts. We further demand that the government must be proactive in
dealing with these cases and other offices of the government must not just wait
in their offices for complaints but rather coordinate and monitor at the barangay
  
level where most cases of illegal recruitment are happening. In addition, the ban
on direct hiring must be scrapped.

3. ITAAS ANG BADYET SA SERBISYO PARA SA MIGRANTENG PILIPINO.

ITAAS ANG BADYET SA OAV, ATN AT TULONG LIGAL NG DFA; GAWING
100% BADYET SA GAA ANG ILAAN SA OWWA AT TIYAKIN ANG SERBISYO
AT PANANAGUTAN NG GOBYERNO PARA SA KAGALINGAN NG
MIGRANTENG PILIPINO!
The budget for welfare and legal services for Overseas Filipinos including
Assistance to Nationals, provision for legal assistance including hiring of local
lawyers especially in countries in the Middle East must be increased and ensured.
DFA and DOLE budget for assistance to nationals including legal, psychological,
welfare, food, shelter and repatriation assistance must be given priority in the GAA
and must be commensurate to the actual needs on the ground. OWWA must be
given 100% allotment from the General Appropriation Act. Ensure transparency and
accessibility of budget records. Currently, only the cost of operations of OWWA are
being allotted from the GAA. Our demand includes both the cost of operations and
program implementation. Address the disenfranchisement experienced by Overseas
Filipinos in exercising their democratic right to vote by increasing the budget for
postal and field voting. OFWs who are stranded in host countries due to contract
termination, unresolved or pending cases and flight cancellations must be provided
with free shelter, food, medicine and other urgent needs including cash assistance
during their extended stay. We demand that government budget for the education
on the rights of migrants must be ensured and implemented. The government must
protect and defend the rights of victims of sexual harassment, rape and other forms
of abuse and provide timely psychosocial and welfare support.

4. ILIGTAS ANG BUHAY NI MARY JANE VELOSO AT IBA PANG PILIPINO NA

NASA DEATH ROW AT NAKAKULONG SA LABAS NG BANSA LALO NA
ANG MGA KABABAIHANG OFWs. BIGYAN SILA NG LIBRE AT
MASAKLAW NA SERBISYONG LIGAL AT IBA PANG KAGYAT NA
PANGANGAILANGAN!
We demand that the case of Mary Jane Veloso and other Filipinos on
death row and those languishing in jail especially our women migrants and
victims of human trafficking and crimes must be given priority in order to save
their lives. They should be provided assistance regardless of their status in the
host country. Legal, psychosocial and other welfare assistance must be
provided to them, including their families in the Philippines. The Philippine
government must assert and ensure the protection of rights of our women
migrants!

5. BUKSAN ANG EMBAHADA, KONSULADO AT POLO SA ARAW NA

KAILANGAN ITO NG MIGRANTENG PILIPINO! MAGBUKAS ANG
KONSULADO AT POLO SA MGA LUGAR NA MAY KOMUNIDAD NG
PILIPINO!
All consular and welfare services must be opened for services to Filipino
migrants even during the stated weekends in the host country. Some posts have
already adjusted their day-off so others can follow suit. Likewise, we demand
that consular, labor and welfare services must be available and accessible
among communities of Filipinos in countries, territories and states.

6. SERBISYO AT PROTEKSYON PARA SA MGA SEAFARERS!

Provide security of tenure and more health benefits to our Filipino seafarers
including fishers. Filipino seafarers must be accorded with job security and
protection at all times. This will counter black listing that some recruitment
agencies including principal employers are using to threaten seafarers and
forcing them to accept substandard working contracts contrary to the ILO and
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International Maritime Conventions. Likewise, health benefits must be ensured
and given to seafarers for free and both on board and off-board. Fishers must be
recognized as seafarers and security of tenure and free health benefits must be
included in crafting the Magna Carta of Seafarers. Implement the ILO Maritime
Labour Convention of 2006 by amending the POEA Contract, the Labor Code of
the Philippines, RA 10022 and passing a Magna Carta of Seafarers that
implements it.

7. MAGPATUPAD NG LIBRE, DEKALIDAD AT KOMPREHENSIBONG

PAMPUBLIKONG SERBISYONG PANGKALUSUGAN LALO NA SA PANAHON
NG PANDEMYA!
The current pandemic exposes the inutility of the privatized and profit-driven
framework of the current universal healthcare law. It does not address the need for
a comprehensive and free public health care system for Filipinos. The public health
system must change that will put the interest of the people especially the
underprivileged at the forefront.

8. ITIGIL ANG MGA KOTONG, SAPILITAN AT SOBRANG SINGILIN!

Mandatory collections of fees and other revenue-making schemes targeting OFWs
and Overseas Filipinos must be stopped. These include, but not limited to OWWA
membership, Overseas Employment Certificate, Philhealth premium membership
scheme and mandatory membership, SSS premium and other fees required by the
Commission on Filipinos Overseas, among others.

9. ITIGIL ANG RED-TAGGING, MILITARISASYON, PAGLABAG SA

KARAPATANG PANTAO AT PASISMO! ITULOY ANG USAPANG
PANGKAPAYAPAAN!
Fascism and militarization has been the response of the government to the
legitimate grievances of the marginalized people. This must stop. The democratic
and human rights of the Filipino people must be upheld. Likewise, red-tagging,
threats and harassments of Filipino migrant organizations in the Philippines and
overseas including their leaders and individual members must be stopped. The Anti-
Terror Law must be discontinued and junked, and the NTF-ELCAC must be
abolished. Likewise, officials of the Philippine Foreign Missions including those of
the Philippine Embassies and Consulates must desist from sponsoring and
organizing NTF-ELCAC, military and police activities involved with red tagging and
attacks to leaders and members of the Filipino community. Overseas Filipinos
demand the return to the negotiating table of the GRP – NDFP peace panels in
order to ensure a just and lasting peace in the Philippines.

10. IBASURA ANG LABOR EXPORT PROGRAM! TRABAHO SA PINAS, HINDI

SA LABAS!
Abolish the labor export program of the government and we say no to the
Department of Overseas Filipinos. National government must stop using labor
export as an economic program and strategy in responding to growing
unemployment in the country. Local jobs must be created by implementing genuine
agrarian reform, promote agricultural cooperation, raise rural production and
employment through modernization of agriculture and rural industrialization and
ensure agricultural sustainability, carry out national industrialization and build an
independent and self-reliant economy. Likewise, provide more financial and
legislative support to SMEs, ensuring security of tenure for the workers, respecting
the rights to form unions and encouraging Collective Bargaining Agreements.
Budget for social services especially for public education, housing and health should
be increased.

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