Migrante

Migrante Metro Baguio was established in 2005. It currently has two chapters, anchoring in Itogon, Benguet and Irisan, Baguio respectively.

According to Migrante Metro Baguio City’s Chairperson Flora Belinan, the organization aspires to become Migrante Cordillera. In other words, the organization decided not to limit their assistance to Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) from Benguet and Baguio alone, but to also cater to the needs of the OFWs from other parts of the Cordillera region.

Migrante also has migrant linkages internationally to allow the coordination of the OFWs. Besides that, Migrante Metro Baguio is also a channel for OFWs to voice out their opinions, as well as a place for OFWs to seek assistance should they face any problems when working overseas.

What causes migration?

What causes migration in the Philippines? According to the government, migration is a natural phenomenon, and that OFWs made the decision to leave their country. From the government’s point of view, the OFWs are generally too ambitious and adventurous.

On the other side of the story, from the viewpoints of the OFWs, the story has a completely different twist. Firstly, people migrate to earn a living. If the country’s economy permits them to stay in the Philippines, they would not have to leave their country for better jobs abroad. Currently, ten percent of the Philippines’ population has been sent worldwide for more job opportunities and OFW’s regular remit approximately $8 billion to the Philippines and are hailed as economic heroes to the economically failing country.

The problems faced by OFWs

However the OFWs do face many problems, both within the Phillipines and internationally. There are a few examples. In a particular case study, the Filipino government stated that OFWs did not have to pay placement fees. However, the government later collected P80,000 placement fees from some of the OFWs. The government allowed OFWs to apply for a loan to pay for the placement fee (which in itself is quite preposterous, as the OFWs are working abroad to pay back the government loan they took to work abroad)

In another case study, people were forced to migrate because the government’s economic policies was a burden. The government calculated that a family of five could survive with a monthly household income of P9,672. The problem here is that, many Filipinos are still unemployed. Even if they were employed, they were being underpaid. According to the 2007 Ibon Facts & Figures, 80% of Filipinos are still considered poor for the fact that they can only afford to have two meals a day.

On the relational end. While Filipinos are working overseas, they are not able to fulfill family commitments. In other words, working overseas ruin the relationships of families. Couples seek divorce when they lack the constant communication to make a marriage work. Largely due to the lack of parental guidance, youths have also resorted to drug trafficking as a desperate means to fulfill their monetary needs.

Many Filipinos do not get the chance to shine in their desired field of interest because of unemployment. Instead, they have to work abroad as domestic workers in order to earn a living for their impoverished families back home.

Vision

Migrante Metro Baguio has a few visions. Firstly, it will continue to lobby for the amendment of the policies that might threaten migrant workers. Secondly, there will be more onsite visits, which is a good way for Migrante Metro Baguio to understand how to assist OFWs and their families on the ground level. Last but not least, the organization hopes to build a strong links with organizations in countries which OFWs are working in, to create awareness about mistreated OFWs and to seek ways to help them.


By Max Tan