Transparency sought in OWWA fund contributions
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An international alliance of migrant groups on Tuesday urged for transparency regarding the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) fund contribution of Filipino migrant workers.
Migrante International chairperson Garry Martinez said they want to find out what happened to the supposed P10 billion OFW fund with OWWA.
“Gusto naming linawin sa OWWA yung mahigit P10B pondo ng OFW, nasaan na nga ba ito? Kasi yung sinasabi nilang naka-invest at patuloy daw na kumikita pero hanggang ngayon hindi sila nagpapakita sa amin ng report kung magkano na nga ba ang pondo ng OFW,” Martinez said during an interview with radio dzMM Tuesday.
Martinez clarified that the funds are from the contributions given by overseas Filipinos.
“At kahit singkong duling wala pong pera ang gubyerno dito,” he said.
He said OFWs contribute US$25 for the OWWA fund. Of the amount, $1.25 directly goes to services while the remaining amount is for the expenses like allowances, rentals and transportation.
“Mas malaki po ang kinakain doon sa allowances sa mga opisyales kaysa doon sa mga serbisyo,” he said.
He said it’s too easy for OWWA to transfer money at the request of the Office of the President but it takes a longer time for the agency to release money when it’s the OFWs who are in need of assistance.
“Napakadali mag transfer ng pera pero pag kami ang humihingi ng tulong, sinasabi lagi walang pera ang OWWA. Kapag nagre-report sila, ang maliwanag madaming cash advances na hindi nail-liquidate hanggang ngayon po at ito po ay aabot milyun-miluong piso. kahit po nagkaroon na ng Senate hearing, congressional hearing, hindi naman po sila humaharap itong mga taga-OWWA na ito para linawin yung mga isyu na aming hinahapag sa kanila,” Martinez said.
For one, the group wants retrenched OFWs displaced by the global economic crisis to get P100,000 financial compensation from OWWA and recruitment agencies.
“Ang gusto namin, bigyan sila ng financial compensation na maituturing nating calamity talaga itong nangyayaring global financial crisis, at tingin namin may kakayahan ang OWWA na bigyan ng pera,” he said.
The group is now studying the next legal step to take. They have actually brought the issue before the Supreme Court but the group was not able to sustain it due to lack of funds.
An international alliance of migrant groups on Tuesday urged for transparency regarding the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) fund contribution of Filipino migrant workers.
Migrante International chairperson Garry Martinez said they want to find out what happened to the supposed P10 billion OFW fund with OWWA.
“Gusto naming linawin sa OWWA yung mahigit P10B pondo ng OFW, nasaan na nga ba ito? Kasi yung sinasabi nilang naka-invest at patuloy daw na kumikita pero hanggang ngayon hindi sila nagpapakita sa amin ng report kung magkano na nga ba ang pondo ng OFW,” Martinez said during an interview with radio dzMM Tuesday.
Martinez clarified that the funds are from the contributions given by overseas Filipinos.
“At kahit singkong duling wala pong pera ang gubyerno dito,” he said.
He said OFWs contribute US$25 for the OWWA fund. Of the amount, $1.25 directly goes to services while the remaining amount is for the expenses like allowances, rentals and transportation.
“Mas malaki po ang kinakain doon sa allowances sa mga opisyales kaysa doon sa mga serbisyo,” he said.
He said it’s too easy for OWWA to transfer money at the request of the Office of the President but it takes a longer time for the agency to release money when it’s the OFWs who are in need of assistance.
“Napakadali mag transfer ng pera pero pag kami ang humihingi ng tulong, sinasabi lagi walang pera ang OWWA. Kapag nagre-report sila, ang maliwanag madaming cash advances na hindi nail-liquidate hanggang ngayon po at ito po ay aabot milyun-miluong piso. kahit po nagkaroon na ng Senate hearing, congressional hearing, hindi naman po sila humaharap itong mga taga-OWWA na ito para linawin yung mga isyu na aming hinahapag sa kanila,” Martinez said.
For one, the group wants retrenched OFWs displaced by the global economic crisis to get P100,000 financial compensation from OWWA and recruitment agencies.
“Ang gusto namin, bigyan sila ng financial compensation na maituturing nating calamity talaga itong nangyayaring global financial crisis, at tingin namin may kakayahan ang OWWA na bigyan ng pera,” he said.
The group is now studying the next legal step to take. They have actually brought the issue before the Supreme Court but the group was not able to sustain it due to lack of funds.
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