Why OFWs are disappointed with PNoy's SONA

By Maxxy Santiago, ABS-CBN Middle East News Bureau

Posted at 07/24/2013 4:03 PM | Updated as of 07/24/2013 7:35 PM

KUWAIT CITY - Overseas Filipino workers in the Middle East joined other Filipinos across the globe on Monday in watching the fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Benigno Aquino III.
The SONA that lasted for almost two hours outlined the achievements of the administration and the current state of the country and the Filipinos.
Most of the OFWs in the Middle East turned to The Filipino Channel for the live coverage of the SONA while others who were at work watched the free live-streaming on their computers as they waited patiently from President Aquino to say something that would benefit over 10 million OFWs in various parts of the world.
But, to their great dismay, the president only lauded Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario and said nothing more about the millions of Filipinos abroad.
“Bakit naman ganun? Pang-apat na SONA na ni Pangulong Aquino ito pero ganun pa rin nakalimutan pa rin niya tayong mga OFWs. Hindi ba niya iniisip ang ating malaking contribution sa ekonomiya ng bansa,” said Dorie Antiporda who has been working as a master cutter for 13 years now in Kuwait. She has been planning to go home for good but after watching the SONA, she decided to stay.
“Wala pa rin akong nakikitang pagbabago. Bilang isang OFW, hindi ko pa rin nararamadaman ang sinasabi ng Pangulo na pagbabago,” pointed out Raymond Hubahib, a staff in one of the biggest haute couture shops in Kuwait.
The remittances from the OFWs have kept the Philippine economy afloat despite the global economic crisis. According to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, land-based workers sent $6.7 billion, while seafarers contributed $2.1 billion as of May this year. Personal remittances from Filipinos abroad reached $23.8 billion in 2012, an all-time high.
"I watched SONA. I am impressed! Sorry sa mga anti-PNoy...na-carried ako sa dami ng accomplishments...1 hour & 45 minutes in Tagalog...ok lang din! It's more fun to invest in the Philippines now. Why not? True naman sa taas ng GDP growth rate of 6.5% in 2012 to 7.8% in 1st Quarter 2013...Gross National Income of 5.7% to 6.1%...wala munang kokontra...Invest na...ang saya-saya na,” pointed out Necie de Asis, a CPA and former President of PICPA-EP-KSA in Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia.
Most OFWs in Saudi Arabia share the same dissatisfaction on the President’s SONA especially among Filipino Community leaders who have been helping distressed OFWs.
"Medyo dismayado lang ako sa SONA ni PNoy dahil apat na taon po akong nag-aabang na kung anong plano o programa ng pamahalaang Aquino para sa mga OFW at bilang volunteer ng PEBA ay marami kaming nakikita ng problema lalung-lalo na dito sa tent city sa Saudi Arabia at minamaltrato sa Kuwait, Kahit hindi man nya na-mention ang OFW nitong mga nakaraang SONA at sa pinakabagong SONA sana po may magagawa rin po siya para sa mga OFW,” said Jebee Solis of Pinoy Expats/Blog Awards in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
“Sana man lang binigyan ng Pangulong Aquino ng pansin kaming mga OFWs lalung-lalo na ang mga undocumented at distressed OFWS dito sa Saudi Arabia na umaasa ng tulong nya. Kami rin ay may malaking naiambag sa ekonomiya ng ating bansa," said Bong Retuya of Rama Modern in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
On the other hand, some gave the President a passing mark as they lauded him for eradicating corruption and instituting various reforms in government offices.
“Nakita ko po talagang buong puso ang kanyang pagsalita at nakikita naman na marami siyang nagawa at nakikita naman sa kanyang pananalita na gagawin at gagawin talaga niya nang buong puso ang lahat para maayos ang ating bansa. Lalung-lalo na ang mga corrupt na wawalisin niya,” Marshall Caballero who has been working as a foreman in Doha, Qatar, for 21 years now.
“I am proud to be Filipino with all my heart because we have a leader like him. I hope everyone realizes that he needs our help by supporting him as well criticizing his government to be better. Never felt so proud to be Filipino till today and can't wait for the time that we can all go home and work and be well in our own country,” said Gian Carlo Pacheco, an IT executive in Kuwait.
“Marami rin namang nagawang kabutihan si President Aquino. Di naman pwede baguhin ang sistema ng isang kisap-mata lang. Ginagawa naman niya ang lahat ng kanyang makakaya. At least sa administration niya, nakakabili pa ng mga eroplano at barko para sa military pero nong nakaraang administrasyon, sila pa ang nagbebenta ng overpriced na mga lumang helicopter. Magtulungan na lang tayo,” said Rey Santos, a research analyst in one of the food companies in Kuwait.