Aspirants for top OWWA post urged to show program of action
MANILA, Philippines — Aspirants for the top position at the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) were asked on Tuesday to lay down their planned “program of action" so that overseas Filipinos could decide intelligently who to endorse.
Rashid Fabricante, a migrant workers’ rights advocate in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, made the request as Filipino expatriates appeared undecided over who to support.
Nominations started since President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo gave erstwhile OWWA administrator Marianito Roque a permanent appointment as labor secretary early this month.
OFW e-groups have, meanwhile, launched their own campaign against the possible appointment of former Surigao Rep. Prospero “Butch" Pichay as the new OWWA administrator.
Pichay, an administration bet during the May 2007 polls was not able to make it to senate after losing the senatorial race.
According to the Center for Migrant Advocacy and the Philippine Migrant Rights Watch they want someone from their own ranks to handle OWWA and its billions of dollars in OWWA membership fees which they fear may be used for the 2010 elections.
One of the aspirants is Muhamad Ali Carlito Astillero, a Riyadh-based medical doctor who was nominated by the OFW Congress, an umbrella group in the Saudi capital.
Mike Bolos, a former OFW and now an entrepreneur, was nominated by migrants rights advocates but he withdrew his name last week when Astillero entered the fray. Bolos cited the need for the overseas Filipino community to act as one as his reason for pulling out.
But another choice, lawyer Angelo “Jijil" Jimenez, a labor official who has reportedly impressed many overseas Filipinos and labor recruiters alike, is leading the race for signatures in the online petition site wwwPetitionOnline.com.
As of Tuesday morning, 2, 179 Filipinos at home and abroad have signed up for Jimenez as against 1,039 for Astillero.
OFWs watching the race have expressed surprise considering the wider publicity Astillero had gotten so far and the endorsement of more than 50 community organizations in Riyadh last weekend.
In view of the two-way race, Fabricante of the Pinoy-Abroad-Forum and e-Lagda-Riyadh said it is but right for the two aspirants to show to Filipino expatriates what is in store for them.
Jimenez had a ready answer to Fabricante’s challenge. His three-point program calls for: 1. strengthening og the OWWA welfare-delivery core capabilities, 2. making overseas employment a safer option, and 3. making overseas employment a more successful option. For details of the program, click here.
A copy of a petition to be sent through e-mail to President Arroyo also indicated that labor recruitment groups are supporting former Jimenez, who was once named OWWA deputy administrator.
“In his selfless devotion to public service, Atty. Jijil has proven his worth as our country's Labor Attaché in Japan and the Middle East, wherein he was able to orchestrate even the most impossible solutions in his most silent and humble way – addressing the many problems of our distressed OFWs in the Japan and the Middle East (particularly in Kuwait and Iraq)," the petition said.
“To the many who has met and know him, wherever he was assigned to (be it in Japan, Kuwait and Iraq), he was revered to as the "Hero of the Modern-Day Heroes" - although he keeps on denying the same, humility being his solid character. Incorruptible in many ways, he is known to all industry sectors, be it private, government, civil-society and even OFWs – as a man with impeccable integrity loyalty and love to country and its people and dedication to all call of duty," the petition further added.
So the people may know
In an e-mail to Astillero’s campaigners, Fabricante said Astillero needs to present his “original specific program of actions" so the global Filipinos will have a fair chance to know what stuff he is made of.
"The global overseas Pinoys are sensitive if not intelligent voters and knows their rights and obligations to their country and their families lest their apprehension and criticisms of the very agency in custody of the more than 10 billion pesos in welfare fund, whose mandate, aside from serving the OFWs and promoting their rights and welfares, should be looked upon many years from now into something evolving, responsive to the real needs of the OFWs, wherever they are now," said Fabricante’s e-mail.
Earlier, senior OFW rights advocates Edna Aquino and Daphne Ceniza suggested that OFWs come up with a selection criteria, including, qualifications, track performance, and expertise in business, finance and management as basis for deciding who to endorse. - GMANews.TV
Rashid Fabricante, a migrant workers’ rights advocate in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, made the request as Filipino expatriates appeared undecided over who to support.
Nominations started since President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo gave erstwhile OWWA administrator Marianito Roque a permanent appointment as labor secretary early this month.
OFW e-groups have, meanwhile, launched their own campaign against the possible appointment of former Surigao Rep. Prospero “Butch" Pichay as the new OWWA administrator.
Pichay, an administration bet during the May 2007 polls was not able to make it to senate after losing the senatorial race.
According to the Center for Migrant Advocacy and the Philippine Migrant Rights Watch they want someone from their own ranks to handle OWWA and its billions of dollars in OWWA membership fees which they fear may be used for the 2010 elections.
One of the aspirants is Muhamad Ali Carlito Astillero, a Riyadh-based medical doctor who was nominated by the OFW Congress, an umbrella group in the Saudi capital.
Mike Bolos, a former OFW and now an entrepreneur, was nominated by migrants rights advocates but he withdrew his name last week when Astillero entered the fray. Bolos cited the need for the overseas Filipino community to act as one as his reason for pulling out.
But another choice, lawyer Angelo “Jijil" Jimenez, a labor official who has reportedly impressed many overseas Filipinos and labor recruiters alike, is leading the race for signatures in the online petition site wwwPetitionOnline.com.
As of Tuesday morning, 2, 179 Filipinos at home and abroad have signed up for Jimenez as against 1,039 for Astillero.
OFWs watching the race have expressed surprise considering the wider publicity Astillero had gotten so far and the endorsement of more than 50 community organizations in Riyadh last weekend.
In view of the two-way race, Fabricante of the Pinoy-Abroad-Forum and e-Lagda-Riyadh said it is but right for the two aspirants to show to Filipino expatriates what is in store for them.
Jimenez had a ready answer to Fabricante’s challenge. His three-point program calls for: 1. strengthening og the OWWA welfare-delivery core capabilities, 2. making overseas employment a safer option, and 3. making overseas employment a more successful option. For details of the program, click here.
A copy of a petition to be sent through e-mail to President Arroyo also indicated that labor recruitment groups are supporting former Jimenez, who was once named OWWA deputy administrator.
“In his selfless devotion to public service, Atty. Jijil has proven his worth as our country's Labor Attaché in Japan and the Middle East, wherein he was able to orchestrate even the most impossible solutions in his most silent and humble way – addressing the many problems of our distressed OFWs in the Japan and the Middle East (particularly in Kuwait and Iraq)," the petition said.
“To the many who has met and know him, wherever he was assigned to (be it in Japan, Kuwait and Iraq), he was revered to as the "Hero of the Modern-Day Heroes" - although he keeps on denying the same, humility being his solid character. Incorruptible in many ways, he is known to all industry sectors, be it private, government, civil-society and even OFWs – as a man with impeccable integrity loyalty and love to country and its people and dedication to all call of duty," the petition further added.
So the people may know
In an e-mail to Astillero’s campaigners, Fabricante said Astillero needs to present his “original specific program of actions" so the global Filipinos will have a fair chance to know what stuff he is made of.
"The global overseas Pinoys are sensitive if not intelligent voters and knows their rights and obligations to their country and their families lest their apprehension and criticisms of the very agency in custody of the more than 10 billion pesos in welfare fund, whose mandate, aside from serving the OFWs and promoting their rights and welfares, should be looked upon many years from now into something evolving, responsive to the real needs of the OFWs, wherever they are now," said Fabricante’s e-mail.
Earlier, senior OFW rights advocates Edna Aquino and Daphne Ceniza suggested that OFWs come up with a selection criteria, including, qualifications, track performance, and expertise in business, finance and management as basis for deciding who to endorse. - GMANews.TV
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