Groups want an OFW as senatorial candidate

JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia – Several Filipino groups in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have called on political parties to field at least one overseas Filipino worker (OFW) in the senatorial ticket for the 2010 elections.

“It’s high time that they consider the OFWs to have a representation in the Senate," said Vic Aguila, chairman of KASAPI Congress, an umbrella organization of Filipino migrant groups in Saudi Arabia.

In an open letter to the political parties, KASAPI said it was important to have OFW representation in the Senate to recognize their importance in the decision-making process in the country.

Money coming from OFWs is considered the lifeblood of the Philippine economy. A record-breaking $16.4 billion was remitted by OFWs in 2008.

Another group, Ang Ating Gabay OFW, said an OFW senator would help push for pro-migrant worker legislation that have otherwise gathered dust in Congress.

“Ever since we do not have any representative in the Senate. Whatever passes in the Lower House must have a follow-up in the Senate," said Jauhari Usman, president of Ang Ating Gabay OFW and former chairman of KASAPI.

In Riyadh, former chairman of United OFW Frank Naval said the group’s current chairman Eli Mua has sent an email to the Office of the President requesting the inclusion of an OFW in the Senate slate of the ruling party.

“This is the time for us (OFWs) to be represented and we are hoping that they would listen to our clamor," said Naval.

In the House of Representatives, OFWs have received a recent blow when the country’s poll body delisted Migrante in the party-list elections for 2010.

The Comelec is still deliberating on the requests for accreditation of more than 200 groups wishing to participate in the May 2010 party-list elections.

Since the party-list system began in 1998, no OFW group has succeeded in winning a seat in the House of Representatives. - GMANews.TV

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