Churches pray for OFWs on Migrants' Sunday

Catholic churches around the country on Sunday paid tribute to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) with an appeal to the government to reverse more than 40 years of poor economic development that force Filipinos to seek employment abroad.

With the theme “Sustainable Economic Development: Key to an Effective Migrant Family Reunification," the 24th National Migrants' Sunday also called for more assistance for OFWs. Priests also asked the faithful during the regular Sunday mass to offer prayers for OFWs and their families

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines likewise called for good governance especially from the incoming administration to improve economic conditions to give Filipinos job opportunities at home.

“Many Filipinos, especially the poor, are quick to consider migration as the only option to combat economic poverty and social injustice. But the government, even after four decades of labor migration, has shown insufficient economic development for its own people," the CBCP said in its news site.

The CBCP also said migrants regard the upcoming elections as a critical time to assess the stance of political candidates on the issue of migration.

The CBCP Episcopal Commission on Migrant and Itinerant People (ECMI) said OFWs want the next set of political leaders to seriously address the plight of migrants.

ECMI said both the Church and the migrants’ sectors believe that a strong political will is needed for good governance to take effect in the country’s leadership.

“Many OFWs observed that a lot depends on good governance to create a sustainable economic environment that would entice investments," it said. - KBK, GMANews.TV

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