MOU seeks to protect OFWs' kids from abusive guardians

Various government agencies have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that aims to provide full protection for children of OFWs who are in the care of guardians while their parents are overseas.
The MOU was signed Friday at the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) office to address "tall-tale" reports of children of OFWs who were abused while their parents work abroad.
A particular case noted by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) is the death of a two-year-old boy who died from the abuse inflicted on him by his guardians while his mother worked in Hong Kong.
OWWA Administrator Hans Leo J. Cacdac said the MOU will ensure that OFWs can provide the needs of their children without worrying for their safety in the hands of  people they entrusted them to.
"Hopefully, thru this MOU among our partners, we  will be able to realize a zero-victim/casualty of any form of abuse to children of OFWs," Cacdac said. "After all, we do not wish to see a double-whammy situation; an absent parent and an abused child."
Officials from OWWA, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and the Department of Justice (DOJ) were present to sign the MOU.
Under the agreement, OWWA will intensify child protection campaigns on violence against children especially children of OFW; conduct regular consultations through family welfare officers; and disseminate information on child abuse through OFW Family Circles (OFCs) and OFW Help Desks.
Suspected child abuse cases discovered during the implementation of pre-departure Orientation Seminar, community organizing and orientation, family counseling, and other programs shall be reported to the DOJ immediately.
OWWA will also integrate the DSWD's Child Abuse and Exploitation module into OFW training and orientation.
Legal help will be provided by the DOJ while assistance, shelter and protection will be given to children of OFW who suffer abuse.
The MOU complements Republic Act No. 7610, “An Act Providing Stronger Deterrence and Special Protection   Against Child Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination”, and Republic Act No. 9262, “An Act on Violence Against Women and their Children” (VAWC).
Apart from the rumor of the abused two-year-old, the MOU was also created to address a study by the Council for the Welfare of Children and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) pointing at migration as one of the reasons for physical, sexual, or psychological violence to children. —Rie Takumi/KBK, GMA News

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

PCG: China’s bullying in West Philippine Sea undermines international law --- Ghio Ong - The Philippine Star

MANILA, Philippines — Letting China sustain its aggression in the West Philippine Sea would make other countries doubt the strength of international law currently being asserted by the Philippines, Commodore Jay Tarriela of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said. “Allowing China to blatantly disregard the established rules-based order threatens the very foundation that we all depend on,” he wrote in a post on X last Tuesday. He added, “If we permit this, countries worldwide may forget why this order was created in the first place. Nations could begin to doubt the significance of adhering to international law if powerful bullies can easily violate it.” Tarriela also said defiance of other countries to a rules-based order would result in the prevalence of cruelty. He wrote, “This could lead us back to a time when might makes right, undermining the global structures that keep human greed, savagery and barbarism in check. Such a scenario would not only invite challenges from aggressive ...
Read more

China ships maintain presence in key West Philippine Sea areas --- Michael Punongbayan - The Philippine Star

STAR / Michael Varcas MANILA, Philippines — While Chinese vessels in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) have decreased in number, they have maintained a presence in three key land features where naval and coast guard ships have intensified operations in the past seven days, according to the Philippine Navy. Latest monitoring by the Philippine Navy showed armed ships of the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) maintaining a menacing presence around the grounded BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal, Panatag Shoal and Escoda Shoal. According to the Philippine Navy, there are 17 Chinese military vessels and 28 China Coast Guard (CCG) boats spotted inside the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) between Sept. 23 and 30, or one vessel more than in the previous week Sept.17-23. Five of the warships were seen roaming around the vicinity of Escoda Shoal, along with 10 CCG vessels and 12 maritime militia vessels (MMVs). There are also two PLAN ships in Ayungin Shoal as well as 10 CCG boats and 12...
Read more

Social media seen as cause of rising intermarriages --- Helen Flores - The Philippine Star

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) sees social media as the main reason for the rising number of Filipinos marrying or becoming partners of foreign nationals. In 2022, the CFO recorded 6,854 marriages or partnerships with foreign nationals, a 40.1 percent increase from the 4,891 “intermarriages” recorded in 2021. “First of all, what we see in the increase in the marriage rate of Filipinos or Filipinos with foreign partners is because of social media, (that) is number one; matchings; letters, introduction of their friends,” CFO chairperson Romulo Arugay said at the Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon public briefing yesterday. Arugay said the agency has been registering a high number of intermarriages since 2007, but the figures went down during the COVID-19 pandemic. From over 6,500 Filipinos who married foreign nationals, only 600 are men, he said. Most of them are married to Americans, Japanese, Germans, Canadians and Australians, Arugay said. Arugay warned Fi...
Read more