CHIZ VOWS P100-B FUND FOR OFWS

Independent vice-presidential candidate Sen. Francis "Chiz" Escudero said their "Gobyernong may Puso" will provide P100 billion from the national budget to fund expanded and improved programs for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

At the ABS-CBN "Harapan ng mga Bise" debate, Escudero bared plans to create a separate department to cater to the needs of OFWs, who he said have been shortchanged by past administrations even as they keep the economy afloat with their remittances.

"Magtatalaga kami ng pondo--isandaang bilyon--para sa ating mga OFWs para sa mga sumusunod: Legal Assistance Fund, dagdag empleyado sa ating mga embahada sa Saudi Arabia dahil isang empleyado ng embahada kada sampung libong Pilipino na nagtatrabaho doon," he said.

The proposed P100-billion OFW fund is the biggest budget for OFW services to be provided by any administration.

In this year's national budget, P487 million was allocated for the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration; P1.86 billion for the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, and P5.2 billion for the Department of Foreign Affairs' Foreign Policy Services, which include legal assistance to nationals.

From January to July 2015, only 750 OFWs benefited from the government's P100-million legal assistance fund. Another 3,459 Filipinos abroad benefited from the P350-million Assistance to Nationals Fund.

"Sa mahigit-kumulang na P1.3 trilyon na pinapadala nila, yun lang ba ang kaya natin? Layunin po namin, magtatag ng hiwalay na departamento para sa OFW para pagtuunan ng pansin ang kanilang pangangailangan. Hindi lamang po sila dapat bayani sa papel, dapat sila po ay bayani rin sa gawa," the senator said.

Escudero and his running mate, top presidential candidate Sen. Grace Poe, have been proposing reduced fees and greater government assistance for OFWs, which number around 2.3 million. The total migrant population, however, is estimated at around 10 million or 10 percent of the Philippine population.

If they win, Escudero said they will work on the portability of government health insurance to allow overseas Filipinos to use their card from the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. even in health facilities abroad.

"Dapat magamit din nila ang PhilHealth saan mang ospital, saan mang bansa sila matagpuan kung saka-sakali na sila po ay magkakasakit. Layunin po namin, ipakita at patunayan sa ating mga OFWs, hindi niyo na kailangang pumila ng mahaba. At ipaparamdam po namin sa inyo sa Gobyernong May Puso, na bayani kayo," he said.

The veteran lawmaker said a pension fund for OFWs is another goal of the "Gobyernong may Puso" that he and Poe will establish to help marginalized Filipinos.

"Layunin din po namin, magtayo at magtatag ng pension fund para sa ating mga OFWs. Pag-uwi nila dito, madalas nauubos ang ipon sa pagpapadala at pagtulong sa kanilang mahal sa buhay. Sa kanilang pagtanda at kahinaan dulot ng taon, nais namin maalalayan po sila mula sa pondong ito," Escudero said.