PHILCOMDEV

"This will really help us develop our programs so that the Federation can provide services to the OFWs, their families and their communities."  This was the remark of the Vice President of the Ifugao OFW Federation, Delfin Buligon,  at the closing ceremonies of the seminar-workshop for the organizational development of the Ifugao OFW Federation conducted by the Ifugao Provincial Social Welfare Development Office (PSWDO) and Philcomdev  in Banawe last April 6-8, 2010.

Federation officers and the social welfare development staff from the eleven municipalities of Ifugao actively participated in the two-day event. The first session was an overview of the Philippine international labour migration (ILM) situation as presented by Anna O. Dela Cuesta, project officer of Philcomdev.  She contrasted the benefits and the cost of overseas work and highlighted the need to address the social cost of migration to the OFWs, their families and their communities so that in the long run, we could harness the development potential of migration.

This was followed by a presentation of the local ILM situation by PSWDO head Ms. Joyce Niwane.  She narrated that in 2000, the PSWDO became aware of the issues surrounding ILM as their office was beset by calls for assistance for distressed OFWs and as they realized that many of the children who were in conflict with the law were children of OFWs.  Ms. Niwane stressed the urgency of developing programs to address the needs of the families, especially the children left behind.  She especially mentioned that prospective OFWs, especially mothers, need to be aware of the importance of the 0-6 years which she referred to as "attachment period" for children.

Maya Bans-Cortina, coordinator of Philcomdev, then led a discussion on the issues and challenges besetting OFWs and their families from pre-departure, on-site and upon return.  She discussed that there were a lot of laws, policies and government programs to protect the rights and welfare of OFWs but there was a lack of implementation due to constraints in resources and the lack of political will. Also, the government agencies in charge of migration only have a regional reach. This would now be corrected by the latest amendments to the law which directs local governments to set up Migrants’ Help Desks.  Ms. Cortina also highlighted the best practices of non-government organizations in direct assistance and advocacy.

After the lecture-discussions, participants divided into three groups to identify the issues and challenges which the Federation and the SWDOS would jointly address and the concrete forms of intervention, from pre-departure, on site and upon return.  The participants all agreed that they need to lobby the provincial officials to put up a provincial OFW Center which could be jointly operated by the local government thru the PSWDO, the OFW Federation, government line agencies like OWWA, POEA, and DEPED, and other stakeholders.  They recommended that OFW desks at the municipal level should also be put up, especially in municipalities where there is a high percentage of OFWs.  For its part, the Federation could concentrate on doing work at the community level conducting community education, building support groups, visiting OFW families, peer counselling, providing information and monitoring the situation.

The second day was devoted to revisiting the vision, mission and goals of the Federation by reviewing its draft Constitution and By-laws (CBL) and recommending some changes.  The discussions were facilitated by Cecile Unghiyon, focal person for OFW concerns of the PSWDO, and Delfin Buligon, vice-president of the Federation.  The participants agreed to conduct municipal meetings to review the CBL.  They set the deadline for submitting recommendations on May 10, 2010.  The provincial level officers will meet on June 10 to finalize the CBL.