THE Philippines dubs its roughly 10 million overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) as modern heroes for their sacrifices and their huge contributions to the national economy.
In 2014 alone, roughly million OFWs remitted $26.294 billion, breaking the previous record by a 6.2 percent increase in 2013.
According to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), about 1.6 million more OFWs were deployed in 2014, with the Middle East as the top destinations for Filipinos looking for better job opportunities.
The uprising of the Philippine economy is linked to the huge contribution of remittances. An OFW sacrifices to stay in a foreign country away from his or her loved ones.
Moreover, working in a foreign land does not necessarily guarantee tons of money. Some are reportedly unfortunately employed by horrible bosses who exploit, sexually assault and physically abuse them. OFWs risk so much just for a chance at a better life.
Double jobs are not even enough for some OFWs as the cost of living in the Philippines gets higher and education becomes a privilege instead of a right.
In some drastic situations, some are forced to become drug couriers for additional money. Few of whom have faced death-row sentences.
The government, in return for the contributions of the OFWs, must transform the gains of the economy to create stable local jobs. Building livelihood that would sustain everyday living for Filipinos should be one of the priorities of the administration.
The Philippines must not depend on remittances. Analysts predict that OFW remittances will decelerate for this year as oil prices are expected to decline. This means lower income for Filipinos in the Middle East, where 40 percent of OFWs work.
(AJPress)
