Safety (and security) first

The New Year is  a usual time for Filipinos abroad to visit their loved ones in the Philippines. But for most Pinoys in the Middle East, it was an involuntary homecoming due to political turmoil that has been going on in the oil-rich countries.
Giving utmost priority to the safety of our kababayans abroad, local government agencies have exerted various efforts to secure the safety of migrant Filipino workers in the Middle East.
On Dec. 22, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA)  raised the alert to number four in Syria, where mandatory repatriation will be implemented.
The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) and Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) have readied P50-million as emergency funds.
Meanwhile, DFA Secretary Albert del Rosario recently met with Syrian officials to ask for their support in repatriating some 5,000 migrant Pinoy workers there. The foreign affairs secretary also met with the members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) in Damascus to discuss how they can protect the welfare of their citizens in terror-stricken countries.
Del Rosario also met with the leaders of the Filipino Community in Syria to campaign for mandatory repatriation.
According to the Manila Times, the cost of repatriation of OFWs (whether registered or unregistered) were shouldered by the Philippine government. The same report also stated that  out of 5,000 OFWs, 56 have already arrived in Manila.
Sadly, some Pinoys still choose to stay in war-torn countries amid calls from the government. In fact, some undocumented OFWs still enter Syrian territories, despite the deployment ban imposed on Syria.
In a report from Philstar.com, Del Rosario said that only 4,557 Pinoys are registered in Syria — out of 10,000. What’s more alarming is that only 10 percent of Pinoy migrants are willing to come home.
One of the glaring reasons why Filipino migrant workers’ refuse to come home is the lack of job opportunities in their home country.
According to a report from the Business Mirror, 3 million repatriated OFWs are expected to become unemployed in the Philippines. Loss of remittances are also feared because of the mass displacements in the Arab countries.
The government has played its role in urging the Filipinos in the Middle East to come home for their own safety. Helping, however, should not stop there. They should also find ways to help repatriated Pinoys get back on their feet and work in their own country.
(www.asianjournal.com)
(NYNJ Jan 6-12, 2012 Sec A pg.6)