OVERSEAS WORKERS

Meanwhile, two other presidential contenders have vowed to provide more local opportunities for returning overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

“As a long-term solution, let us start as early as now to strengthen our local economy so that the efforts and capabilities of our OFWs may be directed towards the development of our society,” Labor leader Leodegario “Ka Leody” de Guzman said in a statement in Filipino.

He also plans to implement a “labor first” policy in the operation of the newly-established Department of Migrant Affairs. “This (institution) should always serve migrants rather than the principal employer or manpower agencies,” he said.

Mr. de Guzman also reiterated his planned shift in economic policies, focusing on the modernization of the agricultural sector and massive industrialization.

Among the Partido Lakas ng Masa standard-bearer’s platforms is to develop local industries, and move away from the import-dependent and export-oriented policies of past administrations.

“Who would still want to leave our country if everything we need is here,” he said. “Workers wouldn’t need to endure living far from their families if we had a lot of decent jobs and equal opportunities to work with dignity.”

Presidential aspirant Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko” M. Domagoso, for his part, said he would ensure returning OFWs have access to livelihood or job opportunities through the Department of Agriculture and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

“Some of them have savings and houses, while others do not. How do we help them integrate?… That’s only two things. Either they find jobs through DTI or go back to planting, agriculture. They will need the government for that,” he said in Filipino in a live-streamed interview held in Zamboanga del Sur.

Mr. Domagoso, the standard-bearer of Aksyon Demokratiko, also said that his administration will invest in the development of a Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) educational program as well as agricultural courses.