Hail to the lifting

We in Congress applaud the decision of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte to totally lift the OFW deployment ban to Kuwait, as reported in the news media. https:// goo.gl/pfjgrS

We have yet to be updated by DOLE Secretary Silvestre Bello, III on the details, but I would surmise from information made public so far and also by reading between the lines, that DOLE, POEA, and OWWA may have worked double time or even triple time to address our concerns on implementing mechanisms of the MOU.

Secretary Bello himself disclosed that OWWA Deputy Administrator Arnell Ignacio stayed behind in Kuwait to attend to various details, including the repatriation of more OFWs.

Our understanding is that DA Ignacio has been able to establish strong rapport and credibility with OFWs in Kuwait, the Kuwaiti government, and the overseas recruitment sector.

It is also our understanding from our own sources that DA Ignacio had been working on details of the MOU over these past several months.

However, one important issue external to the MOU is the over-diversity in the overseas recruitment industry sector. There are apparently too many associations and there is no single unifying body or voice representing all of them.

We join OWWA Deputy Administrator Arnell Ignacio and advocates of ethical recruitment in the industry in calling for unity. One way to achieve this is to form a business chamber similar to the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The Philippine Association of Service Exporters, Inc. or PASEI covers only the skilled workers sector. There is apparently no single group for household service workers. These two sectors should not be separate. They should be one and they should seek membership in the PCCI and ECOP so they can be effective advocates for OFWs. HON. BERNADETTE “BH” HERRERA-DY Bagong Henerasyon Party-list