JEDDAH, 5 December 2002 — After successfully helping oust former President Joseph Estrada from office through an online signature campaign, OFWs in the Kingdom are collecting signatures to bat for reforms in the controversial Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA).

In an e-mail circulated throughout the Kingdom, proponents of the campaign laid out the points of the proposed reforms:

• Immediately implement the $25 as voluntary OWWA membership fee.

• Resume the investigation on the alleged OWWA fund mess, specifically on the investments made in Landoil and Smokey Mountain Reclamation and Development Project (SMRDP).

• Expose those who may wish to obstruct any investigation and charge them appropriately.

• Release the official audited reports on OWWA fund collection and expenditures for 2001 and previous years publish these in an official website.

• Restructure OWWA and study how the welfare fund could be transformed for better services to members.

• Review the OWWA administrative guidelines and provide a reasonable and specific cap on expenditures. Increase funding for direct benefits to members, which may come in form of provident fund.

• Evaluate the history and functions of different agencies that are involved in welfare and protection of OFWs and determine if they are responsive to the needs of the Filipino workers.

• Craft laws that will provide greater OFW and civil society representation in policy-making bodies related to OFW concerns. In particular, establish clear, democratic and transparent criteria for the selection of the OWW board and administrator, with more OFW representation in the board.

Alfredo Ganapin of eLagda-Riyadh, who is one of the leaders of the signature campaign, said the OWWA should submit itself to a full public management and accounting audit without delay.

OWWA has been embroiled in so many controversies, the latest of which was the spat between Labor Secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas and Administrator Wilhem Soriano arising from the questions raised by the Commission on Audit over the mismanagement of funds being collected by force from departing OFWs.

In addition, OWWA has also been criticized for “lack of due diligence in evaluating investments.”

Using the contribution form OFWs. OWWA Example of this is the 200 million pesos it advanced to Landoil (majority shares owned by Speaker Joe de Venecia) in 1983, without the approval of the board. In 1995, OWWA invested 500 million pesos in the Smokey Mountain Reclamation and Development Project (SMRDP). All the accumulated interest and principal of these investments have reportedly been uncollected.

A COA report also found that from 1998 to 2001, OWWA’s expenditures averaged 86 percent of its total income for the previous year.

What this means, auditors have said, is that little is being used by the fund for the very purpose the agency was created — the welfare of OFWs — because the bulk goes to paying salaries and other operational expenses.

In 2001, for instance, P636.58 million was spent for payment of salaries, benefits, honoraria and bonuses for OWWA personnel and consultants. Only P143.59 million or 22.5 percent was spent on benefits for OFWs.

It was also noted that OWWA employees have been receiving a 14th month pay, an act that OFW groups have described as “criminal” considering that thousands of OFWs who contribute to the fund are not even being paid properly by their employers. Auditors have likewise found that millions of pesos have remained unaccounted for in many of the agency’s foreign outposts.

Benefits extended to its contributors — the OFWs — are like crumbs falling out of the dinner table. The current OWWA benefits include:

• Death benefits – P50,000.

• Funeral grant – P20,000.

• Disability benefits – from P2,500 to P50,000.

• Medical reimbursement (for accidents and work-related illnesses) – P2,000 to P10,000.

Rashid Fabricante of ICOFVR, and one of the advocates of the signature campaign said that in order to give teeth to the campaign, “one thousand signatures are needed in a few days.”

So far, close 500 OFWs throughout the Kingdom have already signed the petition, and many more have signified support.

OFWs who want to affix their signature to this campaign may contact the following:

In Riyadh – Rashid Fabricante at e-mail [email protected]; Bert Barriga at [email protected]; Mike Bolos and Ronnie Abeto through Pusong Mamon Task Force hotline 052-180274.

In Alkhobar – Tony Ranque at e-mail address [email protected]; Andy Reyes at [email protected]; Jhun Garcia at [email protected].

In Jeddah – Francis Oca, Alyansa, mobile number 052-342920; Sam delos Santos 056-14120; Jibreel de Vera 052-792483; Arlen Sallador 052-620868.