JEDDAH, 8 February 2004 — OFW leaders from the largest community groups in Jeddah have come out in support of Gabay, a party list group in the upcoming 2004 national elections.
Gabay OFW is one of some 100 party lists seeking sectoral representation in the Philippine Congress.
Only party lists with a minimum of 2 percent of sectoral votes cast in the election can stake their claim to any of the 50 seats allocated in the House of Representatives.
Among other sectors running for party list are labor, farmers, urban poor, and the communist fronts that gained large support in the 2001 election.
Devoted to the welfare and protection of OFWs, Gabay is the only party list based in Saudi Arabia. All of its nominees are long-time workers in the Kingdom.
If successful in its bid for the Congress, Gabay will push for the implmentation of what is known as the “OFW Agenda”.
It focuses on reintegration, migrant workers’ rights, OWWA, POEA, the passage of an OFW investments incentives law, the establishment of a functioning community resource center and issues affecting the Filipino community worldwide.
