MANILA, 20 November 2005 — To make it easier for more Filipinos to work abroad, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has urged local governments to make “fly-now-pay-later” plans available.
Labor Secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas said the scheme could help address unemployment and protect vulnerable workers in the provinces from illegal recruiters as the program would involve only legitimate recruitment agencies.
“The program provides a level playing field for those who want to work abroad but do not have the means to pay for placement and processing fees prior to their deployment abroad,” she said.
DOLE Undersecretary Manuel Imson said the program would lead to a further increase in the country’s overseas deployment. The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) reported that over 800,000 OFWs have been deployed in more than 170 destinations globally within the first 10 months of 2005.
Imson pointed to preliminary government figures that a total of 804,713 documented OFWs were deployed from Jan. 1 to Nov. 1, 2005, or 7,496 higher than the 797,217 deployed in a similar period in 2004.
Land-based OFWs totaling 597,028 comprised some three-fourths of the total 804,713 OFW deployment, seafarers comprising the other one-fourth (207,685).
Remittances by overseas Filipinos, now a pillar in the economy, has continued to grow. From about $7 billion recorded five years ago, the amount has moved up to $11.6 billion, according to the World Bank.
The figure makes the Philippines the third biggest recipient of remittances from its nationals abroad, surpassed only by India at $21.7 billion and Mexico at $18.1 billion.
Sto. Tomas explained that the DOLE’s Public Employment Services Offices (PESOs) are ready to assist city, provincial and municipal governments in the recruitment and placement of the workers in coordination with legitimate recruitment agencies.
The PESOs are considered the national employment service network providing referrals jobseekers. They also look for overseas employment vacancies which they course through legitimate agencies.
TSto. Tomas cited the local government of Banaybanay town in Davao Oriental, whose “fly now pay later program” enables needy workers there to land better paying jobs overseas and pay the required placement and other fees after deployment. Program beneficiaries usually pay the fees only after they have started working abroad.
A report reaching Sto. Tomas said that Banaybanay’s municipal government has advanced the fees of 26 OFWs deployed to the Middle East. The municipal government is also paying for the placement of the second batch of 30 overseas jobs applicants.
The report indicated that Banaybanay Mayor Pedro Mejos through PESO manager Inonjare Solidaga initiated the passage of a municipal ordinance providing for a “fly now pay later program” for migrant workers in the municipality.
The program provides the migrant workers with a loan scheme to enable them pay for placement and processing of documents essential for their deployment overseas.
The beneficiaries are charged only a minimal one percent interest a month until they have paid the entire loan.
