DAVAO CITY, 14 December — Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) are apparently cutting down on the pasalubong or gifts they usually bring home as a result of the global economic crisis.
Airport authorities in the airports of Manila, Cebuy and Davao noted a drastic drop in the volume of packages this season from abroad.
"The most practical thing for us to do now is to reduce expenses on pasalubong and save for the future," said Nita Desteros, who said she works as a domestic helper in Hong Kong.
Desteros said she preferred bringing cash home so that she could put it to better use.
Reports said Hong Kong and Taiwan are going not only to slash foreign manpower next year but also reduce the salary for domestic helpers.
The government has acknowledged the effect of global economic slowdown and has resigned past records of remittances from abroad would not hit previous years records.
On Wednesday, the Bangko Sentral Ng Pilipinas announced a drop in dollar remittances from overseas Filipinos to $4.1 billion from January to September this year.
Peter Salansan, who arrived from Riyadh, said his family’s problem has worsened because of a drop in his remittances.
To make up for that, he said, he also avoided buying expensive gifts so that he could bring home more cash.
Officials have also noted a drop in the number of passengers in Davao City’s domestic and foreign flights since the start of the month. Shoppers have been observed to be avoiding malls for Christmas shopping.
The opening of SM City Davao last month appeared to be not generating enough sales although thousands of shoppers turned up during the opening week.
JS Gaisano Mall and Felcris, two popular shopping mart in the city are also noticeably experiencing poor sales.
Still, many feel lucky to have OFWs in their families.
Nida Rimancela, the wife of an OFW in Dubai, says she is very thankful to God that her husband continues to have a job abroad. The monthly remittance she gets may not be as big as what others are receiving but she sees to it that it is put to good use.
Dorcas Carreon told local media that her two siblings in Riyadh and Jeddah always make sure that their family are taken care of not only during the year-end holidays but the whole year round.
