OFWs are wiser voters - Ateneo economist

Owing to their exposure to good governance and efficient services abroad, Filipino migrants are likely to have wiser choices of candidates than voters who have remained in the Philippines. Fernando Aldaba, chairman of the economics department of the Ateneo de Manila University, voiced this view to reporters during a forum held at the University of the Philippines. “Returning migrant workers who had experience abroad clamor for better governance like the delivery of services and infrastructures," Aldaba said. According to him, Filipino workers leave the country for work abroad not only because of the so-called “pull" factors such as an economic opportunity but also due to “push factors" such as bad governance in the Philippines. Considering that most of those leaving the country are educated, the quality of the electorate left to vote in the country diminishes, Aldaba theorized. “There is a negative consequence politically. The quality of the electorate is deteriorating as the educated leave the country," he explained. More than 500,000 out of the estimated 11 million Filipinos overseas have registered as absentee voters. UP Professor Ernesto Pernia, also an economist, said the government has become too dependent on OFW remittances instead of pursuing policy reforms that will uplift the local economy. OFW remittances hit a record $12.8 billion in 2006. “Although the remittances were able to bail out the government out of fiscal deficit, it should strengthen the local economy," said Pernia. - GMANews.TV