DoLE recalls order on partial lifting of ban
11/19/2007 | 10:33 PM
The labor department recalled on Monday the order partially lifting the ban in the deployment of Filipino workers to Nigeria, Lebanon, and Afghanistan “in light of expressed concerns on the security/ peace and order situation" in those countries as well as in Iraq.
“Under this situation, the complete ban on Iraq, Lebanon and Nigeria remains," Labor Secretary Arturo Brion said in an advisory posted at the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) website Monday night.
“While we previously allowed the deployment of new hires and returning workers to international organizations in Afghanistan, the Department of Foreign Affairs will not issue any 'no objection' certificate for Afghanistan; hence there is also an effective complete ban," the advisory said.
Brion signed on Nov 15 Department Order 86-07, allowing the deployment to Afghanistan of Filipinos employed by coalition forces and international groups such as the United Nations, Red Cross, International Organization for Migration, and Red Crescent, among others.
Under the same directive, those returning to their previous employment and new hires whose principal or employers are accredited by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) may be allowed to leave for Nigeria
OFWs hired and employed by companies in the oil-rich Niger Delta in Nigeria would have to secure clearance from Brion before they could be deployed, the order prescribed.
It further said sending of newly hired OFWs would be treated on a case-by-case basis, which will be determined by the labor secretary and subject to terms and conditions he may impose.
The terms and conditions in the new DOLE order include: “the nature of the principals’ business and work locations, long established reputation and track record in hiring OFWs in their global operations, the risk involved, the security measures the principals has put in place and terms and conditions of employment."
Those allowed under the order to enter Lebanon are household service workers (HSW) returning to their previous employers who hired them under the new policy reforms for HSWs, as well as newly hired HSWs employed by heads of states, ministers, deputy ministers and other government officials of equal ranks, and members of the diplomatic corp., as well as the United Nations and other international organizations.
The deployment ban to Iraq remained despite reports of illegal entries through Dubai, Kuwait and Qatar.
But even before the POEA could issue the appropriate guidelines for the modified ban, Brion recalled the order altogether.
The DOLE imposed the ban to Iraq following the abduction of truck driver Angelo dela Cruz in 2004.
The deployment ban to Lebanon was imposed after the war with the Israel broke out. As a consequence of the kidnapping of 24 Filipino seamen in the Niger Delta in January this year, the government stopped the deployment of Filipino workers to Nigeria.
Restricted market
In recent weeks, GMANews.TV has been receiving numerous appeals from Filipino workers in Iraq, Afghanistan, Lebanon and Nigeria for the lifting of the ban so they could come home to visit their families this Christmas season.
We have also received letters from recruits to Afghanistan who had gone through the required training in the Untied States in August but were sent back to the Philippines following directives of a strict observance of the ban.
Although there has been no absolute ban in the deployment of Filipinos to Afghanistan, the country has been classified as a "restricted market" since 2004 because of unstable peace.
Under the terms, Filipinos going to Afghanistan are required to secure clearance from the Department of Foreign Affairs.
Filipino workers in Afghanistan have been appealing to Philippine government authorities to remove the travel restriction to Afghanistan, saying the policy is “unfair" and “cruel."
“The ban is unfair to us," according to a group who banded together as “Filipinos in Afghanistan" who sent a letter dated Nov. 2 to Vice President Manuel “Noli" De Castro, also presidential adviser on overseas Filipino workers.
“It is particularly cruel to impose this ban at this time of the year when Filipinos are going home to spend Christmas holidays with their families. It is supposed to be the time of cheer. But with this ban, it will be a time of pain and despair," they pointed out.
“It is true that Afghanistan, being a post-conflict country, has residual security problems but the conditions here are not as bad as the situation in countries like Timor Leste, Sri Lanka, Sudan and Israel where there is no ban on deployment of OFWs," the letter said.
“We would rather choose to live and work in a dangerous country where we have employment and be able to put food on our table, provide shelter and clothing and send our children to school. The Philippine government does not have the right to take away our jobs from us if it is not able to provide these for us," continued the letter, a copy of which was furnished to GMANews.TV.
Afghanistan is a landlocked country located in the heart of Asia. It is bordered by Pakistan in the south and east; Iran in the west; Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan in the north; and, China in the far northeast.
“Many of the Filipinos in Afghanistan are currently occupying senior positions in international development (World Bank, United Nations Development Fund, United States Agency for International Development, Asian Development Bank, Adam Smith), humanitarian (international non-governmental organizations), reconstruction (engineering, architectural design and telecommunications firms), and office/camp management (security office/camp supplies and catering services) organizations," the FIA said.
The Filipinos said many of them have experiences in post-conflict countries such as Iraq, Angola, Bosnia, Somalia, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Sudan, Eritrea, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam.
Strange
“We chose to work here in our search for better job opportunities that are not available in our country," the letter continued.
“We do not understand the rhyme or reason for this deployment ban to Afghanistan," the letter said. “We feel like we are being played at and sacrificed for our Philippine government’s deficiencies somewhere."
“We thought we are being hailed by the nation as modern-day heroes, but are we really?" they asked.
Keeping the deployment ban for long, they said, would mean losing “good paying jobs" being held by over a thousand Filipinos in Afghanistan.
“From an economically productive life, we and our families become an addition to the statistics of an already high poverty rate in the Philippines," they said.
The FIA considers it strange that the Philippines is the only country that bans the sending of its citizens to work in Afghanistan. “The ban is a simplistic solution to the problem of security. The Philippine government should seek to work closely with the Filipino communities in other countries and strengthen these communities instead of making unilateral decisions that have adverse effects on the economic independence of these Filipinos," the group suggested.- GMANews.TV
“Under this situation, the complete ban on Iraq, Lebanon and Nigeria remains," Labor Secretary Arturo Brion said in an advisory posted at the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) website Monday night.
“While we previously allowed the deployment of new hires and returning workers to international organizations in Afghanistan, the Department of Foreign Affairs will not issue any 'no objection' certificate for Afghanistan; hence there is also an effective complete ban," the advisory said.
Brion signed on Nov 15 Department Order 86-07, allowing the deployment to Afghanistan of Filipinos employed by coalition forces and international groups such as the United Nations, Red Cross, International Organization for Migration, and Red Crescent, among others.
Under the same directive, those returning to their previous employment and new hires whose principal or employers are accredited by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) may be allowed to leave for Nigeria
OFWs hired and employed by companies in the oil-rich Niger Delta in Nigeria would have to secure clearance from Brion before they could be deployed, the order prescribed.
It further said sending of newly hired OFWs would be treated on a case-by-case basis, which will be determined by the labor secretary and subject to terms and conditions he may impose.
The terms and conditions in the new DOLE order include: “the nature of the principals’ business and work locations, long established reputation and track record in hiring OFWs in their global operations, the risk involved, the security measures the principals has put in place and terms and conditions of employment."
Those allowed under the order to enter Lebanon are household service workers (HSW) returning to their previous employers who hired them under the new policy reforms for HSWs, as well as newly hired HSWs employed by heads of states, ministers, deputy ministers and other government officials of equal ranks, and members of the diplomatic corp., as well as the United Nations and other international organizations.
The deployment ban to Iraq remained despite reports of illegal entries through Dubai, Kuwait and Qatar.
But even before the POEA could issue the appropriate guidelines for the modified ban, Brion recalled the order altogether.
The DOLE imposed the ban to Iraq following the abduction of truck driver Angelo dela Cruz in 2004.
The deployment ban to Lebanon was imposed after the war with the Israel broke out. As a consequence of the kidnapping of 24 Filipino seamen in the Niger Delta in January this year, the government stopped the deployment of Filipino workers to Nigeria.
Restricted market
In recent weeks, GMANews.TV has been receiving numerous appeals from Filipino workers in Iraq, Afghanistan, Lebanon and Nigeria for the lifting of the ban so they could come home to visit their families this Christmas season.
We have also received letters from recruits to Afghanistan who had gone through the required training in the Untied States in August but were sent back to the Philippines following directives of a strict observance of the ban.
Although there has been no absolute ban in the deployment of Filipinos to Afghanistan, the country has been classified as a "restricted market" since 2004 because of unstable peace.
Under the terms, Filipinos going to Afghanistan are required to secure clearance from the Department of Foreign Affairs.
Filipino workers in Afghanistan have been appealing to Philippine government authorities to remove the travel restriction to Afghanistan, saying the policy is “unfair" and “cruel."
“The ban is unfair to us," according to a group who banded together as “Filipinos in Afghanistan" who sent a letter dated Nov. 2 to Vice President Manuel “Noli" De Castro, also presidential adviser on overseas Filipino workers.
“It is particularly cruel to impose this ban at this time of the year when Filipinos are going home to spend Christmas holidays with their families. It is supposed to be the time of cheer. But with this ban, it will be a time of pain and despair," they pointed out.
“It is true that Afghanistan, being a post-conflict country, has residual security problems but the conditions here are not as bad as the situation in countries like Timor Leste, Sri Lanka, Sudan and Israel where there is no ban on deployment of OFWs," the letter said.
“We would rather choose to live and work in a dangerous country where we have employment and be able to put food on our table, provide shelter and clothing and send our children to school. The Philippine government does not have the right to take away our jobs from us if it is not able to provide these for us," continued the letter, a copy of which was furnished to GMANews.TV.
Afghanistan is a landlocked country located in the heart of Asia. It is bordered by Pakistan in the south and east; Iran in the west; Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan in the north; and, China in the far northeast.
“Many of the Filipinos in Afghanistan are currently occupying senior positions in international development (World Bank, United Nations Development Fund, United States Agency for International Development, Asian Development Bank, Adam Smith), humanitarian (international non-governmental organizations), reconstruction (engineering, architectural design and telecommunications firms), and office/camp management (security office/camp supplies and catering services) organizations," the FIA said.
The Filipinos said many of them have experiences in post-conflict countries such as Iraq, Angola, Bosnia, Somalia, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Sudan, Eritrea, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam.
Strange
“We chose to work here in our search for better job opportunities that are not available in our country," the letter continued.
“We do not understand the rhyme or reason for this deployment ban to Afghanistan," the letter said. “We feel like we are being played at and sacrificed for our Philippine government’s deficiencies somewhere."
“We thought we are being hailed by the nation as modern-day heroes, but are we really?" they asked.
Keeping the deployment ban for long, they said, would mean losing “good paying jobs" being held by over a thousand Filipinos in Afghanistan.
“From an economically productive life, we and our families become an addition to the statistics of an already high poverty rate in the Philippines," they said.
The FIA considers it strange that the Philippines is the only country that bans the sending of its citizens to work in Afghanistan. “The ban is a simplistic solution to the problem of security. The Philippine government should seek to work closely with the Filipino communities in other countries and strengthen these communities instead of making unilateral decisions that have adverse effects on the economic independence of these Filipinos," the group suggested.- GMANews.TV
READER'S FEEDBACK:
From: Eduardo R. Olegario in Kabul City, Afghanistan
Sent: Tuesday, November 20, 2007 3:41 PM
Ano ba 'yan! bayang pilipinas? Hanggang ngayon ang executive branches ng gobyerno natin lalo na 'yung mga namumuno, comedian ba kayo?
Sec. Arturo Brion gumawa ka ng Dept. order # 86- o7 wala pang isang linggo binawi agad!
Mabuhay ka Sec. Brion, dapat kang tularan ng mga katulad mong gumagawa ng batas na walang sapat na pag-aaral bago mo isakatuparan.
Malambot ka Sec. Brion, pinaasa mo karamihan ang mga OFW's na apektado sa ginawa mong pag recall mo sa order mo.
If we recall you are among the candidates in the Supreme Court as justice, what more if you are selected?
Huwag mong gawing laruan ang mga OFWs Sec. Arturo Brion.
Kami ang nagbibigay ng kaban ng bansa natin! Nasaan na 'yung bagong bayaning Filipino na SLOGAN NINYO?
Kung magpa-POGI points kayo sumali na lang kayo sa laban o bawi o kaya'y pera o bayong, sikat pa kayo Sec. Brion.
Baka sakali manalo kayo at ipamigay sa mahihirap ang napanalunan mo! Aba'y matutuwa ang bayang Filipino.
Sasabihin malambot nga ang puso ni Sec. Brion, marunong maawa sa mga nangangailangan, lalo na kaming mga OFWs.
Pagpalain ka nawa PO Sec. Arturo Brion.
Don't take it personal Sec. Brion what I've said. It's more frustrating to us, what
you have done by recalling your so-called Dept. order 86-07!
From: Privatespy in Kandahar, Afghanistan
Sent: Tuesday, November 20, 2007 11:30 PM
Salamat GMA-7 kapuso sa pagbibigay puwang na mailathala ang aming mga hinaing sa ating gobyerno.
Request lang po sana namin na kung pwede kayong makapagpadala ng reporter dito upang makita nila ang tunay na kalagayan ng mga Pinoy na nandito.
Nakita na minsan ng mga taga DFA ang Kabul at sila mismo ang makakapagpatunay niyan.
Nag-shopping pa nga sila dito na hindi magawa ng ibang Pinoy dahil sa higpit ng seguridad na pinaiiral ng kani- kanilang kumpanya. Ganyan po kahigpit pagdating sa seguridad ang mga kompanya dito kung kaya't sila po ay naglalagay na lang ng
ibat ibang recreation, groceries, spa, coffee shop at iba pang mga pangangailangan upang ang kanilang mga manggagawa ay hindi na lumabas ng kampo.
Makikita po ninyo kung gaano kaganda at kaorganisado ang mga tirahan namin dito. May 24 hrs Internet (access), libreng cellphone load, masarap na pagkain, uniporme, gym, basketball, billiards, etc.
Pag nakita ni Brion ang kalagayan namin dito, baka s'ya mismo mag-apply na rin dito sa Afghanistan.
Muli, maraming salamat GMA-7 kapuso. Talagang maaasahan kayo sa lahat ng oras.
Nawa'y maliwanagan ang kaisipan ng mga nasa gobyerno.
From: Noel A. Abada in Las Pinas City, Phils
Sent: Wednesday, November 21, 2007 8:55 AM
Isang malaking kalokohan itong ginawa n'yo sa amin. Umasa pa naman kami at na i-advise na namin sa aming employer na na lift na ang ban pagkatapos babawiin n'yo rin pala.
Ano ang kinalabasan, parang pati sila na nagtiwala sa kakayahan nating mga Pinoy at nagmistulang naloko n'yo rin.
Tanong ko lang sana rin, na ang mga goverment building ba ay hindi na rin accessible sa public? Pag may kailangan bang malaman sa ahensya ng gobyerno
natin ay hindi na pinapayagan ang taxpayer na katulad natin na makapasok. at hanggang sa security guard na lang ba ang pwedeng sumagot sa mga katanungan natin?
Subukan n'yo pumunta sa Dole sa at security lang ang pwede sumagot sa mga
inquiries n'yo at papaalisin na agad kayo o hindi kaya thru phone lang at hindi nila kayo haharapin. Bakit ganon?
From: Tony (toniemils@yahoo.com) in Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan
Sent: Wednesday, November 21, 2007 4:41 PM
Magandang hapon sa inyo.
Itatanong lang po namin kung bakit ayaw pang mag issue ng OEC ang POEA
samantalang nagbigyan naman ng pahintulot ang DoLE na makabalik ang mga manggagawa sa Afghanistan, lalong lalo na sa mga nagttrabaho sa loob ng US
base?
Bakit po pinapahirapan pa ang mga kababayan natin na kumuha ng kanilang OEC hindi pa raw sapat ang inilabas ni Labor Secretary Arturo Brion na ulat tungkol dito.
Kailangan magawan agad ito ng aksyon sana maipagbigay alam ito sa Labor
Secretary.
Salamat po,
Tony
From: Juan De La Cruz in Makati City, Phils
Sent: Thursday, November 22, 2007 8:00 AM
Ay ewan na lang kung bakit ganyan na talaga sa atin ngayon. Kahit walang eleksyon marami pa ring namumulitika.
May gusto yata ng gobyerno natin na sila lang mga nakapwesto ang makakain ng maayos sa buong araw at iniisantabi na ang kapakanan ng iba.
Isang magandang opurtinidad ang dumating sa mga katulad namin ay ipinagkait nyo pa.
Ngayon ay nadagdag lang kami sa bilang ng wala sa buhay. Higit sa lahat nadamay pa ang pamilya namin.
Kung noong una pa lang ay nagbigay na sila ng ganitong Ban sa Afganistan, sana ay hindi na namin naiwan ang aming mga trabaho.
Hindi yung bigla, kung kailan abot kamay mona ang iyong mga pinapangarap
ay nangyari pa ito.
Sana naman ay maging maligaya na lang sila sa buhay kasama ng kanilang pamilya
at pabayaan na lang ang mga katulad namin.
Maraming salamat sa GMA Network at we can truly express our opinion and side with regards to this issue. Mabuhay kayo tunay na Filipino.
From: Paul Guzman in Malate, Manila, Phils
Sent: Thursday, November 22, 2007 8:09 AM
Baka pwede ko po i review ang facts - nuong approx. 1 month ago, nag issue ng deployment ban sa 3 bansa. Then, last friday, 16Nov, nag order ng partial lift of the ban. Pagkatapos ngayon, iDefer nila ang implementation of their OWN order.
Na after wantonly issuing a deployment ban about a month ago, they ordered w/in, lesss than a month, a partial lifting of the same order, and then NOW, they are DEFERRING their own order.
Sarili ko lang po, kung sakali makarating sa kinakaukulan na masaktan sila,ay ako na lang po ang maparusahan. Na diko matiis makaramdam ng di maganda sa ginagawa nila sa kadahilanan na bakit pa ba sa panahon,na magpapasko, nai tayming ang mga ganitong order, na parang YOYO, na gawa gawa, na sinadya, na binalewala ang tunay, totoo, maka-diyos na kapakanan ng kapwa nila PINOY.
Sana po mali ako, na sila ay nagiisip, nagplano, nuon pa man din, parang mga GRANDMASTER sa chess, kung paano magka PERA nitong magpapasko, na para lamang sa kanila, na walang pakialam, pakundangan, kung sino man ang masagasaan, mapatay nila.
Ipinagdarasal ko na sana ay nagkakamali ako sa aking paniwala, PATAWAD po sa inyong lahat.
From: Rodolfo Ticao, Jr (toto_ticao@yahoo.com) in Kabul, Afghanistan
Sent: Thursday, November 22, 2007 3:08 PM
Dear GMA News Editor,
I am sending my response to your article on the government recalling its lifting of the ban on restricted countries due to security concerns.
I would request if you can publish the document to help educate the public on the impact and future implications of the travel ban to the OFWs.
Please edit the document as you deem approriate. Thank you for your corniued support on the issues affecting the OFWs.
Thanks you very much.
Toto Ticao
Kabul Afghanistan
IMPACT OF THE TRAVEL BAN ON THE OFWs IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN
Having been in Iraq from 2003 to 2006 and in Afghanistan in 2007, I would like to respond to the Philippine government's flip-flopping on the lifting of the travel ban in Afghanistan, Lebanon, Nigeria and the continued ban in Iraq due to perceived continued security threats in these restricted countries.
The decision was made in spite of the appeals of OFWs working in these countries towards absolute lifting the ban.
In addition, no studies have been conducted both by the government and non-government organizations advocating for the implementation of the travel
ban on the impact of the ban on the lives of the OFWs going to and are currently in Iraq.
It is in this context that I would like to share my personal experiences and observations in Iraq and Afghanistan on the impact of the ban on the security of the Overseas Filipino Workers in Iraq that could provide insight in developing future
policies and decisions on the ban of OFWs working in post and on-going conflict countries.
1. The travel ban did not deter OFWs from going to Iraq but rather exposed them to greater security threats and made them vulnerable to illegal recruiters and exploitation in the workplace.
The travel ban was not effective in preventing OFWs to Iraq and Afghanistan.
I have been working in Iraq from 2003 to 2006. I have been a witness to the number of OFWs coming in and out of Iraq with and without the travel ban.
The OFWs working at the Baghdad International Airport informed me that an average of 50 OFWs are coming in and out of the airport every day.
From the personal accounts of OFWs trafficked to Afghanistan, hundreds of OFWs were stranded for months in Dubai waiting for opportunities to go to Iraq.
A growing number of OFWs bound for Iraq have been diverted by illegal recruitment agencies to work in non-existing jobs promised in Afghanistan.
The OFWs working at the Baghdad International Airport estimated an average of 50 OFWs arriving and leaving Iraq everyday.
The travel ban increased the rate of illegal Iraq OFW recruitment in the Philippines.
The latest groups of OFWs bound for Iraq and trafficked to Afghanistan were all victims of illegal recruitment especially by agents of Filipino illegal recruiters based in Dubai.
The OFWs were promised high paying jobs in Iraq in exchange for high placement fees charged by the illegal recruiters.
Majority of the illegally recruited OFWs sold or mortgaged their houses and
other livelihood assets (shops, cars, motorbikes, etc.). In addition they took large loans promising to pay their debtors one month after arriving in Iraq.
I have overheard phone conversations with family members in the Philippines detailing painful confessions or invented lies and cover-ups of their real pitiful situation.
The travel ban increased illegal recruitment and trafficking of OFWs.
Due to the travel ban in Iraq, the illegal recruiters in the Philippines have become more sophisticated in trafficking OFWs into Iraq.
The sophisticated scheme means higher placement fees charged to OFWs desperate of going to Iraq with promises of big salaries from US companies.
In June 2007, I met 12 OFWs who were promised jobs in Iraq but were diverted to Afghanistan. They have become desperate and hopeless after being unemployed from 4-6 months in Dubai waiting for non-existing jobs in Iraq.
In spite of their misfortune, going back home is the last of their options. Many have sold their house and livelihood assets to pay for the placement fees demanded by
the illegal recruiters.
Without the travel ban, the OFWs would have gone straight to legal recruiters charging cheaper placement fees. The travel ban has enriched the illegal recruiters but further impoverished the OFWs who have been victimized by these illegal recruiters.
The travel ban increased OFW security risks and vulnerability. By default, the travel ban made the OFWs illegal workers. As illegal workers, they are prone to be stopped at the immigration check points towards entry into Iraq.
As a result, many OFWs based in Jordan and Kuwait risk their lives and limbs sneaking into the dangerous Jordanian-Kuwait-Iraqi desert borders littered with landmines and controlled by insurgents and terrorists.
Others entered Iraq through commercial, chartered or military planes. Once the OFWs arrived at the Baghdad International Airport, they have to hurdle the last immigration counters to officially enter the country.
The "No Entry to Iraq" stamped in the OFW passports is a curse that only sub-contracting companies can exorcise.
The OFWs arriving by themselves were not allowed to leave the airport until other OFWs seek interventions from sub-contracting companies to bail them out and
employ them in their companies at their own terms.
Kind-hearted OFWs working in the Baghdad Airport provide limited food to the illegal OFWs and contacted employment agencies or sub-contractors to help them get out of the immigration counter and out of the airport.
Two OFWs who have attempted to erase the cursed "No Entry to Iraq" stamps in their passports were arrested and detained for months inside the Immigration Detention Center until their cases are heard and they are deported back to the Philippines.
A 60-year-old OFW who escaped arrest and detention at the Dubai Airport arrived shocked and stunned in Kabul, Afghanistan and never left his room for weeks due to fear of being arrested again in Afghanistan.
The OFWs who were not able to go to Iraq got stranded in Dubai, Jordan or Kuwait waiting for opportunities to go to Iraq.
Some OFWs were diverted to Afghanistan. The case of the Kabul 12, a group of trafficked OFWs bound for Iraq, stranded in Dubai and trafficked to Afghanistan, is a classic example of illegal recruitment and trafficking.
Upon learning that there were no available jobs in Afghanistan as promised by their
recruiters, the Kabul 12 threatened to complain to the United Nations Office in Afghanistan.
In spite of the growing number of OFWs in Afghanistan, there is no Philippines Embassy or Consular Office in Afghanistan. Filipinos have to contact the Philippine Embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan if they need assistance.
Likewise, with the estimated more than 10,000 OFWs in Iraq, there is no Filipino staff working in the Philippines Embassy in Baghdad.
If Filipinos encounter problems in Iraq, they need to contact the Philippine Embassy in
Iraq based in Amman, Jordan.
The travel ban made OFWs vulnerable to discrimination, oppression and exploitation
The travel ban provided great opportunities for employment agencies and sub-contractors to prey on the vulnerable illegal Filipinos working in Iraq.
The OFWs I met complained of sub-standard accommodation, inedible food and being forced to work 16 - 20 hours a day without overtime payment.
About 40 Third Country Nationals (TCNs) were accommodated inside a big trailer van with only one air conditioner during the extremely hot summer season in Iraq.
In November 2005, six OFWs escaped from their employer in the middle of the
night. They climbed up the T-Wall surrounding their compound and jumped into the other side.
They were recruited to work as cooks and promised better paying jobs and accommodation by another sub-contractor. One guy seriously injured his foot and the commotion got the attention of the Iraqi Police who arrested them in violation of the
curfew hours inside the Green Zone.
The coalition military doctor advised the injured OFW to go back to the Philippines or face the risk of having his foot amputated. In spite of pleadings from his wife not to go back to the Philippines, he cannot bear the pain of the infected foot and decided to go back to the Philippines. The new employer abandoned injured OFW and did not keep his promises of better salary to the other OFWs.
The Philippine Embassy in Iraq based in Jordan assisted in the repatriation of the injured OFW back to the Philippines. The remaining OFWs were not given their one month salary after they decided to leave their new employer and find new jobs in other companies inside the Green Zone.
The new employer threatened to kill them or have them deported because of their illegal status. Due to their illegal status, the OFWs do not have the security of tenure and they have continually looked for other jobs even outside the Green Zone which exposed them to greater security threats.
Finally, the previous practices of sub-contracting companies of taking possession of the passports of OFWs further exacerbated the problems of the illegal OFWs.
2. The travel ban has and will deprive OFWs already working in the restricted countries of their right to travel and access to a decent and well paying livelihood
The battlecry of OFWs working in Iraq is, "It is better to die working in Iraq with good salary rather than slowly dying of hunger in the Philippines."
Unless the Philippine government could meet the basic needs of its citizens for food security, decent housing and education, the travel ban will never become the solution but will contribute towards creating more serious problems for OFWs affected by the ban.
I have heard or personal stories of depression, alcoholism and drug addiction problems affecting OFWs who were not able to go back to Iraq due to the implementation of the ban. It will not be a surprise if suicides will occur in the near future.
3. The travel ban has and will deprive the Filipino people of the country's contribution towards the rehabilitation, reconstruction and development of Iraq and Afghanistan
The Philippines has sent peace-keeping forces to Iraq and Afghanistan. The initiative is a small but significant contribution of the Filipino people towards peace and development of Iraq and Afghanistan.
The Iraq mission however was abruptly terminated while the Afghanistan mission
continues.
Does the travel ban supposedly protecting all Filipino citizens from security threats mean pulling out the Philippine peace force contingent with the United Nations in Afghanistan?
Behind the scenes, many OFWs working with the United Nations, international organizations and international non-government organizations have greatly contributed towards the development of countries recovering from years of war and conflict.
In addition, OFWs working in international organizations were instrumental in helping distressed OFWs in Iraq and Afghanistan in the absence of the Philippine government agencies.
The departure of OFWs involved in humanitarian and development work in Afghanistan would deprive the Filipino people of our small contribution towards the rehabilitation and development of Afghanistan.
We have no money but had plenty of world class high caliber human resources can contribute in rebuilding post-conflict countries. In 1996, two Filipinos working in Iraq were nominated by the Philippine Embassy in Iraq for their efforts in helping rebuild the war torn country.
One of them was rewarded by having his work terminated due to the travel ban. The travel ban will completely destroy the gains that the OFW humanitarian and development workers have made and relationships established with the people of Iraq and Afghanistan.
We would have abandoned them during the most critical times when they mostly need our help as a people.
Will the travel ban free me from the security threats on my life if I return to the Philippines?
As a development worker and political activist, I feel safer doing my work in Iraq and Afghanistan than in the Philippines. If I go back to the Philippines and continue working in development work and activism in the Philippines, I will no longer be considered a potential security victim but rather a security threat to the state and will
become more vulnerable to illegal, abduction, disappearance, torture and finally death.
In coming home, my family would then take refuge in the Writ of Amparo or start planting flowers for the wreath on my grave.
4. The travel ban will automatically transform OFWs from heroes into outlaws and exiles if they defy the travel ban or continue to work in the restricted countries and will expose them to further discrimination and exploitation due to their illegal status
The travel ban which made the OFWs illegal aliens has restricted their mobility inside and outside Iraq and Afghanistan. OFW access to legal and medical services had been restricted and limited.
In the absence of the Philippine government agencies, they are afraid to seek the legal help and medical services of the Iraq and international community for fear of being discriminated, exploited, abused and deported.
The travel ban pushed them to become exiles and prisoners within the confines of their work place and accommodation.
Many OFWs resorted to drinking to de-stress themselves to the point of being terminated when caught by their supervisors. It is anticipated that the OFWs will resort into civil disobedience and defy the travel ban.
From my own personal experience when I was working in Iraq, it is physically, emotionally and financially exhausting to become an outlaw and an exile struggling with loneliness and social deprivation.
I have to spend a lot of money to bring my family and met them in Bangkok rather than going back to the Philippines.
5. The Philippine government should give more attention and resources to urgent issues affecting the OFWs in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Urgently establish Philippine consular offices in Baghdad and Kabul. There are currently no available representatives of the Philippine government working in Baghdad and Kabul.
OFWs who are in urgent need for assistance have no place to and no persons to meet in case they have problems or in times of emergency.
Being based inside the Green Zone, I have become the point of contact between the Philippine Embassy in Iraq based in Jordan and a group of distressed OFWs based inside the Green Zone.
Philippine consular offices especially in post conflict countries should have 24 hour internet services.
When a group of Filipinos need assistance in Iraq, I sent urgent email messages to Philippines embassies in Kuwait and Jordan. As expected, I only received automated responses or no response at all. Responding with automated messages by Philippine embassies abroad should be outlawed as they only add salt to the injury.
The NGOs supposedly advocating for the welfare of OFWs have the same problem of un-accessible email contact addresses. OFWs in distress cannot contact them in the email contact addresses indicated in their websites.
The government and non-government organizations should work together towards assisting OFWs in organizing themselves into mutual groups at various levels. This strategy is very important in strategic areas where there are existing government strictures and services to help them during crisis and emergencies.
The Philippine government should provide psycho-social and counseling services to OFWs and their families returning from post conflict countries and those especially coming from Iraq.
Cases of depression, alcoholism and drug addiction have been observed from a number of returning OFWs from Iraq. One of the most famous returnee from Iraq became the alleged notorious "butcher" of political activists in the Philippines. My traumatic experiences being caught in the middle of violent conflict in southern Iraq in 1994 gave me nightmares and panic when I hear explosions for six months after surviving the ordeal.
The transformation of the decent and quiet person I saw in Iraq to become the allegedly notorious "butcher" in the Philippines might have been triggered by the traumatic experiences in Iraq.
The government and non-government organizations need to work together in providing decent and sustainable livelihood alternatives to OFWs returning from Iraq, Afghanistan, Lebanon and Nigeria.
6. Recommendations
A selective ban should be implemented for OFWs working in Iraq, Afghanistan and other restricted countries.
The government should concentrate its effort in ensuring strict implementation of policies with recruitment agencies and sub-contracting companies in the recruitment and hiring of OFWs in the restricted countries.
Strict sanctions and punishment of erring illegal recruiters and sub-contracting companies in close collaboration with host countries of all stakeholders.
The government should establish close collaboration and cooperation with host countries and neighboring countries serving as drop points of entry into the host countries.
The Senate and Congress in partnership with civil society organizations conducts an inquiry on the impact and future implications of the travel ban to the OFWs traveling and working in the restricted countries.
The study should include investigation on the alledged payment of ransom for the two OFW hostages in Iraq as the action has big implications for the security of all people living and working in Iraq.
If there is a "Writ of Amparo" for abducted and missing persons, is there any law that will protect the rights of Filipinos to travel,practice their vocation and access to a decent livelihood of their own choice?
Can we challenge the constitutionality of the government's travel ban in the Supreme Court?
This is also a call for all OFWs working in the affected restricted countries for all of us to work together with one voice to educate the public and the advocate on our right to continue working in the restricted countries affected by the ban.
From: Karl Flores in Kabul, Afghanistan
Sent: Saturday, November 24, 2007 4:16 PM
To GMA editor,
Magandang araw po sa lahat, nais ko lang po magbigay ng aking opinion ukol sa ban dito sa Afghanistan.
Unang-una po napakaraming Filipino na apektado sa ban na ito at nangangambang maalis na sa aming trabaho.
Dati po akong nagtrabaho sa Iraq at 'di nakabalik dahil sa ban, ngayon pinalad
makahanap dito at kumikita ng magandang pasahod ay na ban na naman.
Ano po ang aming kasalanan at ipinagkait sa amin ang kumita ng maganda?
Kumuha ako ng hulugan na bahay para sa pamilya ko nitong kasalukuyang taon. Papano ko na ito mababayaran?
Sana po hindi na lang ako naging Pilipino para 'di ko naranasan ang ma-ban.
Nakahanda kaming mag-pirma ng ano man na waiver na walang pananagutan
ang gubyerno ng Pilipinas kung ano ang mangyayari sa amin dito. Mas mainam na ito kaysa mamatay kami sa gutom at hirap ng buhay sa Pilipinas.
Marami akong anak na pinapaaral. Sana mabuksan ang isip nila at alisin na ang ban sa mga bandang apektado na may mga Filipinong uma asang umasenso kahit
paano.
Maraming salamat po.. at mabuhay po kayo.
Karl Anthony
Sent: Tuesday, November 20, 2007 3:41 PM
Ano ba 'yan! bayang pilipinas? Hanggang ngayon ang executive branches ng gobyerno natin lalo na 'yung mga namumuno, comedian ba kayo?
Sec. Arturo Brion gumawa ka ng Dept. order # 86- o7 wala pang isang linggo binawi agad!
Mabuhay ka Sec. Brion, dapat kang tularan ng mga katulad mong gumagawa ng batas na walang sapat na pag-aaral bago mo isakatuparan.
Malambot ka Sec. Brion, pinaasa mo karamihan ang mga OFW's na apektado sa ginawa mong pag recall mo sa order mo.
If we recall you are among the candidates in the Supreme Court as justice, what more if you are selected?
Huwag mong gawing laruan ang mga OFWs Sec. Arturo Brion.
Kami ang nagbibigay ng kaban ng bansa natin! Nasaan na 'yung bagong bayaning Filipino na SLOGAN NINYO?
Kung magpa-POGI points kayo sumali na lang kayo sa laban o bawi o kaya'y pera o bayong, sikat pa kayo Sec. Brion.
Baka sakali manalo kayo at ipamigay sa mahihirap ang napanalunan mo! Aba'y matutuwa ang bayang Filipino.
Sasabihin malambot nga ang puso ni Sec. Brion, marunong maawa sa mga nangangailangan, lalo na kaming mga OFWs.
Pagpalain ka nawa PO Sec. Arturo Brion.
Don't take it personal Sec. Brion what I've said. It's more frustrating to us, what
you have done by recalling your so-called Dept. order 86-07!
From: Privatespy in Kandahar, Afghanistan
Sent: Tuesday, November 20, 2007 11:30 PM
Salamat GMA-7 kapuso sa pagbibigay puwang na mailathala ang aming mga hinaing sa ating gobyerno.
Request lang po sana namin na kung pwede kayong makapagpadala ng reporter dito upang makita nila ang tunay na kalagayan ng mga Pinoy na nandito.
Nakita na minsan ng mga taga DFA ang Kabul at sila mismo ang makakapagpatunay niyan.
Nag-shopping pa nga sila dito na hindi magawa ng ibang Pinoy dahil sa higpit ng seguridad na pinaiiral ng kani- kanilang kumpanya. Ganyan po kahigpit pagdating sa seguridad ang mga kompanya dito kung kaya't sila po ay naglalagay na lang ng
ibat ibang recreation, groceries, spa, coffee shop at iba pang mga pangangailangan upang ang kanilang mga manggagawa ay hindi na lumabas ng kampo.
Makikita po ninyo kung gaano kaganda at kaorganisado ang mga tirahan namin dito. May 24 hrs Internet (access), libreng cellphone load, masarap na pagkain, uniporme, gym, basketball, billiards, etc.
Pag nakita ni Brion ang kalagayan namin dito, baka s'ya mismo mag-apply na rin dito sa Afghanistan.
Muli, maraming salamat GMA-7 kapuso. Talagang maaasahan kayo sa lahat ng oras.
Nawa'y maliwanagan ang kaisipan ng mga nasa gobyerno.
From: Noel A. Abada in Las Pinas City, Phils
Sent: Wednesday, November 21, 2007 8:55 AM
Isang malaking kalokohan itong ginawa n'yo sa amin. Umasa pa naman kami at na i-advise na namin sa aming employer na na lift na ang ban pagkatapos babawiin n'yo rin pala.
Ano ang kinalabasan, parang pati sila na nagtiwala sa kakayahan nating mga Pinoy at nagmistulang naloko n'yo rin.
Tanong ko lang sana rin, na ang mga goverment building ba ay hindi na rin accessible sa public? Pag may kailangan bang malaman sa ahensya ng gobyerno
natin ay hindi na pinapayagan ang taxpayer na katulad natin na makapasok. at hanggang sa security guard na lang ba ang pwedeng sumagot sa mga katanungan natin?
Subukan n'yo pumunta sa Dole sa at security lang ang pwede sumagot sa mga
inquiries n'yo at papaalisin na agad kayo o hindi kaya thru phone lang at hindi nila kayo haharapin. Bakit ganon?
From: Tony (toniemils@yahoo.com) in Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan
Sent: Wednesday, November 21, 2007 4:41 PM
Magandang hapon sa inyo.
Itatanong lang po namin kung bakit ayaw pang mag issue ng OEC ang POEA
samantalang nagbigyan naman ng pahintulot ang DoLE na makabalik ang mga manggagawa sa Afghanistan, lalong lalo na sa mga nagttrabaho sa loob ng US
base?
Bakit po pinapahirapan pa ang mga kababayan natin na kumuha ng kanilang OEC hindi pa raw sapat ang inilabas ni Labor Secretary Arturo Brion na ulat tungkol dito.
Kailangan magawan agad ito ng aksyon sana maipagbigay alam ito sa Labor
Secretary.
Salamat po,
Tony
From: Juan De La Cruz in Makati City, Phils
Sent: Thursday, November 22, 2007 8:00 AM
Ay ewan na lang kung bakit ganyan na talaga sa atin ngayon. Kahit walang eleksyon marami pa ring namumulitika.
May gusto yata ng gobyerno natin na sila lang mga nakapwesto ang makakain ng maayos sa buong araw at iniisantabi na ang kapakanan ng iba.
Isang magandang opurtinidad ang dumating sa mga katulad namin ay ipinagkait nyo pa.
Ngayon ay nadagdag lang kami sa bilang ng wala sa buhay. Higit sa lahat nadamay pa ang pamilya namin.
Kung noong una pa lang ay nagbigay na sila ng ganitong Ban sa Afganistan, sana ay hindi na namin naiwan ang aming mga trabaho.
Hindi yung bigla, kung kailan abot kamay mona ang iyong mga pinapangarap
ay nangyari pa ito.
Sana naman ay maging maligaya na lang sila sa buhay kasama ng kanilang pamilya
at pabayaan na lang ang mga katulad namin.
Maraming salamat sa GMA Network at we can truly express our opinion and side with regards to this issue. Mabuhay kayo tunay na Filipino.
From: Paul Guzman in Malate, Manila, Phils
Sent: Thursday, November 22, 2007 8:09 AM
Baka pwede ko po i review ang facts - nuong approx. 1 month ago, nag issue ng deployment ban sa 3 bansa. Then, last friday, 16Nov, nag order ng partial lift of the ban. Pagkatapos ngayon, iDefer nila ang implementation of their OWN order.
Na after wantonly issuing a deployment ban about a month ago, they ordered w/in, lesss than a month, a partial lifting of the same order, and then NOW, they are DEFERRING their own order.
Sarili ko lang po, kung sakali makarating sa kinakaukulan na masaktan sila,ay ako na lang po ang maparusahan. Na diko matiis makaramdam ng di maganda sa ginagawa nila sa kadahilanan na bakit pa ba sa panahon,na magpapasko, nai tayming ang mga ganitong order, na parang YOYO, na gawa gawa, na sinadya, na binalewala ang tunay, totoo, maka-diyos na kapakanan ng kapwa nila PINOY.
Sana po mali ako, na sila ay nagiisip, nagplano, nuon pa man din, parang mga GRANDMASTER sa chess, kung paano magka PERA nitong magpapasko, na para lamang sa kanila, na walang pakialam, pakundangan, kung sino man ang masagasaan, mapatay nila.
Ipinagdarasal ko na sana ay nagkakamali ako sa aking paniwala, PATAWAD po sa inyong lahat.
From: Rodolfo Ticao, Jr (toto_ticao@yahoo.com) in Kabul, Afghanistan
Sent: Thursday, November 22, 2007 3:08 PM
Dear GMA News Editor,
I am sending my response to your article on the government recalling its lifting of the ban on restricted countries due to security concerns.
I would request if you can publish the document to help educate the public on the impact and future implications of the travel ban to the OFWs.
Please edit the document as you deem approriate. Thank you for your corniued support on the issues affecting the OFWs.
Thanks you very much.
Toto Ticao
Kabul Afghanistan
IMPACT OF THE TRAVEL BAN ON THE OFWs IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN
Having been in Iraq from 2003 to 2006 and in Afghanistan in 2007, I would like to respond to the Philippine government's flip-flopping on the lifting of the travel ban in Afghanistan, Lebanon, Nigeria and the continued ban in Iraq due to perceived continued security threats in these restricted countries.
The decision was made in spite of the appeals of OFWs working in these countries towards absolute lifting the ban.
In addition, no studies have been conducted both by the government and non-government organizations advocating for the implementation of the travel
ban on the impact of the ban on the lives of the OFWs going to and are currently in Iraq.
It is in this context that I would like to share my personal experiences and observations in Iraq and Afghanistan on the impact of the ban on the security of the Overseas Filipino Workers in Iraq that could provide insight in developing future
policies and decisions on the ban of OFWs working in post and on-going conflict countries.
1. The travel ban did not deter OFWs from going to Iraq but rather exposed them to greater security threats and made them vulnerable to illegal recruiters and exploitation in the workplace.
The travel ban was not effective in preventing OFWs to Iraq and Afghanistan.
I have been working in Iraq from 2003 to 2006. I have been a witness to the number of OFWs coming in and out of Iraq with and without the travel ban.
The OFWs working at the Baghdad International Airport informed me that an average of 50 OFWs are coming in and out of the airport every day.
From the personal accounts of OFWs trafficked to Afghanistan, hundreds of OFWs were stranded for months in Dubai waiting for opportunities to go to Iraq.
A growing number of OFWs bound for Iraq have been diverted by illegal recruitment agencies to work in non-existing jobs promised in Afghanistan.
The OFWs working at the Baghdad International Airport estimated an average of 50 OFWs arriving and leaving Iraq everyday.
The travel ban increased the rate of illegal Iraq OFW recruitment in the Philippines.
The latest groups of OFWs bound for Iraq and trafficked to Afghanistan were all victims of illegal recruitment especially by agents of Filipino illegal recruiters based in Dubai.
The OFWs were promised high paying jobs in Iraq in exchange for high placement fees charged by the illegal recruiters.
Majority of the illegally recruited OFWs sold or mortgaged their houses and
other livelihood assets (shops, cars, motorbikes, etc.). In addition they took large loans promising to pay their debtors one month after arriving in Iraq.
I have overheard phone conversations with family members in the Philippines detailing painful confessions or invented lies and cover-ups of their real pitiful situation.
The travel ban increased illegal recruitment and trafficking of OFWs.
Due to the travel ban in Iraq, the illegal recruiters in the Philippines have become more sophisticated in trafficking OFWs into Iraq.
The sophisticated scheme means higher placement fees charged to OFWs desperate of going to Iraq with promises of big salaries from US companies.
In June 2007, I met 12 OFWs who were promised jobs in Iraq but were diverted to Afghanistan. They have become desperate and hopeless after being unemployed from 4-6 months in Dubai waiting for non-existing jobs in Iraq.
In spite of their misfortune, going back home is the last of their options. Many have sold their house and livelihood assets to pay for the placement fees demanded by
the illegal recruiters.
Without the travel ban, the OFWs would have gone straight to legal recruiters charging cheaper placement fees. The travel ban has enriched the illegal recruiters but further impoverished the OFWs who have been victimized by these illegal recruiters.
The travel ban increased OFW security risks and vulnerability. By default, the travel ban made the OFWs illegal workers. As illegal workers, they are prone to be stopped at the immigration check points towards entry into Iraq.
As a result, many OFWs based in Jordan and Kuwait risk their lives and limbs sneaking into the dangerous Jordanian-Kuwait-Iraqi desert borders littered with landmines and controlled by insurgents and terrorists.
Others entered Iraq through commercial, chartered or military planes. Once the OFWs arrived at the Baghdad International Airport, they have to hurdle the last immigration counters to officially enter the country.
The "No Entry to Iraq" stamped in the OFW passports is a curse that only sub-contracting companies can exorcise.
The OFWs arriving by themselves were not allowed to leave the airport until other OFWs seek interventions from sub-contracting companies to bail them out and
employ them in their companies at their own terms.
Kind-hearted OFWs working in the Baghdad Airport provide limited food to the illegal OFWs and contacted employment agencies or sub-contractors to help them get out of the immigration counter and out of the airport.
Two OFWs who have attempted to erase the cursed "No Entry to Iraq" stamps in their passports were arrested and detained for months inside the Immigration Detention Center until their cases are heard and they are deported back to the Philippines.
A 60-year-old OFW who escaped arrest and detention at the Dubai Airport arrived shocked and stunned in Kabul, Afghanistan and never left his room for weeks due to fear of being arrested again in Afghanistan.
The OFWs who were not able to go to Iraq got stranded in Dubai, Jordan or Kuwait waiting for opportunities to go to Iraq.
Some OFWs were diverted to Afghanistan. The case of the Kabul 12, a group of trafficked OFWs bound for Iraq, stranded in Dubai and trafficked to Afghanistan, is a classic example of illegal recruitment and trafficking.
Upon learning that there were no available jobs in Afghanistan as promised by their
recruiters, the Kabul 12 threatened to complain to the United Nations Office in Afghanistan.
In spite of the growing number of OFWs in Afghanistan, there is no Philippines Embassy or Consular Office in Afghanistan. Filipinos have to contact the Philippine Embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan if they need assistance.
Likewise, with the estimated more than 10,000 OFWs in Iraq, there is no Filipino staff working in the Philippines Embassy in Baghdad.
If Filipinos encounter problems in Iraq, they need to contact the Philippine Embassy in
Iraq based in Amman, Jordan.
The travel ban made OFWs vulnerable to discrimination, oppression and exploitation
The travel ban provided great opportunities for employment agencies and sub-contractors to prey on the vulnerable illegal Filipinos working in Iraq.
The OFWs I met complained of sub-standard accommodation, inedible food and being forced to work 16 - 20 hours a day without overtime payment.
About 40 Third Country Nationals (TCNs) were accommodated inside a big trailer van with only one air conditioner during the extremely hot summer season in Iraq.
In November 2005, six OFWs escaped from their employer in the middle of the
night. They climbed up the T-Wall surrounding their compound and jumped into the other side.
They were recruited to work as cooks and promised better paying jobs and accommodation by another sub-contractor. One guy seriously injured his foot and the commotion got the attention of the Iraqi Police who arrested them in violation of the
curfew hours inside the Green Zone.
The coalition military doctor advised the injured OFW to go back to the Philippines or face the risk of having his foot amputated. In spite of pleadings from his wife not to go back to the Philippines, he cannot bear the pain of the infected foot and decided to go back to the Philippines. The new employer abandoned injured OFW and did not keep his promises of better salary to the other OFWs.
The Philippine Embassy in Iraq based in Jordan assisted in the repatriation of the injured OFW back to the Philippines. The remaining OFWs were not given their one month salary after they decided to leave their new employer and find new jobs in other companies inside the Green Zone.
The new employer threatened to kill them or have them deported because of their illegal status. Due to their illegal status, the OFWs do not have the security of tenure and they have continually looked for other jobs even outside the Green Zone which exposed them to greater security threats.
Finally, the previous practices of sub-contracting companies of taking possession of the passports of OFWs further exacerbated the problems of the illegal OFWs.
2. The travel ban has and will deprive OFWs already working in the restricted countries of their right to travel and access to a decent and well paying livelihood
The battlecry of OFWs working in Iraq is, "It is better to die working in Iraq with good salary rather than slowly dying of hunger in the Philippines."
Unless the Philippine government could meet the basic needs of its citizens for food security, decent housing and education, the travel ban will never become the solution but will contribute towards creating more serious problems for OFWs affected by the ban.
I have heard or personal stories of depression, alcoholism and drug addiction problems affecting OFWs who were not able to go back to Iraq due to the implementation of the ban. It will not be a surprise if suicides will occur in the near future.
3. The travel ban has and will deprive the Filipino people of the country's contribution towards the rehabilitation, reconstruction and development of Iraq and Afghanistan
The Philippines has sent peace-keeping forces to Iraq and Afghanistan. The initiative is a small but significant contribution of the Filipino people towards peace and development of Iraq and Afghanistan.
The Iraq mission however was abruptly terminated while the Afghanistan mission
continues.
Does the travel ban supposedly protecting all Filipino citizens from security threats mean pulling out the Philippine peace force contingent with the United Nations in Afghanistan?
Behind the scenes, many OFWs working with the United Nations, international organizations and international non-government organizations have greatly contributed towards the development of countries recovering from years of war and conflict.
In addition, OFWs working in international organizations were instrumental in helping distressed OFWs in Iraq and Afghanistan in the absence of the Philippine government agencies.
The departure of OFWs involved in humanitarian and development work in Afghanistan would deprive the Filipino people of our small contribution towards the rehabilitation and development of Afghanistan.
We have no money but had plenty of world class high caliber human resources can contribute in rebuilding post-conflict countries. In 1996, two Filipinos working in Iraq were nominated by the Philippine Embassy in Iraq for their efforts in helping rebuild the war torn country.
One of them was rewarded by having his work terminated due to the travel ban. The travel ban will completely destroy the gains that the OFW humanitarian and development workers have made and relationships established with the people of Iraq and Afghanistan.
We would have abandoned them during the most critical times when they mostly need our help as a people.
Will the travel ban free me from the security threats on my life if I return to the Philippines?
As a development worker and political activist, I feel safer doing my work in Iraq and Afghanistan than in the Philippines. If I go back to the Philippines and continue working in development work and activism in the Philippines, I will no longer be considered a potential security victim but rather a security threat to the state and will
become more vulnerable to illegal, abduction, disappearance, torture and finally death.
In coming home, my family would then take refuge in the Writ of Amparo or start planting flowers for the wreath on my grave.
4. The travel ban will automatically transform OFWs from heroes into outlaws and exiles if they defy the travel ban or continue to work in the restricted countries and will expose them to further discrimination and exploitation due to their illegal status
The travel ban which made the OFWs illegal aliens has restricted their mobility inside and outside Iraq and Afghanistan. OFW access to legal and medical services had been restricted and limited.
In the absence of the Philippine government agencies, they are afraid to seek the legal help and medical services of the Iraq and international community for fear of being discriminated, exploited, abused and deported.
The travel ban pushed them to become exiles and prisoners within the confines of their work place and accommodation.
Many OFWs resorted to drinking to de-stress themselves to the point of being terminated when caught by their supervisors. It is anticipated that the OFWs will resort into civil disobedience and defy the travel ban.
From my own personal experience when I was working in Iraq, it is physically, emotionally and financially exhausting to become an outlaw and an exile struggling with loneliness and social deprivation.
I have to spend a lot of money to bring my family and met them in Bangkok rather than going back to the Philippines.
5. The Philippine government should give more attention and resources to urgent issues affecting the OFWs in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Urgently establish Philippine consular offices in Baghdad and Kabul. There are currently no available representatives of the Philippine government working in Baghdad and Kabul.
OFWs who are in urgent need for assistance have no place to and no persons to meet in case they have problems or in times of emergency.
Being based inside the Green Zone, I have become the point of contact between the Philippine Embassy in Iraq based in Jordan and a group of distressed OFWs based inside the Green Zone.
Philippine consular offices especially in post conflict countries should have 24 hour internet services.
When a group of Filipinos need assistance in Iraq, I sent urgent email messages to Philippines embassies in Kuwait and Jordan. As expected, I only received automated responses or no response at all. Responding with automated messages by Philippine embassies abroad should be outlawed as they only add salt to the injury.
The NGOs supposedly advocating for the welfare of OFWs have the same problem of un-accessible email contact addresses. OFWs in distress cannot contact them in the email contact addresses indicated in their websites.
The government and non-government organizations should work together towards assisting OFWs in organizing themselves into mutual groups at various levels. This strategy is very important in strategic areas where there are existing government strictures and services to help them during crisis and emergencies.
The Philippine government should provide psycho-social and counseling services to OFWs and their families returning from post conflict countries and those especially coming from Iraq.
Cases of depression, alcoholism and drug addiction have been observed from a number of returning OFWs from Iraq. One of the most famous returnee from Iraq became the alleged notorious "butcher" of political activists in the Philippines. My traumatic experiences being caught in the middle of violent conflict in southern Iraq in 1994 gave me nightmares and panic when I hear explosions for six months after surviving the ordeal.
The transformation of the decent and quiet person I saw in Iraq to become the allegedly notorious "butcher" in the Philippines might have been triggered by the traumatic experiences in Iraq.
The government and non-government organizations need to work together in providing decent and sustainable livelihood alternatives to OFWs returning from Iraq, Afghanistan, Lebanon and Nigeria.
6. Recommendations
A selective ban should be implemented for OFWs working in Iraq, Afghanistan and other restricted countries.
The government should concentrate its effort in ensuring strict implementation of policies with recruitment agencies and sub-contracting companies in the recruitment and hiring of OFWs in the restricted countries.
Strict sanctions and punishment of erring illegal recruiters and sub-contracting companies in close collaboration with host countries of all stakeholders.
The government should establish close collaboration and cooperation with host countries and neighboring countries serving as drop points of entry into the host countries.
The Senate and Congress in partnership with civil society organizations conducts an inquiry on the impact and future implications of the travel ban to the OFWs traveling and working in the restricted countries.
The study should include investigation on the alledged payment of ransom for the two OFW hostages in Iraq as the action has big implications for the security of all people living and working in Iraq.
If there is a "Writ of Amparo" for abducted and missing persons, is there any law that will protect the rights of Filipinos to travel,practice their vocation and access to a decent livelihood of their own choice?
Can we challenge the constitutionality of the government's travel ban in the Supreme Court?
This is also a call for all OFWs working in the affected restricted countries for all of us to work together with one voice to educate the public and the advocate on our right to continue working in the restricted countries affected by the ban.
From: Karl Flores in Kabul, Afghanistan
Sent: Saturday, November 24, 2007 4:16 PM
To GMA editor,
Magandang araw po sa lahat, nais ko lang po magbigay ng aking opinion ukol sa ban dito sa Afghanistan.
Unang-una po napakaraming Filipino na apektado sa ban na ito at nangangambang maalis na sa aming trabaho.
Dati po akong nagtrabaho sa Iraq at 'di nakabalik dahil sa ban, ngayon pinalad
makahanap dito at kumikita ng magandang pasahod ay na ban na naman.
Ano po ang aming kasalanan at ipinagkait sa amin ang kumita ng maganda?
Kumuha ako ng hulugan na bahay para sa pamilya ko nitong kasalukuyang taon. Papano ko na ito mababayaran?
Sana po hindi na lang ako naging Pilipino para 'di ko naranasan ang ma-ban.
Nakahanda kaming mag-pirma ng ano man na waiver na walang pananagutan
ang gubyerno ng Pilipinas kung ano ang mangyayari sa amin dito. Mas mainam na ito kaysa mamatay kami sa gutom at hirap ng buhay sa Pilipinas.
Marami akong anak na pinapaaral. Sana mabuksan ang isip nila at alisin na ang ban sa mga bandang apektado na may mga Filipinong uma asang umasenso kahit
paano.
Maraming salamat po.. at mabuhay po kayo.
Karl Anthony
