By CIELO FLORES In a press conference, Migrante, along with OFW-victims of abuse and kin of migrant workers launched the Migrants Seven-point Covenant addressed to candidates to the May 2010 elections. Candidates who sign the covenant commit to review and work for the repeal of existing laws that exploit OFWs and to propose new policies that will further protect the rights and welfare of OFWs. Martinez said, “It is significant that several of the candidates for senator have committed themselves to work for the realization of the demands (of OFWs). These demands have fallen on deaf ears under the Arroyo administration.” Nacionalista Party senatorial bets Gilbert Remulla, Gwen Pimentel, Liza Maza, Tito Sotto and Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino candidate Apolinario Lozada forged the agreement with Migrante, OFWs and their relatives. “In the 35 years that the Labor Export Policy of the government has been implemented, six to ten dead OFWs return home on a daily basis and 60 others have been sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia alone,” Martinez said, saying that this is what they get in exchange for keeping the economy afloat with their remittances, especially in the face of the financial crisis. The Covenant The covenant is a list of seven demands that Migrante has consolidated. First in the list of demands is to hold President Gloria Arroyo accountable for crimes of corruption, plunder and violations of human rights. Second is the repeal of the “unfair and abusive” Overseas Workers Welfare Administration Omnibus Policies, which was passed and implemented under Arroyo administration. The OWWA Omnibus Policies, according Martinez, have made OFWs virtual milking cows [2]. The covenant also seeks to review the bilateral agreements, which are contrary to laws that protect the rights of migrants, workers, and women, that were entered into by the Arroyo government with receiving countries. It seeks improvements in on-site services and protection for OFWs, and an increase in benefits that accrue to them and their families. It demands for immediate legal assistance for OFWs in jail and in death row abroad, as well as urgent assistance for stranded OFWs who have escaped from exploitative working conditions. The covenant also asks the signatories to author more laws that will prosecute illegal recruiters, human traffickers and exploiters of migrant workers. Migrante asked candidates to support and carry this covenant in their respective platforms should they be elected for public office in May 10. Senatoriables In the said press conference, Makabayan senatorial bet and Nacionalista Party guest candidate Liza Maza talked about the government’s lack of action in dealing with cases of OFWs abroad, as well as those who have returned. “We are practically living by the sweat of OFWs and they deserve government protection for their working and living conditions abroad. The Macapagal-Arroyo administration is remiss in its duty to protect the rights and welfare of OFWs.” Maza said onerous exactions from OFWs should be rescinded. These exactions, Maza said, include the mandatory $25 OWWA fee and other fees that OFWs have to pay to the government before leaving to work abroad. She added that there should be bilateral agreements between the Philippines and receiving countries, which would result in the enactment of policies and procedures that would ensure that the welfare of OFWs will be taken cared of. Maza said the next set of government officials should also focus on issues such as genuine agrarian reform and national industrialization so that Filipinos would no longer need to work abroad to support their families. “It should also invite OFWs abroad to return home.” Nacionalista Party senatorial candidate Tito Sotto, and Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino senatorial bet Apolinario Lozada proposed the abolition of the OWWA and the removal of the functions of the Department of Foreign Affairs that deal with the affairs of OFWs. In its stead, they proposed the creation of a sole government agency that will ensure the promotion and protection of the rights and welfare of OFWs. Lozada, former presidential adviser for foreign affairs under the Ramos adminstration, said that the OWWA does not even keep the public informed on where it spent the membership fees paid by OFWs since 1997. “They are called modern day heroes,” Lozada said, “Yet they are not given enough support by the government.” Representatives of Gilbert Remulla and Gwen Pimentel, both running under the NP, said their principals fully support the covenant. Rey Achacoso, Remulla’s representative, said the senatorial bet might be young but he has already witnessed a lot of injustices that is happening in the country today. “He would be pushing for an increase in jobs available locally,” Achacoso said. Luigi Gana, husband of Pimentel, said his wife would give the Department of Foreign Affairs a failing grade for its inability to provide the assistance needed by OFWs. He said the issue of OFWs is close to Pimentel’s heart because she is an advocate of the welfare of families. “Many families have been torn apart because of the labor export policy,” he said, adding that children are the most vulnerable in family break-ups.
Migrante International, the largest Filipino migrants group, has always been at the forefront of advocating and struggling for migrants’ rights. On Thursday April 15, the overseas Filipino workers’ (OFW) group launched another milestone in their struggle for migrants’ rights. 
Senatoriables Vicente Sotto III, Liza Maza, and Apolinario Lozada sign the Migrants Seven-point Covenant. (Photo courtesy of Migrante International / bulatlat.com)
Being part of the women’s group Gabriela for so many years, Maza said, she has witnessed many cases of exploitative conditions that OFWs have to endure [3]. She mentioned the tragic case of Flor Contemplacion, the problems of mail-order brides, and human trafficking.
The covenant gives hope to OFWs and their families. Migrante, for its part, vows to continue working for the promotion and protection of the rights and welfare of OFWs and more importantly, to work for a society where Filipinos would no longer have to work abroad to be able to support their families. (With reports from Janess Ann J. Ellao / bulatlat.com [1])