Agencies are urged to coordinate actions

Manila: Two government agencies involved in protecting Filipino migrant workers are being urged to coordinate their actions so they can better serve their mandate.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) should get their act together so there is no confusion over the imposition of a deployment ban on overseas Filipino workers in 41 countries, Senator Loren Legarda said in a statement.

The POEA, in its Board Resolution No 07 adopted on October 28, banned sending Filipino workers to 41 countries. The resolution had cited that Philippines embassies and consulates have certified that 41 countries covered by the ban have not been compliant with the guarantees provided under the Migrant Workers Act or Republic Act (RA) 10022.

Countries included in the ban, which will be implemented next week, are those where there are thousands of Filipino migrant workers such as Iraq and Afghanistan, among others.

Some countries recruiting Filipino workers had also protested against the ban saying that they believe that they are compliant with guarantees stipulated by the RA 10022.

‘Compelling reasons'

However, DFA Secretary Albert Del Rosario, in a November 3 statement said the DFA believes that there are "compelling reasons" for the POEA to defer action on the ban.

"The list does not seek to pass any value judgment on any country. It serves as a crucial benchmark for all government agencies concerned to work for the betterment of the safety, welfare and working conditions of our nationals," Del Rosario said.

The conflicting stand of the POEA and DFA on the issue caused confusion and apprehension among overseas Filipino workers, who are wary the POEA Board Resolution could leave them without jobs.

To remedy the mix-up, Legarda said the POEA and the DFA should clarify the issue among their agencies first before coming up with a resolution that will affect thousands of Filipinos.

"How can we genuinely protect the interests and well-being of ten million Filipinos overseas if our government agencies cannot even get their act together?" Legarda asked.

"I understand it was the intent of the POEA to implement the provisions of the law. The question, however, rests on how the decision to impose a deployment ban on 41 countries was reached."