People urged to pick leaders who focus attention on labour migration
Elections touted as perfect sounding board for floating population
Manila: The Catholic Church, which is commemorating National Migrants Day today, has called on Filipinos to elect national leaders who will address the plight of migrant workers.
The Episcopal Commission on Migrant and Itinerant People (ECMI) said the May 10 national elections should be looked upon by migrant workers and their families as an opportunity to elect leaders who will address the plight of migrants and promote their cause.
"The migrants sector regards the upcoming election as a critical time to assess the stance of political candidates on the issue of migration. Both Church and migrants' sector believe that a strong political will is needed for good governance to take effect in the country's leadership," the ECMI said.
The theme for the 24th National Migrants Day is ‘Sustainable economic development: Key to an effective migrant family reunification.'
The ECMI said the celebrations were aimed at highlighting the Church's response to the growing concern of labour migration.
According to ECMI, the decline in the socio-economic and political environment in the country had encouraged Filipinos to leave the country and seek better-paying jobs abroad.
"Many Filipinos, especially the poor, are quick to consider migration as the only option to combat economic poverty and social injustice," said the ECMI, which is affiliated to the the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).
