LEGAZPI CITY, April 23 (PIA) -- The creation of the Committee on Migration and Development (CMD) in Bicol is seen to institutionalize the programs and sustain initiatives in mainstraming migration and development in the region.
In the recently conducted planning workshop, the committtee has identified gaps in carrying out policies and programs on migration and development, including database development; pre-departure needs such as orientation seminar, medical certification, trainings and skill certifications; investment opportunities and advocacy initiatives.
For database development, the committee has recommended to concerned agencies to come up with a common and accurate statistics on Filipino migrants.
The concerned agencies, including the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), Philippine Overseas Employent Authority (POEA), Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), among others, should lead the profiling of Filipino migrants with standard data format in provincies, cities and municipalities to facilitate the consolidation of data in the regional and national levels.
“We need to synchronize the data to ensure consistency on the statistics pertaining to Filipino migrants. The Philippine embassies, Bureau of Immigration and Deportation (BID) and DFA can also be tapped for further data verification,” said NEDA Bicol director Agnes Espinas, who also co-chaired the CMD.
The data or profile of onducomented OFWs or mignrants can als0 be sourced out from PSA survey or local government-initiated Community-Based Management System (CBMS), according to here,
The committee also observed that completion of recruitment or hiring and deployment process are usually done in Metro Manila incurring more time and resources for one who wants to work abroad.
There are so far neither recruitment agencies in the region authorized to conduct the pre-departure oreintation seminar (PDOS) nor clinics or hospital in the region that are allowed to issue medical certificate, trainings and issuance of certification for this purpose but all are done in Manila.
The committee deemed it necessary and recommended that such should be made available and accessible in the region.
The same recommended the inclusion of seminar on responsible parenthood for parents and psycho-social sessions for children in the conduct of PDOS.
Concerns of returning OFWs, according to the report of the committee, should also be addressed by the agencies on economic sector the likes of mapping of business opportunities, incentives and capital or financing window that will cater to their needs.
Agencies concerned can provide them counselling and mentoring throughout business incubation.
While the same overseer group recommended that CMD, especially agencies with OFW or migrant Filipinos focused-concerns should step up information, education and communication drive among the populace and advocacy campaign among policy makers and decision makers pertaining to the numerous government programs and policies for the protection of rights and welfare of the sector.
The committee is created by virtue of Resolution No. 55, series of 2014, of the Regional Development Council (RDC) of Bicol to help expedite local processing of documentation and provide easy access for trainings to develop skills among overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and migrants.
The CMD also intends to promote the complementation of intervetions among stakeholders to address concerns arising from migration and developments from pre-departure to re-integration.
The committee is also tasked to monitor the implementation of migration and development programs at the local level, further, carry out advocacy activities to ensure protection of rights and welfare of migrants. (MAL-PIA5/Albay)