MANILA, March 19, 2010- An official of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) called on presidentiables to have a concrete platform of governance in alleviating the plight of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs).
Fr. Edwin Corros, executive secretary of the CBCP's Episcopal Commission for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People (ECMI), said that most of presidential aspirants do not show enthusiasm in ensuring the rights and welfare of the OFWs and their families.
"Apparently, nothing seems shimmering in the flat form or program among most candidates," Corros said.
He said that Filipinos abroad want to know whether the president will have programs that address economic woes, particularly lack of job opportunities in the Philippines and the complete protection of the OFW's rights and welfare.
Corros said the country's next leaders must solve the cause of the woes that people are facing and have forced millions of Filipinos to leave their families to try their luck overseas.
"We've been repeating the same thing from previous leaders up to the present the challenge is still the same," he said.
Reviewing the bills that have impacted to the migrant sector, he said that ECMI could not find something significant that candidates especially coming from among former legislators could claim genuine benefits to the OFWs and their families.
"In fact for the future leaders this has always been the challenge for them to create an economic sustainable environment in our country so that our people have an option whether to stay or just leave," added Corros. (CBCPNews)