Lower remittance charges for OFWs, PNoy urges ASEAN members

 Make it cheaper for OFWs to send money home, President Benigno Aquino III urged other ASEAN nations during his summit with other regional leaders. In his arrival speech after the ASEAN Summit in Cambodia, Aquino said he asked other ASEAN governments to lower remittance charges for migrant workers, including overseas Filipino workers. ASEAN is short for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. "Kaya naman isinulong natin ang pangangalaga sa kapakanan at proteksyon ng ating migrant workers, at inudyok natin ang ASEAN na tularan ang binuo nating sistema na nagpapababa sa mga remittance charges. Kung dati, kalbaryo ng mga kababayan natin ang patung-patong na service fees at back-end processing fees na umaabot mula P150 hanggang P500 tuwing sila ay nagpapadala, ngayon, P55 na lamang ang standard fee na kanilang babayaran. Tiwala tayong maisasakatuparan din ito ng lahat ng bansang kasapi sa ASEAN, at makakapaghatid ng tulong-pinansyal sa ating OFWs," he said. Aquino also touted tighter coordination on disaster response between the Philippines and its fellow member states in ASEAN as he returned Wednesday night from Cambodia. Aquino, in his arrival speech, said the Philippines has high hopes for the ASEAN Coordinating Center for Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Management (AHA Center). "Nakipagdiyalogo din po tayo patungkol sa disaster risk reduction and management, upang higit na mapabuti ang kooperasyon at bayanihan ng buong Timog-Silangang Asya tuwing may banta ng sakuna. Inaasahan nating sa tuluyang pag-usad ng ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Management (AHA Centre), mas magiging maagap, mas handa at mas epektibo nating matutugunan ang anumang posibilidad ng trahedya, upang mas tiyak din nating mailalayo sa peligro ang buhay at ari-arian ng mga Pilipino," he said. The Philippines has yet to recover from the devastation brought by tropical storm Sendong (Washi), which caused more than 1,200 deaths when it hit several areas in Mindanao last December. Aquino also voiced optimism for a rice reserve mechanism for ASEAN member states to draw from in case they experience a rice shortage. "Patunay ang mga ito sa aktibo nating pakikilahok para pangalagaan ang interes at estabilidad, hindi lamang ng Pilipinas, kundi maging ng buong rehiyon," he said. He also reiterated the Philippines' call for a rules-based approach to resolving the Spratly row in the West Philippine Sea. During the 20th ASEAN Summit, Aquino had said the Philippines is willing to host a meeting among the claimants to the Spratlys. The other claimants include China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei. He also said it is important that ASEAN, four of whose members are among the claimants, draw up its own stand on the matter before meeting with China. "Ang pagbibigay-prayoridad sa kapakanan ng mga miyembro ng ASEAN, sa halip na sundin ang utos ng iba. Tiwala po tayong ito ang magiging instrumento sa pagsusulong ng kapayapaan sa West Philippine Sea, gayundin sa paniniguro na ang karapatan at soberenya ng Pilipinas ay lubos nating napapangalagaan," he said. Meanwhile, Aquino reminded Filipinos to remember the sacrifices of Christ during the Holy Week, and to continue helping others. "Patuloy lang po tayong magbayanihan, at sigurado pong darating ang makabuluhang pagbabago sa atin pong bansa," said Aquino, a Catholic. – KBK/HS, GMA News