OFW group: Planned closure of PHL embassies 'impractical'

Migrante International, a global alliance of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and families said the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs' (DFA) plan to close down 12 embassies and consulates by the end of 2012 was "insensitive" and "impractical." “Not only is it highly impractical but outright insensitive to the plight of our OFWs. We have a shortage of Philippine posts abroad as it is," Garry Martinez, Migrante International chairperson, said in a news release on Wednesday. Martinez said, "we cannot afford to have less Philippine posts when more than 10% of our population is abroad," Martinez said. "It is unfortunate that the Aquino administration is assailing embassies and consulates, the very support system of our OFWs abroad, for its austerity measures and at the expense of welfare services for OFWs," he said. “Sa halip na bawasan, dapat pa ngang dagdagan ang mga embahada at konsulado sa ibang bansa. Kulang na kulang ang mga ito para bigyan ng serbisyo ang mga kababayan natin," he added. Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario said on Tuesday the DFA aims to close down 12 posts abroad by the end of 2012. During Tuesday's Senate finance committee hearing on the proposed budget of the DFA, del Rosario said that they sent a memorandum to President Benigno Aquino III last September 30 about the plan to "rationalize" country's posts abroad. "In our memorandum to the President we have recommended the closure of 12 posts over two years," he said. In an interview after the hearing, Del Rosario refused to reveal the 12 posts. "I cannot identify (them) I think that recommendation has been made to the President, we're waiting for him to act on it," he said. Lack of embassies? Meanwhile, Martinez said there are many areas abroad where there are big concentrations of OFWs but are lacking in Philippines posts. According to him, there are currently 66 Philippine embassies, 23 consulates and four diplomatic missions worldwide. Overseas Filipinos are situated in at least 239 countries around the world. Martinez said the logic of closing down embassies and consulates to save funds is irrational. Senator Franklin Drilon said the Philippine government will save P100 million to P150 million from the closure of 12 embassies and consulates. - with a report by Kim Tan, VVP, GMA News