Jinggoy calls OFWs 'modern superheroes,' vows help for the sector

MANILA, Philippines - Describing Filipinos who toil in foreign lands as “modern superheroes," Senate President Pro tempore Jose “Jinggoy" Estrada urged government to exert more efforts in protecting their interests and welfare. He stressed the need to "serve our OFWs and their loved ones better and with more intensity because we owe them much for whatever economic stability we are having now in spite of the political scandals now affecting this government." Speaking at the launching of Cinema Diaspora as part of a four-day celebration of the first anniversary of the Labor department’s Migration Information Resource Center, Estrada also encouraged the film industry to produce more movies about the struggles of Filipino workers abroad. "The film is the medium that allows us to understand and feel, even vicariously the difficulties and predicaments of migrant workers. Then we will know what they go through as they confront day to day struggles in foreign lands," the senator said. The film “Katas ng Saudi" that he produced for last year’s Metro Manila Film Festival is among the movies that will be presented at the festival of movies inspired by experiences of joys and sorrows of Filipinos abroad. The movie received the MMFF’s Gatpuno Villegas Cultural Award in December. Estrada said the film industry is not only a avenue for creative expression but also exposition of social realities. With the theme "Tungo sa Pandaigdigang Kaalaman para sa OFW," Estrada said that although local products may not have gone global, Filipino migrant workers, both land- and sea-based, did and are in fact very much in demand. "They have earned the respect of employers all over the world, and in return we must earn their respect here by exerting more efforts to protect their interests and welfare and to support their needs," Estrada stressed. Estrada concurrently chairs the Senate committee on labor, employment and human resources development and the joint congressional oversight committee on labor and employment. He lamented that in exchange for keeping the economy afloat with the dollar remittances of OFWs, the Philippines has been losing its professionals and specialists who are leaving the country in droves. Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas recorded a 13.2 percent increase in OFW remittances from $12.8 billion in 2006 to $14.45 billion in 2007. DOLE-MIRC is tasked to "promote information exchange on migration and support efforts of migration stakeholders in uplifting welfare of OFWs and their families through research and formulation of migration policies and programs." It is primarily managed by the policy and advocacy arm of DOLE, Institute for Labor Studies (ILS) under executive director Cynthia Rodis-Cruz. Other activities prepared in line with the anniversary celebration include the launching of MIRC Interactive website and ILS Trade Central, Public Lecture Series on Prospects in Movement in Natural Persons, on-the-spot poster making contest and art exhibit. - GMANews.TV