A Call for True and Honest Service of OWWA to OFWs

We, overseas Filipino workers and friends worldwide, are not happy with the cold treatment afforded by Administrator Marianito Roque and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), as whole, to the late OFW Roberto E. Panganiban. He approached OWWA to seek help as he was dying of cancer and there Roque was, insisting on the OWWA rule that cancer is not covered by its insurance policy! We remember the same approach the OWWA head gave to the late OFW Jocelyn Dulnuan, the caregiver who was brutally murdered in Canada not too long ago. He also refused assistance then, claiming that the late Dulnuans membership to OWWA had already lapsed. We believe that there are other cases of neglect and we do strongly feel that OWWA is not responsive to the needs of all OFWs.

We believe, that in the light of Roques insensitiveness, he doesnt deserve to be looking after the interest of OFWs. We, therefore, demand that he leaves his post.

We demand that the family of the late Panganiban be given, in the soonest time possible, death and burial benefits, whether he was covered or not under OWWAs policy.

We also demand for OWWAs restructuring, especially upgrading of its insurance policy, health benefits and other services. We demand that OWWA be not selective in serving the OFWs as we believe that each OFW deserves to be given the best service there is.
Likewise, we demand an audit and a report of the OWWA Fund. We are aware that billions of pesos have already been accumulated in over two decades of OWWAs existence. We strongly believe that as owners of the fund, OFWs, solely, are entitled to it and have the right to know how and where it is being kept.

Lastly, we demand that the OFWs, through representations taken from their own rank and through some ex-OFWs and non-OFWs they uniformly agree on, should have a voice, and a majority one, in decision making within the OWWA structure.

We will not stop until the OFWs get treated humanely and timely and we will continue to raise our voices to this effect.

Yours,
Concerned OFWs and Friends