Removal of unnecessary government-imposed fees and charges, OFWs ‘litmus’ test to P-Noy’s political will

Published on July 14, 2010

Press Release
14 July 2010

Disgruntled due to numerous impositions of government fees and charges and the recent increase in passport renewal and replacement abroad, an alliance of Filipino migrants group in the Middle East today said the removal of unnecessary government-imposed fees and charges is OFWs litmus test to President Benigno Noynoy Aquino III.

“The Aquino administration in its quest introducing reform in the government would soon be making important decisions based on sound political will; OFWs will be the first to test his political will by urging him to remove all unnecessary government-imposed fees and charges to OFWs,” said John Leonard Monterona, Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator.

Monterona said that OFWs and their families would be glad if the President had already considered lowering the fees of passport renewal and replacement, among other many fees charge by the government to OFWs and would-be OFWs.

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Monterona said for instance would-be OFWs would usually spend P25,000 to P50,000 for deployment formalities in the form of various fees and charges required by the government before he or she will be deployed abroad.

“This is aside from the placement fees collected by recruitment agencies normally equivalent to OFW’s 1-month salary, but some unscrupulous recruitment agents are collecting even higher than this,” he said.

Monterona cited the new schedules of e-passport renewal and replacement fees being implemented by the Department of Foreign Affairs in various posts abroad where there are large concentration of OFWs.

“The fees being charged at post abroad are at the rate which is triple higher than the rate in the homeland,” Monterona explained.

The Saudi-based OFW leader cited an example the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh that charges 240SR for passport renewal from previous 200SR, which is about P2,880 (1:12 riyal-peso conversion), whereas e-passport renewal at DFA-main offices in Pasay will cost only P750 or little more.

Passport replacement in case of lost and damage will cost 600SR based on the new schedule of rate issued by the RP post in Riyadh.

Monterona further said another important Executive action Migrante is looking for is the nullification of the OWWA Omnibus Policies implemented in 2004 under the Arroyo government that practically stop and/or diminish the welfare and social services for OFWs and their dependents.

“We are also urging the President to arrange to review the budget allocation system of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) that would prescribe the proper use of the OWWA funds so that it may not be misused and misallocated,” Monterona added.

The OWWA fund, which is now amounting to P13.6-B, is a compulsory collection of US$25 membership fee from every deployed OFWs and is renewed every two years.

“We will campaign for the lowering of this fee and must not be a pre-condition in the issuance of Overseas Employment Certificate which is tantamount to “hold-up”,” Monterona added.

He said all these prospective measures are within the ambit of the President’s Executive Power, and by mere executive decree or order, these could easily be done by Pres. Aquino if he has political will to do so.

“We believe the imposition of government fees and other state exactions are within the bounds of the President’s so called Executive Power, thus he could control and regulate it by lowering the fees to the level that is reasonable and just for struggling OFWs and their dependents,” Monterona averred.

“This will serve as OFWs litmus test to the President’s political will,” Monterona ended. (Bulatlat.com)

Reference:
John Leonard Monterona
Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator