OWWA's Undeclared Priority

Last September the Filipino cyber community was flooded with letters of appeal addressed to various government agencies back home, particularly OWWA, seeking assitance for and in behalf of Roberto Panganiban, an OFW in Dubai who was sent home after being diagnosed of cancer.

After four months of waiting and follow up none of the government agencies concerned lift a finger to find out what help can be given to Roberto, one of those 'modern day' heroes.

Last December Roberto wrote Malacanang and the Commission on Filipinos Overseas telling them that he can no longer stand nor move his legs. I thought that was a last effort on his part to touch the heart of those who have the power to ask the PCSO, PGH, and yes OWWA to come to the rescue of Roberto. But nobody moved. Last Thursday, February 7, Roberto joined his Master.

The case of Roberto is a classic example why OFWs have always complained about OWWA. To many OWWA is just good at collecting fees. In the vernacular, maraming nagsasabi na ginagatasan lang ng OWWA ang mga OFW. And the government cannot blame those people for such comments, because the fact is helping the OFWs is not OWWA's priority. Otherwise OWWA should be spending more than the 3% of fund balance that it currently spends on services. Administrartor Marianito Roque was quoted once as saying that the main goal of OWWA at present is to achieve the TEN BILLION PESOS reserve which is estimated to be the amount needed to repatriate almost all the OFWs in the Middle East in case of civil disturbance in the region. Kaya seguro hindi nila matulungan si Roberto even if his is a case of life and death. Reading what the OWWA administrator said, I asked myself: why are we being tasked to build up our own repatriation fund? Is it not enough that we contribute to the nation's economy? And where is the repartriation fund that Congress is supposed to budget for every year as mandated by the Migrant Workers Act?

When we questioned why OWWA funds were used to repatriate the OFWs stranded in Lebanon during a meeting with CFO Chair Dante Ang two weeks ago, the good chairman of CFO said "mga Filipino pa rin naman ang mga yon, kaya kahit hindi sila member ng OWWA bayaan na natin." Oo nga naman, bakit natin ipagkakait ang tulong sa kapwa Filipino. But here is a case of a bonafide member of OWWA asking for help. The member is dying yet OWWA said NO, that case of Permanent Disability is not covered by the member's "insurance poliicy". On one hand OWWA makes use of the members money to help non-members; on the other OWWA refuses to help a legitimate dying member. Where is justice in this case?

A couple of days ago, I was informed by Miss Jennifer Gonzales, executive director of the Commission on Filipinos Overseas, that OWWA is now willing to pay the family of Roberto some One Hundred Twenty Thousand Pesos in insurance benefits.

I would have jumped with joy. But then I thought of the days when Roberto was agonizing in pain. And I asked myself, why only now?

To this date, the government is still to fulfill one of two wishes Roberto had asked. That is, for the POEA to investigate the work invironment of the Maritime Industrial Services, Roberto's employer in Dubai, to determine if it was the cause of cancer that killed Roberto, so that the lives of other Filipinos still working in that company may be spared.

This time we pray, POEA and OWWA will act without hesitation.