THIS is in response to the articles in the Philippine Daily Inquirer (PDI) on the survey conducted by the Center for Migrant Advocacy (CMA) on the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA).
OWWA welcomes the intention behind the conduct of the survey as it can be a tool to improve our programs and services. However, we would like to register our observations to correct certain misconceptions that the study generated.
1. The purpose of the survey was to gain the respondents’ perception of OWWA to consequently “formulate a legislative agenda for the structuring of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration.” For this end, it is not surprising that CMA would post leading questions that are biased against OWWA. We anticipate that the questions are slanted to provoke negative responses which supported CMA’s conclusions.
2. The sampling is grossly inadequate. A sample size of 400 respondents is not, by any stretch of imagination, representative of the total population of OFWs. CMA admits that it did not attempt to cover the population of more than four million OFWs, but the least it could have done is comply with the standard methodology on surveys and sampling.
Moreover, as only a relatively small percentage of the OFWs are IT-literate and have access to the Internet compared to the total population, the survey is expected to reach a marginal number of OFWs.
3. Aside from the sample size, the demographics is also questionable. CMA may have assumed that these respondents are all contract workers, OWWA senses otherwise.
The results and testimonials give an impression the respondents may have included overseas Filipinos that are NOT contract workers, much less members of OWWA. The websites where the survey was uploaded are accessible to all classifications of migrant Filipinos -- permanent (immigrants), temporary (contract workers), and irregular workers alike. It is not surprising, therefore, if some of the respondents do not know OWWA’s functions, much less be familiar with how OWWA operates as opposed to the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) or the Philippine Embassy.
To require that OWWA state its functions clearly requires familiarity with the functions of the Embassy, the CFO & the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) as a number of proposed policy changes on OWWA are beyond its mandate.
4. The conclusions are misleading. The CMA based its conclusion that there is an inefficient communication line between OWWA and the OFWs on 93 percent of the respondents who have not even availed of an OWWA program. There was an assumption that the respondents “attempted to access” OWWA services but were discouraged due to hearsay (many bad experiences are not the personal to those who responded to the survey). Likewise, the survey did not elaborate what it means by “attempt to access.” The survey item was only answerable by YES, NO and N/A (“If you have availed of any of these services, was it successful in meeting your welfare needs?”).
5. One aim of the survey is to determine the level of awareness of the respondents regarding OWWA operations. However, while awareness may be indicative of extensive information dissemination and publicity, a lack of it may not necessarily suggest a defective structure. Nor will restructuring OWWA improve the OFWs’ awareness level. The lack of awareness and a rather negative image may simply point to a need for an intensified information dissemination drive.
In its 26 years of service, the OWWA has seen through several mass repatriations, represented thousands of overseas Filipino workers (OFW) in conciliations with foreign employers, released millions worth of insurance claims, education and training scholarships, and livelihood programs for OFWs and their families.
While there has been an increased awareness of OWWA programs in recent years due to measures to make OWWA accessible to OFW families in every province and the recognition of best practices by OFW families (through the Model OFW Family of the Year Award or MOFYA), OWWA continues its information and education campaign in order to make its programs known and accessible. Aside from forming OFW Family Circles, the signing of Memoranda of Agreement between OWWA and local government units nationwide to set up the Migrant Workers Desk, and networking with Filipino communities overseas, OWWA also makes use of tri-media and partnerships with corporate establishments to reach out to OFWs and their families.
We value any feedback that OWWA receives from OFWs and social partners and only expect objectivity and fair investigation. From our end, we continue to strive to improve operations to be of best service to OFWs and their families.
Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, via e-mail
OWWA responds
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How could OWWA raised their funds for the OFW if it is already drained due to enormous foreign travel and leisure of GMA. She never cares for what kind of blood money she spend of. HM, King Anthony S. Martin, since you are our economic savior, this is the right time for you to reveal yourself and explain to us how these money that the world trembled be prepared to enter in our country which Senate killed Cha-Cha of GMA due to their desire to claim Office of the Presidency to control the flow of Filipino People's Money used by the world.
I still believe that OWWA has its best objectives for us OFWs. However, just like any other government agencies, it is prone to corruption, ineptitude, inefficiency, and the propensity towards infallibility sine qua non.
pffft.... there is only one word that could describe all branches of the philippine government... inutil. you may wonder why filipinos abroad would bother organizing groups that would help their kababayans if what owwa and the embassies offer are adequate? why don't you just dispense with the usual defensive bullsh*t and prove what you're saying?
I share OWWA's view on No. 2:
"2. The sampling is grossly inadequate. A sample size of 400 respondents is not, by any stretch of imagination, representative of the total population of OFWs. CMA admits that it did not attempt to cover the population of more than four million OFWs, but the least it could have done is comply with the standard methodology on surveys and sampling."
It is the same question I raise about public surveys conducted by SWS and others. Their surveys claim more than half of population is living below the poverty line; three fourths of population say the president is the most unpopular leader; the current government is most corrupt, etc. With all these negative claims it would seem time must be ripe for the people to bring down this government. But time and again when there are calls for public support only a handful of demonstrators mostly the regular ones, the paid and professional rabble rousers show up.
Public surveys are done so often chiefly for political reasons I have lost faith in them. Political groups use them to deliver falsehoods.
I must have missed out the other things the OWWA did, they service also non-OFWs?
OFW's money to pay for the salary of this OWWA officer is going down the drain every minute of time she spent in preparing another feel good speech.She should have at least spent some effort providing data and details to support her claims and let the people who were benefitted speak for OWWA.Advise to this OWWA officer;use OFW's money wisely,if you need to compose a useless lengthy dispute; do it after working hours. Gather all the facts and create a blog may be a better option that people can accept.Say no more to "lip" service.
HM, King Anthony S. Martin, you're our answer to this economic chaos. OFW Watch
Ako po ay isang manggagawa dito sa gitnang silangan at gaya ng iba, nandito po nagbabanat ng buto para magsilbi sa lupa ng mga dayuhan.
Nakakalungkot pong isipin dahil sa sakripisyo ng ama sa kanyang pamilya na magkaroon ng magandang kinabukasan, ay kailangan pong mangibang bansa. Ang puno't dulo nito ay ang kawalan ng trabaho na maibigay ang gobyerno sa mga mamamayang pilipino. At kung meron mang trabaho ayon sa kakayahan ng isang pilipino, ang pangunahing kadahilanan upang umalis ay ang hindi sapat na pasahod.
Ang isa po pong "dagok" sa ating pilipino ay ang pagpunta ng dakilang "presidente" dito po sa Qatar at ipahayag na may sapat na trabaho sa gitnang silangan.
Dagok sa kadahilanang bagkus na ang pagpunta ng isang lider ng bansa ay hikayatin na bumalik sa Pilipinas ang mga magulang, pilit pa netong ipagtulakan ang isang magulang para mawalay sa kanyang minamahal sa lupang tinubuan.
Kung inyo pong babatayan ang kakayahan ng isang lider ay hindi po sa pagkakaroon ng mga trabaho sa ibang bansa kung hindi po ang kakayahan na makapaglikha ng maraming trabaho sa sariling bayan.
Nagmamahal,
Ama ng Tahanan
stupid OWWA!!wala naman kayung nagagawa sa mga kababayan natin dito sa ibang bansa...walang naitulong, dagdag pa sa papasanin ng mga OFWs..From where I am now, many filipinos are victims of illegal recruiters, and yet, it is us ordinary OFWs who are raising money and funds so that our fellow kababayans can go home!what are these government agencies doing???will someone please tell me what use are these so called ambassadors who cant even be contacted??
Except for the Police/military, Education, MMDA, karamihan sa ating mga sanga ng Burukrasya ay Top heavy. Malaking budget pero maliit o halos walang pakinabang sa ilalim - burloloys.
Maybe government can save money by desolving OWWA and modify POEA and DFA to assume its functions.
I had been an OFW hindi ko narinig ang OWWA na ito o nagkaroon ng dealing maliban sa POEA.
DONATO, lubos kong nauunawaan ang iyong hinanaing (No. 8) na dagok wika mo ni Gloria na magkaroon pa ng trabaho sa Middle East imbis na palawakin ang trabaho sa Pilipinas at ng makauwi na ang mga OFWs. In the first place, dumadami na rin ang bagong trabaho dito ngunit mas dumadami pa rin ang walang trabaho dahil taon taon mahigit na isang milyon ang nag gra-graduate sa universities and colleges.
Maraming kautusan si Gloria na salungat ako, ngunit ang paghanap niya ng trabaho sa ibang bayan para sa nangangailangan ay mabuti naman sa dahilang kulang ang trabaho dito sa Pilipinas. Ngunit kung ang nais mo ay bumalik sa Pilipinas at makipagsapalaran iyan ay nasa sa iyo. Ano ang pipiliin mo may trabaho ka diyan o umuwi ka dito na walang trabaho pwede ka pang mamatay ng gutom?
The problem with our government is that it creates so many sub-agencies which turns out to be white elephants (useless).
Being a very very poor country that only survives on dole out and both foreign and domestic loans, our government should scale down its agencies on the different deportments.
One Agency is the Department of Foreign Affairs. Having so many consulates and embassies is not practical. Why appoint the wife of Senator Enrile to the Vatican?
Was his wife's appointment to the Vatican a reward for Senator Juan Ponce Enrile for changing his loyalty from Opposition to the Malacanang side, on top of the aborted thousand of logging concession in Samar.
Why not consolidate our embassy base on region (except the middle east where services is much needed) to save money.
Our government is pretending to treat everything as "business as usual" when in fact it is already bankrupt!
We are on dire economic situation. Why not dissolve monentarily the department of Fisherist, the Department of Animal INdustry, the Department of Soil Management, and other out-dated agencies. Much more, why not consolidate these agencies under one dapartment?
Why not dissolve all inter agancy intelligence branches to save money. We have useless intelligent agencies where-in funds are just wasted for nothing.
We have intelligence in the Army, Navy, Airforce, Malacanang, Lower House, Upper House, and all sorts of intelligence agencies, yet when the terrorist bomb explodes, no one admits their failure. So, abolish them once and for all, instead, use the money for more productive venture like building of more hospitals.
Why not combine DENR and DAR. These two agencies are almost inutil and billions and billions is lost to corruption.
Why rent big establishments for government offices? Who profits from the rentals. At the age of Computer, I can operate a Department with just fifty people instead of thousands. Why invest billions and billions of pesos which just go to waste.
The problem with our government is that it is run by TRAPOS and corrupt oligarch whoes motive is to squander and steal the peoples hard earned taxes.
WHAT HAPPEN TO THE ONE TRILLION AND TWO HUNDRED BILLION PESOS BUDGET OF 2008? Did PGMA use them on her travel all over the globe making stupid speeches? Did she use it to view Manny Paquiao's fight?
The price of hybrid rice, the insecticides, the fertilizer, and food are all record high. Where is the SUBSIDIES MADAM PRESIDENT. Tell us!
Madam President and Senator Villar listen! Two beggars died in the midst of celebration last New Year. AND THEY DIED OF HUNGER!
Both of you are guilty on the overpricing of NORTH AND SOUTH RAIL, and the C-5, yet two beggars died, while everyone is celebrating the NEW YEAR, because they have nothing to eat.
A sample size of 400 respondents is not, by any stretch of imagination, representative of the total population of OFWs. CMA admits that it did not attempt to cover the population of more than four million OFWs, but the least it could have done is comply with the standard methodology on surveys and sampling. Moreover, as only a relatively small percentage of the OFWs are IT-literate and have access to the Internet compared to the total population, the survey is expected to reach a marginal number of OFWs.
Best regards, Alex, CEO of youtube converter
A sample size of 400 respondents is not, by any stretch of imagination, representative of the total population of OFWs.
Best regards, Katya, CEO of dvd burner drive, datacore iscsi
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