MALACAÑANG on Monday said government is pouring its
"protection measures" for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the provinces,
where the families of the semi-skilled OFWs are located to protect them from
currency fluctuations.
Deputy presidential spokesman Anthony Golez said the
semi-skilled OFWs, or those earning $200-$399 a month are the ones having a
tougher time dealing with the effects of the stronger peso and the weakening
dollar.
Reports said OFWs lost P24 billion in terms of income last
year.
Golez said the labor department is focusing its efforts on
the provinces of Samar, Leyte, North Cotabato, Zamboanga, Iloilo, Aklan, Capiz,
Maguindanao, South Cotabato, Agusan, La Union, Isabela, and Pangasinan.
He said President Arroyo foresaw the consequences of the
strong currency as early as last year and ordered the labor department and the
Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas to support the OFWs by helping augment their income.
He said the families of the OFWs are given livelihood
assistance, skills for employment scholarship program, help in operating
commissaries selling goods at discounted price to OFW families, and many others
in coordination with the trade and agriculture departments.
He said the BSP has also come up with the Financial Literacy
Program which seeks to cultivate financial education among OFWs and their
beneficiaries through alternative uses of their remittances such as savings,
investments in financial products and business ventures, and to familiarize OFWs
with the consumer laws.
He said the programs would hopefully protect the OFWs and their families and
help them benefit from the strong economy and the peso. – Regina Bengco
