Migrante Ontario urges OWWA, Consulate to help an OFW in distress

Migrante Ontario urges OWWA, Consulate to help an OFW in distress

From left: Carmela C, Consul General Rosalita Prospero, Maita Tenedero, Andrea Tenedero, Jesson Reyes. (Photo provided)

Members of Migrante Ontario Organizing Committee held a dialogue with Consul General Rosalita Prospero appealing the denial of financial support from Overseas Workers Welfare Association (OWWA) for an OFW in distress. The group submitted a letter of appeal addressed to the Regional office of OWWA Region 4 to request for the disbursements of funds for OFW Maita Tenedero, whose family has contributed to OWWA membership from 2006-2012.

Louie Tenedero, 45, late husband of Maita Tenedero suffered a brain aneurism, causing his sudden death on April 26, 2016. Maita and her family moved from Dubai, UAE to Toronto in 2012 as high skilled temporary foreign worker.

Migrante Canada believes that the responsibility for covering the costs of services for deceased OFWs, particularly those who have paid for their membership fees for an extended period of time, falls squarely on the government of the Philippines, through the OWWA, as stipulated in the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995, as amended by RA 10022.

Migrante Canada Regional coordinator Jesson Reyes said, “The service rendered by our consular posts and the Philippine government to our kababayan should not be tied to OWWA membership. Ang OWWA Omnibus Policies ay isang pabigat sa mga kababayan natin. Kung dati ay lifetime ang membership sa OWWA, ngayon ay mandatory $25 fee per contract. We urge the Philippine government, the Department of Foreign Affairs and its corresponding agencies to ensure that the welfare of our kababayans, especially those in dire situations, are given top priority.”

Tenedero added, “Babantayan po natin ang sagot ng OWWA office at ng Consulate. Hindi lang po para sa aking ang appeal na ito, pero gusto rin kasi naming matiyak na alam ng mga OFWs kung saan ba talaga napupunta yun lahat ng pera kino kolekta ng ahensya mula sa amin.”

Consul General Prospero received the letter of appeal and assured the group that her office will forward the letter of appeal to the Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs (OUMWA) in Manila and will provide updates to the group.

Migrante Canada is a member of Migrante International who recently released a 10-point Migrants Proposal to the new Duterte administration which include: the immediate release of funds under the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) to thousands of rightful claimants, opening of the Philippine posts closed down by the government, and scrapping of policies and imposed fees that are additional burden to Overseas Filipino workers.
Read here for Migrante International’s 10-Point Proposal: http://bit.ly/29CisIJ

(PRESS RELEASE)