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TACLOBAN CITY ? The non-government organization Blas F. Ople Policy Center and Training Institute has downplayed speculations that the current economic recession experienced by the world would result in the return of overseas Filipino workers (OFW).
Some OFWs might be returning home due to lack of jobs, but saying that they would be coming home "in droves is nothing but speculative," said Susan Ople, president of the institute.
?The global market is so vast,? Ople said during a press conference held Tuesday afternoon at the training center of the regional office of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration.
She noted that the OFWs got work contracts that have to be honored by their employers.
?And their employers also need the services of our OFWs, especially our domestic helpers, while they are looking for new employment for example,? Ople said.
About 8 million Filipinos are working in various countries around the world.
The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) in Eastern Visayas reported 2,000 people from the region working abroad, mostly in Singapore, Hong Kong and in the Middle East.
Ople urged the media not to highlight the negative aspect of the recession affecting several countries.
?It is important for the media to promote an environment of calmness and sobriety,? she said.
She said various governments, including the Philippines, are doing their best effort to cushion the impact of the economic problem.
Ople also urged the national government to increase the budgets of both the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Labor and Employment so that they could address immediately the problems involving the OFWs.
Ople was in the city to attend the launching of the OWWA's Tulay Program for families who have members working abroad. The group of Ople donated 10 units of computers for the training of the program beneficiaries so they could acquire computer skills. /Inquirer
