Who will help the migrants?

Ten years ago, Gilbert Felongco, a correspondent of the Gulf News in Dubai, UAE wrote an article about Bantay OCW entitled “Radio programme thrives on helping distressed OFWs”.

He published the story after visiting Bantay OCW and seeing a long line of people waiting patiently at a receiving area, all of them with a story of woe involving loved ones overseas.

One of them was Soledad Mariano. She was terminated by her employer after only a week on the job and did not know how she could pay the P50,000 ($1,000) she had borrowed to pay for her overseas job application.

Wrote Felongco: “With just a phone call, another case is solved.”  After a quick phone patch,  the recruiter  had agreed to look into Mariano’s case and return her application fee. Sometimes that’s all it takes.

The journalist described Bantay OCW and its radio program as  a “court of last resort” for those who fail to get redress from government agencies.

Ten years later, little has changed. The lines of distressed workers and their families seeking  help from   nongovernment organizations and media get longer. What are official agencies doing?

Susan Andes, aka Susan K. is on board at Radyo Inquirer 990 dzIQ AM,Monday to Friday, 7:00-8:30 p.m. (www.dziq.am). Hotlines:  535-7209/881-9423/0920-9684700. E-mail:  [email protected] /[email protected]