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Baguio OFWs forge unity

BAGUIO CITY (July 2) — To strengthen the unity and cooperation of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), returnees and dependents, Migrante-Metro Baguio (MB) held its first general assembly last June 25 at the Resurrection Function Hall, Resurrection Cathedral here. The election of officers capped the said program.

Migrante-MB newly elected chairperson, Flora Belinan said the newly formed chapter, which includes neighboring Benguet towns like La Trinidad, Tuba and Itogon, aims to uphold and fight for the rights and welfare of OFWs.

“Base iti kapadasan tayo, no ada ti solido nga organisasyon, isu ti kangrunaan a mangilaban iti karbengan ken pagsayaatan dagiti miyembro na, kas ti Migrante, iti nadumaduma a porma, rally man dayta wenno anya pay a kampanya, ti partylist gamin ket limitado iti panag-lobby ken dadduma a legal a porma,” (Based on experience, it is in having a solid organization such as Migrante, that our rights and welfare could be obtained through various forms like rallies and campaigns. A partylist is limited to legal struggle) Belinan explained. But she quipped that the organization should support the party list.

Belinan further said that part of the chapter’s general program of action is to organize more OFW returnees and dependents here and prompt them to fight for their rights and welfare. She said the chapter will also educate them on the issues that confronts OFWs.

Belinan discussed the Cordillera Migrante situation based on the research of the Cordillera Women Education and Research Center (CWERC), during the assembly.

Based on the research, which is entitled “Living Tales of Terror: The Hapless Plight of Female Migrant Workers from the Cordillera”, 80% of OFWs in the region are women, who came from the Cordillera provinces.

According to Belinan, these women were forced to leave their barrios due to lack of opportunities. She added that the interior parts of the Cordillera are backward agricultural areas, and deprived of basic social services like health and education.

Other officers elected on the said assembly were Vice-chairperson Sonia Miralles, Secretary General Claire Daguio, Treasurer Rose Wilson, and Press Relations Officer Mandy Solimen .

Migrante International Chairperson Connie Bragas-Regalado inducted the new set of officers.# Kim Quitasol for NORDIS

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