The overseas Filipino workers were known to be as the real heroes of the Philippine economy.
But this is not the case when some of them are returning back on vacation or leaving again to resume work abroad. This is because some of them are being harassed by labor officials stationed at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport’s POEA Assistance Center. We will just presume that this happens on a case by case basis. But there are instances when this problem has gotten out of hand so that no less than top labor officials would come to intervene.
A case in point was based on a published report made by no less by Mr. Artemio Panganiban of Inquirer.net, whose daughter Maria Teresa underwent a bad experience with POEA staffers assigned at the departure area of the said airport. She was supposed to go back to New York, after spending her vacation in the Philippines during the Christmas holidays. However, when it’s time for her to leave, her sad ordeal began when she tried to secure her departure clearance for the U.S. In short, she was made to run around just to secure the clearance.
According to Mr. Panganiban, it was only after the intercession of no less than Labor Secretary Brion when the matter was settled. Imagine, ordinary subordinates at the Department of Labor are showing this kind of attitude towards OFWs, when they themselves are supposed to treat and welcome these OFWs if they treat them indeed as the country’s economic heroes.
As always, red tape prevails in the minds of some public officials who were assigned at sensitive government positions. But showing high-handed behavior at the country’s international airport against OFWs is something that even foreigners would shun coming here, especially if OFWs and foreigners alike are being unfarily treated this way.
The international airport is supposed to be the showcase of the country’s tourism industry. But when people assigned there were proven to have rough behavior, what then should be the impression of those coming to see the country? Because their first stop, which is the airport, they’re already being roughed up by people whose ulterior motives are for personal interests. Pity to those who do not have strong connections in government because they will just close their eyes to the sad realities they experienced at the hands of misguided public servants at the NAIA.
Next time, perhaps, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration must post an incorrupt supervisor who will oversee what and how their subordinates at the airport are doing.
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