A RECENT Social Weather Stations survey found that seven percent of Filipino households have an overseas Filipino worker that helps provide for the family. According to the poll, 75 percent of the households often receive money from their OFW family members with 17 percent saying they “sometimes” receive money from them, 5 percent saying “seldom,” and 3 percent saying “never.”
SWS also found that “nearly two out of 10 adult Filipinos aspire to live abroad” with seven percent already looking for work overseas.
Filipinos seek employment abroad due to the lack of job opportunities in the country. Data from the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration show that among the Filipinos leaving for work abroad are professionals such as nurses, teachers, engineers, doctors and pilots, among others.
We are now one of the biggest exporters of labor in the world and our overseas Filipino workers’ remittances help keep our economy afloat. The government has in fact given them a glorified name – “bagong bayani”. Modern day heroes. It is our human export that buoys our economy.
The attractions of work abroad are higher wages and fringe benefits. These are things that we cannot offer here due to the harsh economic conditions that hinder economic and social growth. However, the exodus of OFWs is fast draining the Philippines of its skilled and professional workers such as teachers, doctors and nurses. This is a serious matter that should be looked into by our officials and concerned sectors.
Creating more jobs and instituting better pay – these are the solutions. The government must do something now.
While it is true that the diaspora of Philippine labor abroad greatly helps our economy, there are so-called “social costs” that we should consider. Family ties and relationships are greatly damaged; “brain drain” retrogresses national development. For example, with doctors, nurses and other medical workers leaving the country, what will become of our country’s health infrastructure?
