My blood pressure went up early this morning when I read the article of a wannabe columnist from Manila Times named Marlen V. Ronquillo. It’s not enough that you know your grammar to be a columnist. The least that you could do is to check on the facts before you write something. I haven’t been to journalism school but I think that’s the least that you could do before writing an opinion piece. However, this wannabe columnist wrote something that Saudization was the reason why domestic workers are barred from entering the Kingdom of the Sands.
That’s what you call ignorant and ill informed. That actually made her ridiculous, really. Saudization and the stop on deployment of domestic workers are two different stories. She should have at least called the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh and the POLO to check on the facts before she write something. Saudization is the Kingdom’s policy that compels companies in the private sector to hire Saudi Nationals. Quotas are given by the Labor Ministry depending on which sector the business is operating. Saudization does not include household workers.
The Saudi government banned deployment of the household workers from our country after they could not agree on the minimum wage for the domestic workers. The Philippine government asked for USD 400 while the Kingdom wants it to be only USD 200. The ban has nothing to do with the Nitaqat program.
It was just disappointing when wannabe opinion writers in our country write a crappy column without checking the facts. They owe it to their readers to at least do the research before writing their column. It’s also appalling when the editor publish those crap.
Sa highblood ko, I wasted 2 hours today just write a nasty email to the writer and her editor.
Ilonggo sa Desyerto (Ilonggo in the Desert) – A blog containing insights, opinion and analysis by the author on life, work, religion and events he personally experienced.
13 July 2011
Panic Mode and Haka Haka on the Nitaqat (Saudization)
Receiving forwarded emails from different people is the first order of the day in the office. I resented it but can’t do anything about it. Finally I just ignored it. That’s the best thing that you could do to unsolicited emails. Lately, emails regarding the horror stories of vacationing OFWs whose passports were stamped exit only visas at the immigration circulated like wild fire. I read it but deleted the email right away. However, my inbox were full within hours of the same emails forwarded over and over.
The email spread like wild fires and some of my friends even called me that they’re postponing their vacation for fears that their passports will be stamped exit only at the immigration. I told them that the story was already denied by the Passport Office. The Minister of Passport Office said that the immigration officer could not issue an exit re-entry or exit only visa. Their duty is only to stamp entry on arrival and exit on departure. That’s it and the circulating emails are just rumors.
I thought that the horror story would just die a natural death. Unfortunately, print and even visual media from the Philippines published the same story and even quoted the leader of a militant group Migrante in the story. According to the Migrante leader, 4 engineers called him and they told him that their passports were stamped exit only visas at the immigration. Names and companies of those so called engineers were not given. It caused another series of forwarded emails from Pinoy friends. Fortunately, the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh issued a press release denying the rumor. The good thing is that the Embassy has a direct access with the Ministry of Labor and the issue was clarified.
I think it was irresponsible for the Philippine media back home to just run the story of the militant group Migrante without checking with the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh. If I am not mistaken, the horror story was a press release from the militant group just to gain media mileage again. It works because most of the print media and broadcast media covered it.
The email spread like wild fires and some of my friends even called me that they’re postponing their vacation for fears that their passports will be stamped exit only at the immigration. I told them that the story was already denied by the Passport Office. The Minister of Passport Office said that the immigration officer could not issue an exit re-entry or exit only visa. Their duty is only to stamp entry on arrival and exit on departure. That’s it and the circulating emails are just rumors.
I thought that the horror story would just die a natural death. Unfortunately, print and even visual media from the Philippines published the same story and even quoted the leader of a militant group Migrante in the story. According to the Migrante leader, 4 engineers called him and they told him that their passports were stamped exit only visas at the immigration. Names and companies of those so called engineers were not given. It caused another series of forwarded emails from Pinoy friends. Fortunately, the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh issued a press release denying the rumor. The good thing is that the Embassy has a direct access with the Ministry of Labor and the issue was clarified.
I think it was irresponsible for the Philippine media back home to just run the story of the militant group Migrante without checking with the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh. If I am not mistaken, the horror story was a press release from the militant group just to gain media mileage again. It works because most of the print media and broadcast media covered it.
04 July 2011
The punching Mayor
I understand why Sara Duterte punched Abe Andres, the Davao City Sheriff. It all boils down to politics. We all know that Mayors are the number one reason why we have squatters. Yes, they’re squatters and to hell with the euphemisms calling them informal settlers instead. They cuddle those squatters because they can count on their votes during the election season. They’re also the reason why LGUs could not address the issue of professional squatting.
I’m not an expert on laws but what I know is that squatting is illegal and against the law. In fact, it was only during the Ramos Administration that it was decriminalized. The good Sheriff, an officer in the court, is just performing his duties and the court order. It is not his personal wish to get rid of the squatters. He’s just following the court order. If the Sheriff will not implement the court order, he’ll be in trouble and could be charged administratively.
Sara Duterte’s attitude towards people in the judiciary is a microcosm of what is happening in the national scene. President Abnoy has been bullying and tarnishing the image of the higher magistrate whom he even called the Arroyo court. He’s against the SC primarily because they’re all appointed by President GMA. The composition is actually 14/1 and 14 of those are Arroyo appointees. It is not PGMAs fault that she gets to appoint the majority of the SC Members. It is not her fault that she ended up holding the presidency for 9 years. If President Abnoy will look closely, it’s his Mother’s (Tita Cory) constitution that’s at fault. The constitution fails to look into the possibility that a Vice President may rise to presidency and then wins a new term as president.
So going back to the fist fighting incident, Duterte may have won the admiration of the leftist, people who claims to be protector of Human Rights but she may end up regretting what she did. She could be disbarred and stripped of the rights to practice law. She could also face administrative cases and the list could go on. The worst thing that could possibly happen to her is losing the mayoralty seat.
As a local leader, a mayor should set an example. She should not only be the protector of her people but the law as well. That’s why we have laws in the first place, so that there will be order and not chaos in our society. As a lawyer, she should know better. It’s alright to protect your people but she should have weighed the consequences of her actions.
If President Abnoy is true to his daang matuwid ek-ek, he should punish Sara Duterte, a known ally of the Aquinos. However, considering how President Abnoy protects his KKK, punishing Duterte remains to be seen!
02 July 2011
Kingdom of the Sands stops Filipino DH deployment
Good news! The Kingdom of the Sands stops issuing visas for Filipino Domestic Helpers. Effective 2 July 2011, the Kingdom will stop issuing visas for household helpers. The Kingdom imposed the deployment ban to protest the monthly wage increase from USD. 200 to USD. 400 being sought by the Philippine government for Filipino maids.
I think that this ban is a blessing in disguise. Our maids are the most susceptible to abuse and rape. They’re hardly treated as human beings by their employers too. I’ve been advocating for this ban and finally, it happened. The ban did not come from us but from the Saudi government directly. I hope that our government will also stop deployment of Domestic Helpers to other GCC States. I’ve also heard a lot of horror stories from these countries and I think that it’s about time to put a stop on this.
Our government should send out skills workers instead. Skilled workers whose employers are companies (not individuals) are in better situation than the domestic workers. The companies are also under the Labor Office so abuse skilled workers can anytime file a complaint. In the case of the Domestics, they’re under the jurisdiction of the Prince. The Prince is either the Governor or Mayor of the Province or City.
We may lose remittance of the domestics but I think it’s all worth it. The government has the duty to protect its citizens. The increase in number of runaway maids in the Kingdom is already alarming. I think it’s that the ban is in the right timing. If we’re smart enough, we can make this ban work for our advantage.
I think that this ban is a blessing in disguise. Our maids are the most susceptible to abuse and rape. They’re hardly treated as human beings by their employers too. I’ve been advocating for this ban and finally, it happened. The ban did not come from us but from the Saudi government directly. I hope that our government will also stop deployment of Domestic Helpers to other GCC States. I’ve also heard a lot of horror stories from these countries and I think that it’s about time to put a stop on this.
Our government should send out skills workers instead. Skilled workers whose employers are companies (not individuals) are in better situation than the domestic workers. The companies are also under the Labor Office so abuse skilled workers can anytime file a complaint. In the case of the Domestics, they’re under the jurisdiction of the Prince. The Prince is either the Governor or Mayor of the Province or City.
We may lose remittance of the domestics but I think it’s all worth it. The government has the duty to protect its citizens. The increase in number of runaway maids in the Kingdom is already alarming. I think it’s that the ban is in the right timing. If we’re smart enough, we can make this ban work for our advantage.
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