SP Passes Migrants Protection Ordinance to Assist LU OFWs
[wp-svg-icons icon="user" wrap="span"] By: Jiroh Joy Marbella, GPC-SP | [wp-svg-icons icon="calendar" wrap="span"] Date: July 31, 2018
Sangguniang Panlalawigan Member Bellarmin A. Flores II (File Photo)
To further protect and to provide more assistance and services to Migrant Workers or Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and their families, the 21st Sangguniang Panlalawigan of La Union, unanimously approved Provincial Ordinance No. 140-2018 also known as the La Union Migrants Protection Act of 2018 during their 107th Regular Session on July 19, 2018 at the Speaker Pro-Tempore Francisco I. Ortega Provincial Legislative Building and Session Hall, Provincial Capitol, City of San Fernando, La Union.
The session was presided by Vice-Governor Aureo Augusto Q. Nisce while the Ordinance was authored by Sangguniang Panlalawigan Member (SPM) Bellarmin A. Flores II and co-authored by all the SPMs.
Considered to be “Modern Heroes” or “Mga Bagong Bayani”, OFWs have greatly contributed to the country’s economy with reports that in 2016, their remittances reached up to 28 Billion US Dollars or 1.4 Trillion Pesos, which is the equivalent of 10% of the country’s Gross Domestic Product or GDP. According to Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Regional Office I, as of June 2018, there are a total of 20,032 active registered OFWs and a total of 69,436 inactive Migrant Workers in the Province of La Union.
According to SPM Flores, the great contributions of the OFWs and Migrant workers comes with a social cost as their families are left behind leading into problems that sometimes lead to separation and breakup. He said that this was the inspiration for pushing through with the said ordinance to help the OFWs hailing from La Union as well as their families.
The ordinance also establishes a Loan Assistance Fund of Three Million Pesos (P3, 000,000.00) for the migrant workers of the province and the creation of the La Union Migrant Resource and Development Center which will provide protection, safety, development and support for the migrants and their families in the province.
Tasked to frame the necessary rules and regulations for the effective and efficient implementation of this act is the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office together with the Provincial Planning and Development Office, the Provincial Treasurer’s Office and the Provincial Budget Office.
[Fancy_Facebook_Comments]
