OFW migration is natural. Is it?

This is the continuation of the Philippine Daily Inquirer Interview. Click this article to read the 1st part: “Are OFW’s the emerging middle class in the Philippines?“

Question:

Do you believe the government’s explanation that this is because more OFW deployments are now professionals and skilled workers? (I have attached the latest figures from the POEA in case you prefer to corroborate your opinion with data). If you don’t agree with the government’s explanation, then how do you think this phenomenon can be explained?

Response:

Indeed, when you deploy professional and skilled workers, in a global economy like we have now, skilled and professional people earn more. So, yes, it has contributed to OFW’s earning capacity to the extent of giving them the opportunity to be a middle class or at least right around that level.

I do have a different take on his statement that “migration is a natural phenomenon” to justify OFW migration. This is where I completely disagree. And I could honestly tell you that some spirits did not cause our flight outside of the Philippines looking for a job. If you are familiar with Irish migration to the United States, I think – that was a natural migration. Ours is not. It’s man made. I did my own very unscientific survey amongst OFW’s about the reason why they left the country and it’s in my blog:

http://reynaelena.com/2007/05/27/what-made-you-decide-to-work-abroad-and-where/

Anyone could certainly throw the blame on almost every corner.

• Can we blame education? Sure! We just have too many schools and universities! We’ve managed to produce highly qualified labor pool but the problem is that the domestic economy cannot absorb these talents. Worst, our curriculum is focused on us being a good employee and not an entrepreneur and to make mattes worst, our government is focused on us being employed outside of the Philippines!

• Can we blame the educated population also? Sure! Instead of being entrepreneurial, we’ve decided to look for jobs abroad to match our skills that offer high salaries to compensate for our educational background.

• Now, to follow up the point I made above: Can we blame the banks and financing system in the country because it’s so difficult to get some loans? Sure! The requirements alone to is almost like China’s Great Wall! I actually tried making an operating loan of only Php100k from a local bank in Manila, I was shocked by the requirements given me. In effect, I have to deposit Php100k so that I could take out a loan of Php100k. Reason? I’m not Filipino daw.

• Can we also blame the church that sticks to the inutile family planning program? Sure! Who cares if these people have no work and no food. It’s up to the government to feed them. Is it?!

• Can we also blame the oligarchs or to the very concentrated few conglomerates that controls the economy that leaves a lot of educated people unemployed because we don’t have the right connections? Tell me about it!

• Finally, our favorite – can we blame the government for not doing enough to the economy and corruption? Instead of focusing to better the economy they are more focused on employing the educated unemployed people abroad.

So, is this OFW migration natural? They’re all created by man. And woman. In the Philippines. AMEN.

MORE TO COME…

Tagged as: Inquirer Interview