This post was recovered from an article posted 2013-07-15 08:17:57
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“The overseas Filipino worker fuels much of our economy. We have to take a longer-term look at what it means for our workers to leave families behind. We should all prepare both the OFW and the family right here in the Philippines. In the end, it is the nation that should help the diaspora.” This was how former DOLE secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas described the situation of OFWs, during the book launch of Working Overseas: Diaspora that Sustains the Nation, organized by the Center for Research and Communication on July 15, 2013 at the University of Asia and the Pacific. The six-book series, edited by Dr. Veronica E. Ramirez, brought together insights from CRC research and various forums aimed at developing migration policies to better serve OFWs.
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The book launch was also graced by Atty. Jose Molano Jr. of the Commission on Filipinos Overseas, who praised the book’s “authoritative analysis” of labor migration conditions in the past two years. Mr. Bansan Choa of I-Remit, Inc. noted how the book presented perspectives from government officials, NGO representatives, and academicians. Dr. Bernardo M. Villegas remarked, “This is the first time that we are launching this type of a book, the first result of the effort to transform CRC from mainly an economics think tank into a multidisciplinary think tank. And we are very proud that in this collection of books, we not only have scholars but we have actually involved the practitioners themselves.” One such practitioner and contributor, Mr. Alfredo Palmiery of the Federated Association of Manpower Exporters (FAME), Inc., related his experience in working with CRC. He said, “Kami po ang nagpapadala ng mga OFWs sa abroad. Napakalaki ng utang na loob namin at pasasalamat sa CRC. Kami po’y lumapit sa CRC para sa research at conferencetungkol sa OFW at buong puso naman kaming tinanggap nina Dr. Villegas at Dr. Ramirez.”
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The authors with Hon. Patricia Sto. Tomas[/caption] Various government agencies and private institutions were represented at the book launch, in particular the Bank of Commerce, the Department of Foreign Affairs, I-Remit, Inc., Institute for Labor Studies-DOLE, KAKAMMPI, Inc., LandBank, LBS Recruitment Solutions Corp., PAMI, PhilHealth, Philippine Transmarine Carriers, Inc., Pioneer Life Inc., Sterling Bank of Asia, Surewell Equities, UA&P, UST, and the Yuchengco Center-DLSU. Working Overseas: Diaspora that Sustains the Nation is now available in leading bookstores. For additional orders, please contact Ms. Rio Quiza at [email protected] or tel no. (02) 634-5874 / (02) 637-0912 local 350.
