from: http://globalnation.inquirer.net/new...ticle_id=94131

Group disputes survey on languid families of OFWs

By Jerome Aning
Inquirer
Last updated 08:18pm (Mla time) 10/12/2007

MANILA, Philippines -- A militant group of organizations composed of overseas Filipino workers and their families on Friday disputed the conclusions of a recent survey that says OFW families “tend to just sit back and wait for remittances, apparently content with that kind of life.”

Migrante International said the survey's sponsor, Nielsen Media Research Philippines, should explain and elaborate the basis for its conclusion, adding, “The reality is that if most OFW families have no other source of local income, that’s because there are little available -- which is why their loved ones were forced to work overseas in the first place.”

She cited the findings of the independent think-tank Ibon Foundation that the unemployment rates for 2001 to 2006 were a “record high” of 11.3 percent while underemployment rates in the same period averaged 18.7 percent.

There are also approximately 11.6 million Filipinos or one-third of the labor force currently out of work or looking for work, according to Ibon.

“Further, if only a small percentage of families use remittances to set-up businesses or make other investments -- that’s because after paying for food, education and rent, there’s usually little left over,” Santiago said.

She also cited a recent Asia Development Bank (ADB) research, which showed that the top items OFW families spent remittances on were food, education, rent and utilities.

On the other hand, Santiago said, a third quarter survey this year by the Consumer Expectations Survey of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas similarly stated that 94.1 percent of households receiving remittances spent the money on food and other household needs.

Migrante was also bothered if family members left behind by OFWs were really content with lives.

“The statement that the families are ‘content’ is troubling given the intense social costs of forced migration on families. Can anyone ever be content knowing their family is torn apart?” she asked.

Aside from the social costs, Migrante said the economic benefits of the OFWs' remittances should also be considered vis-ŕ-vis the welfare protection given by the government to OFWs.

“OFW families do not live in a bubble. A comprehensive understanding of their situation necessitates a look at the general worsening plight of all Filipinos under the Arroyo administration,” Santiago said.