Foreign delegates laud capitol’s program on migrant workers

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – The delegates of the 5th World Social Forum on Migration (WSFR) yesterday lauded the provincial government for organized approach on dealing with the affairs and needs of the Kapampangan working abroad.

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Sudhagaran Stanley, a Malaysian and officer of Penang Office for Human Development Diocesan Migrant Ministry said that it was only the Philippines and Pampanga in particular which already established existence in their country in terms of providing a system focus on the welfare of the Filipinos.

“I observed that the Philippines really looks into the needs of the Filipino working in Malaysia. We have been closely working with them on some concerns,” Stanley told Sun Star Pampanga.

Marcy Jacinto, coordinator of Migrant Workers in Diocese of Yokohama said that they were  happy to note the measure implemented by the provincial government that promote the interest of the migrant workers.

Jacinto narrated that before their visit in the province, they have seen Filipinos in Japan who have been there for 16 – 25 years but eventually arrested by authorities for lack of papers to support their staying.

She suggested a full cooperation  between their group, Pampanga Action Center For OFW Concerns (Pacoc), Pampanga Inter-Agency Council for Migrants Concern (Piamco) to reach out Filipinos currently detained by Japan authorities for working illegally.

 The migrant forum was held at the Benigno Hall and  participated in by at least 48 delegates from different countries.

A Piamco official disclosed  that the province was first in the country to organize an office whose main task is to address and resolve issues affecting Kapampanga foreign workers.

It was learned that Pampanga has at least 115,575 migrant workers making it third in the country with most number of people working abroad.