Global Filipinos are depressed and dejected after the Philippine Commission on Elections (Comelec) disqualified one of their own to run as senator in the forthcoming May 10 national election. Overseas Filipino workers, longing for decades to have a voice and representation in the Philippine Congress, particularly in the Senate, launched the candidacy of Nhazruddin “Rudy” Dianalan, a systems engineer based in Jeddah. The selection of Dianalan, a highly respected community leader and an advocate of the rights of migrant Filipinos, to run for the Senate post was thoroughly discussed and overwhelmingly endorsed by Filipino community leaders and organizations. The disqualification of Dianalan as an independent candidate has once again rekindled the sentiment of most OFWs that they are not being treated fairly and given their rights by their government and by those who run it. “I embarked on the quest to struggle for OFWs to participate and have a voice in politics back home. My pursuit fell on deaf ears because of their belief – the Comelec and the two major political parties – that there is no such thing as an OFW vote; that I do not have the capability of launching a nationwide campaign because I have no political machinery,” Dianalan said. OFWs around the world, however, disagree. OFWs, led by those based in the Middle East, particularly in Saudi Arabia, have launched an online petition and signature campaign to reverse the Comelec decision rejecting the candidacy of Dianalan. The united voices of OFWs say that if only three million out of the 11 million migrant Filipinos can persuade four or five voters each to vote for Dianalan, that would total 12-15 million votes, enough to win the election. OFWs say funds to support the campaign of Dianalan could be raised by tapping only 500,000 overseas Filipinos to pledge $10 (458 Philippine pesos) each; the amount would total 235 million pesos, the minimum amount required for a senatorial candidate to mount a national campaign. Support for the online petition and signature campaign is snowballing. OFWs are now writing to their relatives and friends back home to support the candidacy of Dianalan. “The contribution of OFWs to the social and economic stability of the Philippines is immeasurable; while the government has failed to fulfill its responsibilities, in terms of employment, for example, OFWs continue to provide their share in nation-building. A voice in the Philippine Congress, in the Senate, if given the chance, would provide empowerment to the 11 million overseas Filipinos,” said Dianalan, reiterating his appeal that Comelec reverse its earlier decision rejecting his candidacy. – SG If given the chance to serve in the Philippine Senate, Dianalan said he will pursue the following priority programs to ensure the well-being of OFWs and their families:• Mitigate the social costs of overseas employment by strengthening the structure of organizations and various stakeholders supporting OFWs to enable them to effectively sustain their personal, community and economic reintegration. • Provide mandatory post-arrival orientation seminars for OFWs, in addition to the pre-deployment seminars, to familiarize new arrivals with the culture, practices, working conditions, labor laws and other socio-economic procedures that will help them adjust to the workplaces. • Thorough accountability of Philippine diplomatic missions overseas regarding complaints, grievances, reports and other petitions filed by OFWs and their families. • Active operation of resource centers that will support the needs of Filipino migrant workers and their families, such as, skill training, education, advocacy, networking with families back home and other tools that will enhance the competitiveness of OFWs. • Establishment of an OFW bank and promotion of micro-finance institutions to provide capital resources in pursuing OFWs' entrepreneurship vision. • Establishment of an OFW hospital and other medical centers nationwide that will solely focus on providing healthcare for OFWs and their families, particularly ageing OFWs. • Amendment of Republic Act No. 9225 (An act making the citizenship of Philippines citizens who acquire foreign citizenship permanent) to enable holders of dual citizenship to participate in the political reforms in the country.
