No to GMA 'yes-man' in OWWA Board of Trustees
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We say NO to the arbitrary and biased selection of the Land-based OFW representative to OWWAs Board of Trustees
20 August 2009
We, concerned organizations and individual overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from various countries around the world express our strongest opposition to the arbitrary and biased selection of the land-based OFW representative to the Board of Trustees of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) by Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
We believe that the selection of Mr. Joselito Jojo Sapio, the campaign manager of GMA in Hong Kong, is a politically-motivated decision that only serves to consolidate GMAs hold over OWWA and its fund, and will further deny OFWs of much-needed services and financial assistance. The elevation of Mr. Sapio to the Board of Trustees will surely increase the hold of the Arroyo government over the P12-billion OWWA Fund that is from the toils of Filipino migrant workers.
Mr. Sapio headed the campaign of GMA during the presidential elections in 2004. He is known as the founder of GMA Pa Rin Movement and of GMAs ticket, Team Unity, in the 2007 elections. After the election, he changed the name of his group but it is still very much linked to the current administration.
During GMAs frequent visits to Hong Kong, Mr. Sapio is known to have organized or participated in events held in her honor, such as the most recent one in June. That unexpected side trip was projected to the media as a consultation-meeting with OFWs but, in reality, was meant to merely celebrate Mike Arroyos birthday.
For the past years, OWWA has consistently been questioned with regard to the management and allocation of its funds. One of the most controversial issues involved the transfer of the OWWA Medicare Fund to the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) in 2004. This was made after Health Sec. Francisco Duque (then head of PhilHealth) wrote to PGMA endorsing the transfer, saying such would have a significant impact on the impending election at that time.
Now that the election is again nearing, we fear that OWWAs money will again be used for purposes not related to providing concrete welfare services to OFWs.
We are aware of the controversies surrounding many appointments of PGMA from Supreme Court justices to National Artist awardees. We are alarmed that this trend of rewarding trusted allies has now been extended to an OFW post.
We thus demand the following:
Recall the appointment of Mr. Joselito Jojo Sapio to the OWWA Board of Trustees. Conduct a more impartial, transparent and independent selection process for the land-based OFW representative;
Increase the number of OFW representatives to the OWWA Board and reduce those from the government. It is irregular to have a very small OFW representation in the Board considering that the OWWA fund is from, and for OFWs;
Make the OWWA work concretely for the welfare needs of OFWs and their families by scrapping the OWWA Omnibus Policies and promulgating a pro-OFW Charter. The OWWA Fund should never be used for the personal and political agenda of a few.
20 August 2009
We, concerned organizations and individual overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from various countries around the world express our strongest opposition to the arbitrary and biased selection of the land-based OFW representative to the Board of Trustees of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) by Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
We believe that the selection of Mr. Joselito Jojo Sapio, the campaign manager of GMA in Hong Kong, is a politically-motivated decision that only serves to consolidate GMAs hold over OWWA and its fund, and will further deny OFWs of much-needed services and financial assistance. The elevation of Mr. Sapio to the Board of Trustees will surely increase the hold of the Arroyo government over the P12-billion OWWA Fund that is from the toils of Filipino migrant workers.
Mr. Sapio headed the campaign of GMA during the presidential elections in 2004. He is known as the founder of GMA Pa Rin Movement and of GMAs ticket, Team Unity, in the 2007 elections. After the election, he changed the name of his group but it is still very much linked to the current administration.
During GMAs frequent visits to Hong Kong, Mr. Sapio is known to have organized or participated in events held in her honor, such as the most recent one in June. That unexpected side trip was projected to the media as a consultation-meeting with OFWs but, in reality, was meant to merely celebrate Mike Arroyos birthday.
For the past years, OWWA has consistently been questioned with regard to the management and allocation of its funds. One of the most controversial issues involved the transfer of the OWWA Medicare Fund to the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) in 2004. This was made after Health Sec. Francisco Duque (then head of PhilHealth) wrote to PGMA endorsing the transfer, saying such would have a significant impact on the impending election at that time.
Now that the election is again nearing, we fear that OWWAs money will again be used for purposes not related to providing concrete welfare services to OFWs.
We are aware of the controversies surrounding many appointments of PGMA from Supreme Court justices to National Artist awardees. We are alarmed that this trend of rewarding trusted allies has now been extended to an OFW post.
We thus demand the following:
Recall the appointment of Mr. Joselito Jojo Sapio to the OWWA Board of Trustees. Conduct a more impartial, transparent and independent selection process for the land-based OFW representative;
Increase the number of OFW representatives to the OWWA Board and reduce those from the government. It is irregular to have a very small OFW representation in the Board considering that the OWWA fund is from, and for OFWs;
Make the OWWA work concretely for the welfare needs of OFWs and their families by scrapping the OWWA Omnibus Policies and promulgating a pro-OFW Charter. The OWWA Fund should never be used for the personal and political agenda of a few.
248 Signatures
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United Filipinos in Hong Kong (UNIFIL-MIGRANTE-HK)
- Comments
- Oppose Gloria Arroyo's absolute control of OFW funds in OWWA! Scrap the OWWA Omnibus Policies!
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Alay Kapwa Catholic Group - HK
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Abra Migrant Workers Welfare Association (AMWWA-HK)
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Abra Tinguian Ilocano Society (ATIS-HK)
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Nhel Morona
- Comments
- No to Owwa controlled by Govt.!!! Scrap OWWA Omnibus Policy it will not serve to the interest of OFW's
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John Leonard Monterona
- Comments
- Recall the Gloria's appointment of his political campainer as OWWA-BoT member! Protect and Safeguard the 11.7-B OFWs funds!
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A.M. Ociones
- Comments
- GMA, Hands Off our Funds!
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Filipino Migrant Workers' Union - Hong Kong (FMWU-HK)
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Dennis Maga
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Amanda Bueno
- Comments
- It seems to me that 'delicadeza' has disappeared in the vocabulary of President GMA. who has the burden of proving that this appointment is BEST for the sake of millions of Filipinos working abroad and their families left behind.
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Gessen C. Rocas
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Jun S. Aguilar
- Comments
- Filipino Migrant Workers Group, Makati City, Philippines
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arman
- Comments
- it's long overdue
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Edgar C. Cadano
- Comments
- Political indebtedness is only for the corrupt. Integrity, Service and Credibility is what OWWA needs.
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Association of Concerned Filipinos in Hong Kong
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Sheila Tilan
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Gabriela - Chater Road
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Mars Balaoro - Filguys Association Hong Kong
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len tomas
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Filipino Migrants Association
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Ferdinand Gaite
- Comments
- Ang dapat na pumipili ng kinatawan ng mga OFWs sa OWWA BOT ay mga OFWs din. Hindi ang magnanakaw ng Malakanyang!
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Mission For Migrant Workers
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Sally Ferrer
- Comments
- Kawawa naman tayong mga OFW, malayo na nga tayo sa pamilya, wala pang concern sa atin ang ating gobyerno.
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GABRIELA -Hong Kong
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Dina A.
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Julie Escalona
- Comments
- I want someone who stands for the interest and sentiment of OFW's!
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Rafael Joseph Maramag
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Aldo Sabanpan
- Comments
- The hard earned OWWA funds MUST BE safe guard by OFW's only not those politcally attach honorable wannabe (THUGS).
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Samuel O. Efondo
- Comments
- Dapat dyan binabaon ng buhay sa Sierra Madre
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Copper Sturgeon
- Comments
- tumbaga@dslextreme.com
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Filipino Migrant Workers' Union (FMWU) Chater Road Chapter
- Comments
- NO to "YES-MAN" in OWWA Board of Trustees
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Makatao
- Comments
- Mga walang konsensya!!!!
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flora belinan
- Comments
- sobrang manipsip ng dugo at pawis itong Gloria Arroyo. Dracula Gloria Arroyo.
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Pinatud a Saleng ti Umili (PSU)
- Comments
- NO to GMA "YES-MAN" in OWWA Board of Trustees
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Friends of Bethune House (FBH)
- Comments
- NO to GMA "Yes-Man" in OWWA Board of Trustees
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Jun Gamo
- Comments
- During the 2004 election this OWWA became a source of campaign fund. For "delicadeza", this fund belongs to OFWs and their families.
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Cuyapo Association Hong Kong
- Comments
- No to GMA "Yes-man in OWWA Board of Trustees!
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Esther C Bangcawayan
- Comments
- End GMA's viscious plans now! No to her "yes-man" in the OWWA Board of Trustees.
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Cesar Torres
- Comments
- What else can I say?
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Patricio Valenzuela
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Boggs Dimaunahan Bolor
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Leonardo Peral
- Comments
- No to Sapio in the OWWA board!
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Ediena
- Comments
- We have to do something to stop GMA from flexing her power, she has gone overboard and it's time to give her her lesson
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Sr. Felicitas Nisperos, RGS
- Comments
- Diocesan Pastoral Centre for Filipinos (DPCF) - Hong Kong
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FRED E. RODA
- Comments
- kung hindi ka karapat-dapat dyan sa position na ibinibigay sa iyo dahil lamang campaigner ka pala ni GMA, eh ang kapal naman ng mukha mo para tanggapin yan!!!! GMA IS NOT THE ENTIRE OFW, AND SO DOES YOU!!!
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Migrante-Middle East Chapters
- Comments
- Expose and Oppose Gloria's devious plan misusing the OWWA funds for her selfish political interests! Recall Sapio's appointment; Junk Gloria!
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Asia Pacific Mission for Migrants (APMM)
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Saudi OFW
- Comments
- Kung dito sa lupa namamayagpag ang mga manloloko, bahala na si God sa kanila pagdating ng panahon. Daming mga OFW ang naghihirap sa ibang bansa. Mga programa ng OWWA ok naman pero tingin ko consolation lang ito para matakpan ang mas masahol na gawain. Sana ang gobyerno natin ay mag isip muna at iconsider ang lahat ng bagay at hindi lang ang utang na loob sa nakaraang eleksyon. Panawagan sa lahat ng OFW at sampu ng ating pamilya, bantayan natin maige ang galaw ng gobyerno at ipadama sa kanila ang ating mga hinaing. Malapit na ang 2010.
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Filipino Women Migrant Workers Association (HK)
- Comments
- GMA, never shall we call you a woman for you are not! You are a parasite -the lowest of the low among them, sucking our blood, sweat and tears...BEWARE, the time is near when we shall crush you down!
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Migrante HKB
- Comments
- GMA, WALA KANG DELIKADESA, WALA KANG KAHIHIYAN, WALA KANG SILBI , KAYAT MAWAWALA KA RIN ,MARAMI ANG NAGSASABI
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248
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