People's SONA in New Zealand

People's SONA 2009 in New Zealand

July 27, 2009


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Photos courtesy of Migrante Aotearoa New Zealand


PRESS RELEASE 27 July 2009 OFWs in NZ tell Arroyo, Congress: Get busy with pro-poor bills, not Cha-cha “OFWs in New Zealand and around the world would be happier if Arroyo and her allies in Congress would get busy pushing for pro-poor legislation that will benefit OFWs rather than the Charter Change maneuvers.” This was the message of Migrante Aotearoa New Zealand to Malacañang and Congress on the occasion of Arroyo’s Sona. In an open letter, members of Migrante Aotearoa and concerned Filipinos in New Zealand declared: “Instead of pushing for Cha-cha agenda, we urge you Madame President and all members of the 14th Congress to heed the clamour for pro-poor legislation and urgent reforms that will address the chronic economic crisis that pushed millions of Filipinos to work abroad.” The letter noted that HB 5657 should be immediately deliberated and passed to benefit OFWs. HB 5657 which aims to expand the scope of, and upgrade the Department of Foreign Affairs’ program to provide legal assistance to migrant workers – both documented and undocumented – and overseas Filipinos in distress. Sponsored by Bayan Muna partylist, this bill upgrades the position of “legal assistant for migrant workers affairs” (under Section 24 of the RA 8042) to Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs, and providing an annual budget of P2 Billion to support functions such as provision of free legal assistance services to all OFWs and Filipino migrants (in distress) facing any type of case in the country of destination and to pursue civil, administrative, criminal, labour and welfare cases. Distressed Filipinos in New Zealand will certainly benefit from this bill considering that the average lawyer’s fee is around NZ $250/hr. “It is deplorable that Arroyo and her allies have been busy with the Cha-cha scheme. We say NO to Arroyo term extension through Cha-cha or any other scheme leading to No Elections in 2010. We continue to demand full accountability of the Arroyo administration over unresolved cases of large-scale corruption including the misuse of Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), fertilizer and PhilHealth funds during the fraudulent 2004 elections,” Migrante Aotearoa national coordinator Dennis Maga stated. “We say NO to Cha-cha because the corrupt-ridden president Arroyo will remain in power and evade accountability over the scandalous cases of electoral fraud, corruption, betrayal of public trust and human rights violations. We also stand against the removal of economic provisions in the Constitution that aim to protect national sovereignty and patrimony, including allowing 100% foreign ownership on public utilities such as water, electricity and transportation. These will mean ever increasing rates thus additional burden for OFWs and families.” Mr Maga stressed. “Under Arroyo’s Cha-cha, allowing 100% foreign ownership on land is a total sell-out that will worsen landlessness of poor Filipinos. Cha-cha perpetuates economic conditions that breed widespread poverty and unemployment that force many Filipinos to work abroad. Cha-cha benefits the country’s economic and political elite, not OFWs and the poor majority,” the group added. “If the Cha-cha proponents will insist on holding a Senate-less constituent assembly to amend the Constitution, we pledge to join OFWs around the world in declaring Zero Remittance Day to express our opposition against this ungraceful step that will bring many more years of corruption and economic misery under Arroyo,” Mr Maga concluded. Migrante Aotearoa \| 34 Titirangi Rd, New Lynn , Auckland 1007 \| Tel no. +64 9 8276059 \| email: migrante_nz@yahoo.co.nz \| web blog: migrantenz.blogspot.com



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OPEN LETTER TO PRES. GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO AND ALL MEMBERS OF 14th CONGRESS 27 July 2009 As you, Madame President and Lawmakers gather for the opening of the 14th Congress, we Filipinos currently living and working in New Zealand , wish to make our voices heard on the current state of the nation, our hopes and aspirations. We are thousands of miles away from our beloved Philippines . But our hearts share the fears, anxiety and outrage of our families and friends back home over the highly controversial Charter Change, the series of bombings that claimed innocent lives, and the talks about possible declaration of state of emergency or the dreaded martial law scenario. More importantly, we are troubled over the fate of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who return to the Philippines without adequate assistance from the government, as more and more Filipinos in New Zealand are also losing jobs. It is expected that as you Madame President, deliver your 9th state of the nation address, you shall outline your administration’s achievements and vision for the country. You shall also announce your set of priority bills for legislation. We therefore ask you Madame President to certify as urgent the deliberation and passage of bills that will directly benefit OFWs and our kababayan in the Philippines , including: · HB 5657: It aims to expand the scope of, and upgrade the Department of Foreign Affairs’ program to provide legal assistance to migrant workers – both documented and undocumented – and overseas Filipinos in distress. Sponsored by Bayan Muna partylist, this bill upgrades the position of “legal assistant for migrant workers affairs” (under Section 24 of the RA 8042) to Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs, and providing an annual budget of P2 Billion to support functions such as provision of free legal assistance services to all OFWs and Filipino migrants (in distress) facing any type of case in the country of destination and to pursue civil, administrative, criminal, labour and welfare cases. Distressed Filipinos in New Zealand will certainly benefit from this bill considering that the average lawyer’s fee is around NZ $250/hr... · HR 1249: It seeks to extend the registration period for OFWs until December 2009 considering that the Comelec and DFA-OAVS (Department of Foreign Affairs-Overseas Absentee Voting Secretariat) need more time to realistically attain their target of one million overseas absentee voters and make up for all the constraints and shortcomings in the implementation of the project. * HB 1724 - An Act Repealing Republic Act No. 8479, Otherwise Known as the Downstream Oil Deregulation Act of 1998; HB 3029 - An Act Regulating the Downstream Petroleum Industry and for Other Related Purposes; HB 3030 - An Act Instituting Centralized Procurement of Petroleum in the Country; and HB 3031 - An Act Renationalizing Petron Corporation. These aim to stop the wave of oil price hikes that push up daily cost of living and further devalue OFWs’ hard-earned remittances for families back home.			Instead of pushing for Cha-cha agenda, we urge you Madame President and all members of the 14th Congress to heed the clamour for pro-poor legislation and urgent reforms that will address the chronic economic crisis that pushed millions of Filipinos to work abroad. If the Cha-cha proponents will insist on holding a Senate-less constituent assembly (Con-Ass) to amend the Constitution, we pledge to join OFWs around the world in declaring Zero Remittance Day on the First Day of Con-Ass to express our opposition against this ungraceful step that will mainly benefit the country’s economic and political dynasties. From Concerned Filipinos in New Zealand George Misa, Migrante Aotearoa Board Member and Delegate, Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union (EPMU) Agnes Granada, Coordinator, Migrants Action Trust Lulette Carnie, Regional Employment Coordinator, Auckland Regional Migrant Services Martelino de Lima, Migrante Aotearoa Board Member and Delegate, Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union (EPMU) Fred Repuno, Migrante Aotearoa Board Member Dennis Maga, Migrante Aotearoa National Coordinator Randy Pineda, Auckland Pinoy Cristina A. Benedicto Richard Leygo Napoleon Par Andres Velasquez John Reyna Marilen Espinoza Christofer Teves Gladys Manuel Maritoni Pasay Migrante Aotearoa \| 34 Titirangi Rd, New Lynn , Auckland 1007 \| Tel no. +64 9 8276059 \| email: migrante_nz@ yahoo.co. nz \| web blog:migrantenz.blogspot .com "We speak out because we have rights!


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