Three (3) speakers from the international and national development organizations were the main presentors of day 3. They included Ms. Leila Rispens-Noel, the Programme Manager for Migrants and Refugees of the Netherlands Organization for International Development (NOVIB) , Mr. Victor Arguelles, a Senior Assistant Vice President of the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) and Secretary Teresita Quintos-Deles, lead convenor of the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC). (See Annex 6 for details of the speakers’ backgrounds)


Netherlands Organization for International Development (NOVIB)

NOVIB is one of the major development organizations based in The Netherlands. Just recently, NOVIB adopted the motto “how big is your world”. NOVIB is a member of the OXFAM family along with other 12 organizations supporting many development initiatives across the globe.

NOVIB’s objective is to promote a global society where the socio-economic inequalities between rich and poor are eradicated, where the world’s prosperity is distributed more justly and where people and sectors of the population can learn about and respect each other’s culture, while working together on their development on the basis of shared accountability and mutual solidarity.

The rights-based approach to development is the centerpiece of NOVIB’s development program and these include: right to sustainable development, right to basic social services, right to life and security, right to be heard and right to identity.

On the issue of migration, it was stressed that NOVIB recognized that it is the missing link between globalization and development. In The Netherlands, 10% of the total population are migrants and there are at least 15,000 Filipinos in that country.

Concretely, NOVIB’s response to the issue of migration is the launching in 1999 of a project called ARC-MUNDI which aims to sustain dialogue among organizations working for migrants and refugees as well as involving migrants and refugees in the field of development cooperation.

The presence of international aid agencies in the country is important but the money they give for development projects is much less than the total remittances of OFs. In the case of Mali and Mexico, schools and health centers are built by their countrymen who are overseas migrants. (See Annex 18 for presentation materials and handout)


The Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP)

The Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) has a program that services local entrepreneurs as part of the bank’s effort to help in the country’s economic growth. The program entitled “The Development Bank of the Philippines and Micro-Finance Institution’s, Partners in Development is a financing program for micro-enterprises specially in the countryside. There is a set of criteria for eligible borrowers, a set of minimum requirements for documentation and a set of terms and conditions for borrowers. (See Annex 19 for the brochure)


The National Anti-Poverty Program of Government: Prospects for Linking with Filipino Migrant Workers

One of the major responsibilities of the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) is shepherding the policy and program development proposals of 14 basic sectors, which include the formal labor sector that is composed of the private, public and overseas Filipino workers. The basic sectors within NAPC are composed of the farmers, fisher folk, urban poor, formal labor, workers in the informal sector, indigenous peoples, women, children, youth and students, persons with disabilities, senior citizens, victims of disasters and calamities, cooperatives, non-government organizations

NAPC is the national government agency that was created by Republic Act 8425 or the Social Reform and Poverty Alleviation Act of 1998, which is mandated to direct, coordinate and monitor the poverty reduction policies and proposals of government. However, while the NAPC has achieved some strides in assisting the local formal and informal labor sectors, they have undertaken very little effort, on behalf of the overseas contract workers.

The overseas contract workers sector is now one of the largest social sectors in the country - there are at least seven (7) million Filipinos working overseas. This sector can be characterized as young, well educated, are involved primarily in the service sectors, and are sending a sizable amount of their wages to their families. The sector has greatly contributed to the Philippine economy, in the form of more than 5 billion US dollars in remittances yearly.

During the formal labor sectoral assembly last January 15 to 17, the overseas contract worker, or as the President calls them, the overseas Filipino investor, sub-sector has requested that government undertake the following.

• Forge bilateral labor and social security agreements with host countries;
• Ratify ILO conventions and instruments on migrant workers and seafarers;
• Accelerate enactment of proposed law on absentee voting;
• Establish a legal assistance fund for migrant workers;
• Ensure the full re-integration by developing psychosocial and economic reintegration programs for returning migrant workers.

Prospects for linking OCWs with the government’s poverty reduction program is very promising. The sector can be a resource for capacity-building and resource generation. Investments are needed to enable government to meet and expand its targets in the provision of asset reform, human development services, social protection and employment. OCW resources can be brought to bear on these specific targets. Another possible mode of cooperation is with regard to NAPC’s work in the livelihood and employment cluster. Returning workers, who have undergone training abroad, can provide inputs in the development of new modules incorporating the latest techniques in marketing and production for programs for poor households.

NAPC sees that communities where OCWs originate must also be considered as beneficiaries of the targeted assistance. This point was effectively made earlier that while large amounts of remittances are being inputted monthly with these communities, these have not resulted in increased productivity and even sustainable human development achievements.

Third, the OCW sector can assist themselves by setting the tone for policy work in government. The policy and program recommendations generated during this conference in response to the concerns regarding the economic empowerment of migrant workers should be heard by concerned agencies. (See Annex 20 for speech and presentation materials)


Open Forum

After the three presentations, the floor was opened for questions.

Q-Pax: I’m happy that Secretary Deles is here. It seemed that raw materials are being sent to Manila for processing since the market is there. This is expensive because freight rates are high. It is paradoxical that coconut and rice farmers are given low prices for their commodities while processors get high prices. We have not been successful in getting things done here and ask companies to come and process their goods here. Can government give incentives to companies who will invest in Mindanao?

A-Sec. Deles: As long as definite and concrete proposals are prepared along this line, this problem can be raised to an agency. With this issue, the solution can be an inter-agency effort to energize rural areas through agricultural modernization. This is under Sec. Montemayor of DA and two (2) other presidential advisers, a total of three (3) people in the cabinet can help. Based on my experience, nothing moves if it is not written and concretized. Otherwise, you will get motherhood responses.

Q-Surley: The use of the term OCW is discriminatory and has negative connotation. With our linkage in Europe, we are erasing borders of discrimination and propose to change the terms Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) or Overseas Contract Worker (OCW) and instead use the term Overseas Filipino (OF).

A-Sec. Deles: OCW was used because we got data from NSO. When using data, you have to use their term and acknowledge the source.

A-Lalay: There are different issues and concerns for different sectors and the term OF only connotes Filipinos living and has settled for good overseas.

A-Sec. Deles: In NAPC’s formal level sector, we cannot incorporate all OF. We focus on one sub sector of OF, the OFWs.

Q-Dennis Yaun: Is there any possibility of getting loan from MFIs without collateral?

A-Sec. Deles: Micro-finance loan of P 1,000 to 25,000 does not require collateral, has low interest following the Grameen Bank system.

A-Vic Arguelles: DBP is a wholesale institution. We do not lend to end-users. We lend to MFIs but not directly to micro-entrepreneurs. DBP is not mandated to go into such arrangements, however, we can create a credit delivery system with micro-finance institutions as conduit.

Q-Pax: Kalahi has been proposed as convergence mechanism for poverty alleviation projects, how is this going to look like?

A-Sec. Deles: It is not a proposal but it is on the ground. Over 40 piloted rural barangays are already assisted since last December. We work with the different municipalities to identify priority areas.

Q-Tonette Binsol : Can a database of poverty situation and priority areas be available on line? It will be easier for us to look into ways in which we can help if data is readily available.

A-Sec. Deles: Database will be available this year through the NAPC homepage.

A-Randy (Sec. Deles’ assistant): We are already in the process of doing this. It is just a matter of finalizing the Monitoring and Evaluation Framework. We have met with NAPC secretariat staff and we are finalizing the database.


R-Leila Rispens-Noel(Novib): We have to maximize IT to link up with rural communities. The members of the conference’s steering committee conceptualized and finalized the conference through email. We have organized this conference through the use of information technology. We moved ideas and not bodies. Rural communities should link globally. LGUs should set up telephones and email system per barangay and this can be part of the adult computer literacy program.

A-Sec. Deles: There is inequality or a digital divide with regards access to this technology. There are many barrios whose residents walk several kilometers just to have access to a telephone or a newspaper. Density of telephone is really a major divide. When we talk of this kind of connectivity, this is one issue to consider.

R-Fr. Barcelon:: I have four advocacy statements: 1) Real concern for justice and improvement of the court and prosecution systems; 2) Interest rates in MFIs is 13%. BSP lends at 5%; government agencies should not be there to make money but contribute to development. 3) If you are planning to put up a micro-finance institution, you can contact the MFIs who have been in the business for some time; they offer on the job training and they can share their expertise in micro-finance. 4) We are saying that a large group of OFWs in Sabah are Muslim. 55% of Muslim families live in poverty. We should help and work in Muslim communities even if it entails large capital risk.

Q-Bern of NCRFW: A lot of Filipinos are into micro-credit. Are there initiatives to break the cycle of credit? Can we provide non-traditional livelihood for women?

A-Sec. Deles: We are working with government financial institutions and identify the different niches. We are identifying enterprises for women and the National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women (NCRFW) helps in identifying these possible projects. (TESDA) is also providing non-traditional livelihood training for women.

Q-Ben Maata: We are assisting 282 organizations in rural areas with 282 different concerns. Are there mechanisms where problems can be raised directly to the President? Some projects initiated by the government are politically motivated and are not really the felt need of the communities

A-Sec. Deles: There are many level of responses for letters of requests that reach the president. Some requests go directly to the office of the President while other requests are channeled to relevant agencies. The timeframe for responses usually take 2 weeks to 1 month. Full documentation for requests and proposals is very important; in government, if it is not written, it does not exist.

Q-Joey of Akbayan: There are many OFs who return to Philippines to look for a house and lot. What is government’s response on this “pabahay” issue?

A-Sec. Deles: There are specific windows under HUDCC to address that issue.

R- Fr. Barcelon:: There were instances where the bureaucracy has destroyed housing developers. SSS, HUDCC or Pag-ibig has tried to destroy housing developers because they change rules every 5 months so some developers went bankrupt and eventually closed. We need more developers and the OFs are a big market for them. Let us develop houses in the countryside.

R-Leila Rispens-Noel : Many Filipinos in Europe would like to avail of Philippine government services such as the Pag-ibig program on housing, However, the list of requirements is enormous, and sometimes it reaches 5 pages that people are discouraged to apply.

A-Sec. Deles: We are cutting down on red tape. The 250 signatures were cut off to a little over 40, which is still a lot in the housing industry. We are pushing for HUDCC to lower down signature requirements.

R-Nelson Ramirez: We tend to support foreign developers. Government should support local developers.

R-Leila Rispens-Noel: I used to sell products from Mindanao in the Netherlands. The Philippines does not have a good reputation in the export business because we cannot meet demands. Local producers want their own way and their own product specifications. Foreigners go to China and Taiwan because they follow product specifications of buyers.

Q-Romy: What is our sense of nationhood. Do we have stronger families? Are we united as a people?

A-Sec. Deles: In the ESDA Anniversary, we have the motto “tapat na
pamamahala para sa kaunlaran”. “Pamamahala” is everyone’s responsibility, not only the government’s. We get pledges from the different sectors of civil society. We are advocating for the principles of good governance and accountability – to call on sense of good citizenship from government, corporations and even the ordinary people. We should clean our own backyard.


Consensus on the Conference Statement/Action Agenda

A draft conference statement was presented to the plenary. The conference statement also serves as the action agenda to be pursued by all the sectoral groups represented in the conference. Critiques from the participants were gathered and after several drafts the participants agreed on the conference statement below:


CONFERENCE STATEMENT

WE, REPRESENTATIVES OF OVERSEAS FILIPINO COMMUNITIES AND MIGRANT ORGANISATIONS BASED IN THE PHILIPPINES AND OVERSEAS, GOVERNMENT AGENCIES MANDATED TO PROMOTE AND PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF OVERSEAS FILIPINO WORKERS, GOVERNMENT FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES, RURAL BANKS, COOPERATIVES AND MICROFINANCE PRACTITIONERS, SEAFARERS, NON GOVERNMENT AND PEOPLE’S ORGANISATIONS ENGAGED IN DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNITY WORK, WOMENS’ ORGANIZATIONS, FOREIGN DEVELOPMENT FUNDING AGENCIES, AS WELL AS INSTITUTIONS AND INDIVIDUALS CONCERNED WITH THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC RIGHTS OF OVERSEAS FILIPINOS AND THEIR FAMILIES,

AFTER PARTICIPATING IN THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON IDENTIFYING ECONOMIC LINKAGES BETWEEN OVERSEAS FILIPINOS AND THE RURAL COMMUNITIES IN THE PHILIPPINES, AND HAVING GAINED USEFUL KNOWLEDGE ON ONE HAND, ON THE HIGH SOCIAL COSTS OF MIGRATION TO MIGRANTS AND THEIR FAMILIES, AND ON THE OTHER HAND, THE POTENTIAL FOR GEARING MIGRANTS EARNINGS, ACQUIRED SKILLS AND TECHNOLOGY TOWARDS MORE PRODUCTIVE USE, HEREBY RECOMMEND THE FOLLOWING POINTS FOR URGENT AND SERIOUS STUDY, DIALOGUE AND COLLABORATIVE ACTION:

1. HARNESSING THE EARNINGS, RESOURCES AND SKILLS OF OVER 7 MILLION OVERSEAS FILIPINOS TO SERVE AS ENGINES OF GROWTH IN DEVELOPING LOCAL ECONOMIES IS POSSIBLE. HOWEVER TO BE WORKABLE IT DEMANDS NO LESS THAN A SERIOUS COMMITMENT FROM THE GOVERNMENT , THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND CIVIL SOCIETY TO ENSURE THE PSYCHOSOCIAL AND ECONOMIC REINTEGRATION OF OVERSEAS FILIPINO MEN AND WOMEN TO THE MAINSTREAM OF PHILIPPINE SOCIETY, SPECIFICALLY

FROM THE GOVERNMENT, THE WILLINGNESS AND THE FIRM RESOLVE TO CONSIDER ALTERNATIVE ECONOMIC PROGRAMS, AND POLICY REFORM, PARTICULARLY IN PROGRAMS THAT WILL SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF LOCAL ECONOMIES AND THE MICROFINANCE INDUSTRY, THE RETOOLING AND REORIENTATION OF DIPLOMATIC MISSIONS TO IMPROVE CONSULAR AND ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE TO OVERSEAS FILIPINO WORKERS, GOOD GOVERNANCE AND REFORMS THAT COULD ADDRESS THE PROBLEMS AT HOME THAT TRIGGER FORCED MIGRATION;

FROM CIVIL SOCIETY AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR, THE INCLUSION IN THEIR DEVELOPMENT APPROACHES, OF A MIGRANT SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC AGENDA, AND TO BE ON THE FOREFRONT OF A SUSTAINED AWARENESS RAISING CAMPAIGN, ADVOCATING TO OUR CITIZENRY, A SHIFT FROM ITS PRESENT CULTURE OR DEPENDENCE ON REMITTANCES TO THE MOBILISATION OF SAVINGS AND THE PROPER MANAGEMENT AND USE OF MIGRANTS’ REMITTANCES.


2. TO BE EFFECTIVE, IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT THIS CAMPAIGN BE ELEVATED TO THE LEVEL OF A MOVEMENT THAT MUST BE ADVOCATED NOT ONLY AMONG MIGRANT FAMILIES IN THE PHILIPPINES BUT ALSO WITH MIGRANTS OVERSEAS, THROUGH A MULTI SECTORAL INITIATIVE THAT INCLUDES INFORMATION SHARING AND MARKETING, NETWORKING, ADVOCACY AND LOBBYING, ACTION RESEARCH, BEST PRACTICES REPLICATION, INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY UTILISATION , CAPABILITY BUILDING AND ADVANCING THE CONCERNS OF WOMEN MIGRANTS AND MIGRANT FAMILIES;

3. THE MOVEMENT THAT WILL BE LAUNCHED MUST NOT ONLY CONSIDER THE CHANNELING OF REMITTANCES INTO PRODUCTIVE INVESTMENTS IN THE COUNTRYSIDE, BUT MUST ALSO INCLUDE POTENTIALS FOR THE PROMOTION OF TRADE OF ALTERNATIVE PHILIPPINE PRODUCTS, THE IMPROVEMENT OF MARKETING PRACTICES, AND THE SIMPLIFICATION OF PROCEDURES THAT WILL FACILITATE THE TRANSFER BY OVERSEAS FILIPINOS OF ACQUIRED SKILLS AND TECHNOLOGY AS WELL AS STRATEGIC PHILANTHROPHY.

4. SPECIFIC ACTION POINTS AND PROPOSALS AGREED UPON AMONGST US MUST BE IMMEDIATELY IMPLEMENTED SO AS NOT TO LOSE THE MOMENTUM AND GOODWILL GENERATED BY THE CONFERENCE, SUCH THAT IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THEY BE BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF ALL THE SECTORS CONCERNED, ESPECIALLY TO THE GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, AND PREFERABLY TO THE HIGHEST OFFICIAL OF THE LAND, IN ORDER THAT THE ACTION AGENDA COULD BE IMMEDIATELY AND FIRMLY ADDRESSED.

5. IN ORDER THAT THIS INITIATIVE COULD BE EFFECTIVE AND SUSTAINED, WE HAVE FORMED AMONGST US, MEMBERS OF A WORKING GROUP THAT WILL MONITOR, ADVOCATE AND ACT AS A SECRETARIAT, TO KEEP US INFORMED OF THE PROGRESS OF THE INITIATIVE. TO SUPPORT THE WORKING GROUP’S ACTIVITIES, WE COMMIT OUR COLLECTIVE SUPPORT IN TERMS OF TIME, RESOURCE, NETWORKING, AND HELP IN THE SOURCING OF FUNDS, AND TO THE EXTENT POSSIBLE, GIVEN OUR CAPABILITIES.

6. WE RESOLVE TO SUSTAIN, ENCOURAGE AND CONTINUE DIALOGUES, AS WELL AS IDENTIFY BEST PRACTICES ON THE ISSUE OF THE PRODUCTIVE USE OF MIGRANT REMITTANCES FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF LOCAL ECONOMIES, NOT ONLY WITHIN OUR MIGRANT COMMUNITIES BUT ALSO WITHIN INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND DONOR AGENCIES AS WELL AS THE APPROPRIATE GOVERNMENT OR NON GOVERNMENT AGENCIES OF MIGRANT HOST COUNTRIES, TO HEIGHTEN INTERNATIONAL CONSCIOUSNESS IN PROMOTING THE SOCIO ECONOMIC RIGHTS OF MIGRANTS, AS WELL AS TO ENLIST ASSISTANCE AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT ON MIGRANT DRIVEN DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS.

AS EVIDENCE OF OUR COMMITMENT AND SUPPORT, WE HAVE HEREBY AFFIXED OUR SIGNATURES TO THIS STATEMENT, THIS 12TH DAY OF APRIL 2002. AT THE MARCO POLO HOTEL, DAVAO CITY, PHILIPPINES. (See Annex 21 for the signatories)


Technical Working Group Formation

A proposal for the formation of a technical working group to identify and plan the next steps to be taken by the group in the next 6 months was carried by the conference. Two representatives from each sector constituted including the Chairperson of ERCOF and the Executive Director of Mindanao Land constituted the TWG. (See Annex 22 for the list of TWG members)

Each representative from the various sectors shared the ways by which they and their organizations could contribute to the follow-up action after the conference. As a means to efficiently and effectively communicate with all the members of the group, an e-group was proposed to be set up to facilitate exchange of information. The e-group called ECOLINK, which was immediately set up and is now operational, include all the members of the TWG and other identified stakeholders. The working group could take the approach of working together in one geographic area or may also work together on the basis of the members’ particular expertise. The working group was basically committed to provide a forum for information exchange primarily through the e-group where various plans or actions undertaken by the sectors could be shared. This will also allow groups more time to familiarize themselves with each other and to raise resources to pursue any follow up activities. (See annex 23 for minutes of the TWG meeting)


Closing Ceremonies

Some participants shared inspiring reflections during the closing ceremonies. Representatives of the conference organizers particularly to the local secretariat gave words of acknowledgement. Thanks and appreciation were also extended to the donors who contributed to the organization of the Conference. These donors were:

• NOVIB
• CORDAID
• MAMA CASH
• Presidential Social Fund (PSF)
• Federation of People’s Sustainable Development Cooperative (FPSDC)
• Foundation for a Sustainable Society Inc. (FSSI)
• Philippine Development Assistance Programme (PDAP)

Everybody was encouraged to continue with the advocacies for migrant workers and put into action the agenda that was set by the conference.

A blessing and an indigenous ritual led by the Kaliwat Theatre Collective followed.