Fayette C. Riñen
CEBU, June 9 (PIA) -- Despite a positive economic
growth, Filipinos still see working abroad as a lucrative option as the number of
overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) continues to rise between five to ten percent
every year.
Evelia Durato, chief of the Philippine Overseas Employment
Administration (POEA-7) said from January to May this year, the
number of OFWs that exited the Mactan Cebu International Airport (MCIA) was
recorded at 22,724.
Last year, the total number of OFWs that left via the MCIA was
42,916, said Durato.
Majority of the OFWs that exited the MCIA is off to Singapore with
19,896 followed by Hongkong and Malaysia.
In African countries, the top work destination is Angola.
“Over the years, we actually see the number of OFWs increasing,”
said Durato, this in spite of the Philippines’ favorable economic growth,
adding that “we do not expect a downward trend in the next five years.”
Durato said the good economic showing of the country lowered the
unemployment rate which is translated to a reduction of poverty and hunger. But
then, Filipinos still opted to seek greener pastures abroad largely because of
financial considerations, said Durato.
“Filipinos have the tendency to want to give the best to their
family such as putting their children to good schools and providing adequately
the needs of their children,” said the POEA-7 chief.
Mae Codilla, chief of programs and services of the Overseas
Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA-7) cited the valuable economic
contribution of the OFWs which is estimated at US$ 27 billion for last year
alone.
Codilla said based on their latest registry, there are about
170,000 OFWs in Central Visayas, with the large bulk coming from Cebu with 70
percent followed by Bohol with 18 percent and Negros Oriental with 10 percent
and one percent from Siquijor.
Most OFWs are land-based with 76% and 24% for sea-based while the
male population of OFWs composed the bigger chunk at 60% and 40% for
females, said the OWWA-7 official.
According to Codilla, the top five skills in demand abroad
are household service workers, seafarers, engineers, nurses, and oilers while
the five top work destinations are United Arab Emirates, Kingdom of Saudi
Arabia, Singapore, Qatar, and Hongkong.
Durato however cited the following countries as still banned for
Filipinos to seek employment, namely: Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, Syria, Yemen,
South Sudan and Somalia. (rmn/fcr/PIA-7)