Kaagapay Concerns Publication 2014.pdf

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c o n t e n t sTABLE OF

EDITORIALHolding Hope with Broken Hearts in the “Failed” Political Experiment

Collective Learning, Collective Actions: The Conference of Asian Women’s Rights Organizations Working to End Trafficking to Women Ging Gasa

Kaagapay Gratefully Witnessed the 20th GAATW International Members’ CongressamitaF@2014

Kagkalimwa joined TECHNO-DEMONSTRATION TRAINING ON MEAT PROCESSING initiated by the Local Government of Cotabato CityRacma A. Nguda

More Communities Acquired Pre-Employment Orientation Seminar (PEOS) jasmine g. bayao

Staff Development has Helped Shape and Improve Better Relationship for Effective ServiceGing Gasa

Kaagapay’s 18th Anniversary Celebrated in Simple yet Significant WayRacma Nguda

Building Capacities of Migrant Rights Advocates for Communities Racma A. Nguda

Stakeholders Discussed Barangay-Level Initiative in Combating Labor Trafficking and Illegal Recruitment in Cotabato City

OFW Children Have Fun Way of Learning Things:Experiences from Recreational and Educational Program jasmine g. bayao

OFW Children Joined the 8th Mindanao Youth Peace Camp

On the Remarkable Success of the Asian Women’s Forum on Climate JusticeA collective article of Ummu Al-Psydon and Goldy Omelio

How to Response to Disaster-Affected Communities: A ReflectionRahima M. Aliman

Pagdamay, Pagtulong at Pagsaksi:Ang Pagbangon ng mga Nasalanta ng Bagyong Yolanda sa Palompon,Leytenor-malyn

Kaagapay Observed the Public Hearing on the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) Ging Gasa

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LAKBAY TRIBU Matagumpay na Inilunsad!Kagkalimwa Dumalo Bilang PakikiisaTonie Sumaid

From ARMM to Bangsamoro: Failing Aspirations or Renewed Hope for OFWs in the Core TerritoriesGoldy Omelio

Is it All About War or Its Absence? Re-examining What Peace Really MeansGoldy Omelio

Brief Sneak on the Membership of Kagkalimwa OFW Federation

SURVEY on CHILDREN of OFWs

Legal Assistance and Counseling Updates for 2014

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The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) will cease to exist by June 2015. This is because during this time the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) will be put in place – replacing the ARMM and repealing the laws which created it namely: Republic Act (RA) 6734 and RA 9054. Before the abovementioned date, it is hoped that a law which will be the legal foundation of the new political entity – the Bangsamoro – will be approved by both houses of Congress signed by the President into law and will be submitted to the peoples in affected territories in the plebiscite ninety (90) days after it was promulgated into law. The concrete change in the political landscape in this part of the country is the result of the political negotiation between the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). Just as the ARMM is the concrete result of the political negotiation between GPH and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) in 1996, the Bangsamoro will be the political concession between the GPH and MILF which will be regularly set up in 2016. This was what everybody has hoped for and that such scenario will be a reality in the next few months. A concrete political entity which has been closely tied up with the popularity and

term of President Noy Aquino. A peace which attainment has been tied up with the specific President and not with the stakeholders’ interest and demands is like building a house in a very weak foundation. Big events which happened in the first month of the year have substantially changed all these.In the middle of January 2015, the spiritual leader of the world’s Catholic visited the country and impacted very much in the lives of all citizens including the political leaders and the ordinary citizens. He has emphasized two important things; the first, is the protection of the families and the social costs which the families have paid because of the separation of the members of the families for economic and employment reasons. The pope (Pope Francis) has emphasized that corruption diverts the resources for the poor – that directly linking the issues of migration (OFWs reality) and corruption. That is if resources are not stolen then. They can create employment in different parts of the country and that families need not be separated because opportunities for meaningful employment are made available; and the second, important statement of Pope Francis is that, he wishes to have the peace in the southern part of the country be successful but that it should be sustainable and inclusive which he specifically mentioned about the inclusion of the indigenous peoples. Weeks have passed after Pope Francis had left the country when the Mamasapano event happened. After all have been said and done on this very unfortunate event and almost ten

investigating bodies have been created – a reality has unfolded the fragility of the peace that everybody is hoping to get from the Bangsamoro political entity. The forty-four (44) lives of the Special Action Forces (SAF) of the Philippine National Police (SAF-PNP), the eighteen (18) lives of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and four (4) civilians lives were lost to get the international Malaysian terrorist Marwan. The question of why so many lives were lost including the collateral damage just to get one notorious terrorist and bomb maker is another story. The event, however, opens up the nature of peace that everybody is helping to achieve in the next few months. It opens up that much has to be clarified in terms of the concepts of territory, security and ultimately trust. The Congress (both Houses) has postponed all consultations and hearings of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) the legal basis for the Bangsamoro Political Entity until these basic points should be clarified. And this has been done without anybody being accused of peace spoilers.Generally the trend in terms of people pulse is still for achieving peace in Mindanao and that this can be defined in the BBL. The difference now is that the Basic Law is being reviewed – hoping that this time it should be inclusive and not just be bound in the framework of one or two groups. It will be therefore can be a very opportune moment to consider the agenda of the OFWs and the ensuring of the new political entity will not only cater to the foreign economic interests but first and foremost the interest of the majority of the three communities in the region in terms of providing them with meaningful employment. The non-separation of families or the families that stay together can truly help in the strengthening of the new political entity in the region. This unfortunate event has created a space for us to put into practice the message of Pope Francis. While all of us should offer profound sympathy with the families and loved ones of those who were killed in the Mamasapano incident – let us all make sincere efforts that their sacrifice will not be in vain. Let us not give any chance for another failed political experiment in this part of the country.

Holding Hope with Broken Hearts in the “Failed”

Political Experiment

EDITORIAL

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Collective Learning, Collective Actions: The Conference of Asian Women’s Rights Organizations Working to End Trafficking

to WomenGing Gasa

Committing themselves to end trafficking of women in Asia, twelve (12) women’s rights organizations in Asia, including Kaagapay OFW Resource and Service Center, Inc., were convened on April 8-10, 2014 at Gokarna Forest Resort in Kathmandu, Nepal. It was attended by twenty five (25) participants from the different women’s rights organizations from the countries of India, Nepal, Thailand, Indonesia and Philippines which are partners of the Global Fund for Women (GFW). This meeting aimed for the participants and partner organizations to share and learn from each other’s strategies. Discussions included the effective ways of preventing and addressing human trafficking in Asia within the perspectives of human rights, women’s rights, labor rights and migrant workers’ rights. It also strengthened monitoring and evaluation (M & E) tools through identifying its key elements

that could effectively track the progress and measure the outcome of each organization and as a collective group that works for women. This M & E is the Gender at Work Change Matrix which GFW adopted. The partner organizations also discussed the key steps in creating a stronger and more reflexive learning system. Each day’s activity was divided in presentations where participants from a partner organization share about their work experiences in combating trafficking to women as supported by the Global Fund for Women. The parking issues that the group discussed together with the resource person are both challenging and encouraging to the project’s effectiveness in times of implementation. The second day of the meeting focused on reevaluating the results of the workshop by using the Change Matrix and reexamining the identified set of indicators in measuring the impact of work while the 3rd

day focused in strengthening organizational learning system and mechanisms. Overall, every partner brought back new experiences and learning which successfully concluded the three-day meeting.

Kaagapay Gratefully Witnessed the 20th GAATW International Members’ CongressamitaF@2014

In celebrating the 20th Anniversary of Global Alliance against Trafficking of Women (GAATW), it would be best for the members to reflect on their collective work experiences in ending trafficking to women for the past 20 years and looking forward for another set of years for their upcoming activities. The GAATW International Members Congress was held at Swissotel Nai Lert Park Bangkok, Thailand on September 23-26, 2014. Members’ attendance was prioritized in the congress for

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updates and planning purposes but it was also opened for non- member organizations like Kaagapay who were invited for the said gathering. The language barriers did not hinder the success of the gathering as interpretations were easily available during plenary discussion where English and Spanish were simultaneously provided. There were different topics on issues relating to women and trafficking which were discussed simultaneously and which the participants could choose from. Each presenter, majority of them are members of GAATW, shared their group’s work experiences and programs and services. At the end of the discussion, attendees

have the chance for interactions through the open forum. The congress ended with a closing celebration in the evening of September 25, 2014 that marked the 20th Anniversary of GAATW. It was enriched with the showcase of presentations of every country through dancing, singing, drama and others with the use of their cultural costumes and dresses. The GAATW members at the end expressed their gratefulness for non¬-member organizations that fully supported and joined the unforgettable and historical celebration. Kaagapay’s attendance was supported by the Global Fund for Women.

Kagkalimwa joined TECHNO-DEMONSTRATION TRAINING ON MEAT PROCESSING initiated by the Local Government of Cotabato City

Racma A. Nguda

This is a program of the Local Government of Cotabato City as support training to different civil society organizations from the grassroots communities Kagkalimwa OFWFederation become part of it as a member of the Cotabato City Women’s Council (CCWC) which is one of the beneficiary groups of the said training. There were two (2) sessions on this training. One was conducted on September 12-13, 2014 for non-Muslimor non-Halal procedures and the second session was on September 26-27, 2014 for Muslim or Halal procedure. The demonstration processed Chicken Nuggets, Corned Beef, Beef Siomai, Beef Tafa and Embotido. The two-day training started with an opening remark

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of DR. PANDA, a Veterinary Specialist of Department of Agriculture-Region XII. He gave some points regarding animal vaccine and ways to slaughter animals into Halal procedure by hygienic practices in slaughterhouses and throughout the cold chain which is equally important. Principles of sanitation of premises and equipment were also described. They provided manual to every trainee as guidelines that trainees can utilize for future demonstration in their community. The Techno-Demonstration was facilitated by a representative from the Department of Agriculture (DA) Veterinary Department who provided more details of hygiene techniques before she demonstrated the processing.Selecting meat animals should be in good variety and healthy. And simple packaging techniques were also taught in case packaging machines are not readily available. After the processing demonstration, trainees were grouped where they did actual processing and later displayed their output for the trainer to test and comment. . The training provided participants a big opportunity to practice what they have learned for family consumption and additional income for their small business. And also share such learning to other members of their organization. We do hope that the Local Government of Cotabato City will continue supporting grassroots organizations and communities through initiatives that could support their organizations as well as their families. The member of the people’s organization particularly the Kagkalimwa OFW Federation gained additional knowledge and skills from the said training.

More Communities Acquired Pre-Employment Orientation Seminar

(PEOS)

jasmine g. bayao

In continuing the fight against illegal recruitment and human trafficking, Kaagapay conducted another series of pre-employment orientation seminar (PEOS) in the selected communities of Mother Kabuntalan town of Maguindanao, Alamada town of North Cotabato and Kolambugan town of Lanao del Norte province. These three (3) identified municipalities have a significant number of OFWs and would-be OFWs with potential partner communities. During the orientation, most of the participants have less knowledge on the basic rights of the OFWs and members of their family. But this did not limit their active participation during discussions and open forum. Moreover, they saw it as opportunity to share their

own experiences as either OFW returnee or as family members. Also, the orientation became a venue for them to know what to do and where to go if the member(s) of their family encounter problems abroad, identifying the acts of illegal recruitment and trafficking and the means to avoid it. Below is the list of the number of participants by barangay and by gender who attended the orientation. There were a total of two hundred four (204) participants in Mother Kabuntalan, Maguindanao, one hundred thirteen (113) in Alamada, North Cotabato and two hundred two (201) in Kolambugan, Lanao del Norte. In total, there were two hundred twenty-nine (229) men and two hundred eighty-nine (289) women who benefited from the orientation. For 2014, the orientation had five hundred eighteen (518) beneficiaries.

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Staff Development has Helped Shape and Improve Better Relationship for Effective ServiceGing Gasa

Kaagapay staff and personnel had undergone a Staff Development session last January 31- February 3, 2014 at Lemlunay Beach Resort, Maitom, Saranggani Province. The blissful three-day activity began perfectly by revealing historical background of personalities of the staff through genealogy. The session aimed at building better relationship among colleagues, strengthening self-esteem and knowing better one’s personality for effective delivery of

Kaagapay’s programs and services. This session made the staff reveal and understand each other’s weaknesses, strengths and unique personalities while learning how to adjust with one another in order to work collectively and effectively. As a development worker, this activity is necessary to ease impacts of dynamic behavior and personalities in order to easily address

institutional and program-related problems and come up with a solution. This kind of activities if done regularly will surely continuously upgrade the skills and upscale the capacities of personnel and staff to face new challenges in an ever changing situation.

Kaagapay’s 18th Anniversary

Celebrated in Simple yet Significant Way

Racma Nguda

October 16, 2014 marked the 18th Anniversary of Kaagapay OFW Resource and Service Centre, Incorporated. This year’s memorable and significant celebration was done in a modest way by Kaagapay staff together with some invited Uztads who led the Dua (prayer). The simple celebration was

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more of a thanksgiving for all the blessings and unending delivery of the services to Kaagapay’s constituents while asking the Almighty Allah for the continuous blessings for Kaagapay where solidarity, better relationship and understanding regardless of different cultures and beliefs will be developed among the staff.

Difficulties and trials were encountered for the past years and the staff were able to continue reaching the goals of Kaagapay and extending help and support to OFWs and their families in the area. The presence and undying support and solidarity of the local and international partners also contributed to the success of

Building Capacities of Migrant Rights Advocates for Communities

Racma A. Nguda

Trainers’ Training on Migrant Rights for Communities was organized by the Center for Migrants Advocacy (CMA) on October 8 - 12, 2014 at the Davao Episcopal Mission Center, Davao City. The trainees are from barangay local government units (BLGUs), non-government organizations like Kaagapay and members of the peoples’ organizations like Kagkalimwa OFW Federation. .This advance training is a result

of the previous trainings of the CMA among Mindanao partners. The training provided participants the skills and capacities they need in addressing the issues and concerns of distressed OFWs and coming up with possible intervention to assist the community. At the workshop, trainees discussed about their experiences where OFW returnees, who are at the same time trainees, shared

what they have encountered during the periods of working in other countries. Abuses are common and salaries stated in the contract are not being followed. Their experiences have no difference to the current experiences of the OFWs. Representatives from various concerned government agencies were also invited. The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA Davao) gave inputs about their programs and services On the other hand, the ARMM Regional Human Rights Commission (RHRC) shared about not being mandated by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) of any function relating to addressing distressed OFWs but the agency is capable and can extend assistance to them independently. The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), on the other hand, shared that they have no cases of illegal recruitment but they have cases of estafa. Another government agency that gave significant input was the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) through the Regional Welfare Office XI. OIC- Regional Director Eduardo

the initiatives in the partner communities. After prayers were said, a simple meal was enjoyed and shared by everybody.

Mabuhay ang Kaagapay !

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E. Bellido discussed about some tips in preparing and planning a small business for the OFWs as part of reintegration program. He also mentioned about non-government organizations accredited in conducting pre-deployment orientation seminar (PDOS) and they are also trained. He expressed his support in strengthening awareness raising and advocating for the rights of OFWs. Atty. Noel Ben of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines was also present and discussed about some significant points of the laws that cover the rights and welfare of OFWs and their families. Cases of illegal recruitment seemed widespread,

unstoppable and distressed OFWs suffer the difficulties at the hands of their own employer yet the national government are very slow in responding to all these problems. The efforts of NGOs, however, are commendable as they assist and support the needs of the OFWs. It is a challenge for everybody to advocate for and demand from the government the worthy attention that these OFWs need who, in worst situation, do not know whom to seek redress from. The brief message of Ambassador to Abu Dhabi Bahnarim A. Guinomla also posed challenge for private manning agencies. Abusive employers could sometimes

not be traced due to the lack of cooperation from these agencies in providing sufficient information as to the background of employers whom Filipino workers are working with. After the day’s series of discussions, group workshops allowed participants in discussing about action plans for their specific area of concern that would include monitoring the data and recording OFWs in their barangays. The training mainly gave additional knowledge and capacities to trainees the proper procedures in helping distressed OFWs in their respective areas. It is also a way of enhancing awareness to better educate the people in the community.

LAKBAY TRIBU Matagumpay na Inilunsad!Kagkalimwa Dumalo Bilang PakikiisaTonie Sumaid

Ang MPPM ay naglunsad ng paglalakbay na pinangalanang, LAKBAY TRIBU Para sa Sariling Pagpapasya na sinimulan noong Setyembre 13, 2014 at nagtapos sa Oktubre 29, 2014.Ang paglalakbay na ito ay inilunsad para sa ating mga kapatid na mga katutubo, lalong-lalo na ng mga Teduray, Lambangian at Dulangan- Menubo na naghahangad din ng kapayapaan

at pagsakatuparan ng kanilang karapatan sa sariling pagpapasya sa loob ng panukalang Bangsamoro Government. Binuksan ang paglalakbay na ito noong Setyembre 13, 2014 na ginanap sa Upi Agricultural School sa bayan ng Upi, Maguindanao sa pamamagitan ng isang ritwal ng mga Teduray at Lambangian na sinundan naman ng isang maliit subalit mahalagang talakayan kasama ang mga timuays at fintailans at si BTC Commissioner Froilyn Mendoza. Nagkaroon ng malawakang diskusyon at talakayan kasama ang iba pang dumalo sa programa bago pa man ito nagtapos sa hapon. Noong Setyembre 17, 2014 ako at iba ko pang kasamahan sa Kagkalimwa OFW Federation ay kasamang naglakbay patungo sa iba pang

lugar kung saan nagkaroon ng debating forum sa Mindanao State University sa Marawi City kasama ang mga estudyante at mga guro sa nasabing unibersidad. Kinabukasan ay tuloy naman kami sa bayan ng Lala, Lanao del Norte at naging matagumpay rin ang programa at talakayan doon. Setyembre 22, 2014 ng bumalik kami sa Cotabato City at dito nagtapos ang unang paglalakbay dahil nagpatuloy pa rin ang Lakbay Tribu sa Pagadian City, Dinas, Zamboanga del Sur, Kabacan, Midsayap, Davao City at iba pang lugar sa Mindanao. Kami ay masaya na naging bahagi kahit sa unang paglalakbay lamang dahil dito namin mas lalong nauunawaan ang kalagayan at mga panawagan ng mga katutubo.

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Stakeholders Discussed Barangay-Level Initiative in Combating Labor Trafficking and Illegal Recruitment

in Cotabato City

Different stakeholders had gathered on October 1, 2014 at Sardonyx Plaza, Cotabato City and discussed about the possibility of bringing to the barangay level the documentation and monitoring mechanisms that would help prevent and uphold the rights of victims/survivors of labor trafficking and illegal recruitment in Cotabato City. About seventy-five (75) representatives from the community-based organizations, barangay local government units, non-government organizations, government agencies and Sangguniang Panlungsod office had attended the Stakeholders Forum: Towards Establishing A Barangay-Level Mechanism to Document and Monitor Labor Trafficking and Illegal Recruitment in Cotabato City. Led by Kaagapay Overseas Filipino Workers Resource and Service Center, Incorporated in partnership with the Cotabato City Women Council (CCWC), the stakeholders expressed positive feedback on the presented mechanism. Barangay local government unit (BLGU) as the basic and most accessible unit of government has been involved in the recruitment process of overseas/local employment only through releasing of Barangay Clearance/Certification as a prerequisite document in obtaining passport from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Cotabato Consular Office. However, there is no concrete mechanism that would make the BLGU responsible in preventing the incidence of labor trafficking and illegal recruitment in its respective barangay and/or no concrete information and details that could be used to sue/prosecute the trafficker/recruiter. This is the gap seen with the existing efforts

of the different concerned agencies like the present formation of Inter-Agency Committee Against Trafficking (IACAT) and all other initiatives of government and non-government institutions that aim to eradicate or at least lessen the incidence of labor trafficking and illegal recruitment. The proposed mechanism would authorize BLGUs to record/document the important details such as name of the manning/recruitment agency with

its corresponding contact details, name of the recruiter/agent (if any) and his/her contact information and proof of identity, country of work as to where the constituent is applying for work, nature of work that the constituent is applying for and all other relevant information need to obtain before releasing the requested Barangay Clearance/Certification. In this event, any anomalies of the recruitment process could be prevented and the information obtained could be use in filing a case/complaint against involved parties/entities should there be rights violation perpetrated. The forum also provided opportunities for the stakeholders to learn from each other’s initiatives that could also help develop the mechanism. Barangay Poblacion 6, for instance, requires their constituent to submit

COMELEC Certification or Voter’s ID before a clearance is awarded while Barangay Mother Bagua, because of the extensive coverage of the barangay, requires their constituent to submit a signed clearance from the Purok Leader before a Barangay Clearance is released. Though the advocacy concept is acceptable to the stakeholders, there were challenges, concerns and recommendations raised that also need to be comprehensively considered by

all the stakeholders. (1) List of licensed manning/recruitment agencies operating in the area should be provided to the BLGUs, (2) massive dissemination of right information in every barangay about labor trafficking and illegal recruitment and the ways to prevent it, (3) building and strengthening the capacity of the barangay officials as part of establishing the mechanism, (4) community-based organizations, especially members of the Cotabato City Women Council (CCWC), should accompany the BLGUs in monitoring labor trafficking and illegal recruitment in their respective barangay, (5) a local ordinance should be formulated for

the purpose of this advocacy through the office of Sangguniang Panlungsod Member Christina Chua as chairperson of the Women’s Committee, (6) concerns about labor trafficking and illegal recruitment shall be integrated to the current formulation of the Gender and Development (GAD) Code of the city and (7) for the City Government to strengthen local economy and employment. It has been acknowledged that all the stakeholders have different and complimentary responsibilities over the issue of labor trafficking and illegal recruitment in the city; that it is not only the responsibility of government agencies/institutions or barangay officials but all the members of the community. In such a way, a good image of Cotabato City is established.

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OFW Children Have Fun Way of Learning Things:

Experiences from Recreational and Educational Program

jasmine g. bayao

As a result to last year’s program Paaralang Pangkaunlaran among Children of OFWs, Kaagapay OFW Resource and Service Center, Inc. decided launching the OFW Children’s Recreational and Educational Program aimed at making the OFW children aware of their rights and providing them opportunities to enhance their talents in music and arts and develop camaraderie among each other. The activity, held at Ummah Development Center, Rosary Heights 5, Cotabato City on June 12, 2014, was participated by fourteen (14) girls and fourteen (14) boys from Cotabato City and Maguindanao with a total of twenty-eight (28) active children. . The program was also timely, as a commemoration of the 116th National Independence Day. The first part was a brief input on Republic Act 9262 or the Anti-Violence against Women and their Children Act which the children carefully listened into and enjoyed the visual presentation with moving and colourful pictures. It was then followed by colouring of personally selected image from the provided book and team-building games. Each of them was very excited and showed

competitiveness with their fellow children. The other exciting part was the drawing contest which focused on the thematic question, “As a child of OFW, how would you draw or picture out yourself and your dreams?” The children actively joined in the drawing contest. Out of twenty-eight (28) entries five (5) were announced winners who got major prizes while others got minor prizes with the help of the two (2) judges Ms. Haniessa P. Mastura from Tripod Foundation and Mr. Abuzar Salik from Mindanao Peoples’ Peace Movement. Some of the parents/guardians were there who showed support and guidance to their children for the whole duration of the activity. Thanks to them. This program had once again opened up better understanding of the struggle of children of OFWs as always victims of emotional distress and loneliness. As observed the children showed longing for their parent (s). Their simple drawings illustrated their disagreement about their parent working abroad but accepted that they don’t have a choice and rather take the consequence of being left behind and grow up between their parent (or one of them).

I would like to express my deepest gratitude for letting me and other OFW children experience the 8th Mindanao Youth Peace Camp held at Tukuran, Zamboanga del Sur last June 20-23, 2014. I am glad that I met youth organizations and new friends. In the few days of the camp, me and the rest of the OFW children have done a lot of activity bonding and have learned a lot of things from it.

-Jonaira Pendi

OFW Children Joined the 8th Mindanao Youth Peace Camp About seventeen (17) children of OFWs from Cotabato City have, for the first time, joined the 8th Mindanao Youth Peace Camp on June 20 – 23, 2014 held at LGU Beach Resort, Barangay Lower Bayao, Tukuran, Zamboanga Del Sur. It was of another remarkable success for the Alyansa ng Kabataang Mindanao para Kapayapaan (AKMK) that organized the said camp participated by about two hundred fifty (250) tri-people youth delegates representing thirty-three (33) organizations from different communities of Mindanao. With the theme, Advancing an Inclusive and Peaceful Mindanao: Our Generation’s Responsibility, the camp established integration among the tri-people youth in building a comprehensive and inclusive peace in Mindanao and inculcated awareness about their immense role in peace-building. Timely with the development of

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the GPH-MILF peace process, the camp also discussed issues on Sustainable Economic Alternatives, Labor Migration and the Youth, Globalization of Education, Gender and Cultures (Men, Women, LGBT), and The Future of Our Food and Agricultural System: Challenges to the Youth. Lessons learned and knowledge gained from the lectures, thematic workshops, multimedia, and teambuilding games are the tri-people youth’s humble contributions to the peace-building efforts in Mindanao.

I’m not surprised about the issues and concerns raised by the delegates at the forum because even me is affected by frequent flood in my area in Sultan Kudarat town of Maguindanao province which is near the Rio Grande de Mindanao. Local government units have limited support in assisting the needs of the community affected by calamities. Various demands and calls of people were voiced out such as putting an end to mining and logging but such acts are still rampant. . We should stand with one another through peaceful means of solving the problems of our mother land….-Racma A. Nguda

On the Remarkable Success of the Asian Women’s Forum on Climate Justice

A collective article of Ummu Al-Psydon and Goldy Omelio

Attended by close to a hundred women and witnessed by few men, the Asian Women’s

Forum on Climate Justice was successfully realized through the initiatives of International Institute for Research and Education (IIRE) Manila, Mindanao Tri-people Women Resource Center, Inc., Focus on Global South and Stop the War Coalition. This was conducted at the University of the Philippines Balay Kalinaw, Diliman, Quezon City last July 2-3, 2014 which

was attended by fifty six (56) organizations from different regions of Luzon (with thirty-eight organizations),Visayas (with three) and Mindanao (with fifteen organizations) mostly from the grassroots women organizations. International delegates from Pakistan, Indonesia, Malaysia, France, Canada and Netherlands were also present. The forum aimed for the following objectives: (1) convene

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women leaders from different Asian countries to share and learn on the issues of climate change and how the situation affects grassroots women in different situations; (2) establish network and linkages among different women’s groups especially at the grassroots level; ; and (3) foster closer communication and develop mechanisms for effective campaigns on climate justice among women and climate justice activists across Asia. The guest speaker, Marijke Colle, former co-director of IIRE-Amsterdam, discussed about Climate Crisis and Ecofeminism. Accordingly, ecological and social disasters are most likely caused by capitalism, which exploits the people and destroys the environment as the basis of all human society, and the speeding up of ice melting in Antarctica that resulted to the rise of the sea level. Ecological crisis is manifested through agro-chemical industry which is unsustainable; the foods are produced by machines and not by human and the decrease of production due to the changes of climate. The development of the bio-fuels threatened people as it

produces goods for fuels and not food for the people. On the other hand, developed countries are buying vast of lands in underdeveloped countries, which is an act of land grabbing, for mono-cropping which is mainly for export. These have caused unstable food prices, migration from the countryside to the cities and general pollution as even the wastes are being sent to other countries. This is literally a man-made ecological crisis. Industrial revolution was never an answer to development as it exponentially begins and intensifies ecological crisis. In pharmaceutical industry, capitalist expensed more on advertisement with high price of items rather than on research or experiment for better medicines however, it does not respond to human needs but to their profit. . Thereby, capitalist system extends it exploitations to all places and resources in the world. The privatization scheme is not for the needs of the people but for profit; exploitation of the workforce and the nature is exorbitant. This exploitation and crisis are additional oppression

among women. Women’s labor are often devalued since they are perceived as the central figure in taking care of men and children and have the central role in the private sphere. Currently, women are under the struggle for social rights, reproductive rights, and equal rights to education among others. Yet 2/3 of the economic works of the society are done by women thus, sustaining the work force. Asia is more affected because 70% of the world’s population is from Asia. Impacts of climate change to women in Asia were then shared by delegates from Indonesia, Pakistan and Philippines. Various topics were also discussed at the forum such as Food Sovereignty and Climate Change, Climate Refugees and Migration, Global Struggle for Climate Justice and Grassroots Women and the Struggle for Climate Justice. At the end of the forum, delegates discussed and adhered to strategies, approaches and proposals for cooperation in addressing climate justice.

How to Response to Disaster-Affected

Communities: A ReflectionRahima M. Aliman

This reflection was based on a three-day seminar on Community Based Disaster Risk Management Training

for Basic Sectors Leadership conducted on October 17-20, 2014 held at Family Country Hotel, General Santos City. The participants come from different areas of Region XII and parts of Maguindanao like Cotabato City, Pagalungan, Paglat, Datu Montawal, Upi, Lebak, Basilan, General Santos City and other areas. It was started by the preliminaries followed by the opening remarks and

key notes of Sr. Mela Fellizar Cagay and Director Reynaldo M. Bungobong CESE, DILG of Region X11. During the second day there was discussion about “Understanding Hazard and Disaster” which presented the Hydrological and Geological Hazard affecting the region. Hazards include environmental calamities like snow storm, earthquake or the eruption

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of volcanic wave and other disasters that affect the people in the community. Disasters mostly affect vulnerable people including their health and livelihood. My reflection is on our experiences for the past years that we, Filipinos encountered many forms of calamities in our communities with lack of support from the Government. Their support could not accommodate and address

the needs of all the affected people and victims/survivors of flood where more houses were destroyed, livelihood damaged and their equipments destroyed. To date, there are still a lot of families and individuals who have not recovered from all of these calamities. What is exactly the real framework of responses to disaster-affected communities? This kind of question is very relevant in the context that

today we are witnessing the ‘new normal’ in our climate and environment. Our response must not only to mitigate the impact of the climate change. It should be preventive – which means we should campaign to stop all mining and logging activities in our areas. This should be done here and now by all of us.

Pagdamay, Pagtulong at Pagsaksi:Ang Pagbangon ng mga Nasalanta ng Bagyong Yolanda sa Palompon,Leyte nor-malyn

Ika nga nila, ‘ang sakit ng kalingkingan ay ramdam ng buong katawan’. Ito ay kagaya ng nangyari sa Bisayas ng hinagupit ito ng Bagyong Yolanda ang epekto nito ay ramdam din ng mga taga Mindanao, Luzon at maging ng buong mundo. Lahat ay naging apektado sa delubyong dulot ng bagyo na siyang naging sanhi ng pagkawala ng maraming buhay, tirahan at maging ng pinagkukunan ng kabuhayan. Dahil sa masalimuot na pangyayari, maraming tulong ang dumagsa galing sa iba’t- ibang ahensya ng pamahalaan, international at local NGOs,

religious organizations, academes at iba pa. Kahit pa man sa dami ng tulong na naipamahagi sa mga apektadong indibidwal at pamilya, ito ay may kakulangan pa rin. Isa sa mga local organizations na nakakita ng kakulangang ito ay ang Kaagapay OFW Resource and Service Center sa pakikipagtulungan nito sa Mindanao Humanitarian Action Network against Disasters (MiHANDS). Samantalang ang Global Fund for Women ay

isa naman sa mga international organizations na nagpaabot ng tulong para sa mga apektadong komunidad. Napagkasunduang ang Barangay Lat-osan, bayan ng Palompon, Leyte ang isa sa mga komunidad na bigyang tuon para sa early recovery and rehabilitation initiatives sa pamamagitan ng mga pagsasanay at pagbigay ng iba’t-ibang kagamitan at pangangailangan para sa kanilang muling pagbangon. Isa sa mga pagsasanay

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na ginawa ay ang Backyard Gardening Session kung saan ibinahagi sa mga kababaihan at mga magsasaka ang Bio-Intensive Gardening – Food Always in the Home (BIG-FAITH) at tinuruan silang gumawa ng liquefied organic fertilizer. Samantalang ang Pagsasanay sa Pag-proseso ng Pagkain naman ay itinuro sa 47 na mga kababaihan kung saan ipinakita sa kanila ang pagluto at pag-proseso ng Coco Sapal Biscuit, Squash Maha, Banana Chips sa tulong na rin ng Kagkakalimwa OFW Federation na dumaan din sa mga maraming katulad na pagsasanay ay naging matagumpay ito dahil nadagdagan ang kaalaman at kakayahan ng mga kababaihan lalo na ang paggamit muli sa sapal ng niyog na kadalasan ay tinatapon na lamang. Ang mga natutunan nila ay maaari nilang gamitin upang pagkakitaan dahil hindi na ito kailangan ng malaking pohunan sapagkat makikita lang ang mga sangkap sa bakuran.

Ilang linggo pagkatapos ng pagsasanay sa pagluluto ay inilunsad naman ang Pangunahing Pagsasanay sa Kalusugan sa tulong ng Mindanao Tri-people Women Resource Center, Inc. (MTWRC). Sinimulan ang pagsasanay na ito sa pagbahagi at pagpaliwanag ng karaniwang sinyales at sintomas ng mga pangunahing sakit tulad ng ubo, tigdas at pagtatae. Binigyang halaga sa pagsasanay na ito ang kahalagahan ng mga halamang gamot na panlunas sa mga karaniwang sakit matapos ang bagyo. Nagtapos ang pagsasanay na alam ng mga kababaihan at mga ina kung paano gawin ang sabon, skin ointment at syrup mula sa mga halamang gamot.Liban sa tatlong pagsasanay na ito, nagkaroon din ng Play Therapy at Debriefing Session ang mga kabataan at kababaihan. Ang pag-uusap ay naka-sentro sa relasyon ng pamilya bago at pagkatapos ng bagyo samantalang ang paglalaro naman ay naging paraan na nabawasan ang kanilang emotional stress.Ang pinakahuli subalit mahalaga din ay ang pagsagawa ng pag-uusap

hinggil sa kanilang karapatan bilang mga nasalanta ng kalamidad at maging ang mga pangunahing indikasyon ng illegal recruitment na madalas mangyayari sa mga disaster-affected communities. Bago nagtapos ang pag-uusap na ito ay nagkaroon ng pagkakataon ang komunidad na alamin ang kanilang problema at ang nais nila na maging mukha ng solusyon sa usapin ng kahirapan, kalusugan, edukasyon, kahusayan (peace and order) at kalikasan/kalinisan. Nangunguna pa rin sa problema ang pagkasira ng kanilang pananim, malayong pagamutan at kawalan ng health center, limitadong inuming tubig at kawalan ng palikuran. Kahit papaano, sila ay umaasang matugunan ng mga ahensiya at grupo ang mga pangangailangang ito.Sa pangkabuoan, mayroong 624 indibidwal ang nakinabang sa mga pagsasanay, session at sa pagbahagi ng mga kagamitan sa pagluluto, gardening tools at pagproseso ng halamang gamot.

Kaagapay Observed the Public Hearing on the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL)

Ging Gasa

On October 22, 2014, the first public hearing on the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) was held at the Municipal Gynasium of Upi, Maguindanao. This was led by Cong. Rufus Rodriguez

together with the members of the Ad Hoc Committee on the BBL. This important political hearing was attended by different civil society organizations, non-government organizations, peoples’ organizations, barangay

officials, religious sectors, representatives of Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), local government of Upi and constituents interested in learning the provisions of the law. This very important gathering cum hearing aimed at consulting, gathering and addressing the peoples’ perceptions, demands, proposals and concerns about the provisions and the establishment of the proposed

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From ARMM to Bangsamoro: Failing Aspirations or Renewed Hope for OFWs

in the Core TerritoriesGoldy Omelio

“Unacceptability” is currently the term used in describing the status quo of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) which was lauded by the then Bangsamoro people and members of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) who claimed that by installing ARMM is a way of recognizing their right to self-determination thereby providing them the space to enjoy peace and development in the region that has long been denied from them. If remembered, ARMM is a product of the Government of the Republic of the Philippines – Moro National Liberation Front (GRP-MNLF) final peace agreement signed in 1996. But such remarkable success also earned criticisms and disparity among members of the MNLF and led to the creation of its faction group. The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) entered into formal peace talks with the government in the same year. Since then, MILF and the Philippine Government have had on and off peace negotiations. The PNoy administration has remained steadfast in ending this negotiation before the end of his term in 2016. As part of his legacy of ‘tuwid na

daan’, replacing ARMM with Bangsamoro Government justifies the reform he dreamed for the region. However, this effort does not escape from the critiques’ eyes. Some argued of miscalculations of the time frame thereby putting at risk the output of the peace agreement while others alternatively proposed provisions in the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) that would somehow acknowledge the right to self-determination of the indigenous peoples in the core territories at the same time. Others have also argued that replacing ARMM does not mean abolishing the culture of corruption and warlordism in the region rather ‘replaces the current bureaucratic arrangements while upholding the interests of the political elites’ . Calling ARMM a ‘failed experiment’ and replacing it for a better one should both be quantified and qualified from the bottom to the top, meaning, scrutinizing properly the aspects where ARMM has failed – from the views of ordinary people and rights’ holders living in the region who rather have the authority to say what had failed and what to demand from the coming Bangsamoro Government. One of the noteworthy issues and hard-to-disregard problems which ARMM failed to address are the local employment and labor migration. The latter is

Bangsamoro Government. All ideas expressed were freely accepted in the forum. Position papers that expressed criticisms or proposals for BBL inclusion were properly recorded. It was also a venue for the people to have clarity about their concerns and fears. Congressman Rodriguez, as chairperson of the committee, made a promise of relaying to the other members of the Congress the output of the hearing for them to consider in their future meetings. What made this public gathering very relevant is that North Upi which is considered the ancestral land of the Teduray-Lambangian tribes, has been considered as part of the core territory of the proposed Bangsamoro territory. Another public hearing, which was also attended and participated by some Kaagapay staff, was held at the Cotabato City State Polytechnic College on October 23, 2014. Series of public hearings like these were set in various parts of Mindanao which would likely end before 2014 making sure that by the first part of 2015, everything is ready for the next process which is the plebiscite avoiding negative circumstances at the moment it is approved. Likewise, constituents within, contiguous and outside the core territories of the proposed new political entity are hopeful that these public hearings would hear and address their concerns and that the new political entity would be inclusive and be beneficial to the future generations.

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just the major effect of the former. It has been a public knowledge that ARMM is relatively underdeveloped as poverty incidence in the region is the highest in the country . As this situation is believed to be one of the pushing factors of migration, significant numbers of OFWs from the region has been deployed . Maguindanao, one of the provinces of the region, is one of the major sending provinces of household service workers (HSW), popularly called as domestic workers. It is also the top place of origin of distressed OFWs whom Kaagapay OFW Resource and Service Center, Inc. facilitated through its Legal Assistance and Counseling program. These distressed OFWs complained for underpaid/unpaid wage, maltreatment and overwork. Other relevant pressing issues, like labor trafficking and illegal

recruitment, are also prevailing in the entire region as armed conflict and poverty persistently worsen the deprived situation of the local people. Baklas system and falsification of document are predominantly opted by women and young women for smoother transactions of HSW application in other countries with the facilitation of recruiters/agents of either legal or illegal recruitment/manning agencies. Despite of Maguindanao as the province-center of ARMM for the previous years of its operation, this was not concretely addressed. If these are some of the supposedly failures of ARMM, then it should be considered by the coming Bangsamoro Government. Establishing viable, sustainable and environment-friendly local economy in the region would somehow resolve the problem

of livelihood and employment in the region thereby minimizing the flow and impact of labor migration. At the same time, effective and sufficient preventive local mechanisms against labor trafficking and illegal recruitment shall be established in order to promote safe migration thus curtailing the number of distressed OFWs from the region. If this is considered as well as the provision of efficient and concrete programs for the families of OFWs in the region, then surely the Bangsamoro Government will receive two thumbs up from its constituents. But as things are manifesting now, the more there are political changes or results of political negotiations, the more economic hardships have been felt by the people in ARMM, as concretely manifested by more and more people leaving the region for work in the distant places.

Is it All About War or Its Absence? Re-examining What Peace Really MeansGoldy Omelio

Peace has been commonly perceived and regarded as a situation free from armed conflicts, harsh arguments and tough confrontations. Technically, it is defined as ‘a state in which there is no war or fighting’ . At some point this is incontestable, but on the other point, it has been redefined with a statement that it ‘is not just the absence of war but the

presence of justice’ . Hence, the multiple forms of injustices in the society seem to justify the acts of armed struggles. Mindanao, for instance, has been experiencing decades-old wars which are both written and forgotten in the Philippine history. Several revolutionary and armed groups – Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), Rebolusyonaryong Partido ng Manggagawa-Mindanao (RPMM) and Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) – were formed and continuously demand their cause either through armed struggles, reform initiatives or peace talk with the Philippine Government. The peace deal between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and MNLF which claimed to be the solution to the peace and development problem in Mindanao has been recently declared a ‘failed experiment’ while simultaneously fast-tracking the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and MILF peace deal that projected to be closed by 2016. It is expected that by then on, the Bangsamoro people would enjoy their right to self-determination and would not be marginalized in their own homeland. This, however, is a broader view of what should be reclaimed by the Bangsamoro people thereby specific forms of injustices that go beyond armed struggles and peace negotiation shall not be neglected in reclaiming the rights of the Bangsamoro people in particular and of the peoples in Mindanao in general. Even before the creation of ARMM, provinces where the population of Muslim Filipinos are concentrated are already suffering as a result of extreme poverty. Little has changed as reforms and development agenda were

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Table 1. Poverty Threshold among Families in Mindanao by Region (in Percent) 2006, 2009 and 2012

Region in Mindanao 2006 2009 2012Western Mindanao (Region IX) 41.0 41.5 36.9Northern Mindanao (Region X) 35.1 35.4 35.6Southern Mindanao (Region XI) 26.9 27.3 28.6SOCKSARGEN (Region XII) 34.7 31.1 37.5CARAGA 43.3 43.3 34.1ARMM 43.0 42.0 46.9

introduced in the region after the GPH-MNLF Peace Agreement. Despite significant donor support, such agreement hardly led to peace as armed conflict continue between MILF forces and the government which launched two (2) major wars in 2000 and 2003 and the postponement of the signing of MOA-AD in 2008. Infrastructure construction neither did led to structural transformations in political and economic institutions as poverty threshold among families in the region remains higher compared to the rest of the regions in Mindanao as shown in Table 1 below. There could be several factors that contributed to this unjust situation.

OFWs: Sa Digma at KapayapaanNi: Tatay Remo Fenis

Pangingibang Bayan: Magkaibang Pagtingin…

Pangako ng greener pasturesDahil ba hindi na berde sa lupa nila?Nandoon ang pangakong maliwanag na kinabukasanDahil ba madilim sa lupang tinubuan?

Digmaan, kalamidad, kahirapanIilan sa mga dahilan ng pangingibang bayanKawalan ng Kabuhayan at OportunidadKaramihan sa kanila ito ang paghahayag

Sa simula hindi naman ito ang gustoNag-aral lang naman noon upang makapagtrabahoAt iyon na nga ang tugon ng kalagaya’t gobyernoBigyang daan ang mangibang bayan upang may trabaho umano

Sa konteksto ng globalisasyon at liberal na kompetisyonNais sumabay ng mahirap at umuunlad na mga nasyonKaya hindi naman tayo pahuhuli sa integrasyonMurang lakas-pagawa ang tanging kontribusyon

Kalagayan ba ay ano?

Hindi lang simpleng upang maitawid ang pamilyaDahil kahit pamahalaa’y ginawang programaUpang bilyones ay pumasok sa kabang bayanNa pinaglulustay naman ng mga kawatan

Hindi bababa sa limang libo kada arawSilang lumuluwas upang maghanap buhayBilang manggagawa, tao at dayuhan sa lupang puntahanKadalasan pinapabayaan ng ating pamahalaan

Bugbog sarado na sa trabaho kayod pa rinDahil maraming umaasang andito sa atinSa pagpapakita ng sipag at galing napag-iinitan dinBasta ba para sa mga mahal, lahat ay gagawin

Umaasa naman ang karamiha’t lipunanNa buhay hari at reyna ang lagay nilaKaya sa tuwing nakatatanggap ng mga padalaNag-aakalang pinupulot lang ng mga

Limited Political and Democratic Participation. From the start, the GRP-MNLF peace agreement did not provide broader space for ordinary Bangsamoro people and citizens living within the claimed ARMM territories to have direct involvement in the process. Only high-ranking officials of MNLF and Bangsamoro political elites ascend from marginalization while leaving the rest of the Bangsamoro people behind, embracing the kind of development being spoon out to them without being asked what they actually need. The genuine political and democratic participation of the people, especially in conflict-prone areas, should not be left behind the process since they are always the victim of armed confrontations thereby their voices and participation are vital in attaining peace. Otherwise, the concept of peace will only be enjoyed by the few. Political dynasty, Warlordism and National Electoral Interference. Economically well-off Bangsamoro families with strong family and clan ties have the opportunities in manipulating and appropriating political powers in the region. This and warlordism have strengthened the culture of political dynasty that has long been festering the political system of the country. Additionally, the region is also known to be an entity where national interference in the selection of electoral candidates is stronger. People in significant numbers of areas in the region are already used to not casting their votes during Election Day for either of the two (2) reasons: (1) winner has been declared the night or days before the election and (2) somebody does the casting for them. Manipulating the political decision of the people can never be peaceful. It is an innate right of a person that should not be separable from the rest of her/his rights. If this culture is not changed nor reformed within an autonomous government, justice and peace will never be enjoyed by the entire population in Mindanao. Power relations will continuously be concentrated among the few, the elites and the powerful sector of the Bangsamoro. Poor Quality and Insufficient Social Services and Facilities. While other Filipinos in other regions have access to basic social services, people

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Table 2. Simple Literacy of the Population in Mindanao 10 years old and over 2000, 2003 and 2008 (In Percent)

Region in Mindanao 2000 2003 2008Western Mindanao (Region IX) 85.3 88.9 94.0Northern Mindanao (Region X) 91.4 91.8 93.9Southern Mindanao (Region XI) 90.2 90.3 93.7SOCKSARGEN (Region XII) 87.0 87.3 92.1CARAGA 92.0 92.1 94.7ARMM 68.7 70.2 81.5

in ARMM have basically none. Education, health, housing and sanitation are poorly and insufficiently addressed. Simple literacy in the region remains low compared to the rest of the regions in Mindanao as shown in Table 2 while Table 3 shows why, mainly education, and other services have poor qualities compared to other regions.

Table 3. 3 -Year Average Regional Allocation of Selected Agencies FY 2008-2010 (In Thousands)

AGENCY REGION I TO XIII ARMM DIFFERENCEDepEd 7,735 4,584 3,151Locally - Fumded Infra Projects

2,930 833 2,096

DENR 334 184 149DAR 117 102 14DILG 90 84 6TESDA 86 43 43DOLE 53 25 27DOTC 38 20 17DOST 31 15 15

kamag-anak nila ang kita

Hindi pinapasahod at kinukuha ang mga dokumentoKaramihan sa karanasan sa hindi maisumbong na mga abusadong amoKung hindi makakatakas ay ikukulong na mas Malaya pa ang alagang asoIba nama’y buhay ay kikitilin sabihin lang nahulog habang naglalampaso

Baon ang mga pangarap para sa pamilya at sariliPasaherong inilipad sa himpapawidKasama’y naka-empakeng bagahe at luhang sinasarili na langMay mga umuwing nakalatay, wala sa katinuan at naka-kahon na lang

Kapayapaan sa Bansang Pinanggalingan at Pinuntahan…

Bilang manggagawa, tao at dayuhan sa bansaLimitado iyong karapatan at pagkilos ay hindi MalayaIba pa ang sitwasyong may gyera at mga karahasanNa hindi mo malaman kung kalian sa bala’t bomba tatamaan

Lumisan sa bayan dahil sa karahasa’t kaguluhanHindi naman panatag ang loob habang nagdesisyong lumisanMawawalay sa mga pamilya’t lupang nakasanayanTitibayan na lang ang loob, sikmura at katawan

Kahit malawak ang kaguluhan at kahirapanEkonomiya ng bayan ay hindi naman patay naDahil sa kanilang mga remittances na padalaKaya mahalagang huwag kalimutang pahalagahan sila

Hindi maiguhit ang mga pag-aalala’t nadaramaSa tuwing mabalitaang may bagyo, baha at gyera sa bayan nilaLalo pa kung may mahal sa buhay na nasawi at di man lang makitaKakayod upang makabangon ang pamilyang naiwan habang mabigat ang kalooban

Usapang Kapayapaan sa Mindanao…

Itong mungkahing batas ay nakitaan ng maraming butasHindi naman dahil nais maging espesyal ang hanay nilaSubalit sa konteksto ng gyera noon at bago ang kasunduanSila ay mahalagang bahagi ng pag-

Low budget allocation is one of the factors why basic social services and facilities are poorly delivered to the communities if at all. On the other hand, interminable corruption among national and local leaders and government agencies is another part of the miserable implementation story. This means that if budget allocations for the region significantly differ from the rest of the regions in the country, ARMM or the coming new political entity of the Bangsamoro remains at par. However, providing sufficient budget allocations to the region should be accompanied by transparent governance. If corruption still persists in the country and in the region in particular, then good quality social services will be at risk. Job Insecurity and Labor Migration. Local employment is part of the basic social services but it should be included in the top priority list. Though there is not so much significant difference as to the unemployment and underemployment rate of the region from the rest of the regions in Mindanao, the labor force participation rate (LFPR) is highly cynical and something that should be explained of. ARMM has the least LFPR among the regions in

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Table 4. Total Population 15 years and Over and Rate of Labor Force Participation, Employment, Unemployment and Underemployment, by Region: October 2014 (In Percent)

Region in Mindanao

Total Population 15 yrs and

over (in ‘000)

LFPR Employment Unemployment Under-Employment

Western Mindanao (Region IX)

2,254 63.5 97.3 2.7 22.5

Morthern Mindanao (Region X)

3,075 71.0 94.2 5.8 31.0

Southern Mindanao (Region XI)

3,154 66.5 94.5 5.5 17.6

SOCKSARGEN (Region XII)

2,757 65 97.1 2.9 21.8

CARAGA 1,760 64.8 95.8 4.2 22.0ARMM 2,377 56.9 97.1 2.9 12.5

gulong ng ekonomiya

Kahit na sabihing itong mungkahing batas ay balangkas munaSubalit ito ang tungtungan ng lahat na gagawin paKaya mahalagang hanay ng mga OFW at karapata’y mabigkasAt gawing integral sa pagpapanday ng magandang bukas

Ang mga teritoryong saklaw at mungkahing saklawin paAy ang pinaka-kontribyutor ng nangingibang-bayanAyon na nga sa nabanggit sa unahan nitong akdaSa mga lugar ding ito malawak ang hirap, kawalan at gyera

Kailangang igarantiya ng lahat na mga mekanismoRebeldeng kilusan man ito lalo na ng gobyernoKarapatan at Kapakanan ng mga OFW isakatuparan itoHuwag isantabi at huwag hayaang patuloy na maabuso

Pagpapanday ng Malaya at Makabuluhang Bukas…

Huwag silang silang pabayaan at mga pamilya nilaDahil kung mamimili man ang karamihan sa kanilaKung pwedeng huwag nang mangibang bayan paAy iyon ang pinaka-pipiliin nila

Nangibang-bayan sila upang makatakas sa sitwasyonUpang simulang buuhin mga pangarap lalo na ng pamilyaSubalit naikulong sila sa pangarap na iyonKaya tulungang tuluyan nang makalaya sila

Gapos sila sa pangamba sa mga dayuhang bansaTali sila sa batas na dayuhan para sa kanilaKung mangyaring ang balangkas at katuparan ng bagong pamamahalaAy ang bigyang katuparan mga pangarap nila dito na lang sana

Tara na kaibigan, kasama at kababayanTumulong tayong pang-aapi at kahirapan ay wakasanMakabuluhang Partisipasyon ng mga mamamayanBigyang katiyakan sa pagpapanday ng Kalayaan at Kinabukasan…

…ng Bangsamoro; Mindanao; Pilipinas; at ng Mundo.

Mindanao as shown below. Though the region’s underemployment rate is low, it should not be taken for granted due to the changing trends of the working class condition. Workers in the agricultural sector are decreasing while those in the services are increasing thereby significant numbers of Filipinos in the entire country is under the threat of job contractualization, low wage scheme and limited work benefits. This is also an indicator that the agricultural sector is not well developed (specifically in the ARMM) despite of the Philippines being an agricultural country.

One of the usual options nowadays in response to the growing threat of contractualization, low wage schemes and work benefits is grabbing the opportunities of overseas employment. In 2011, ARMM was accounted to have 65,000 OFWs (with document) based on the Survey on Overseas Filipinos (SOF) done by the National Statistics Office from April 1 to September 30, 2011. Though this is a sample data, the number was refuted by concerned government agency in the region since there are a lot of OFWs who are originally from ARMM but prefer to use the address of their recruitment agencies or host families in Metro Manila who hosted them before deployment. Still many more (OFWs) leave the country with false documented or no documents at all. And like many other Filipinos, OFWs from ARMM sacrificed the distance and longing from the family and are under the emotional threat of social costs like couple’s breakup or delinquency and/or uncared children while economic contribution through their remittance is also another part of the story. This positive contribution and its consequential impacts should well be handled by the coming regional government. From Kaagapay’s Legal Assistance and Counseling desks, majority of the distressed OFWs who seek assistance are originally from the province of Maguindanao, are working as domestic workers in Middle East countries, are women and are either trafficked, illegally recruited or experience unjust labor treatment. The problem of OFWs supposedly is a national problem but in reclaiming the autonomy of the Bangsamoro people, the coming Bangsamoro Government have all the powers and opportunities to design and implement 20

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Brief Sneak on the Membership of Kagkalimwa OFW Federation

Since the creation of Kagkalimwa OFW Federation in 2009, it had its two (2) General Assemblies. Since then, so much has changed on its memberships. This data shows the updated membership of the federation which were gathered through area visitation/monthly meeting of member organizations for the purpose of profiling and data banking. There are two (2) provinces and one (1) city covered by federation.

Chart 1: Province/City

There are a total of three hundred fifty-two (352) individual members. Chart 1 shows that 70% (246) of the total members of the federation are from Cotabato City, 26% (91) are from Maguindanao and 4% (15) in Alamada, North Cotabato.

Chart 2: Membership Category

51% (179) of the members are OFW Returnees while 47% (165) are Families/Relatives of OFWs and 2% (8) are currently OFWs.

its mechanisms in protecting and promoting the rights of OFWs coming from the region and basically to demand from the national government what OFWs are worthy of. But in the long run, a strong, viable and sustainable local economy that could provide decent job for all is apparently the key in minimizing

the flow of labor migration, mitigating its social costs and contributing in the attainment of peace and just Bangsamoro society. So even if the Bangsamoro Government will be functional by June 2016, people in the region will experience the absence of war but not necessarily experience peace. Because

as long as families are separated because of economic hardships there are always heavy social and political causes to the region. Breakdown in the bonding of the families and community conflicts will continue to occur because people in the region have disintegrated.

Chart 3: Age Category

Most members of the federation belong to the age category of 40 to 65 years old with 61% (214), while 26% (93) of them belong to the age category of 30 to 40 years old and 13% (45) of the members belong to the age category of 25 to 30 years old.

Chart 4: Highest Educational Attainment

This chart shows that 37% (132) of the members attained high school level as their highest educational attainment. 35 % (123) have elementary level while 14% (51) attended college. On the other hand, 5 % (16) of the members studied Arabic while 9% (30) have no educational background.

Chart 5: Occupation

This chart shows that among the OFW returnees and OFW families, most of them are housekeepers with a total of 69% (244) followed by 14% (49) who are self-employed.

SURVEY on CHILDREN of OFWs

The Education Training and Organizing (ETO) conducted a survey among children of OFWs particularly among the members of Kagkalimwa OFW Federation for profiling purposes. This profiling will soon be used for organizing initiative among OFW children under Kaagapay’s organizing program. Currently, there are seventy-nine (79) children of OFWs among Kagkalimwa members. The following illustrations show the profiles of these children.

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Chart 1. GENDER

The first chart shows that majority of the OFW children are females with fifty-nine percent (59%) or forty-seven (47) while forty-one percent (41%) or thirty-two (32) are males.

Chart 2. AGE

Most children age 11-15 years old who accounts for twenty-seven percent (27%) or twenty-one (21) children followed by 19 years old and above with twenty-one percent (21%) or seventeen (17) children, 6-10 years old with twenty percent (20%) or sixteen (16) children. 16-18 years old, however, are accounted with eighteen percent (18%) or fourteen (14) children and only fourteen percent (14%) or eleven (11) children are 5 years old and younger.

Chart 3. PRESENT ACTIVITY

This chart shows that the top most present activity of the children is studying with a total of fifty-three (53) children or seventy-six percent (76%). This account is followed by out-of-school youth (OSY) with a total of eleven (11) children or sixteen percent (16%). On the other hand, there are five (5) or seven percent (7%) seeking for work and only one (1) is currently working at the time of the survey.

Chart 4. EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT AND STATUS

Thirty-six percent (36%) or twenty-three (23) children are currently studying or have attained elementary/primary education while twenty-eight percent (28%) or eighteen (18) children are in or have attained secondary school and twenty-seven percent (27%) or seventeen (17) are in tertiary education. Children who are at the preparatory education accounted for eight percent (8%) or five (5) and only one (1) child is studying Arabic lessons.

Chart 5. FREQUENCY OF COMMUNICATION WITH THEIR OFW PARENT/S

Chart 5 shows that the top most frequency of communication between children and their OFW parent(s) is sometimes with a total of thirty five (35) or fifty-seven percent (57%) while twenty–five (25) or forty-one percent (41%) of them always have communication with their parent(s) abroad. One child, however, lost a communication with her/his parent.

Chart 6. MODE OF COMMUNICATION

Ninety-one percent (91%) or fifty-three (53) children communicate with their parent(s) through mobile phones either through text or call while seven percent (7%) or four (4) children use the internet. On the other hand, Kaagapay has accounted a child who uses post mail for communication.

Legal Assistance and Counseling Updates for 2014

Another fruitful and progressive year had ended for the Legal Assistance and Counseling (LAC) program as it served and facilitated OFW beneficiaries for 2014. In 2013, LAC assisted fifty (50) beneficiaries. For 2014, there were fifty-two (52) beneficiaries who have availed the services of the program. Their cases/claims were acquired through drop-in, reach-out, and referral (phone and email) system. Surely, our experience during the past year will help us prepare for the year 2015. The illustrations below show the demographic profiles of beneficiaries.

Chart 1. Gender

The first chart shows that ninety-four percent (94%) or forty-nine (49) beneficiaries are females while six percent (6%) or three (3) are males.

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Chart 2. Categories of Beneficiaries

The second chart shows that most beneficiaries are current OFWs during the facilitation of their case. They accounted for seventy-eight percent (78%) or forty-one (41), while OFW returnees accounted for ten percent (10%) or five (5) while would-be OFWs are eight percent (8%) or four (4). On the other hand, Kaagapay facilitated four percent (4%) or two (2) cases of deceased OFWs.

Chart 3. Place of Origin

For 2014, most of the beneficiaries come from the province of Maguindanao with thirty-three percent (33%) or seventeen (17) followed by Cotabato City with thirty percent (30%) or sixteen (16) beneficiaries, North Cotabato with twenty-five percent (25%) or thirteen (13), and the rest are from Cavite, with six percent (6%) or three (3), and from Lanao del Norte, Davao and Zamboanga.

Chart 4. Country of Work

For the past three (3) consecutive years the top most country of work of the OFW beneficiaries which

Chart 5. Nature of Work Abroad

Accounted with ninety-four percent (94%) or 49, majority of the beneficiaries are semi-skilled or domestic workers while six percent (6%) or three (3) beneficiaries are skilled OFWs.

Chart 6. Cases/Claims Category

The most facilitated cases in 2014 is the non-payment of salary with nineteen percent (19%) or ten (10) beneficiaries followed by lost contact with seventeen percent (17%) or nine (9). Runaway, overstay and maltreatment have the same percentage of nine percent (9%) or five (5) beneficiaries. Illegal recruitment, underpaid and money claims both accounted for eight percent (8%) or four (4) while twelve percent (12%) have other concerns.

Chart 8. Terminated Cases

Kaagapay facilitated is Saudi Arabia with sixty percent (60%) or twenty-nine (29) beneficiaries for 2014. On the other hand, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates and Syria have the same percentage of eight (8%) or four (4) while Lebanon has six percent (6%) or three (3). Other beneficiaries are working/have worked in Qatar, Malaysia and Bahrain.

Out of fifty-two (52) cases served and facilitated, thirty (30) cases were terminated leaving only twenty-two (22) cases for the next year’s continuation of treatment. In the thirty (30) terminated cases, seventy percent (70%) or 21 (twenty one) were successful while thirty percent (30%) or nine (9) have failed due to the following reasons: insufficient documents provided, lack of coordination from the families and concerned recruitment/manning agencies were shut down.

Chart 7. Religion of Beneficiaries

Islam (Muslim) is the religion of most of the beneficiaries facilitated

with sixty-nine percent (69%) or thirty-six (36) of them while thirty-one percent (31%) or sixteen (16) are Christian/Catholic.

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EDITORIAL BOARD

Francis AlolodGoldy A. Omelio

CONTRIBUTORS

Ma. Catherine M. GasaGoldy A. Omelio

Jasmine G. BayaoFatima Lintang - Ali

Racma A. NgudaRomilyn G. CruzRahima AlimanAntonia Sumaid

Jonaira PendiTatay Remo

PICTURE SELECTION

Romilyn G. Cruz

LAYOUT/CARTOONIST

Bagong Pitas

Para sa

inyong mga

komentaryo,

kontribusyon at suhestiyon, maari kayong sumulat

sa aming tanggapan o tumawag sa telepono na

naidetalye sa ibabang bahagi ng lathalang ito.

KAAGAPAY Overseas Filipino Workers

Resourceand Service Center, Inc

# 349 Ante Compound, Rosary Heights 4,

Sinsuat Ave, Cotabato City 9600, Mindanao

Philippines

Email Address :

[email protected]

Website :

kaagapaycotabato.org

Telephone # :

(063) (064) 421 - 5024

Ang Kaagapay Concerns ay inilathala ngKaagapay Overseas Filipino Workers Resource

and Service Center, Inc.sa tulong pinansyal mula sa

Comité catholique contre la faim et pour le développement