OFWs to link up with OP

More than seven million overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) would be linked to the Office of the President through a global network to be set up by the government.

Heherson Alvarez, presidential adviser for overseas Filipino communities, said in an interview yesterday he has submitted the proposal to Malacañang to enhance the government’s reintegration program for returning OFWs.

"I intend to tap the services of existing Filipino organizations so that we could set up a global network which the President could use to reach out and address the various concerns and problems of the overseas Filipino workers and their families," he said.

Alvarez said he will implement a skills-upgrading program to improve the competitiveness of Filipino workers in the world market.

Alvarez said micro-finance programs will also be set up to encourage OFWs to engage in livelihood projects once they decide to return for good.

He will also coordinate with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) so OFWs could vote with least problems in accordance with the Absentee Voting Law, Alvarez added.

Earlier, Vice President Teofisto Guingona urged leaders of Filipino communities abroad to set up watchdog groups to guard against fraudulent elections.

Guingona said the Comelec and DFA should issue guidelines to allow Filipino community leaders to know how their organizations could be accredited as election watchdogs.

Consular officials could be deputized by the Comelec so the Absentee Voting Law could be properly implemented, he added. – Sammy Santos