Guingona on 100,000 jobs in Iraq: Wishful thinking

Vice President Teofisto Guingona dismissed yesterday as "wishful thinking" the government’s plan to send more than 100,000 Filipino workers to take part in the reconstruction of Iraq.

"The expectancy of sending 100,000 Filipino workers to Iraq is a little bit exaggerated," Guingona said, adding Filipino companies would be "limited to being subcontractors" as American and British firms have already finalized their plans.

"Realistically, more than half of the Iraqi people have no jobs, especially those who are unskilled," he said. "If we expect Filipinos to replace their own nationals in the reconstruction of their own country, I am sure there would be a lot of complaints."

Last week, Administrator Rosalinda Baldoz of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration said Filipino workers may be tapped in the reconstruction of Iraq’s roads, bridges, buildings and other infrastructure.

President Arroyo said the government will reduce from 500 to 300 the humanitarian and peacekeeping mission to be sent to Iraq.

"The Philippine contingent shall be tailored to fit the most immediate and urgent needs of the situation if Iraq," she said. "We have the human resources to meet the demands of flexibility."

But Guingona said Mrs. Arroyo needs congressional authority to deploy the humanitarian and peacekeeping mission because of international and budgetary implications. – Sammy Santos, Marichu Villanueva