Reverse brain-drain

Amid the unnecessary polarization in the country, that our very own tennis phenom Alex Eala is in the third round of the Wimbledon Tennis Tournament is a welcome news. At the very least, for a moment, we are setting aside our animosities and are celebrating her success with our adversaries.   

Just look at the courts wherever and whenever she plays. You will see Filipinos waving their flaglets and banners in the stands. Surely, they have different political views, yet, decided to sit side by side. Turning the foreign venue into our own turf, a massive homecourt advantage.

Yes, we are all witnessing this phenomenon because of a century-old diaspora and a decades-old brain drain. To those who may not be aware of it, brain drain is “the emigration of highly trained or intelligent people from a particular country.” Without drilling in, it seems that brain drain is absolutely bad. 

Undeniably, brain drain or the migration of highly skilled professionals will surely have negative effects especially on us. Notably, we are one of the largest exporters of labor in the world. Yes, it has adverse effects on the exporting nation.

Obviously, when a skilled worker departs, the country is deprived of such important skill.  Thereby, preventing business growth and consequently, national development. Not to mention the person’s innovative ways that might help propel the country’s research and development initiatives. Also, as the nation’s development rests largely on the general wellbeing of its workforce, the departure of healthcare professionals is also a big concern.

Worse, as our state colleges and universities are now free, it simply means we (a poor country) are investing so much (through taxpayers’ money) in developing our human capital yet another country (an affluent one) shall reap the benefits of it. 

Reportedly, migration patterns between the 1960s and 1990s “indicates that high levels of skilled migration contributed to slowing the economic growth and development of the sending countries.” Thus, the sending countries (poor) become poorer and the recipient (affluent) countries go richer. 

However, is brain drain all that bad? As a starter, let’s take a quick glance at this year’s labor statistics. The Philippine Statistic Authority (PSA) reported that employment rate in the country stands at “95.3%, with approximately 48.89 million Filipinos aged 15 and over currently employed.” The unemployment rate, therefore, is 4.7%. This “equates to about 2.41 million jobless individuals,” according to PSA.

Now, just pause for a second and ask ourselves, what will the unemployment rate be if no one opted to work abroad. Absolutely, in high double-digits. Actually, one of the reasons why the employment rate remains in single digit is because of brain drain. This is so as businesses will always look for replacement of departing workers within the country. Yes, while it is true that productivity maybe affected, it won’t be that long. With proper training, the workers can effectively cope with the demands of their jobs, another positive effect. 

Another obvious benefit is foreign exchange generation. Remember, we’ve always hailed our Overseas Filipino Works (OFWs) as the unsung heroes. Yes, that is true. Just imagine how devalued our currency could have been against the dollar had it not for their remittances. As a country that imports a lot (including rice), prices of basic commodities should have skyrocketed. 

With the remittances, dependents or children of these OFWs will also have better chances of having good education. That in turn will also help replenish those who brought their skills abroad. 

If managed properly by the spouses or parents, the same remittances can be used to start their own businesses. Thus, helping generate labor and contribute in nation building through taxes. 

Undeniably though, the most positive gain is through a “reverse brain-drain.” That after acquiring skills, they return to the country and use their expertise here. This is nothing new though.  Since several decades ago, the Thai government implemented the ‘Reverse Brain Drain Project’ to counter the flow of skilled professionals. So, never wonder why they have better economy than us. Never wonder why Google built a data center in an industrial estate in Chon Buri, a coastal province south of Bangkok to the tune of US$1 billion. 

Just like Thailand, we should launch the same project in the country. That way, just like Thailand, progress will be as clear as daylight.