POEA hits proposal for OFW-only buses in Singapore

MANILA, Philippines - Responding to a demand for separate buses for overseas Filipino workers in Singapore, Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) said yesterday that most OFWs “have been models of good behavior and taken responsibility for their actions and decisions.”

In a statement posted in his Twitter account @HansLeoCacdac, POEA administrator Hans Leo Cacdac noted that OFWs are not only contributors to the thriving economies all over the world, but that an “overwhelming majority” of them also carry themselves well abroad.

“OFWs for the most part have behaved responsibly and possess natural willingness to become citizens of the world, thereby shielding themselves from problems and requiring less government intervention while abroad,” he added.

Cacdac was reacting to a supposed letter posted on the website “The Real Singapore” by a Singaporean identified as “H,” who asked the Public Transport Council of Singapore to have separate buses for Filipino maids going to Orchard Road during Sundays. He described their voices as “just as loud as (a) thunderstorm.”

The letter writer narrated that he rode a bus to Orchard Road on a Sunday and found that “90 percent” of the passengers were Filipino maids who talked “so loud” in the bus.

“These Pinoy maids were talking so loud in the bus. They joked and burst out laughing loudly. It’s nothing wrong to joke and chit chat in the bus as Sunday is only their off day, however, they should be a little bit more considerate by caring for other passengers too,” the letter stated.