MANILA, Philippines—An alliance of overseas Filipino workers opposed on Wednesday a proposal by Negros Occidental Representative Ignacio "Iggy" Arroyo to stop certain professionals from leaving the country without serving in the country for two years.“Nobody can legislate against the people's desperation to leave the country for more lucrative jobs abroad,” Migrante chair Connie Bragas-Regalado said in a statement on Wednesday. “With the unprecedented economic crisis weighing heavily even on the backs of Filipino professionals, keeping them in the country by way of law is not only dictatorial, it's wishful thinking," Bragas-Regalado added. The restrictions on overseas deployment envisioned by Arroyo's House Bill No. 4580 would cover professionals such as nurses, doctors, pharmacists, midwives, medical technologists, physical therapists, engineers, teachers, sailors, accountants, interior designers, nutritionists and criminologists, librarians, guidance counselors and master plumbers. Regalado said the congressman should instead support the bill filed by Migrante's allies, which pushes for a legislated wage increase for all workers, professionals or otherwise. “What's driving Filipinos out is the grinding poverty and the absence of opportunities here in the country. And the culprit behind this is no less than Mr. Arroyo's sister-in-law, the President,” Regalado said. Regalado also said that HB 4580 would violate the people's constitutional right to travel and find work abroad. She said Article 3, Section 6 of the 1987 Constitution stated that "the right to travel" will not be impaired "except in the interest of national security, public safety, or public health, as may be provided by law." |
