‘Migration economy’ and the OFW Phenomenon
Jeremaiah Opiniano delivered a speech to economic majors of the University of the Philippines, and I thought it merits being discussed in our blog. He has some good points, and a lot more points to keep us thinking about our country’s changing economy. It’s the OFW phenomenon, and the emigration of millions of Filipinos abroad in search of greener pastures, and I quote:
Making that emigration decision is rational individually, said Ateneo’s top economists Fernando Aldaba and Leonardo Lanzona. But if you have nearly a million of those individually rational decisions confronting the nation, you wonder what kind of a Philippine society is in store for us.
That is really something that confronts and affects almost every Filipino. Last year in Maryland USA alone, more than 100 teachers were hired from the Philippines to teach the inner city Baltimore schools, and I told the story of one of them. I can only guess how many more were hired in Chicago, New York, San Francisco and other cities in the US. This year in Baltimore, many more Filipino teachers were hired, and the old set of pinoy teachers brought their families with them. I hear this comment a lot from fellow Filipinos, “paano na lang ang bansa natin?! naubusan na tayo ng teachers!” (what will happen to the Philippines now, if all these teachers leave the country?”
Teachers, nurses, doctors-turned-nurses, housekeepers, maids, nannies, caregivers. I honestly don’t know. Blame can not be put on anyone’s shoulder, because survival is the reason behind these decisions. Mr. Opiniano has more to say -
Are you ready for a future where more dollars from abroad will come in the country? A future with more “super maids?” Of seeing yourself abroad and reaping economic benefits? Of more brain drain that hits are critical industrial sectors? Of more profit opportunities for banking, property, pre-need, and telecommunications sectors? Of rising inequality which remittances quietly exacerbate (as proven by a UP School of Economics best thesis three years ago)?
We call them “ang bagong bayani” (the new martyr) which they are, as they sacrifice for their family. But the word martyr has a bittersweet taste to it. What can we do? Mr. Opiniano gives some tangible advice, here, which befits us to read and digest, bittersweet though it may be.
[Source: Sunstar Manila]
Tags: caregivers, nurses, overseas Filipino workers, Philippine economy, teachers
5 Comments
I find it sad that the Philippines has to rely mainly on OFWs to keep the economy afloat. To me, this just looks like a quick fix that has reverberating effects on Philippine society, going beyond the brain drain. Mr. Opiniano had it nailed down: “The only way for the Philippines to make an economic turn around is for the gross domestic product to have at least a 10 percent rate in the next 25 years.”
I know, and though it may be tough to get there I still really believe there’s a way for our country to rise up economically. But we all have to pool our resources and intelligence to get there.
[...] My aunt’s story is just one of many by Filipino nurses. As with the teachers’ exodus, nurses and other OFWs leave the country to seek a better life for themselves and their families. Of the 100,791 foreign-educated RNs, 50.2 per cent came from the Philippines. But instead of just looking at statistics, the story about Maricris reminded me that every number is a story waiting to be told. [...]
[...] That’s a whole lot of money. No wonder overseas Filipinos are hailed as the country’s bagong bayani (new hero/martyr). Without these remittances, I can’t imagine what will happen to the country’s economy and countless Filipino families. Many families depend for day to day expenses on the money sent to them by their relatives working abroad. Those overseas will put up with hardships and loneliness just so they could support their loved ones. Some even endure threats to personal safety. [...]
[...] Migration economy and the OFW [...]