The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) reported that overseas Filipino workers’ (OFWs) deployment increased in 2021.
In today’s (Sep. 21) Laging Handa public briefing, POEA Administrator Undersecretary Bernard Olalia said the opening of other countries’ economies and their easing of restrictions contributed to the increase of the Philippines’ deployment rate.
“Ang ibig pong sabihin nito, lumuluwag na po iyong pagbubukas ng ekonomiya ng mga countries of destination natin, pati po iyong mga travel and border restrictions ay unti-unti na rin pong lumuluwag.”
Olalia reported that the land-based OFW deployment has reached 30,000 per month, and 40,000 for the sea-based OFWs.
“Kung mayroon po tayong… halos 74% na ibinaba sa deployment last year, ngayon po ay unti-unti na siyang umaangat. Sa land-based deployment po natin hindi na po tayo bumaba ng mahigit 30,000 per month…Sa ating mga sea-based sector naman po halos nasa 40,000 na po tayo ng deployment every month.”
Moreover, the POEA chief said the in-demand overseas workers in other countries are healthcare workers, seafarers, and “technologically-based” individuals.
“Nangunguna po dito iyong sector ng HCWs or iyong health care workers… maliban po sa mga HCWs natin, pati po iyong mga technologically-based OFWs po natin o iyong mga skilled kung tawagin,” he said.
“Sa seafaring industry naman, ang in demand po diyan the usual is iyong mga cargo vessels, iyong mga transport vessels, mga petroleum vessels na siya pong nagdi-deliver ng mga supply over the world using the seafaring or the maritime sector, iyan po ang mga in demand ngayon. Ang cruise ship po ay unti-unti na rin pong nagbubukas,” he added.
In relation to this, OFW remittances also increased due to other countries’ reopening their economies. Olalia said the increased remittances have a positive effect on the Philippine economy.
“Ito rin pong mga remittances na ito ay nagsisilbing foreign currency reserve ng ating bansa, kaya napakalaking tulong po iyong pag-angat ng mga OFW remittances both in the national and in particular sa atin pong mga pamilya ng atin pong OFWs,” he added.
Report from Patrick de Jesus/NGS- jlo
