VP Binay asks POEA,other gov't agencies not to burden OFWS by: MARIZ REVALES

Vice President and Presidential Adviser on Overseas Filipino Workers' (OFW) Concerns Jejomar C. Binay today asked the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) and other frontline government agencies to immediately find ways to simplify the processing of documents for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs).   "Government should not be a burden to our OFWs. We should exert all effort to assist them and make their interaction with government offices simple, convenient and pleasant," he said.   "Ang mga kababayan natin na nagpapakahirap para tulungang umunlad ang bansa ay hindi dapat pinahihirapan," Binay said.   Binay issued the statement in reaction to an article published in the Philippine Daily Inquirer on July 7, Thursday, which related the experience of an OFW applying for an exit clearance at the POEA.   The Vice President said he hopes POEA Administrator Carlos Cao would investigate and resolve the matter as soon as possible.   "We must take the comments of our OFWs seriously and we are grateful to those who take the time to comment on how government could improve its service delivery. I trust that Administrator Cao shares my sentiments that the government should work for the welfare of all OFWs and this entails facilitating their papers speedily and without hassles," Binay said.   The Vice President likewise said he expects that corrupt practices could be stemmed by cutting the red tape at the POEA.    "Streamlining our processes and procedures would also eliminate the risk of our kababayans falling prey to human trafficking syndicates and other unscrupulous individuals," added Binay, who is also the Chairman Emeritus of the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking.   "Umaasa ako na kikilos ang POEA at ang mga kawani nito upang lalong matulungan ang ating mga kapwa Pilipino na nais magtrabaho sa ibang bansa," Binay concluded.  VP