OFWS IN NORMIN INCREASING SLIGHTLY ~ NSO Region 10

OVERSEAS migration movements by, Filipinos are described to be mostly economic in nature. In an article titled "Statistics on Filipinos' International Migration: lssues and Steps Towards Harmonizing the Data," Opiniano (2007) wrote that "the Philippines is lucky for having a well-placed government structure that facilitates the international movement of people, and that statistics on Filipinos' international migration is fairly developed,"

The article cited that gaps are expected from these, but the basic socio-economic and demographic variables of these international migration statistics are spelled out.

The author, however, stressed "that the general context is that international migration is a phenomenon so difficult to track, that relies on multiple sources (both in the Philippines and in host countries), and that is also a fairly new statistical arena to be developed by people in the fields of demography and statistics in the Philippines.”

Addressing the emerging need, the National Statistics Office conducted the 2011 Survey on Overseas Filipinos (SOF), which aims to derive national estimates on the number of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), and the amount and mode of remittances, in cash and in kind, received by their families. This survey also provides information about the socio-economic characteristics of the OFWs.

The SOF reported the total number of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who worked abroad at anytime during the period April to September 20I1 which was estimated at 2.2 million. It jumped by 10 percent from the 2 million recorded in the previous year. Out of this number, overseas contract workers or those with existing work contracts comprised 95.3 percent of the total OFWs in 2011.

It may be recalled that the term Overseas Filipino Workers or OFWs was officially adopted under the Ramos Administration to give recognition to millions of Filipinos who sacrifice by working in other countries out of a desire to earn better wages. This later on led to a new term balikbayanis - "the new breed of heroes who are said to be the source of economic stability and empowerment." (De Leon, 2008)

What is the contribution of the OFWs to the Philippine economy?

The SOF reported that the total remittance by OFWs during the period April to September 2011 was estimated at 156.3 billion pesos which was said to be higher than the previous years' remittances posted at P 141.2 billion.

Such remittances vary: some consisted of cash sent home (73.0 %), others were brought home. (22.3 %), while the rest was remitted in kind (4.8%).

NSO Administrator Carmeiita N. Ericta said that other cash remittances were sent through door to door (6.2%), agencies or local offices (4.7%), friends or co-workers (0.5%) or through other means (16.8%).

The largest total cash remittances amounting to 82.6 billion pesos were from OFWs working in Asia. She further said that about one in every three (32.7%) OFWs were laborers and unskilled workers. Around 15.5 percent worked as service workers and shop and market sales workers. OFWs who worked as plant and machine operators and assemblers comprised 13.6 percent, trade and related workers, l2.8 percent, and professionals, 10.6 percent.

As indicated in NSO’s report, it appeared that Saudi Arabia continued to be the Ieading destination of OFWs with 22.6 percent of the total OFWs working in this country during the period April to September 2011. The other countries in Asia which were popular destinations of OFWs were United Arab Emirates (14.6%), Qatar (6.9%), Singapore (6.3%) and Hong Kong (5.3%).

The report further shows that "the biggest number of OFWs came from CALABARZON, Central Luzon and NCR with i6 .5 percent, 14.3 percent and 12.5 percent, respectively of the total OFWs originating from these regions.

Altogether, OFWs from these three regions comprised almost 43.3 Percent of the total OFWs.

Meanwhile, Caraga registered the smallest percent share of total OFWs at 1.6 percent.

Thus, how does Northern Mindanao rate in the number and percentage distribution of overseas Filipino workers by region of origin and place of work abroad?

Data show that in 2011 Northern Mindanao posted a 3.5 % of the total OFW originating from this region. It increased slightly from 3.0 % in 2010, which is very far behind compared to 16.5 % , of CALABARZON and even from that Western Visayas (8.5 %).

Such figures are similarly situated with the Social Climate report by Mahar Mangahas (first posted 03/25/2011) that OFW families are slightly over-represented in Metro Manila (15.3 percent), the Balance of Luzon (15.3 percent), and the Visayas (I4.0 percent). They are under-represented in Mindanao (9.0 percent)."

Given this set of data, one can give a number of implications- be it social or economic. However, in the framework of the Global Pinoy (De Leon, 2008), it illustrates that the modern Juan de la Cruz has empowered himself to broaden his horizons as he competes with the citizens of the world.