By Seth Cabanban
Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso vowed to improve the city’s services to Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in an online forum with the Filipino-American community on Wednesday, Oct. 27.
During the forum, Domagoso was asked about the problems plaguing the OFW community and what he plans to do to address them.
“One of the common denominators, not only in America but (other) OFWs' problem, is the embassy, the Philippine Overseas Labor Offices (POLO),” said Domagoso.
“Naging turista yung POLO officer natin, na yung mga na-appoint hindi na yung mga career officer, parang yung walang ka-ide-idea. (Our POLO officers have become tourists, the ones appointed are not career-oriented and have no idea what they’re doing),” he added.
Domagoso claimed that these appointed POLO officials are more interested in the benefits of the job instead of performing their duty.
Thus, Domagoso proposed that only officials who “really address the real situation and give attention, yung nakakausap ng mga OFW (the ones who can communicate with OFWs)” should be appointed.
Domagoso added that his administration will also work on improving OFW awareness of the Overseas Filipino Bank (OFBank) to assist them in investing and financing.
The presidential aspirant also accused local agencies of overt redundancy when dealing with OFWs.
“May problema ka sa isang ahensya, ituturo ka sa ibang ahensya and so on and so on (You have a problem with one agency and they point you to another agency),” said Domagoso.