ARTICLES & NEWS CLIPS

OFWs launch online petition for senatorial bet
By Ronaldo Concha

JEDDAH, K.S.A. – A group of overseas Filipinos here have launched an online petition urging the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to reverse its decision rejecting the senatorial candidacy of an overseas Filipino worker (OFW).

Nhazruddin “Rudy" Dianalan, a systems engineer based in Saudi Arabia, was disqualified by the poll body from the senatorial race on the premise that he did not have the capability of launching a nationwide campaign as he has no nationwide political machinery.

The petition assailed the Comelec ruling for being “discriminatory and biased" not only against independent candidates but against the Filipino overseas community as well.

The petition stated that while Dianalan is not affiliated with any of the Philippines' major political parties, it does not mean he has no capability to launch a nationwide campaign.

“We are not running a traditional campaign," stated the petition which was authored by Jeddah-based community leader Jauhari Usman.

“If it's really necessary, we can put up the equivalent of party machinery in every municipality, city, province and region. Albeit skeletal, it will be composed of families, relatives, and friends of overseas Filipinos from different regions in the Philippines," said the online petition, which is posted at www.petitiononline.com.

It also noted that Dianalan's candidacy is viable due to global Filipino presence, which is tantamount to having national support since overseas Filipinos come from the different parts of the country.

“With 11 million Filipinos in diaspora, even if we can reach out to only 3 million who have influence over 4 or 5 voters in the country, that should translate to 12-15 million votes," it said.

In terms of funding, the petition said even if only 500,000 overseas Filipinos would be tapped to pledge $10 (P458) each, that would translate to P235 million, which is said to be the minimum requirement for a senatorial bet to mount a nationwide campaign.

To date, the petition has garnered 98 signatures. There was also no definite date of the petition’s launch.

Info drive on absentee voting urged

In similar news, another migrant workers’ group based in the Middle East urged Philippine posts in the region to launch information campaigns on the conduct of the overseas absentee voting (OAV).

According to John Leonard Monterona, regional coordinator of Migrante-Middle East, they have not heard of a single advisory issued on the conduct of OAV even as it is already scheduled to start in April in some selected posts, ahead of the May national elections.

“The number of registered absentee voters is higher than the previous registration for the 2004 national elections. It is indicative that OFWs are going to participate actively in the upcoming elections and will cast their vote," Monterona said.

A total of 589,830 overseas Filipinos have registered to vote in this year’s elections, which is higher than the 364,946 active voters in the past two elections. The Middle East and African nations recorded the highest number of overseas voters at 225,148, almost half of whom are from Saudi Arabia. [See: Less than 600K overseas votes seen in 2010]

“OFW voter turnout is expected to reach 70% of the total registered absentee voters in the Middle East," Monterona added, especially if Philippine consulates in the region would launch a full information dissemination campaign. – JMA/JV, GMANews.TV

Source: GMANews.tv
http://www.gmanews.tv/story/181292/ofws-launch-online-petition-for-senatorial-bet

Puwersa ng OFWs hiniling ipakita sa darating na May elections
By Ronaldo Concha

JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia – Ang darating na halalan sa Mayo ang maganda umanong opurtunidad para maipakita ang puwersa ng mga overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) at kanilang pamilya na kayang maghalal ng kandidato sa pambansang posisyon – partikular sa Senado.

Ito ang inihayag ni Rudy Dianalan matapos maglabas ng hinanakit tungkol sa hindi umano magandang komento na nakuha sa isang political strategist ng isang partido nang umuwi siya sa Pilipinas.

Umuwi sa Pilipinas si Dianalan kamakailan para isumite ang kanyang apela sa Commission on Elections matapos idiskuwalipika ang kanyang kandidatura bilang senador.

“Hindi raw kayang impluwensyahan ng boto ng mga OFW ang darating na eleksyon, sabi sa akin ng isang political strategist," sumbong ni Dianalan nang bumalik sa Saudi Arabia kung saan ito nagtatrabaho.

Kuwento ni Dianalan, pumunta siya sa headquarters ng isang kilalang political party para alamin ang tugon sa ipinadala nilang mungkahi sa partido na maglagay ng isang kandidato na kakatawan sa sektor ng migranteng manggagawa sa senatorial line-up.

Ngunit nagulat umano siya nang sabihin ng isang political strategist ng partido na hindi nararamdaman sa halalan ang boto ng mga OFW.

“Nagulat ako sa kanyang sinabi, hindi ko inakala ang kanilang saloobin hinggil sa mga OFW…Marami tayong mga lider sa iba’t-ibang panig ng mundo ang kayang nagmobilisa para magkaroon ng representasyon sa Senado," dismayadong pahayag ni Dianalan.

Ang naturang balita ni Dianalan ay umani ng sari-saring reaksiyon sa mga lider ng ibat-ibang organisasyon ng mga Filipino sa Saudi.

Itinuturing ni Rizaldy Javing, ng Circulo Illong (Saudi Arabia), isang malaking insulto sa mga migranteng manggagawa ang naturang pananaw sa boto ng mga OFW na tila nais palitawin na hindi nagkakaisa ang sektor.

Inihayag naman ni Corlito Obtinalla, tagapangulo ng Order of Knights of Rizal sa Jeddah, na malaking hamon ngayon sa mga OFW ang darating na halalan sa Pilipinas.

Idinagdag ni Jauhari Usman ng Ang Ating Gabay OFW, na masakit pakinggan ang negatibong pananaw tungkol sa pagkakaisa ng mga OFW at kanilang pamilya.

Batay umano sa ulat ng Economic Resource Center for Overseas Filipino (ERCOF), kung magkakaisa ang tinatayang 10 milyong OFWs – na mayroong limang miyembro sa bawat pamilya – kaya nitong magpanalo ng kandidato sa taglay na 50 milyong boto.

Ngunit batay sa talaan ng Comelec halos umabot lamang sa 600,000 ang bilang ng mga OFW na nagpatala sa overseas absentee voting (OAV) para makaboto sa Mayo kahit nasa labas sila ng Pilipinas.

“Umaapela ako sa ating mga kababayan na nagtatrabaho sa iba’t-ibang panig ng mundo na huwag tayong paapi at huwag hayaang maliitin ang ating kakayahan. Ihahalintulad ko ang OFW sa isang tingting na kung isa-isa lang ay hindi makakayang maglinis, ngunit kung magbibigkis ay kayang walisin ang lahat ng dumi lalo na ang mga katiwalian na nagpapahirap sa ating bansa," panawagan ni Dianalan.– Ronaldo Z. Concha, GMANews.TV

Source: GMANews.tv
http://www.gmanews.tv/story/180851/puwersa-ng-ofws-hiniling-ipakita-sa-darating-na-may-elections

OFW asks Comelec to reconsider his Senate bid
By Veronica Uy
INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—A Saudi-based overseas Filipino worker whose senatorial bid was rejected by the Commission on Elections has asked the poll body to reconsider its decision.

Nhazrudin “Rudy” N.D. Dianalan flew home last week to file a supplemental opposition to Comelec Resolution 8713 promulgated December 15, 2009. He met with INQUIRER.net, whom he provided a copy of his motion.

Dianalan said he possesses all the qualifications required by the Constitution to run for senator, and not any of the disqualifications set by the Constitution as to the minimum age or minimum residency.

In his motion, he noted that he is a natural-born Filipino and at least 35 years old. He graduated from King Fahd University of Petroleum and Mineral with the degree of BS Systems Engineer as cum laude, and now a candidate for a master’s degree in national security administration. Working most of his life in Jeddah, he is now chief systems engineer of an international airline.

A Maranao, Dianalan added that his father Omar Dianalan was an undefeated mayor of Marawi City who died while serving as congressman of the province.

The poll body does not have evidence that his candidacy would put the election process in mockery or disrepute, he said.

As for capacity to wage a nationwide campaign, he said he has enough money contributed by fellow OFWs in Saudi “for modest print, television, radio, and Internet advertisements to penetrate the homes across the nation and the rest of the world.”

He also criticized the poll body for putting financial capability as a requirement for one’s candidacy.“The fact that since time immemorial the Commission has been requiring financial capability of a candidate in order to be considered as one who cannot put the election in mockery or disrepute brings out a wrong message if the society wants good governance,” he said in his motion.

He said this encourages public servants to become corrupt.Dianalan said similar to United States President Barack Obama’s, his campaign would take advantage of the Internet. He said he would use the free services of Facebook, Friendster, Twitter, Google, Yahoo, Ning, Youtube, Multiply, and other Internet sites to reach the estimated 30 percent of the Filipinos (about 24 million) who have Web access.

He said he is supported by many OFW groups in Saudi, including Kasapi, the umbrella organization of at least 23 community groups of Filipinos in Jeddah. “While most of (the 5,000 Kasapi) members cannot vote (as) their places of work did not offer an opportunity for them to register as absentee voters…they have instructed their respective dependents to deliver the message of Dianalan as the only candidate representing the voice of overseas workers,” his motion said. “These workers bank on their being breadwinners as enough reason to expect that their beneficiaries would follow their requests to campaign for Dianalan,” it added.

Dianalan said Kasapi represents the major regional groups in the Philippines: the Ilonggos, the Cebuanos, the Boholanos, the Ilocanos, the Bicolanos, the Warays, the Capampangans, the Maranaos, the Maguindanaos, the Tausugs, the Tagalogs, the Cordillera tribesmen.

“All these members and the OFWs in Saudi Arabia has pledged to contribute a minimum of one dollar each for (his) campaign. And if he can muster donations from only 10 percent of the OFWs, he would get a campaign donation of one million dollars, equivalent to P45 million,” his motion said. The donation solicitation campaign will soon be launched through the Internet similar to Obama’s campaign, he said.

Dianalan said his platform centers on bettering the well-being of OFWs and their families.

Source: First Posted 09:46:00 01/04/2010 Filed Under:
Politics, Elections, Eleksyon 2010, Overseas Employment, Justice & Rights

Groups want an OFW as senatorial candidate
RONALDO Z. CONCHA, GMANews.TV

JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia – Several Filipino groups in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have called on political parties to field at least one overseas Filipino worker (OFW) in the senatorial ticket for the 2010 elections.

“It’s high time that they consider the OFWs to have a representation in the Senate," said Vic Aguila, chairman of KASAPI Congress, an umbrella organization of Filipino migrant groups in Saudi Arabia.

In an open letter to the political parties, KASAPI said it was important to have OFW representation in the Senate to recognize their importance in the decision-making process in the country.

Money coming from OFWs is considered the lifeblood of the Philippine economy. A record-breaking $16.4 billion was remitted by OFWs in 2008.

Another group, Ang Ating Gabay OFW, said an OFW senator would help push for pro-migrant worker legislation that have otherwise gathered dust in Congress.

“Ever since we do not have any representative in the Senate. Whatever passes in the Lower House must have a follow-up in the Senate," said Jauhari Usman, president of Ang Ating Gabay OFW and former chairman of KASAPI.

In Riyadh, former chairman of United OFW Frank Naval said the group’s current chairman Eli Mua has sent an email to the Office of the President requesting the inclusion of an OFW in the Senate slate of the ruling party.

“This is the time for us (OFWs) to be represented and we are hoping that they would listen to our clamor," said Naval.

In the House of Representatives, OFWs have received a recent blow when the country’s poll body delisted Migrante in the party-list elections for 2010.

The Comelec is still deliberating on the requests for accreditation of more than 200 groups wishing to participate in the May 2010 party-list elections.

Since the party-list system began in 1998, no OFW group has succeeded in winning a seat in the House of Representatives. - GMANews.TV

Source : http://www.gmanews.tv/story/176281/groups-want-an-ofw-as-senatorial-candidate

Pinoy Groups seek OFW slot in Senate slate for 2010 polls
RONALDO Z. CONCHA, Saudi Gazette

OFW sa Jeddah tatakbo sa Senado sa 2010
RONALDO Z. CONCHA, Saudi Gazette

Jeddah – Isang overseas Filipino worker ang tatakbo para senador sa darating na eleksyon sa Mayo sa susunod na taon.

Sa kabila ng mabigat na laban na kanyang kahaharapin hindi naging hadlang kay Rudy Dianalan na pasukin ang daigdig ng pulitika ng siya ay maghain ng kanyang kandidatura sa pagkasenador sa pamamagitan ng kanyang anak na dalaga sa huling araw ng pagpaparehistro noong a uno ng Disyembre.

“Ang pakakandidato ko sa pagkasenador ay ang aking naging karanasan bilang isang OFW nakikita ko na sa dami ng problema nating mga OFW ay hindi talaga ito natutugunan so sa ngayon pag nagkaroon ng isang OFW senator ay kanyang matututukan ang problema ng mga OFWs” pahayag ni Dianalan nang pormal nitong ipahayag sa mga community leaders ng ibat ibang organisasyon sa Jeddah matapos na maiparehistro ng anak ang kanyang ang certificate of candidacy sa Comelec sa Manila.

Mula sa angkan ng mga pulitko si Dianalan ay anak ni Attorney Sultan Omar Dianalan dating Mayor ng Marawi City (1967-1984), Assemblyman at Congressman (1984 – 1990) at apo ni Mohammad Alawi Dimakuta, Provincial Governor undivided Lanao (1950s).

Siya ay nagtapos ng highschool sa Brent School sa Baguio City nong 1974 sya ang kauna unahang Pilipino na nakapag aral at nakapagtapos ng Bachelor of Science degree in Systems Engineering (Cum Laude) sa King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals sa Dhahran sa Saudi Arabia noong 1978.

Siya ay naging Chairman ng KASAPI Congress mula 2004 hanggang 2007, ang KASAPI ay alyansa ng mga Filipino community associations sa Jeddah at sa buong Western Region na itinatag nong 1990. Ang KASAPI ang pinakamatagal na samahan ng mga grupo ng mga Pilipino sa Gitnang Silangan.

Si Dianalan ay kasalukuyang trustee at Vice President sa Middle East at Africa ng Worldwide Filipino Alliance na isang internet base NGO ng mga Overseas Filipino, Co- Convenor din sya ng Global Filipino Nation, kowalisyon ng Overseas Filipinos for good governance sa Pilipinas, Co- Chairman ng International Coordinating Committee ng Partido Pandaigdigang Pilipino isang political party na inorganisa ng Overseas Filipino.

Isa rin syang Trustee ng Order of the Knights of Rizal, Jeddah chapter and Middle East and Africa region at naging presidente ng MAISA Inc., hometown association ng mga OFWs na nairehistro sa SEC nong 1987

Sinabi ni Dianalan na isa sa una nyang tutugunan pag sya ay naupo sa senado ay ang pagtutok sa mga opisyal ng mga diplomatic post sa kahit na anong bansa na may OFW.

“I will hold all the diplomatic post accountable for assisting the Filipino national kahit ano mang problema na idudulog sa konsulado o embahada ng ating mga kababayan ay dapat nilang tugunan.” Pahayag pa nya.

Sa kabila ng kakulangan sa makinarya para makasabay sa mga naglalakihang mga partido na kasali sa eleksyon si Dinalan ay hindi nababahala dahil sa naniniwala sya na nandyan ang OFW para magbigay ng suporta sa kanya.

“Ang bilang ng mga OFW sa buong mundo ay sinasabi nila na nasa pagitan ng 9 hanggang 11 million sabihin natin na may sampung milyon na mga Pilipino ang nagtatrabaho sa ibayong dagat ay may mga pamilya sa Pilipinas, may kapatid may mga magulang may mga anak sa average lang ng pamilya ng bawat OFW na may limang dependent sa Sampung milyon ay meron nang 50 million constituency ng mga OFWs kasama nang kanilang mga pamilya, kung ito lahat ay magtutulong tulong d ko sasabihin na hindi lang sa senado ang pwede nating aabutin hindi lang ang gobyerno ang pwede nating baguhin” pahayag ni Dianalan.

Sa pulong na ginanap sa Laparilla restaurant sa Tahlia na dinaluhan ng ibat ibang organisasyon kung saan ipinaalam ni Dianalan ang kanyang pagtakbo sa darating na halalan ay agad naman syang umani ng suporta sa mga leaders ng Filipino community group.

Ipinahayag ni Feddie Holanda dating Presidente ng Alpha Phi Omega, Western Region Chapter, Saudi Arabia ang kanyang kasiyahan ng kanyang malaman ang paghahain ni Dianalan ng kanyang kandidatura. Anya bumukas na ang pintuan ng OFW upang bumalangkas ng batas sa senado.

Sinigurado naman ni Rizaldy Javing ang kanyang pakikiisa at kanyang ikakampanya sa Ilo ilo maging sa Cotabato ang kandidatura ni Dianalan.

Nniniwala naman si Rams Gunao na malaking tulong sa mga OFW sa buong daigdig ang pagkakaroon ng representante sa senado. Nangangamba lamang sya na mahihirapan si Dianalan dahil sa kakulangan sa makinarya pero ganon pa man ay pwede anyang gawing makinarya ang OFW kasama pati ang kanilang mga pamilya.

Ipinahayag nya ang kanyang suporta at gagamitin nila ang lahat ng kanilang makakaya para maikumpanya si Dianalan para sa darating na eleksyon.

Si Gunao ay Chairman ng Western Philippine Basketball League sa Jeddah at Adviser ng United Maguindanao Expatriates Association.

Sinabi naman ni Rudy Castro Chairman ng Overseas Filipino Workers Cooperative Council at naging lider ng mga Ilocano group na isang napakagandang pagkakataon na maisagawa ng bawat OFW ang pagkakaisa na magluklok ng talagang tunay na nakaka alam ng damdamin ng isang OFW.

Kanyang sinariwa ang nakaraang dialogue ng Filcom sa mga bumisitang kongresista nong nakaraang buwan na nakita nya ang tapang at talino ni Dianalan at ni Jauhari Usman sa kanilang ipinaglalaban at hindi anya nakasagot ang mga representative dahil natumbok ang talagang adhikain o yung nararamdaman ng OFW.

“Itoy nagpapatunay lamang na how much more kung tayo talaga ang nandoroon sa puwesto at masasabi po natin ang ating gustong iparating sa ating gobyerno at tayo po mismo ang gagawa ng batas para sa ikakabuti ng ating mga OFW.” Dagdag pa ni Castro.

Sinabi naman ni Atoy Esguerra Isa sa mga humimok para ituloy ni Dianalan ang kanyang pagtakbo sa darating na halalan na pag uukulan nya ng panahon ang pangangampanya kay Dianalan pag uwi nya sa Pilipinas sa Marso.

“Importante para sa akin ang magkaroon tayo ng tinig na mas mabilis na makakarating sa dapat nitong patunguhan.” dagdag pa nya.

Ipinahayag naman ni Romulo Bani Chairman ng Philippine Professional Organization, Western Region chapter ang kanyang suporta maging nang kanyang mga pamilya at kaibigan sa Cebu at sa Nueva Ecija.

ayon sa kanya kung makapagbibigay ng lima sa bawat isang OFW na boto para kay Dianalan ay masisiguro na ang kanyang panalo. “kailangan natin ng text at email brigade para maipakalat sa ating mga kaibigan ang pagtakbo ni kaibigang Rudy” pahayag ni Bani.

Umaasa si Dianalan na mapansin ng mga political parties na mabigyan ng pansin ang mga OFWs na humihingi ng pagkakataon na magkaroon ng boses sa senado

“Kung ang mga political parties ay bibigyan nila ng halaga ang mga OFWs I don’t see any reason na hindi sila kumuha ng isang tunay na OFW para sa kanilang senatorial slate.”pagtatapos ni Dianalan

Source : http://www.kaagapaymo.monggos.com/?p=599

Rudy Dianalan is OFWs’ &
jury advocates’ senate bet
By TOTO CAUSING

IN their bid to make their neglected rights and welfare heard and get attention in the Congress, big groups of overseas Filipino workers have pushed for the candidacy of Rudy “Naz” Dianalan for the Senate.

Among those who push for his candidacy are the Partidong Pandaigdigang Pilipino (PPP) and Worldwide Filipino Alliance (WFA) members who scatter around the globe and who are actively participating in discussions of national and patriotic issues finding ways on how to be of help to their country.

The bone of contention why OFWs around the globe insist their voices be heard hinges on the fact that without them the Philippines would have already collapsed.

It is but fitting that these people who send annual remittances of $12 billion or an equivalent of P600 billion pesos, more than half of the national budget of the government.

With this, the migrant Filipino workers insist that they have their own candidates, and one of them is Dianalan, a consistent first honor at Mindanao State University preparatory school, a cum laude graduate of BS Systems Engineering from King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals and a candidate for Master in National Security Administration.


Dianalan’s records


Dianalan has dedicated most of his life in the work for the propagation of interests of Filipino migrant workers, particularly those in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

His primary advocacy is for the protection of OFWs from recruitment to worksite, welfare of their families left back home, strengthening ties of overseas Filipinos to the Philippines and their reintegration, and enhancing a global Filipino nation.

A convenor of the Global Filipino Nation forum, he rose to the leadership in various overseas Filipino community activities, exponent of OFW issues and programs, and author of different position papers and resolutions resulting from systems studies and political family background.

While a scholar at King Fahd University, Dianalan had been an eyewitness to the first influx of OFWs to the Middle.

Among his works reflect from his being the chairman emeritus of KASAPI Congress, the alliance of Filipino community associations in Jeddah and the Western Region of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, tripartite partner of umbrella organizations in the Central and Eastern regions.

Prior to his present status with KASAPI, he was the group’s co-chairman, Working Committee for Economic, Social, and Political Affairs (1996); chairman, Committee on Information (1997); chairman, Committee on Government Affairs (1998); chairman, Project Committee on Ten Outstanding Overseas Filipino Workers in Saudi Arabia (1999); secretary-general (1999); vice-chairman (2003); chairman (2004-2007).

He is currently a trustee and VP for Middle East and Africa of WFA, an internet-based NGO of overseas and homeland Filipinos; co-convenor, Global Filipino Nation, a broad-based coalition of Overseas Filipinos for good governance in the Philippines; co-chairman, International Coordinating Committee of PPP, a political party under organization by Overseas Filipinos; and a trustee, Order of the Knights of Rizal, Jeddah chapter and Middle East and Africa region.

He served as president of MAISA, Inc., a hometown association of pioneer OFWs.


Dianalan’s jury advocacy


Another advocacy of Dianalan is a common aspiration of OFWs who happened to work in countries where they witness and experience how the jury systems work effectively as a rigid system of justice that preclude tampering or manipulation by influential persons.

Fundamentally, jury systems can be called a system of justice where the people themselves directly exercise their power to adjudge who should be arrested, detained, charged or indicted, and who should be guilty.

Jury is rigid against influential persons because it keeps as secret the names and faces of its members chosen by raffle from the list of voters, to ensure that the rich and powerful accused will not know who to threaten and who to buy for favorable decisions.


Dianalan’s OFW agenda


For his candidacy, Dianalan set out the following platforms called “the OFW Agenda,” which are the: reintegration program for OFWs; strengthening of migrant workers’ laws; setting of necessary funds for OFWs; strengthening POEA to enable it to gain better employment packages for OFWs; and setting up investment platforms for all OFWs to ensure the monies they earn abroad would be preserved and get gains rather than diffuse to the realities of life.

In ensuring reintegration of OFWs effective, Dianalan will work for the passage of laws formulating programs responsive to the actual needs of the OFWs, which he can eloquently insist being an OFW himself. Here, he envisions establishments of massive skills training, re-employment and assistance to OFWs deciding to stay in the country, and capital facilities for OFW entrepreneurs.

On legal and related needs of OFWs having problems with non-payment of salaries, maltreatment by employers and other cases, Dianalan will work for the establishment of more funds for and stronger legal offices in every country where OFWs are found, setting up of institutional safehouses for distressed and runaway OFWs, creating system of immediate repatriation, and closer monitoring of cases of jailed Filipinos.

On welfare of OFWs, Dianalan will work for the establishment of effective system of transparency and accounting of OWWA funds, establishment of housing program for OFWs, setting of OFW investments for OFW hospitals, and creation of OFW-customized pension fund.

On strengthening of POEA, Dianalan will work for establishment of systems to ensure better protection of OFWs against contract substitution, reduction of salaries and benefits compared to the contracts and other illegal recruitment practices. These, he said, will be realized through compelling the State to have bilateral labor treaties with host countries. On this aspect, he also seeks to establish on-site PDOS through OFW NGOs to better prepare the OFWs against worksite realities and local factors.

On investments area, Dianalan will work for the creation of small-and-medium-scale industries for OFWs to invest in and strengthening similar program found in the existing provision of the Migrant Workers’ Act, or Rep. Act 8042.

This, he said, will be done by strengthening the tax exemption benefits and credits on raw materials to be used or imported, additional tax deductions on labor expenses, simplification of customs processing, additional exemptions from local government taxes and fees and increase of assistance from local governments, and consolidation of all OFW programs into a one-stop shop to make it easier for migrant workers to start businesses.

In establishing community resource center for OFWs, Dianalan seeks to establish self-sustaining multi-purpose facilities for them to engage in educational, cultural, recreational and other social activities to improve further their well being and generate higher respect for them.

This will include centers where each OFW will advance their skills and professional competency for them to become leaders in every Filipino community.

On establishing of “Global Filipino Nation,” Dianalan will work for the formulation of strategies for the government to better address the Filipino diaspora, institute synergistic and symbiotic relations between the Filipino communities abroad and the government, and creation of a program to actively promote the dignity of the OFWs in nationalism, patriotism and other positive values.

Source: Posted in Worldwide-Filipino-Alliance@yahoogroups.com