Group Work: Protection of Nationals- ASEAN Countries

Groupmates:
BAILON, Renzie
DILANGALEN, AJ
LANTING, Yayie
MAGSINO, Sam
ROLDAN, Ara
SEULKI, Kim

Our task is to choice one of PGMA’s Foreign Policy and to show how would be the process of creating such Foreign Policy. These would be the cycle on crafting such law; setting of the goal, implementation, result and consequences, evaluate and revise. Since Foreign Policy are known to be as a continuous process of formulation and implementation. There are also three time lines to consider when drafting such policy the first one would be immediate, second would be midterm and the last one would be the long term.

Philippines is one of the pioneer countries in the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) together with Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand. As of today, Brunei, Myanmar, Cambodia, Lao DPR and Vietnam are already part of ASEAN. The organization aims to promote economic integration, social progress and cultural development within the member states. In general, the ASEAN aims to promote peace and stability within the region.

Considering the aims of the regional group, the Philippines is expected to have a good relationship with the member states of ASEAN and vice-versa. Focusing on the issue of OFWs and their protection once they go out of the country (Philippines) to work.

To implement such law we were also ask to give some offices or department that would help on the implementation process. One of these is the POEA. Programs of POEA such as: Savings mobilization initiatives of the government: SSS and Pag-Ibig are useful programs that can address problems concerning irregular migrants or undocumented overseas workers. The Social Security System (SSS) is very visible in the Philippine consulate. It started its overseas operations in Hong Kong on January 28, 1998. So far, there have been 55,000 migrant workers who have enlisted with the SSS, or about one-third of the estimated number of Filipino migrant workers. The agency estimates that their membership enlistment program can potentially reach all Filipino migrant workers in Hong Kong, including the undocumented ones. Programs such as, Livelihood and Housing loan programs, Flexi Fund and the Pag IIbig Fund would encourage migrants workers including the undocumented one’s would be interested to sign up. SSS has its own technique for its program to spread among Filipino Nationals. One on one discussion with organized migrant groups with large scale of members like religious groups such us: El Shaddai and Jesus is Lord (JIL). Each group has their own marketing functions to inform migrant workers about SSS and convince them to enlist themselves with the agency.