Human trafficking cases in the Philippines: A Test of Patience
Sep 01(Formal statement of the Blas F. Ople Policy Center as read by Susan Ople, president, during the first hearing of the Senate committee on foreign affairs, September 1, 2010) Thank you for this opportunity to share our insights as a non-government organization on government’s efforts to fight human trafficking. The Blas F. Ople Policy Center is currently monitoring and assisting trafficked...
Coming Soon:No worker can leave for abroad without paying Php 600 to Pag-IBIG
Jul 28I believe that many overseas Filipino workers do dream of owning their own houses. I do not fault Pag-IBIG Fund for wanting to market its programs to a growing base of over nine million workers overseas. I am glad that a lot of overseas and local workers have enrolled in this housing program out of their desire to own a house someday. However, it seems to me absolutely unfair and arbitrary to...
Swine Flu and our OFWs
Apr 29Just as we were starting to see streaks of light and life in a moribund global economy, Mexico was zapped with swine flu and now the world is feeling the shakes from a possible pandemic. The implications of a swine flu pandemic on our own little corner of the world are enormous. Right now, international travel is restricted due to one’s budget limitations. A viral epidemic changes all that....
Conditional Cash Transfers for Children of Displaced OFWs
Mar 22The Blas F. Ople Policy Center issued a press release today proposing a program on conditional cash transfers to help children of displaced OFWs stay in school. The cash transfers will be contingent on the following conditions: 1) enrollment this coming schoolyear; and, 2) monthly medical check-ups for children enrolled in this program. The text of the press release is as follows: News...