By Elizer Penaranda
Varied sentiments, views and analyses have been burst out as various Filipino organizations signed the ``No to National Pension Scheme-Social Security System (NPS-SSS) Campaign'' to show opposition to a bilateral agreement on social security between South Korea and the Philippines.
The ongoing signature campaign is highly recognized and supported by the majority of the 51,051 members of different Filipino communities, which paved the way for all Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), including the religious-sector to band together as one with a common goal. They have given their usual support by disseminating information and encouragement to churchgoers who are also the concerned individuals on the current issue.
Filipino Employment Permit System Workers Association (FEWA) and SULYAPINOY spearheaded the signature campaign in full support of the Hyehwa-dong Filipino Catholic Community led by its chaplain, Fr. Alvin Parantar, Gasan Migrant Workers Community, Changhyeon Filipino Catholic Community, Human Rights Welfare Organization Filipino Community, Ansan Filipino Catholic Community, Philippine Migrant Workers Association in South Korea, communities from Busan and other Filipino communities in South Korea.
Regardless of gender, religion, visa status, all OFWs are currently calling for immediate solution and revision of the agreement for the general welfare of the workers and protection from vested interest of some alleged greedy public officials who would surely take our money for some anomalies, unscrupulous plans and personal interests. Why are we so worried about the planned transfer of the NPS lump-sum refund to SSS?
Inadequate consultation of the concerned OFWs, who are the owners of the NPS Lump-sum Refund benefits. The SSS, or the proponents, should have properly consulted all the concerned OFWs in South Korea before the signing of the bilateral agreement. Article III ― Bill of Rights ― Section 7 of the Philippine Constitution states ``The right of the people to information on matters of public concern shall be recognized and access to official records, and to documents and papers pertaining to official acts, transactions, or decisions.''
Therefore, the procedure undertaken in the formulation of the agreement clearly violated our constitutional rights. It also means a loss of workers' small business opportunities upon going back home after our sojourn period due to the unfair compulsory coverage by the NPS-SSS social security agreement. The NPS lump-sum refund will be prone to corruption and some other personal analyses have triggered the EPS workers led by the Filipino EPS Workers Association to initiate the massive campaign for social awareness and participation
More so, the SULYAPINOY Web site is conducting an online signature campaign for those who cannot come and personally sign the petition letter.
With support from Philippine radio program like DZME, the issue has reached the Philippine House Senate through the office of Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago, chairwoman of the Committee of Foreign Affairs.
Our campaign program against the NPS-SSS social security agreement continues to empower all concerned workers with the needed information. We strongly believe that justice will be served for the general welfare of all OFWs and will foster solidarity among Filipino communities and awareness on issues concerning Filipino migrant workers all over the peninsula.
Also, our struggles go on for our families in the Philippines who have sacrificed greatly in the process of migration and kept on praying while waiting for the immediate return of the loved ones working overseas with resources enough to rebuild the broken pieces of our lives brought by social injustices, poverty and unemployment in our own country.
The writer is a factory worker under the Employment Permit System and the current editor of the SULYAPINOY Newsletter. He can be reached at elizer_penaranda@yahoo.com.