Filipino Workers Struggle Amid Economic Downturn

In this news article, it talks about the declining economy of the world and the effects of Filipinos and OFWs. Its features a woman and her OFW sister who has been working in Hong Kong for 22 years as a domestic worker. The money that the working sister brings home helps pay for the family’s food, bills and everything to be able to survive.
Last year there were about 8 million OFW working overseas, about 10% of the Philippines’ population. They sent over $15 billion USD back home and it greatly helped the Philippine economy. Many Filipinos, both in the country and OFWs are very worried that the jobs OFWs have will not be guaranteed next year because of the economy.
Many citizens believe that the government is not helping out too much and needs to stop up and help the families. They believe to help out the economy in the country, issues need to be solved within the country. If Filipinos are able to work in their own country then they can support their own economy.
I think that this article brings up important points. It shows how much OFWs are helping out the country of the Philippines and its direct impact on the families. Many people want the president Gloria M. Arroyo to be more proactive in supporting families, but I think that with her political affiliation, she will not. I actually heard from a workshop that GMA does encourage many Filipinos to leave the Philippines and work from overseas. Right now the Philippines is in debt from the Ferdinand Marcos regime and any source of income will be very beneficial. With the declining economy, I am worried for my family who are living in the Philippines because they will be deeply affected by everything that is going on.