‘Decision to go home is up to each worker’

The Philippine Consulate General on Saipan is not forcing any Filipino worker to go home as the Nov. 27 deadline to petition foreign workers for a CW status draws near.

“It’s the Filipino worker’s decision to go home or not,” Consul General Medardo Macaraig said in an interview at his office yesterday.

Macaraig pointed out that the Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila, through their office, is providing repatriation assistance only to those who seek help by way of written request.

“We’re not sending anyone home unless they write and ask for help,” he told Saipan Tribune.

In fact, Macaraig said, they cannot force home the seven individuals who, after asking for repatriation assistance and being approved, decided to withdraw their requests.

“Can we tie them up and force them to leave? No. So it’s not true that we’re forcing them to go home. Ultimately, it will be the Filipino worker who will make that decision,” said Macaraig, adding that he already asked the seven individuals to put in writing that they are withdrawing their request for repatriation funding.

According to Macaraig, over 30 individuals have already sought assistance from the Consulate since the release of the CNMI-only transitional worker rule last Sept. 7.

“While it slightly increased, it has not yet reached the alarming proportions that we have expected,” he added.

The Consul General emphasized that their message to the Filipino community remains the same: that their three options in light of the current situation in the CNMI include staying and working legally on the islands, finding job opportunities in another foreign country, and going back to the Philippines to work or start their own business.

As for providing other assistance besides repatriation funding, Macaraig reiterated that DFA provides assistance mostly for labor-related cases and not immigration. He disclosed that they are currently working on getting updates on some of the labor cases that a number of Filipinos have filed in the past.

“We will provide assistance within the limits that the law—both the Philippine law and diplomatic agreements—has prescribed,” he said.

While he welcomes other opinions and pronouncements, including that of Filipino-American lawyer Loida Nicolas Lewis, Macaraig said that his message to Filipinos remains the same as what he had said in prior interviews with television, radio, and newspapers.

“Anybody who can help Filipinos are welcome,” he added.

Macaraig said he understands the desire for the “American dream” among Filipinos. However, the CNMI situation is “something different” because of the lack of economic opportunities due to the recession.

“USCIS has put the cap for foreign workers under CW status at 22,416 and that’s more than enough for everyone, including Filipinos. Then again, the problem is that a lot of foreign workers cannot avail of this status because they can’t find work,” he explained.