‘Guarded optimism’ among Filipino community leaders

About 40 Filipino leaders representing major organizations on island attended Thursday a meeting organized by the Philippine Consulate General “to feel the pulse” of the Filipino community.

Consul General Medardo Macaraig said key organizations such as the United Filipino Organization, Dekada Movement, Marianas Advocates for Humanitarian Affairs, Ltd. or MAHAL, Coalition for the Recognition, Equality and Advancement of American Minorities or CREAM, Masons, and Lions Clubs were well-represented at the meeting.

Macaraig said the meeting aimed to provide a venue for these Filipino leaders to talk freely about the key points raised during the various outreach sessions hosted by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services on the final rule for all foreign workers.

“The community leaders exchanged and clarified information based on their understanding from attending these sessions and it was a frank exchange of views,” he said yesterday.

While the meeting had an “upbeat” mood, Macaraig noted that these community leaders showed an outlook of “guarded optimism.”

“They’re upbeat and optimistic, so to speak, because many Filipino workers will still be hired. But then again, they don’t want to over-anticipate things due to lingering uncertainties,” Macaraig told Saipan Tribune.

Macaraig said that vital to the ongoing talks about the final rule that surfaced during the meeting is the release of the prevailing wage survey of the Saipan Chamber of Commerce that would help employers who would need to petition their employees for H1B visas.

“Although the final rule is out, the situation remains that the foreign workers are still needed,” he added.

Macaraig emphasized that the current situation is not a “hopeless” one, reiterating the three options that the Consulate has continuously promoted: to legally stay in the CNMI, seek greener pastures in another foreign soil, or go back to the Philippines and look for a source of income as an employee or as an entrepreneur.

According to Macaraig, the Consulate is anticipating that some 3,000 foreign workers—mostly Filipinos—who are unemployed and currently without status will seek assistance from their office. The figure, he said, is “based on the governor’s statement in the absence of an actual survey.”

Since September, though, Macaraig said the Consulate has only provided assistance to three Filipino workers, with the last one going back to the Philippines last Monday. A fourth individual is already waiting for a plane ticket, he added.

“The surge we are expecting is not happening. It’s not alarmingly high. I don’t know if it’s going to change in the next few days or as November draws near,” said Macaraig.

While they can extend assistance to those who make a written request to the Consulate, Macaraig said they would need to time to review the request, endorse it to their Manila office, and make arrangements.

“We already appealed to community leaders to direct to the Consulate those who want to seek help. But please give us time,” he said.

Macaraig cited the importance of being a member of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration as there is assurance of help for these members.

According to Macaraig, more than two-thirds of Filipino workers in the CNMI are OWWA members.

While the Consulate would assist in repatriating Filipinos who fail to secure a legal status in the CNMI, Macaraig noted that OWWA will go after the Filipino workers’ last employer on record should they be found liable to pay for the workers’ repatriation.

The Consul General also dispelled rumors circulating in the Filipino community about ships that would transport Filipinos without status back to the Philippines.

“That is not true. There will be no mass repatriation,” said Macaraig.

Macaraig believes that the rumor is one way for Filipinos to infuse humor and smile in dealing with a serious situation.

“Filipinos have always been known for their sense of humor,” he said. “Despite the seriousness of the situation, we manage to make fun of it while dealing with it.”

Macaraig added that he remains positive that Filipinos in the CNMI are capable of “going beyond” the current circumstances.