An open letter from OFWs

In a news briefing on Feb. 10, 2012, the Philippine Consulate General on Saipan confirmed that the Department of Foreign Affairs shall consolidate Philippine foreign service posts in the Pacific region sometime in July this year due to budgetary constraints. Accordingly, the Philippine Consulate General on Saipan shall continue to serve Filipinos in the CNMI until sometime after the Independence Day commemoration in June 2012 and the Ambassadors, Consuls General, Tourism Directors Tour of the Philippines in July 2012. The Philippine Consulate General in Guam shall then assume consular jurisdiction and responsibilities over the Northern Mariana Islands, in addition to its current consular jurisdiction.

The need for a Philippine Consulate on Saipan arose during the heyday of the garment and tourism industries in the CNMI in the mid- to late ’80s, during which an ever increasing number of Filipino workers entered the CNMI to assist its construction development and tourism industries and the shortage of trained professionals and skilled labor workforce. The Philippine Consulate on Saipan was established on March 3, 1989. The Consulate was upgraded to a Consulate General in June 2001.

Come July 2012, the Filipino community will bid goodbye to all Philippine consulate officials on Saipan if our Philippine government is serious about closing down its consular office here. The days of all overseas Filipino workers in the CNMI will soon be totally dark until 2014, the end of transition period set-forth under the CNRA.

The rising immigration problems of majority of OFWs in the CNMI, the awarded but unpaid salary claims of some OFWs, and the repatriation of the needy OFWs will soon be the problem of the Filipino community and/or will be left in the hands of workers advocates and Filipino organizations in requesting assistance from the Guam consular post. These are the unforeseen problems and burdens that may arise if the Philippine government will push through their plans of closing down the consulate office on Saipan. While it is true that the Philippine Consulate General in Guam shall assume consular jurisdiction over the Northern Mariana Islands, their services will not be as fast and efficient as it is today that we have our own consular office in the island due to travel restrictions on OFWs on Saipan.

Jose L. Cuisia Jr., in his address sometime during his appointment as Philippine Ambassador the United States, said, “The Embassy and the other Philippine Foreign Service posts throughout the U.S. are fully committed to protecting the interests of overseas Filipino workers and responsive to their needs and welfare. The Filipino diaspora in the U.S. is a force to be harnessed and a crucial partner in building on Philippine-American ties.”

His message will be far from reality if the Philippine government turns its back from about 8,000 OFWs currently working and residing on Saipan. OFWs on Saipan are currently facing uncertainties in their immigration status, unpaid salaries, unresolved labor cases, unemployment due to economic slowdown, and other related incidents, among others. Closing down the consulate on Saipan will only create chaos and a miserable atmosphere among OFWs.

The economic reason as stated in closing down the consulate is unreasonable and unacceptable. OFWs in the CNMI are also contributors to our homeland economy and therefore we also deserve to receive a valuable service from our own government. OFWs understand the financial hardship in maintaining a consular post, but leaving us behind with nothing to turn to is an act of abandonment of a constituent. The exodus of OFWs leaving the CNMI will commence if the consular post closes down.

On behalf of OFWs in the CNMI, we strongly suggest to just limit the number of consulate personnel, leaving behind a skeleton crew on Saipan to cater to OFWs needs.

Why not close down Guam? Majority of Filipinos in Guam are H-visa holders and/or are permanent residents who don’t require consular services as much, unlike in the CNMI where majority of OFWs are contract workers. OFWs with H-visas in Guam can travel to the CNMI, while CNMI OFWs and/or permanent residents are restricted from traveling to Guam. Not unless the U.S. government will grant long time foreign workers an improved immigration status. By then Philippine consulate officials can leave OFWs behind with peace of mind.