‘CWs are the driving force of the NMI economy’

Gov. Ralph DLG Torres again cited the importance of foreign workers in the economic development in the CNMI to explain why he and other Commonwealth officials—public and private—are hoping Washington, D.C. would heed the requests contained in the 902 report that was submitted to Congress early this year.

Torres said the Trump administration has been aggressive on some immigration issues and hopefully key officials would soon decide on the concerns they had put on the negotiating table.

“We continue to advocate for the importance of CW1 workers. But we’re turning in a report soon, hopefully by Friday, to let Washington know that our CWs are the driving force of the economy and we’ve seen the economic impact they bring,” said Torres.

CW1 refers to the CNMI-Only Nonimmigrant Transitional Worker Visa Program that was enacted under the Consolidated Natural Resources Act of 2008. It was a five-year program implemented in 2009. It would have ended in 2014 but was extended to Dec. 31, 2019.

Torres said guest workers under the CW1 program have been a major part of the community. “The amount of years they spent here…a lot of them stayed longer than my age. We’re making sure our CW issues are heard and taken cared of.”

“We acknowledge the importance of the CW1 program. It has always been a partnership with [guest workers]. We continue to see investments coming in, but without the needed workforce we can’t finish these infrastructure developments.”
 
PH govt monitors situation
Philippine Consul General to Guam and the CNMI Marciano R. de Borja said the Philippine government had been closely monitoring the situation. A large number of foreign workers under the CW1 program are Filipino nationals.

De Borja said he is thankful to the CNMI government’s good treatment of not only Filipinos but all foreign guest workers. “Many [guest workers] are anxiously waiting for updates on the CW issue, but there’s still time until 2019,” he said.

Dec. 31, 2019, is the deadline of the CW1 program. Businesses are expected to transition their foreign workers to other U.S. work visa programs.

“CW workers are the driving force of the [CNMI] economy. Filipinos have been part of many of the areas of economic activity here. That’s why it is a concern for the Philippine government.”

“Many of the Filipinos working here support their families in the Philippines aside from contributing to the CNMI economy. The issue is a legal and very complex problem. We’re glad that the governor has been meeting with officials in Washington, D.C. to discuss the issue.”

“The issue is not only for Filipinos but for all guest workers. It has an economic impact and would also affect future plans of the CNMI for it to have a more sustainable economy as more development comes in. There’s a need for skilled workforce to help with these development projects,” said de Borja.