Guam’s help sought for jobless Filipinos in CNMI

 The U.S. Pinoys for Good Governance is proposing to assist jobless Filipinos in the CNMI by getting them employment in Guam.

Dr. Celia Lamkin, USP4GG Marianas Chapter president, announced the proposal during the immigration forum featuring top immigration lawyer Atty. Ted Laguatan at the Marianas Business Plaza ground floor last Thursday.

Lamkin disclosed that she has met with Guam Lt. Gov. Ray Tenorio to discuss the proposal, which would allow for jobless Filipinos in the Commonwealth to be hired in Guam as an “inter-island” agreement or without having the unemployed to exit to the Philippines.

“The response of the lieutenant governor is actually positive and optimistic,” Lamkin informed over 100 Filipinos and guests who attended the forum.

According to Lamkin, Tenorio was “surprised” that many Filipinos who are “highly skilled” do not have jobs in the CNMI.

Lamkin said she will seek the assistance of Laguatan and another Filipino-American lawyer and one of USP4GG’s founding members, Loida Nicolas-Lewis, to see to it that the proposal becomes a reality.

The chapter president added, “We at U.S. Pinoys for Good Governance will advocate for that. With our help, we will try to make it happen.”

Laguatan, legal counsel for USP4GG, said that while the lieutenant governor’s receptiveness was good news, he pointed out that there is a need to thoroughly review the proposal since it involves immigration issues.

According to Laguatan, there are different questions that need to be answered should the proposal push through.

Thursday’s announcement was welcomed positively by members of the Filipino community, both employed and unemployed alike.

Renato Gomez, who works as a general maintenance staffer for DFS, said the proposal is “good news” especially for those Filipinos seeking work.

“If this would materialize, they would be able to help many of our kababayans,” Gomez, 54, told Saipan Tribune.

An Oleai resident and single mother who lost her job as a houseworker only a few weeks ago said the proposal might just be her means to find a job to support her two children in the Philippines.

Another Filipino, who has been on Saipan for 17 years and recently resigned from his work, said USP4GG’s proposal will be a big help to a lot of jobless Filipinos.

“It gives a glimmer of hope to many people,” he said.

Alex Gablinez, a technician at Advance X-Terminators and Pest Control, said he is very pleased with the announcement.

“I hope this proposal will push through. I have a few friends who can benefit from this,” said Gablinez.