P1B fund to repatriate
OFWs pushed

Senate President Manny Villar yesterday pushed for the establishment of a P1-billion fund for the early repatriation and assistance to Filipinos in distress overseas, a press release from his office said.

“While there may be comprehensive set of laws protecting the overseas workers, its implementation in reality remains wanting. In particular, the funding requirement needed to effect a meaningful and truly caring OFW environment is negligible,” Villar said.

He added that the Constitution, the Labor Code, the Migrant Workers Act, various executive orders and treaties, have the same intention of protecting overseas workers but Filipinos in distress continue to swell in number.

‘Country expecting more challenges’
BY JUANCHO GALLARDE

Finance Secretary Margarito Teves admitted recently in Dumaguete City that it is not an easy task for government to deal with the present crises, but that, the Arroyo administration is now rationalizing fiscal incentives.

Teves said that, as in most economies, more challenges are expected this year due to a combination of continued high prices of oil now reaching US $119 per barrel, increasing prices of rice and food items and a slowdown in the US economy.

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