MANILA — It is up to the overseas Filipino workers to choose the candidates they want in the next election, a Palace official said as a reaction to statements that migrants organizations are initiating a “zero vote” campaign against administration candidates.
This developed as Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) carried out a “zero remittance day” and some groups are allegedly planning a zero vote for administration candidates as a response to a customs policy on balikbayan boxes.
Remittances from OFWs make up about a tenth of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP). In June, cash transfers rose 6.1 percent to $2.18 billion, the highest level since December last year, latest data showed.
June’s result brought the year-to-date total to $12.08 billion, higher by 5.6 percent year-on-year.
Remittances are the largest source of dollar income for the Philippines, which keeps the peso strong by ensuring the steady supply of foreign exchange that local businesses and the government need for transactions overseas.
“The BSP has worked hard to encourage OFWs to send their remittances through formal channels, so we trust that this complication can be quickly addressed,” Tetangco said.
As this developed, Migrante declared that Friday’s “Zero Remittance Day” was a success.
“We declare today’s Zero Remittance Day a success and resounding declaration of OFWs.
On the Zero Vote for administration candidates, particularly Mar Roxas, deputy Presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said during a radio interview: “Karapatan po nilang mamili kung sino po ang gusto nilang iboto sa darating na eleksyon.”
“Ang inaasahan lang po natin ay, siyempre, mababase po ito sa plataporma; mababase po ito doon sa ano po ba ‘yung ikagaganda pa ng ating bansa, at ‘yung ikabubuti pa ng buhay ng ating mga pamilya,” she told dzRB Radyo Ng Bayan.”Kalayaan natin lahat ‘yan, kung paano po natin sasalain ang ating mga kandidato.”
OFWs are furious over a new Customs policy on balikbayan boxes. The Bureau of Customs said balikbayan boxes are being used as a means to smuggle goods or ship illegal narcotics. However, instead of mere statements they never presented any document or incident that made their claim stand.
Both Finance and Central Bank officials will be assessing the impact of the so-called “Zero Remittance Day” that proponents said was a success.
Several groups have called for a halt in fund transfers in protest against the stricter inspections of Balikbayan boxes by the Bureau of Customs which has since been stopped by President Benigno Aquino III.
Sending goods—mostly consumer items for personal use—in Balikbayan boxes is popular with overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). However, BOC officials said that Balikbayan boxes were also being used by smugglers to avoid payment of Customs duties.
Largely perceived as one of the most corrupt government agency, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) announcement of random inspections on Balikbayan boxes triggered the backlash among OFWs and their families.
To protest the government move, Migrante International, a militant organization claiming to represent OFWs, called for a “zero remittance.”
“We understand the concern of our migrants who use the courier system for legitimate purposes,” Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Amando M. Tetangco Jr. said in a statement.
“We believe there can be a workable arrangement so that the needs of the government for tracking down those who use the system for illegal purposes can also be addressed,” he said.
Earlier this week, President Aquino ordered the BOC to do away with random inspections and instead ordered the mandatory X-rays of container vans containing “Balikbayan” boxes. Only boxes suspected of containing smuggled goods would be physically opened.
