CEBU CITY, June 9 (PNA) — The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) 7 has noted a steady increase in the number of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) leaving Cebu via the Mactan-Cebu International Airport.
POEA-7 records show that 39,289 OFWs, mostly from the Visayas and Mindanao, left via MCIA in 2012.
In 2013, the number rose to 41,391 and in 2014, the number was 42,916.
From January to May 2015, 22,726 OFWs left Cebu.
Director Evelia Durato of the POEA 7 said the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) reported that OFWs have contributed at least USD27 billion to the Philippine economy.
“We don’t know how much is the share of OFWs from the Visayas and Mindanao in the USD27-billion remittance unless we go over the entire BSP report. But we believe it’s a big portion,” Durato said.
But Durato also noted that several OFW families failed to save and went penniless when they were no longer capable of working abroad.
“Sometimes, they said OFW money is like a curse. Within the few years of working abroad, they were able to buy a house, cars and other luxurious items and suddenly these are gone. That’s why we have to teach them how to manage their resources,” Durato said.
“The trend of OFWs in Cebu is increasing in terms of deployment. There is at least five percent increase annually. This is an indication that more Filipinos chose the legitimate way of going abroad,” Durato said.
Most of the OFWs are skilled workers deployed in the United States, the Middle East, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom and Europe. (PNA)