Bulatlat

BY JHONG DELA CRUZ
Bulatlat
ELECTION WATCH / BREAKING NEWS
May 14, 2007 - 3:22pm

Canada-based overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) are using the short-messaging system (SMS), known as text messaging, to support progressive party-list groups in this year’s Philippine midterm elections.

SIKLAB-Canada, a group of OFWs, has the blamed lack of information from the Philippine Consulate about the elections for disenfranchised migrant voters. However, it said text messaging has been effective in convincing their families back home to vote for Bayan Muna (People First), Anakpawis (Toiling Masses) and Gabriela Women's Party (GWP).

It noted the Monday election is being followed closely by Filipinos overseas. Glecy Duran, SIKLAB-Canada vice chair, said, "We are alarmed at reports of interference by the Philippine military in the run-up to these elections and we are calling on our members to ask their families to be vigilant and protect the vote."

Duran also reiterated that migrant Filipino workers in Canada, the fourth largest visible minority in this country, continu to face exploitation and harassment while away from their families. Their plight however, had been ignored by the current administration, she said.

Filipino women make up over 90 percent of those entering Canada as live-in caregivers under Citizenship and Immigration Canada's Live-in Caregiver Program (LCP).

Since 2004, the group had been campaigning for a moratorium on the deportation of live-in caregivers who cannot complete the requirements of the program. It noted majority of deportation cases are due to the women's inability to complete the 24 months of live-in work within three years of entering Canada.

"Gabriela Women's Party along with Anakpawis were instrumental in introducing an important resolution in the Philippine House of Representatives directing a special committee to conduct an investigation into the abuses experienced by Filipino domestic workers under the LCP of the Canadian government," Duran said.

"Overseas Filipinos in Canada need strong and progressive voices in the Philippine Congress so we throw our full support behind these party-lists," Duran added.

SIKLAB-Canada has chapters in Vancouver, Winnipeg, Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal. Bulatlat