Worldwide Support for Dr. Astillero gathers speed

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - The petition supporting the nomination of Dr. Carlito Astillero to the post of OWWA Administrator took a new height with the signing of said petition by the presidents/chairmen of 58 Filipino community organizations, representing at least 25,000 member-OFWs.

The signing ceremonies was held at Al Mutlaq Hotel. Alex Veloso Bello, President of the OFW Congress, the lead organization pushing for the appointment of Dr. Astillero, was full of thanks to the community leaders who turned in to give their support to their fellow OFW.

Prior to the endorsements delivered by the heads of the various organizations, a short presentation on the problems of OWWA and the challenges that will be faced by the new administrator was delivered by Francis Oca, Vice Chair of the 7,000 strong United OFW Association.

Engr. Eli Mua, President of the Union of Muslim Associations and National Chairman of the United OFW Association delivered the first endorsement. He emphasized the need for a true blooded overseas Filipino worker to head the OWWA which after all is supposedly an organization of, by, and for the OFWs. He urged all the community leaders present to give their full support to Dr. Astillero.

Engr. Faisal Sharque, founding president of the Filipino Retirees Employee Movement pointed out that the first task is to ensure that Dr. Astillero gets the appointment. Joey Badong, past commander of the Order of the Knights of Rizal highlighted some of the tasks that awaits the new OWWA administrator. He called for a continuing dialogue and a revival of the proposals made  during the OFW summit back in 2000.

Emotions were already high even before Dr. Astillero spoke. When Engr. Biox Manilum and Bong Amora introduced him, he was greeted by a one minute applause from his colleagues in the community. Astillero spoke of a five-point agenda which he said should be given priority attention. He promised to give immediate attention on the need to increase the present OFW representation in the OWWA Board, and initiate transparency on policy directions, plans and programs of the agency.

Meanwhile, the Petition Online that the OFW Congress launched almost a week ago also continued to move up the scale. At presstime,  970 overseas Filipinos from 68 cities/states in 29 countries already signed the petiton.

Among the prominent Overseas Filipino leaders who signed the petition are US-based Victor Barrios, convenor of the Global Filipino Nation and Cesar Torres, convenor of the Filipino American Forum of San Francisco California; Dr. Edong del Rosario of Guam, a long time OFW advocate; Fe Kim and Ernie Perez of the United Filipinos Worldwide for Development; Anita Sychon Sese Chair of the Overseas Filipino Council; Jacinto Tilbe of WOCCU, Afghanistan;Emmylou Cortez of the United Nurses of New Zealand; Francisco Aguilar, Jr., Chair of PPP-ICC; Norma Hennesy of Radio Pilipino of Adelaide, South Australia; Dr. Inocencio Oballo, Jr. of the Filipino Community in Tuvalu; Mme. Zeny Landicho Lugon of the Filipino Community in Geneva Switzerland; Grace Cabactulan of the Filipino Community in the Netherlands; Macrina Alcedo Reconsal of Kilipi in Barcelona, Spain; Rodel J. Ramos of the Philippine Press Club of Ontario, Canada; Norberto Hinang of Hanil Engineering in Angola; Chona Bolos of Bonn, Germany; Rudy Dianalan and Corlito Obtanilla of the Kasapi Congress; Arman Muleem and Susie Barbeiri of the Worldwide Filipino Alliance.

Copies of the petitions were already delivered to the President, as well as to some senators and congressmen who are supporting the nomination of Dr. Astillero.