EDITORIAL

IT IS clear as day, President Gloria Arroyo’s administration is very keen in sending more workers abroad, if only for the mighty dollar. The government indirectly admits that our economy will be in limbo without our dollar earners abroad. Hence, having more OFWs to send remittances here, is a much welcome boon to our ever dwindling economy.

Come to think of it, however, sending our workers abroad poses two great problems: One, our workforce is rapidly thinning. We do have nurses and teachers left here, but they are mostly those with very little experience, it any at all. In hospitals, for instance, very noticeable is the fact that nurses are getting younger every time, because the more experienced and mature ones have left for way, way more lucrative jobs abroad. Two, when workers leave for jobs abroad, they leave their families behind. Chances are these workers are either husbands or wives who have families, spouses and children here in the Philippines. But because the dollar beckons, and the dream of a better and more comfortable life is inviting in other shores, these workers and their families have to suffer the sad and difficult consequences of separation.

There must be a way to make our workers stay. But how? Opportunities here are very few, very slim. Unless there are better options in their native land, these OFWs will continually depart for better work, better life in foreign lands.