E/CN.4/2003/85/Add.4
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provide for the needs of his/her family. The few OFWs who manage to save money and attempt
to set up a business upon return often fail because of lack of planning, training and information
on business conditions in the Philippines. All these circumstances frequently leave returning
OFWs with no choice other than to migrate again.
64.
The first national conference on OFW reintegration was held in Manila on 12
and 13 April 2002. It concluded that a comprehensive OFW reintegration programme should
involve OFWs, their families, the Government and civil society at large. Migrants and their
families should be assisted to form organizations such as support groups and cooperatives. The
migrants’ communities could help in establishing business ventures and social enterprises that
would generate long-term employment. The Government should help OFWs to invest their
savings through, for example, incentives for business development and business and
management training.
65.
The Special Rapporteur fully endorses these conclusions. The process of reintegration
should start even before OFWs leave. The Special Rapporteur believes that the social and
psychological impact of migration on OFWs and their families must be cushioned. To this end,
it is important to ensure better communication between OFWs and their families. The Special
Rapporteur learned about interesting programmes targeting OFWs initiated by NGOs, such as
videoconferences and other communications services, and about the development of teaching
modules on the situation of OFWs and the positive and negative effects of migration to be used
in schools.
66.
The Special Rapporteur was struck by reports on the situation of children born of
marriages between OFWs and foreigners. Reportedly, women performing as entertainers in
Japan often bear the children of their customers. Marriage does not always follow, and when it
does in many cases it does not last long. Increasing numbers of Japanese-Filipino children in the
Philippines and Japan are often neglected and not recognized by their Japanese fathers. Women
returning from Japan with their children often are not well informed about the legal procedure
for the recognition of children under the law of the Philippines and the necessity of registering
their children as Filipino citizens. Because of their fathers’ abandonment and their mothers’
financial situation, these children often do not have access to education, adequate food, clothing
and shelter. The stigma attached to their mothers becomes theirs as well, causing an identity
crisis, a poor sense of dignity and low self-esteem. These children are often also discriminated
against because of their Japanese features. Children of Filipino mothers and other foreign fathers
reportedly also experience problems such as discrimination, alienation and identity crises. The
Special Rapporteur learned about valuable NGOs programmes of psychological and legal
assistance for these children and their mothers.
67.
The Special Rapporteur visited the municipality of Jagna, Bohol, where
almost 10 per cent of the population are OFWs. According to DOLE, the scarcity of land
and the lack of employment opportunities have been major factors in migration. POEA reported
that from 1990 to July 2001, almost 14,000 people left the province. This figure does not
include irregular migrants.