THE Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) yesterday urged overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to rethink their plans of participating in the “Zero Remittance Week” being set by supporters of former president Rodrigo Duterte.
In a radio interview, Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said OFWs should reconsider if they really want to participate in the activity aimed at showing their opposition to the arrest of Duterte by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
“I will remind them to remain calm when deciding if they will halt their sending of money home,” said Cacdac, warning that such acts will directly affect their families.
“Let us not forget how it will affect our own families, which are the main reasons why you went abroad,” he said.
The Maisug Croatia chapter has said several OFWs around the globe are planning not to send any remittances to the Philippines from March 28 to April 4 as part of their campaign to bring Duterte back to the Philippines.
OFW group Migrante Europe scored Maisug Croatia chapter for wrongfully using the “zero remittance” activity.
In a statement, Migrante Europe chairman Garry Martinez said OFWs supporting Duterte have no right to hijack the purpose of the activity.
“A Zero Remittance Day is a political action of OFWs aiming to bring changes to policies in the country. They have no right to hijack the noble objectives of the Zero Remittance Day,” said Martinez.
In particular, he said the activity cannot be used to show support to the one responsible for the death of over 30,000 people during the bloody war on drugs.
“It cannot be used to call for the release of the person facing charges of crime against humanity,” said Martinez.
The Department of Foreign Affairs likewise reminded Filipino workers abroad of how their act would affect their families.
DFA Undersecretary Eduardo Jose de Vega said he understands the sentiments of some Duterte supporters.
“You have the right not to remit if you do not want to remit pero alalahanin ninyo ang mga pamilya nyo sa Pilipinas (but think how this will affect your families in the Philippines),” De Vega told the “Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon” forum when asked about the issue.
Remittances, which OFWs send directly to their families in the country, are seen as a driver of economic activity.
Data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas showed that cash remittances stood at $2.918 billion last month, down from $3.380 billion in December 2024, but higher than the $2.836 billion in January 2024.
Remittances from US-based OFWs accounted for 41.2 percent, followed by Singapore with 7.5 percent, Saudi Arabia with 6.6 percent, Japan with 5.7 percent, the United Kingdom with 4.7 percent, the United Arab Emirates with 3.5 percent, Canada with 3.1 percent, Taiwan and Qatar with 2.8 percent each, and Malaysia with 2.4 percent.
De Vega stressed there is no political repression in the country to justify such move among overseas Filipinos.
“I don’t know if they can do without remittance but that is their right,” De Vega said, adding: “It is their decision not to remit but if the reason is due to politics, I will reiterate there is no political repression here.” – With Ashzel Hachero
