OVERSEAS Filipino workers (OFWs) in Europe have expressed their objections against the price hike on consular services set to be implemented by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) all over the continent.
In a statement, Migrante – Europe assailed the Philippine government for implementing increase in fees with OFWs in Europe set to suffer.
“Migrante Europe decries the rabid imprudent measures that the Philippine government had imposed on migrant labor,” said Migrante, adding: “The most irresponsible exaction measure of Philippine government is now in place. Shamelessly, the milking cow has to be slaughtered.”
Worse, the OFW group said, is that the increase is being imposed using the pretext of the “weakening of the peso to the dollar.”
Migrante said such a reasoning is difficult to accept given the history of the previous Marcos administration.
“Historically, Marcos’ ill-gotten wealth fed on dollar salting, and a lot of them in the upper echelon operate via dollar salting since the years from Marcos dictatorship and back to Marcos again,” said the group.
“Today, when the irresponsible Marcos regime goes out junketing, is it not using the country’s dollar reserves?” asked Migrante.
The DFA has ordered an increase in different consular service fees, such as those for passport renewal, travel documents, affidavits, certification, authentication, temporary visa, and oath of allegiance, among others.
