RSCC I Resolution No. 20, s.2006

REQUESTING CONCERNED DATA SOURCES TO GENERATE DATA ON OVERSEAS FILIPINO WORKERS (OFWs)
FROM THEIR ADMINISTRATIVE RECORDS

WHEREAS, Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) are considered by the government as the “Bagong Bayani” because of their significant contributions, specifically on remittances, to the economy;

WHEREAS, there is a need to monitor overseas employment, which had been increasing for the past decades, to determine its impact to the labor market and economy, particularly in the region and the provinces;

WHEREAS, accurate information on overseas workers will enable concerned entities to formulate sound policies and programs for the protection and welfare of OFWs and their families;

WHEREAS, the need for data on OFWs was emphasized during the 4^th regular RSCC meeting last December 13, 2006 since these data serve as vital inputs in Region I’s Quarterly Regional Economic Situationer (QRES);

WHEREAS, the QRES, which is prepared and disseminated by the National Economic Development Authority Regional Office I every quarter, contains indicators and analysis on the economic situation in Region I and its provinces;

WHEREAS, the National Statistics Office generates annual data on overseas employment through its yearly conduct of the Survey on Overseas Filipinos (SOF) but the data are disaggregated up to the regional level only and these are disseminated three years after the reference period; 

WHEREAS, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), which is tasked to promote and monitor the overseas employment of Filipino workers, is designated to generate statistics on overseas contract/Filipino workers (OCWs/OFWs) as per Executive Order No. 352 on the designated statistics to be generated by government offices;

WHEREAS, the POEA Regional Office utilizes administrative forms such as the  “OFW Information Sheet”  and “Searfarers Registration Form and Monitoring Sheet” to monitor overseas employment for land-based and sea-based OFWs, respectively;  

WHEREAS, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Regional Office, being the lead government agency tasked to protect and promote the welfare and well-being of OFWs and their dependents, also make use of various office administrative forms to monitor   the social welfare and related services provided  to OFWs/OCWs ; 

WHEREAS, the RSCC, being the highest policy-making body on statistical matters in the region, realizes the need to generate data on OFWs to determine OFWs’ contributions to the labor market and economy of the region and serve as information for the data users in their planning, policy-formulation and decision-making activities;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, AS IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED, to request the following agencies to generate the following  data from their administrative records:

RESOLVED FURTHER, to request the POEA, and OWWA Regional Offices I to provide the above OFW data for years 2000-2006 to the NSIC I of the NSCB Regional Division I as these are available.

RESOLVED FINALLY, to request the same offices to provide the forthcoming years’ data on OFWs to the NSIC I on a quarterly and annual basis within one month after the reference quarter/year.

            APPROVED, this 13th day of December 2006 at San Fernando City, La Union.