Borrowing to be employed

Every time we encounter an inconvenient disruption or “hassle,” my wife Karen and I always remind ourselves that God might be using us to address a matter or the experience could be a good column item. While writing today’s column, I was interrupted by a visit from a local laborer who very recently said goodbye in order to take a factory job in Batangas City making wire harnesses for vehicles.

“Darwin” came to borrow P1,200 in order to get a medical check-up as required by the company he will be working for. It is no small amount for someone who lives hand to mouth on minimum wage, which explains why so many Filipinos in the provinces are practically preyed upon by job contractors for foreign and local companies to do menial work. First, they get into debt just to meet all the documentary and pre-employment requirements with no guarantee that they will be hired, then their salaries get all the deductions, even so-called “employment registration fee” of P100 imposed by the local government, then at the end of the day they pay for board and lodging because most factories are located at least an hour away.

The only reason guys like Darwin embrace the highly disadvantageous set-up is because he is guaranteed a job for five or just under six months. As good as a worker “Darwin” may be, it is almost certain he’ll be back in the barangay after six months doing manual labor because the labor contractors strictly follow “ENDO contractualization.”

All that of course is something that will require a revolution of laborers to put an end to. In the meantime, this disruption and divine intervention I suppose has led me to wonder: Should the local government or the DOH provide FREE medical check up for job applicants in support of job generation and reduce the cost or financial burden for Filipinos seeking jobs here or abroad? It is tragic that even before he or she can earn a living, they start off having to borrow money or go into debt.

Since every barangay is supposed to have a primary care facility or clinic and most towns and all cities presumably have a secondary even tertiary hospital, can’t the Universal Health Care Law or PhilHealth cover what falls under a medical exam? For the sake of our poor but job seeking kababayans, let’s all get together and push for this among members of Congress and the DOLE, so we can take away one burden that creates debt and shame from those dignified enough to look for jobs.

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When news stories came out about people violating rules on health protocols and mass gatherings, it seemed that everyone who had something to say on these matters were all quick to judge barangay captains or village officials of the areas of concern. The mayors, the media, the DILG, even Malacañang pointed their manicured fingers at the lowest LGU official in the totem pole. But something that caught my eye was when the chief of police (or was he a police precinct commander?) declared that “they” would investigate the barangay captain and would file the appropriate charges if needed.

I don’t know if I need to bring my knowledge of police roles up to date, but for the longest time many Filipinos have always assumed that in matters concerning peace and order as well as law enforcement (read as: enforcing the law) and intelligence monitoring, the police has the primary authority and responsibility. Barangay tanods and traffic enforcers have always been referred to as “force multipliers” that assist the police, report matters to the police and are not allowed to carry firearms. Given the fact that the police are present through “community precincts” based mostly in barangay centers, it is presumed that if anything is happening within the barangay, the police officers therein would be among the first to know.

What I’m driving at is that the police, in areas where violations on mass gatherings and health protocols occur, should also be among those to be investigated by the DILG and not the ones investigating the barangay captain for lapses or pointing blame. It has become too convenient for community cops to be allowed to wash their hands of such violations, since they also have no excuse not to know what’s going on in their area of responsibility.

Knowing that the Top Cop is a Tough Cop, I hope PNP chief Guillermo Eleazar would crack down on cops who spend more time inside air-conditioned precincts or fully tinted air-conditioned patrol cars parked in barangays or malls. I’m sorry to pound on cops, given their hard life we often referred to as “buwis buhay,” but it is also unfair when some of them conveniently blame others for something they could have proactively prevented.

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Like a broken record I once again call out to the IATF and the DILG/DOH to PLEASE come out with an official declaration or instruction that includes foreigners living in the Philippines to be included in the priority list for COVID-19 vaccination. I have interviewed DILG Usec. Epi Densing, Usec. Ma Rosario Vergeire and CabSec Karlo Nograles regarding the appeal of foreigners married to Filipinos and these officials have assured us over the last month and a half that something will be done about it.

Sadly, while many Filipinos are being vaccinated abroad, nothing official is being said about what the government plans to do. The foreign permanent residents and spouses are not asking to jump the line or be prioritized, all of them simply want to know if they will be included or should they leave the country just to be vaccinated.

The government also needs to clarify with the European Union if they will allow people vaccinated with China-made vaccines to enter, work or visit Europe or do they require Western approved vaccinations only.

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