Alarming, this is.
I am an advocate of migration (remittance is a potent source of much needed capital for investment and growth) but i am not oblivious to its many unfortunate consequences like brain drain, dependency of the left behind, promotion of consumerism and the breakdown of social institutions- foremost of which is the family: as reported in the above news link.
Serious matter. Legal mechanisms are truly needed to help the abandoned family members to trace the one who left them and maybe file a case for support or whatever but I believe a better solution is to help prevent abandonment.
Leaving home is one great challenge, what with all the cultural adjustments AND the loneliness of not being with the family. (My gosh, I've never known loneliness until I left home! Terrible, terrible!)
Many Filipinos leave the Philippines to find greener pastures abroad. Heroic deed. The primary purpose- if not in all cases then in most- is to provide for the family. (Do I need stats to support this claim? Hehe.)
If I had not gone abroad myself, I would be boggled how the reason for leaving would be forgotten by the one who left. But to be introduced to all things new is mystifying. The effect is amnestic to some and I can't blame them.
Different people have different ways of coping.
I think what we should do is to provide support to those who leave. Filipino communities abroad abound. There seems to be no part of the world where there is none. Making sure that migrants would never feel disoriented, discriminated against and desolate is primordial!
Truly, much can be gained from a phenomenon that's inevitably going to heap up. But not without costs. Focus shouldn't all be on the facilitation of remittances. Must be ready to pay for the care of the migrants and their families, too.
Migration should be enriching not only to the destination but more so for the sending country. The sending country can only make sure of that if it takes care of the people- not only the money sent.
No comments:
Post a Comment