Earlier this week, some overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) expressed their support for the “zero remittance week” campaign, which backs calls for former President Rodrigo Duterte to be sent home to the Philippines.
The "zero remittance week" comes as a protest against the former president's arrest concerning charges for his war on drugs. Some OFWs urged Filipinos abroad to hold the said protest from March 28 to April 4. This initiative has stirred conversation from various people, from posts online, to economists, citing that it will cause more harm than its initial goal.
Despite this, Kabayan Partylist Rep. Ron Salo stated they have not heard any reports of its implementation. In an exclusive interview at Isyung Pambayan on Sunday, March 30, the former said it may have just been a way for the group to share their sentiments about the former president’s arrest.
“So far, wala pa naman po kaming balita na na-implement po yung ganyang panawagan. Siguro, yung mga kababayan din po natin, isang expression lang po siguro ‘yon. Part ng free speech po nila, [ay] yung ineexpress nila yung kanilang sentimyento,” he said.
However, he also suggested that the group may have realized that once they push through with the “zero remittance week,” the first people who will be affected are their families.
“Isa [na] po ‘yan siguro sa kanilang pinag-isipan. Pero I suppose, napag-isipan din po nilang maigi kasi kagaya po ng binabanggit natin, [na] kapag nagkaroon ng zero remittance, ang unang maaapektuhan naman po niyan ay yung pamilya po nila na pinapadalahan po nila,” he said.
“The first “victim” kapag magkakaroon ng ganyang panawagan o kaya’y aksyon, ay yung pamilya po nila na umaasa po dito sa Pilipinas,” he added.
Although no reports are monitored yet about the implementation of the zero-remittance week, Salo assured they will double-check it with the financial institutions like the Banko Sentral, to find out if it has already had an effect or dip in remittances.
Amid all the conversations at play, Salo asked those who are planning to participate to remain calm and think about the possible consequences of their actions.
“Panawagan din po natin ‘yan na maging mahinahon po tayo. Of course, naiintindihan po talaga natin yung sentimyento nila. Ipinapahayag lang naman po nila yung kanilang sentimyento. But at the same time, yung kanilang sentimyento po, yung kanilang expression ng kanilang pagnanais [at] mga aksyon–‘yun po yung kailangan din nilang pag-isipan ng maigi,” he expressed.
However, the lawmaker said the effect would still highly depend on which countries the migrant workers are located in and how many of them would participate.
