Hello Migrante Alberta members and friends,
I hope all is well. This letter is an update on our Consular Office in Alberta campaign. Below is an outline of what we’ve done and the current outcome and status of that campaign:
– For 10 months (August 2013 to June 2014) We have been collecting signatures for our petition to have a consular office in Alberta. In Alberta we have collected approximately 7000 signatures.
– On June 2014 we had a postcard campaign. Hundreds of postcards were mailed by our members and individuals to the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).
– By the end of June, we sent the petition with all 7000 signatures to Philippine Congress through Congresswoman Luz Ilagan of Gabriela Women’s Party.
– On July 2014 we had an email barrage. We sent hundreds of letters to the 35 members of the Congressional Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs and to the 49 members of the Congressional Committee on Foreign Affairs as well as 3 senators that are sympathetic to our cause.
– On August the DFA hearings in Philippine Congress with the Committee of Appropriations on budget allocations finished in late August. Our supporters in Congress led by Gabriela Womens Party were able to push and include the opening of consular offices in this deliberations. According to them, our campaign was heard. The DFA said that there is a 99% chance that this will be pushed through.
– On September 22 – the office of Senator Grace Poe sent a letter addressed to the chairperson of Migrante Canada. The letter was confirming the lobbying that her office have done as well as a forwarded response of the DFA to her office (Attached are the letters).
– On October 7 – A response by the DFA Office of the Secretary to Congresswoman Luz Ilagan of Gabriela Womens Party on the House Bill that she authored. The House Bill No. 4971 otherwise known as “An Act Creating a Full Consular Office in Alberta, Canada and Providing for Funds Therefore” was created. (Attached is the letter)
This is really good news and a big victory for our community. Our hard work have paid off. CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL!
However, our campaign is not over until we actually see an office in Alberta. We need to continue to be vigilant and this should not turn into a “broken promise”. Especially now that the TFWs needed their assistance. We will be adjusting our message to continue the pressure and make sure that the Philippine government prioritize Alberta as the the situations of TFWs worsens.
Abot kamay na po ang tagumpay natin. Ituloy po natin ang selfie project, send your selfies to
Consular Campaign Facebook Page or
migrantealberta@gmail.com. Lets keep pressure from our community. The hard work of Migrante Alberta members, the members of the Coalition and our community supporters made this happen. The realization of this campaign is our victory and our community’s victory.
Mabuhay kayo…
Para Sa Migrante,
Marco Luciano
Pinoy Edmonton News 