Week 18 of the Regional Fellowship Program on Parliamentary Diplomacy (RFPPD) of the Parliamentary Institute of Cambodia (PIC) has deepened to other critical issues faced by the region involving preparedness of the ASEAN countries into the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), gender equality and the access to justice for migrant workers.
I have chosen the last topic for the reason that migrant workers are the unsung heroes of the Philippines. Their plight, especially those who belong to the domestic and unskilled jobs resonate and touch the core of Philippine society. The least that could be given to them is equality and justice. The government then has the constitutional mandate to act as the parens patria (Latin word meaning parent of the nation) and thus has the inherent responsibility to protect these people who cannot protect or care for themselves. Therefore, access to justice for these migrant workers is among the top of the Philippine government’s agenda,
How is the Philippines faring in this respect? The World Bank report in 2017 is worth knowing. Moreover, a draft Policy Options Brief on the status of the Philippine Migrant Workers’ Access to Justice is hereby prepared. It is not comprehensive but attempts to provide talking points in preparation for the RFPPD fellows’ upcoming mock summit.
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