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| artwork by Boy Dominguez |
MANILA,
March 9, 2014— A top Philippine churchman said the issue on “forced
migration” and human trafficking will not go away unless the economics
of it will be addressed.
On National Migrant’s Sunday, Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal
Tagle talked about the causes of migration and labor exploitation:
poverty.
In his homily at the Archdiocesan Shrine of Nuestra Señora de Guia in
Ermita, Manila, he said the lack of opportunities in the country forced
many Filipinos to work abroad.
And sadly, he said, desperate conditions drive many Filipinos to
leave the country, sometimes by any means possible, which makes them
more vulnerable to exploitation.
“I hope this serves as a call to the government and the private
sector… if only there are opportunities here, many Filipinos would
prefer staying here with their families,” Tagle said.
Freedom of movement and residence is the right of every human person,
he said, but there are also situations that forced them to do so and
tear families apart.
According to him, it is not all dysfunctional issues that split
families—it is also triggered by “love”, as they make sacrifices to
provide for the needs of their families.
“In the Church, that is one part with reservations—forced migration
because of poverty and the consequence is couples separate physically,”
Tagle said.
“Other couples separate because of misunderstanding but many
Filipinos too are separated from their family physically out of love – a
sacrifice of being away to provide for their needs,” he added.
The cardinal also lamented that some Filipino women are forced into mail-order marriage as an escape from poverty.
“Human trafficking and slavery are also there,” he added.
Tagle is a member of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant Peoples.
He then called on Filipinos abroad to strive to be known as good
people. “Wherever we go, let’s show the best of Filipino and the best of
a Christian.” (CBCPNews)
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