PRESS RELEASE
July 23, 2026
Manila, July 22 — An online press conference was organized by Bayan International and Migrante International where migrant leaders from various global regions spoke not only about the deplorable conditions and situations in their host countries, but also registered their united stand with the Filipino People’s State of the Nation Address as the real state of the nation. In the Asia-Pacific region, where 1.6 million OFWs and Filipinos live and work, Roger Raymundo of Bayan Asia-Pacific spoke of the struggles of Filipino migrant workers under the Marcos Jr. regime.
In New Zealand, consular officials and the Philippine government abandoned more than 700 Filipino migrant construction workers who lost their jobs when the company they were working for collapsed, leaving the workers stranded and unemployed.
In South Korea, the severe and intense crackdown on migrant workers has affected thousands of undocumented Filipinos who have also become targets for arrested, detention and deportation. The workers receive little or no assistance and attention from the Philippine government while they are detained by the police and immigration.
In Thailand and Cambodia, scammers and illegal recruiters prey on Filipinos who enter these countries. These illegal recruiters based in the Philippines have not been punished. In Hong Kong, OFWs decry the unjust increase in contract verification fees recently implemented by the Migrant Workers Office in Hong Kong.
The US War against Iran has also led to increasing cost of living in host countries and in the Philippines worsening the economic hardships migrant workers are already facing. “Anumang pagtaas sa presyo ng produkto ng petrolyo ay may agad-agad na pagtaas sa presyo ng bilihin, kung kaya ang mga OFW ay napipilitang magtrabaho ng doble, kumayod ng doble para tustusan ang pangangailangan ng pamilya.” Raymundo stated.
In the Middle East, the US war of aggression on Iran and Lebanon continues to directly impact the safety, security and jobs of OFWs. Many have lost their jobs, made to go on forced or indefinite leave, suffer reduced wages and hours, loss of benefits, and forced to house-sit for employers who have evacuated. Thousands of seafarers remain stranded in the Strait of Hormuz. “Inutil ang gobyerno sa kanilang serbisyo para sa mga OFWs na apektado ng gera. Sa karanasan namin, hindi transparent ito, may mga consular officials na sinasabihan ang mga OFWs na wag sabihan ang ibang OFWs tungkol sa Aksyon Fund. Kapag hindi ka din OWWA member mas kaunti lang ang matatanggap mo na ayuda. Kahit walang gera, malubha pa din ang kalagayan ng mga OFWs dahil sa laganap ang mga kaso ng contract substitutions, mababang sahod, diskriminasyon at iba pang paglabag sa aming mga karapatan” described Laura, an OFW in UAE.
From the USA, June Culcul of Bayan USA shared how growing number of Filipinos in the US are fighting against the expansion of US militarism in the world and the US-backed counter-insurgency initiatives and programs of the Philippine government. She condemned the systematic practice of red tagging of Filipino American activist groups in the US who are critical of and fight back against the fascist policies of the Marcos regime that have also caused the recent death of two Filipino American activists in the Philippines.
Meanwhile in Canada, Apol Apuntar of Canada’s Tama Na! Coalition, a coalition formed to unite Filipinos in Canada in the fight against corruption declared that advancing the fight against government corruption is integral to realizing the aspirations of Filipinos for genuine development. Apuntar also shared about the recent visit of BBM to Canada to attract foreign investements for mining, clean energy and digital infrastructure and how his visit was greeted by strong protest actions by Filipinos in Canada. “We are speaking out because these investments will only mean plunder of our land and natural resources. Many Filipinos already struggle with high power costs and inadequate public services, our resources should first serve the needs of our people,” according to Apuntar.
Filipino migrants in Europe are also demanding an end to systematic government corruption, and accountability of the highest corrupt officials starting with the Marcoses and Dutertes. “Ang tunay na pagbabago ay nangangailangan ng pagwawakas sa sistemang naghihintulot sa korupsyon, political dynasties at kultura ng impunity. Ang burukrata kapitalismo, ang paggamit sa kapangyarihan ng estado para sa pansariling yaman at kapakinabangan, ay isa sa mga ugat ng paulit-ulit na pandarambong at pang-aapi sa mga mamamayang Pilipino. Hangga’t nananatili ang sistemang ito, patuloy na uusbong ang mga opisyal tulad ni Marcos Jr. at Sarah Duterte na inuuna ang sariling interes kaysa kapakanan ng bayan” according to Lean Jimenez, spokesperson of Bayan Europe
Closing the press conference, Andan Bonifacio of Bayan International declared that Filipinos overseas stand united with the Filipino people in the Philippines who are demanding for genuine systemic change. “As the crises continue to worsen, many Filipinos abroad have joined the progressive organizations in the movement to change the system, in spite of the red tagging and attacks against people’s organizations. Overseas Filipinos stand united with the resounding call of the Filipino people in the Philippines “Itakwil ang papet, pasista, korap at pahirap na rehimeng US-Marcos! Labanan ang imperyalistang gera at pandarambong!” Bonifacio declared. “We also also call for “Trabaho sa Pinas, Hindi sa Labas! Ibasura ang LEP at Pax Silica at lahat ng mga unequal economic, and military agreement!” Bonifacio asserted. Bonifacio announced that starting July 22 onwards, global protest actions will be held in many cities around the world as a demonstration of unity with the Filipino People’s SONA on July 27.
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