MANILA, Philippines – Overseas Filipino workers (OFW) are
often called modern day heroes by the motherland because they are
willing to risk it all to support their families back home. The
remittances they yield strengthen the economy, provides for the
government spendings, and other social assistance.
Data from the Philippine POEA
(Philippine overseas Employment Administration) show that OFWs with
land-based jobs total 1,435,166, while those with sea-based occupation
total 366,865.
total 366,865.
Saudi Arabia not only ranked as the country with the most land-based OFWs hired, but it also was where most remittances came from, totaling $1.72 billion. The total included those remitted by sea-based workes.
Next on the list was the United Arab Emirates with a land-based OFW population of 259,546 and total land based remittances of $942 million.
In terms of sea-based remittances, Singapore contributed $208.52 million.
Below is a table showing the 10 countries where most OFWs are deployed and the amount they remitted to the Philippines in thousands US dollars in 2012:
In terms of sea-based remittances, Singapore contributed $208.52 million.
Below is a table showing the 10 countries where most OFWs are deployed and the amount they remitted to the Philippines in thousands US dollars in 2012:
| Location | 2012 Land-based Population (New Hires and Rehires) | 2012 (Land-based OFW Remittances in Thousand U.S. Dollars) | 2012 (Sea-based OFW Remittances in Thousand U.S. Dollars) | Total Remittances |
| Saudi Arabia | 330, 040 | 1, 724, 663 | 3, 930 | 1, 728, 593 |
| United Arab Emirates | 259, 546 | 942, 301 | 18, 671 | 960, 972 |
| Singapore | 172, 690 | 656, 983 | 208, 521 | 865, 504 |
| Hong Kong | 131, 680 | 322, 453 | 97, 754 | 420, 207 |
| Qatar | 104, 622 | 321, 443 | 132 | 321, 443 |
| Kuwait | 75, 286 | 154, 289 | 2, 832 | 157, 121 |
| Taiwan | 41, 492 | 165, 292 | 2, 687 | 167, 979 |
| Malaysia | 38, 407 | 142, 830 | 22, 784 | 165, 614 |
| Italy | 25, 261 | 393, 869 | 33, 423 | 427, 292 |
| Bahrain | 22, 271 | 166, 596 | 16 | 166, 612 |
Note: POEA data only accounts for land-based workers
Bahrain, with a land-based OFW population of 22,271,
accounted for a total of $166.61 million in remittances. This was higher
than Malaysia’s $165.61 million and Kuwait’s $157.12 million, although
these two countries had higher OFW population.
Italy, which had the 9th biggest population of OFWs
(25,261), sent remittances totalling $ 427.29 million, higher than Hong
Kong's $322.45 million when it had the 3rd highest OFW population.
– Research by Loren Bustos/Rappler.com
Sources: Philippine Overseas Employment Agency (POEA) and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP)
