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The other face of migration: Children and families left behind

Article · January 2003

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Maruja M. B. Asis Fabio Baggio

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 WORKSHOP
Taking the lead: successful partnership initiatives
for the delivery of settlement services

The other face of migration: Children and families left behind

Maruja M.B. Asis - Fabio Baggio

0. Introduction

This workshop aims to present successful models of coordinated efforts between GOs, NGOs and other
organizations of the civil society to promote the interest and welfare of migrants. While this kind of joint
programs are quite common in the societies of arrival, they are rare in the countries of origin. Probable
causes of this peculiar phenomenon could be the lack of resources (in the case of developing countries), the
difficulty of dialogue between possible partners (government and NGOs) and little awareness of what can
be done. This situation further confirms that families left behind represent a neglected sector of migration
studies and programs, which we like to call “the other face of migration”.

The case of the Philippines could be cited as an exception, where GOs, NGOs and organizations of the civil
society are normally interacting to promote the welfare of the migrants and their families. A specific GO,
that is the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), was established in 1977 - and restructured
in 1987 - with the mandate to provide welfare assistance to overseas Filipino workers and their dependents.
Since then, many NGOs and other organizations of the civil society have been cooperating with OWWA in
specific projects, particularly in reintegration programs, and recently, in undertaking pre-departure
orientation seminars (PDOS). In March 2003, a Memorandum of Agreement was signed between OWWA
and the Episcopal Commission of Migrants and Itinerant People (ECMI). The MOA reaffirmed the shared
commitment to enhance services and assistance to better promote the welfare of overseas Filipino workers’
families. One of the visible fruits of this partnership was to support the proposal of the Scalabrini Migration
Center to conduct a nation-wide study on children and families left behind.

1. Background of the study

The perceived social costs of migration have been always been part of the reasons why various sectors of
Filipino society are ambivalent about overseas employment. Aside from the myriad problems migrants
encounter abroad, concerns over the stability of families have received much attention. In the 1970s, when
male migrants dominated labor migration, the absence of fathers was seen as weakening Filipino families.
In the 1980s, women became part of labor migration. As the feminization of migration persisted, the
anxieties magnified because mothers, who are considered as the “light of the home,” are not around for
their families. As the foundation of Philippine society, there are fears that threats to the family redound to
threats to the nation’s social fabric as a whole.

Several studies have attempted to examine the changes wrought by overseas migration on Filipino families.
Among the aspects examined are: impacts of male migration on the wives left behind (e.g., Arcinas and
Bautista, 1992; Go and Postrado, 1986), impacts of wives’ migration on husbands and children (e.g.,
Pingol, 2001; Asis, Yeoh and Huang, 2002), parental absence and children left behind (e.g., Cruz, 1987;
Battistella and Conaco, 1996), negotiating family ties (Asis, 2003; Asis, Yeoh and Huang, 2002), and
economic impacts and use of remittances (e.g., Arcinas and Bautista, 1992; Go and Postrado, 1986). The

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economic impacts of migration on families generally converge in pointing out that on the whole, and in the
short-run at least, migration has enabled families to experience economic improvement. Better housing,
funds for the education of children or family members, or capital to start a business are the usual indicators
of migrant families’ material improvement. The non-material impacts are more variable and are more
difficult to delineate. The difficulty of mapping out non-material consequences and methodological
limitations – e.g., cross-sectional design, limited sampling, or the lack of comparison with non-migrant
families – should be considered in the interpretation of the findings of extant studies.

Findings from the 1996’s study on grade school children offer a clearer picture of the effects of parental
absence on the situation of children. The study was clear about the parameters it wanted to measure
(physical development, social-psychological indicators, spiritual formation). Moreover, the design took
account of different forms of parental absence: father-absent, mother-absent and both parents-absent. Most
of all, it offered a comparison of children from migrant families vis-à-vis children whose parents are non-
migrants. Among others, the study confirmed that the children left behind experience loneliness and
abandonment, but at the same time they also understand their parents’ departure. The study found that the
children of migrant parents lagged behind in school performance compared to children with both parents
present. Children left behind also tended to be less socially adjusted than children whose parents were both
present. In terms of spiritual and moral formation, the study suggested that the absence of parents did not
have a negative impact. In all three indicators, however, the mothers’ absence was associated with more
difficulties for the children left behind. On the whole, the study found that in the absence of parents, the
extended family has come to fill an important void in the caring and rearing of children (Battistella and
Conaco, 1996).

However, the sample was limited to respondents in Luzon and there was not much attention given to the
situation of the children of sea-based migrant workers. Most of the existing studies on the family impacts
of migration focus on land-based workers. Family issues are perhaps even more salient for sea-based
workers as seafaring as an occupation entails separation from the family. Aside from their overseas
assignment, requirements for further training and refresher courses as well as the long wait in Manila for
their next assignments have added to the long-term separation of seafarers from their families. Being a
male-dominated occupation, the inclusion of the children of seafarers will help clarify the impacts of
fathers’ absence and mothers’ absence on their children.

The 2003 study aims to expand the study to a nationwide study based on a sound sampling design that will
allow for generalizations. Also, as mentioned above, the inclusion of the children of seafarers is intended to
provide more information on this important migrant sector. Another valued added of the proposed study
vis-à-vis the 1996 is the opportunity to examine the impacts of communications technology on family
relationships, especially those between migrant parents and their children. Since 1996, international calls
have become cheaper, and access to or ownership of mobiles phones has expanded, thereby facilitating
communication between family members. The 2003 study can serve as a baseline for a panel or
longitudinal study on migration and the family.

Findings from the proposed research are expected to fine-tune programs and services offered to migrants
and their families, including children. A better understanding of the needs, vulnerabilities as well as
resilience of families in the face of migration will aid in the development and implementation of more
responsive policies and programs. Empowered and caring families are an important foundation in this age
of migration.

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2. Project Description

The research project involves a nationwide survey of children of migrants (both land-based and sea-based).
The study is based on a sampling design to generate valid and generalizable findings.

The 2003 study is a survey of school-age children (grades 4-6) from various categories of migrant families
– father-absent (both land-based and sea-based), mother-absent, both parents absent – as well as school-age
children of non-migrant parents as a comparison group. The survey have a minimum sample of 1,600.

Other than the survey involving children respondents, additional information will be gathered from
adolescent children, caregivers, pastoral workers and community workers involved with migrant families
through focus group discussions. Records such as school records or cases reported to government agencies
will also be examined.

3. Objectives

The 2003 study is part of efforts to understand the social consequences of migration, particularly on
families. Although there are various policies and programs for the migrant sector, extending such initiatives
to the families of migrants – and most especially to children – needs improvement. More sensitivity to the
needs of children is in order, particularly because children’s voices are often not heard. The overall
objective of the study is to assess the impact of parental separation on the well-being of the children left
behind.

The specific objectives of the 2003 study are:

• To determine children’s conceptions and perceptions of overseas migration.
• To examine the impacts of the absence of parents on selected aspects of the children’s well-being
(physical development, health, academic performance, values, social/emotional well-being, spiritual
formation).
• To identify the factors which help children cope with the difficulties posed by migration.

The results of the study are expected to provide guidelines in the development of policies and programs to
strengthen families, and in particular, to provide much-needed attention and support to the well-being of
children. Aside from migrants and their families, the study’s findings also have implications for the work
of other socialization agents: teachers, counselors, pastoral workers, NGO workers, and community agents.
The study’s findings can also be transformed into materials for migration education.

4. Activities and Time Frame

The research project will be completed by January-February 2004. The target is to present the findings in
March 2004, in time for the month-long commemoration of the contributions of migrant workers to
Philippine society.

The study was designed by the Scalabrini Migration Center (SMC), in consultation with the Overseas
Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), Episcopal Commission for Migrants and Itinerant People
(ECMI), and Apostleship of the Sea - Manila (AOS). The technical aspects of the study (design of the
study, sampling, construction of instruments), interviewers’ training, data collection, data processing and
analysis are SMC’s responsibility.

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SMC has had extensive experience in conducting migration studies in the Philippines and in the region. The
1996’s study on children was undertaken by SMC. The cooperation between SMC, OWWA, ECMI and
AOS is envisioned to strengthen the links between research and effective policy-making to improve the
lives of migrants and their families.

5. Status of the project

The Memorandum of Agreement on the study was signed by the partner agencies in April 2003
and the project started immediately. Other preparatory activities were undertaken by SMC as early
as February 2003. Data collection activities are now underway.

5.1. FGDs in the sampled provinces and areas (plus other areas)
Starting from August, eighteen focus group discussions have already been conducted, according to
a schedule, which includes:
• Eleven FGDs with adolescent children left behind
• Eight FGDs with caregivers left behind (wives, husbands, or other family caregivers)
• Four FGDs with community workers and pastoral workers involved with OFW families.
The FGDs are expected to be completed by mid-October 2003.

5.2. Nationwide survey

The survey is being conducted in the following sampled sites:
• Luzon: Metro Manila (Manila and Taguig), Bulacan (Angai and Hagonoy), Cavite (Imus
and Cavite City), Laguna (Los Baños and San Pedro)
• Visayas: Negros Occidental (Bacolod City and Binalbagan), Cebu (Cebu City and Liloan)
• Mindanao: Davao del Sur (Davao City and Digos City)

In the survey, 1,600 children in grades 4-6 (mostly, 10-12 year olds) will be interviewed,
according to five different categories:
• Children without migrant parents;
• Children whose mothers are migrants;
• Children whose fathers are migrants (land-based);
• Children whose fathers are migrants (seafarers);
• Children whose both parents are migrants.

At the moment, the survey component is focused on pre-screening activities – this involves listing
children enrolled in grades 4-6 in the sampled schools and creating a masterlist of children in the
five categories described above. This masterlist will serve as a sampling frame in selecting the
respondents for the face-to-face interviews. We aim to complete the interviews by November. The
study is expected to be completed in March 2004.

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6. Partial assessment of the partnership

Even if we are only at the beginning of the project and it would be untimely to try to assess the
dynamic of the partnership involved in the study, there are some partial considerations, which can
be done in this sense.

6.1. Benefits and advantages

The undertaking of the 2003 can be producing some benefits and advantages:
• Useful sharing of resources among the partners;
• Possibility of a learning experience;
• Potential to gear findings to sensitize policymaking and program formulation;
• Potential to influence policymaking and program formulation in two important institutions,
the government and the Church, to promote the welfare of migrants and their families.

6.2. Difficulties in collaborating

As it was anticipated since the beginning, some difficulties in collaborating with partner agencies
have come to the fore:
• We are investing much time in coordination, which is normally very process-intensive;
many different schedules have to be harmonized to plan a simple meeting. Oftentimes this
process causes delay
• We have to adjust to a different work culture. In this sense, the lack of punctuality, lack of
continuity from one meeting to the next meeting, and lack of preparation in attending
meetings are causing delay.
• We often have to thresh out the meaning of partnership. Some government accounting
procedures seem to be geared towards commissioned researchers, not collaborators. We are
wondering if there will be some transfer of research knowledge to the partner agencies,
since SMC is working with program people, not researchers, representing the partners.
• There is a lack of appreciation of the research culture, mostly on the part of the GO
involved in the project. Nevertheless, on the part of the researchers, there is a need to
understand better the workings of the bureaucracy.

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 REFERENCES

ARCINAS FE – BAUTISTA MA. CYNTHIA R., The Philippines, in The Impact of Labour Migration in
Households: A Comparative Study in Seven Asian Countries, Edited by G. Gunatilleke, Tokyo 1992

ASIS MARUJA M.B., International Migration and Families in Asia, in Population, Settlement and
Citizenship Issues, Edited by R. Indale, C. Hawksley and S. Castles, Cheltenham 2003, pp. 99-117

ASIS MARUJA M.B. - YEOH BRENDA S.A. – HUANG SHIRLENA, When the Light of the Home is Abroad:
Female Migration and the Filipino Families, paper presented at the 2002 INSSP Regional Conference on
Southeast Asia’s Population in a Changing Context, Bangkok, 10-13 June 2002

GO STELLA – POSTRADO LETICIA T., Filipino Overseas Contract Workers: Their Families and
Communities, in Asian Labor Migration: Pipeline to the Middle East, Edited by F. Arnold and Nasra Shah,
Boulder 1986, pp. 125-144

PINGOL ALICIA, Remarking Masculinities, Quezon City 2001

CRUZ VICTORIA PAZ, Seasonal orphans and solo parents the impact of overseas migration, Scalabrini
Migration Center, CBCP Commission on Migration and Tourism, Manila 1987

BATTISTELLA GRAZIANO - GASTARDO-CONACO MARIA CECILIA, Impact of labor migration on the

children left behind, CBCP, Manila 1996

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