MANILA, Philippines – APOI party-list is challenged by the recent Pulse Asia survey that shows 7 out of 10 Filipinos are unaware about the party-list. The 51 percent of people who knows about party-list come from the National Capital Region.

“In our own efforts, we try to inform the voting public of their rights to vote for a party-list that can very well represent their sector. It is challenging to know that after 12 years of the constitutional provision for party-list representation, still, many Filipinos are not very much informed about it.” APOI party-list said.

The Pulse Asia survey revealed that the level of awareness of Filipinos on party-list hit the lowest compared to previous results, when almost 6 out of 10 people are aware of party-list in 2007.

MANILA, Philippines – APOI party-list is most likely to win a seat in Congress according to the recent Pulse Asia survey.

Some 1,800 respondents from Metro Manila, Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao participated in the survey conducted between January 22 to 26.

The survey shows that if elections were to be done during those times, APOI party-list is included in the top 34 party-list vying for 57 seats in Congress.

“It is a good news that APOI is supported, considering that we haven’t engaged in any campaign sorties yet. However, we cannot just sit down and expect a seat in Congress to be handed to us. Nevertheless, this is still great news for us and our supporters.” APOI former nominee and member Mel Rosales said.

Rosales added that the survey result is a good indication for the millions of OFWs and thier families since a possible seat in Congress would translate a more focused party-list advocating primarily on the plights of overseas Filipinos and their families.

"It is a great responsibility knowing the real condition of our modern-day heroes. And it would be a privilege if APOI Party-list will be able to represent them in Congress and to serve the sector, if given the chance that the party-list win in the election." Rosales continued.

MANILA, PHILIPPINES - Migrant Filipino workers may find hope in the legislators, before their terms end,  in a move by the Senate to adopt the bicameral conference committee report on the amendment of Republic Act 8042, otherwise known as the Migrant Workers Act of 1995.

The move by the Senate on Monday night to consolidate Senate Bill 3286 and House Bill 5649 aims to address counter measure programs of the government preventing illegal recruitment and deployment of Filipino migrant workers.

The bill expanded the scope of illegal recruitment, including the reprocessing workers through a job order that pertains to non-existent work, work different from the actual overseas work, or work with a different employer whether registered or not with the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, generally known now as "contract substitution."

Akbay PInoy OFW (APOI), a Filipino migrant-based party-list, expressed optimism on the move by the Senate in addressing concerns of an estimated 8 to 10 million migrants. The party-list believes that the counter measure will lessen the risks of by millions of FIlipinos wanting to work abroad.

MANILA, PHILIPPINES - The Commission on Elections accredited 144 party-list to particieppate in the May 2010 polls. APOI Party-list is included in the roster at number 36.

"This is a step forward for the party-list, likewise for OFWs, their families and the nation as a whole." said Akbay Pinoy OFW Inc Party-list.

APOI, a party-list pushing for the plight OFWs, expects that the millions of migrant workers and their families to participate in the May 2010 election. The party-list believes that it is high-time that migrant workers should be represented in the Congress.

"Accreditation is just one thing... actual voting is another thing." APOI said.