Website launched to counter effects of ‘brain drain’

By RAINIER ALLAN RONDA - The Philippine Star

A website has been launched to address the effects of the "brain drain" caused by the exodus of skilled Filipino workers for higher paying jobs overseas.

The website will provide an "online forum" where overseas Filipinos workers (OFW) can share their expertise with their countrymen in the Philippines.

The Ayala Foundation, the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP), and communications firm EON, recently announced the launching of the OneFilipino.net, which they envisioned to become the primary website to be visited by OFWs where they can interact with Filipinos in the country regarding their insights and expertise gained in foreign shores.

The website will feature four chat rooms namely Creative Services and Industries, Off–shoring and Outsourcing Services, Medical and Wellness Services, and Retirement and Education.

Guillermo "Bill" Luz, Ayala Foundation executive director, said that the interaction between skilled overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and Filipino professionals, entrepreneurs and experts would result to great business ideas that would generate entrepreneurial activity and employment here.

"What we are looking for is the exchange of ideas that will stimulate entrepreneurial activity here in the country and will in turn generate employment for our skilled workers here," Luz said.

Henry Schumacher, executive vice president of the ECCP, said that the group wants to generate business activity and employment.

"What we intend is that lots of jobs are generated. We would like to see people staying here rather than being exported. What we would like to see are jobs coming into the country," Schumacher said in the launching ceremonies early last month.