Fact Finding Mission

(L) John Baptis welcoming the team. (R) The Fact Finding Mission Team.

Group photo of FFM Team and the Indonesian migrants.

Sandakan : A fact finding mission (FFM) on migrant workers was conducted by Tenaganita and 4 representatives of the Asia Pacific Mission for Migrants (APMM) on Sunday 14th and Monday 15th June 2009. The exercise was coordinated and facilitated by the St Mary’s Cathedral Parish Pastoral Council through the good office of the Parish.

The migrants deeply engaged in the dialogue session.

On the 14th June, the FFM team met the Indonesian migrant workers at St Mark’s Church, Mile 12 Labuk Road. About 100 migrants turned up to participate in the dialogue session chaired by Steven Ng, the program officer of Tenaganita, an organization that works with migrant workers, women and children. John Baptis, the Chairman of the Cathedral Parish Pastoral Council extended his appreciation to the team and the Indonesian lay faithful for responding to the event. The session, according to John would be very much beneficial to both parties with the migrants pouring out their grievances and the NGOs making their voices heard by the authorities.

Courtesy call to Bishop Julius
(L-R) Francis Tan, Steven Ng, Roy Anunciacion, Bishop Julius,
Hon. Luzvimninda C Ilagan, Antonio Salcedo, Rey Asis.

On the following day Monday 15th June 2009, the team which also includes Congresswoman Honorable Luzviminda C Ilagan of Davao City paid a courtesy call to Bishop Julius Dusin Gitom DD at the latter’s office. They exchanged views on issues concerning current development of migrant workers and how the Church view the situation as well as contemplating ways to reach out to them.

(L) Rey, a team member addressing the group. (R) Phillip Mosinoh, PPC rep. welcoming the Filipino Group.

(L) Group Sharing with Hon. Luzviminda. (R) Group sharing with Rey.

The FFM proceeded to the Cathedral Parish Hall to meet the Filipino migrants. On hand to receive the team were Winnie Khoo and Phillip Mosinoh, Secretary and Committee member of the Parish Pastoral Council respectively. About 40 Filipinos and pastors from the other Churches attended the said fact finding mission.

According to Steven Ng, the two day mission was enriching and had provided them the necessary data and statistic to work on their strategies. The issues were on living condition of the workers, access to education and comprehensive health care as well as the general welfare of the migrants.


By DS