The role of social capital in the reintegration of returning Overseas Filipino Workers: The case of the City of Batangas, Philippines

• Main Author: Zamora, Ilyanna Xeandria D.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2021
• Subjects: Migrant labor > Philippines > Batangas City; Filipinos > Employment > Foreign countries; Political Science
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etdm_polsci/3
• Institution: De La Salle University

The Philippines' return and reintegration phase is not commendable despite the country's experience in international labor migration. However, this phase is significant considering that most Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) are temporary labor migrants, making return an inevitable stage of their migration lives. Concurrent with the return is the aspect of reintegration as a triumphant return is based on sustainable reintegration. The Philippines, as one of the leading migrant-sending countries in the world, is dependent on the financial remittances being delivered by OFWs to their community, thereby overlooking the significant role played by social remittances such as social capital, especially in reintegration. In reintegration, most return migrants rely on the support provided not only by the government but, most importantly, by their family, friends, and groups that they belong to. Through its elements of social networks, trust, and reciprocity, the research examines how social capital can improve the reintegration programs of Batangas Province and its capital, Batangas City, through social capital's incorporation in the local and provincial development plans of Batangas. In addition, this study highlights how social capital, through the return migrants' bonding, bridging, and linking social networks and the trust and reciprocity that arise between them can help in their sustainable reintegration. The research utilized a qualitative research design using the case study approach. The data was gathered through relevant documents, interviews, and surveys. The research, therefore, finds that social capital facilitated the sustainable reintegration of return migrants. First, the traces of the elements of social capital such as social networks, trust, and reciprocity can be found in the Comprehensive Development Plan and Local Development and Investment Plan of Batangas City and in the Provincial Development and Physical Framework Plan of Batangas Province. Second, it was established that trust and reciprocity exist between the Batangueño return migrants and their bonding, bridging, and linking social networks. Third, these three types of networks supplement and reinforce each other, contributing to the sustainable reintegration of return migrants.