Remittances to the Philippines
A man plants rice seedlings in a paddy in Santa Barbara, Philippines, where one in 10 residents is an overseas worker. Remittances from such workers have transformed the farming town northwest of Manila into a community with vastly improved infrastructure and enabled sharecroppers to purchase the farms where they once worked as laborers. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
A mechanized tiller is used to plow a paddy in Santa Barbara, a farm town northwest of Manila. Funds from relatives working abroad have enabled residents to buy land and modern conveniences. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
In the Philippine town of Santa Barbara, residents who work abroad often have to leave their children behind for long periods in the care of relatives or friends. The caretakers may not provide adequate supervision, says Tony Sarmiento, a Santa Barbara city official. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
Men gather outside a community hall on the outskirts of Santa Barbara, whose overseas workers have contributed to the Philippine town’s development. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
Motorcyclists rush past a public market in Santa Barbara that was built with remittances from the one in 10 of the Philippine town’s residents who work abroad. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)