National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) acting Secretary Karl Chua on Thursday said he is open to proposals on the creation of a department for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs).
During the Senate's hearing on their proposed budget for 2021, Chua recalled that the NEDA, under the leadership of former socioeconomic planning secretary Ernesto Pernia, had opposed the proposition on the belief that it "will not be beneficial or the answer to the concerns raised" by OFWs.
"However, I have begun to review this again and personally, there are many trade-offs when we create new departments especially if the mandates are being done by other offices. But given the developments, the COVID, the need to look after millions of OFWs, I am actually more open to it," Chua told senators.
He said he has asked his team to review the proposal, particularly the possible inclusion of a "time period whether we can evaluate every few years whether such a department is actually needed."
"So my stand right now is I'm open to it but I think there are some provisions that we can help you further improve," he said.
Senator Joel Villanueva, chairman of the Senate labor committee and one of the vice chairpersons of the finance committee, mentioned the issue as he again sought for clarification on the government's policy toward OFWs.
He said he is ready to start discussions on the measure, but fears that it would end up being vetoed due to objections from Cabinet members.
The Presidential Legislative Liaison Office had already forwarded to the Senate a copy of the executive department's proposal for the chamber's approval, Villanueva said.
Last year, also during the Senate's budget hearing, Pernia had told lawmakers that the proposed agency for OFWs was not among the priorities of the Duterte administration. A joint statement from the economic managers also stated that they were not keen on creating new government corporations or departments due to budget constraints.
In another hearing on September 17, 2019, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello then said he was maintaining "a position of neutrality" on the matter even as he welcomed the intention to have a government agency that would focus on the welfare and protection of OFWs.
Last July 29, however, Labor Undersecretary Joji Aragon said Bello is now supportive of the measure.
"There are already certain factors that are in play, for example, COVID will probably change a lot of priorities," Chua, for his part, said on Thursday.
Some senators had raised concern that creating a separate department for OFWs would promote the migration of Filipinos instead of encouraging them to stay and work in the Philippines through better job opportunities.