Bello hopes POEA, OWWA will not be abolished with the creation of the Department of OFWs


Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III on Tuesday expressed hope that the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration will not be abolished when a separate agency for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) is established.

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III (ROBINSON NIÑAL JR. / PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)

In a radio interview, Bello said he is hoping that POEA and OWWA will become attached agencies of the Department of OFWs.

"I just hope, if it is possible, that these agencies be included in the Department of OFW as attached agencies," he said.

The labor chief also reiterated his support for the establishment of a Department for OFWs.

"We support what the President said that there should be a department that will focus on the needs, welfare, protection of OFWs," said Bello.

"We have supported from the beginning the creation of a department fully dedicated to OFWs," he added.

Bello also believes that the plan of the President to form an agency for seafarers can also be an attached agency of the Department for OFWs.

"Maybe they can also be included in the Department for OFWs because we have two kinds of OFWs, land based and sea based. It can be an attached agency of the Department for OFWs.

President Duterte on Tuesday asked Congress to hasten the passage of a bill creating a department for migrant Filipino workers. He also disclosed plans for a new maritime agency.