Balanga Bishop Ruperto C. Santos, vice chairman of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines-Episcopal Commission on Migrant Workers and Itinerant People, lauded the creation of the Department of Migrant Workers.
The Church leader cited the timely assistance and help that the department can provide to the country’s overseas Filipino workers.
“The creation of the Department of Migrant Workers is a very necessary and timely Christmas gift for our migrant workers and seafarers. It is a work of compassion and care for their welfare,” said Bishop Santos over Radio Veritas.
President Duterte signed the creation of the department to assist and protect the country’s OFWs on December 30, 2021.
“With the creation of the department, the rights of our migrant workers will be protected,” Santos said. The necessary documents needed by our OFWs for their immediate concerns overseas will be processed faster with the setting up of this department, he added.
Under the law, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration will now be known as the Department of Migrant Workers that will include the National Reintegration Center of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), the Philippine overseas labor offices under the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), the International Labor Affairs Bureau, National Maritime Polytechnic, Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs of the Department of Foreign Affairs, International Social Services Office of the Department of Social Welfare and Development and the Commission on Filipino Overseas which is under the Office of the President.
Bishop Santos assured the government of the Church’s support and cooperation to promote the welfare of the more than 10 million overseas Filipino workers.