Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Sec. Susan Ople on Tuesday, Sept. 20, discussed with the executives of the International Organization on Migration (IOM) the global impact of climate change on Filipino migrant workers.
Ople, together with her group of delegations, held a bilateral talk with IOM Director-General Antonio Vitorino in the United States.
During the meeting, Ople cited the need for more research and published articles on the impact of climate change on labor migration and for the betterment of migrant workers in the global arena.
Vitorino, for his part, said the IOM expects to tackle during the United Nations Climate Change Conference, or COP 27 in November, the issues of supporting countries that are vulnerable to the effects of climate change, including the Philippines.
He also commended the role of the Philippines in advocating for the 23 objectives of the UN Global Compact on Safe, Orderly, and Regular Migration.
In response, Secretary Ople vowed to support the initiatives and programs of IOM.
“The Philippines is sadly very familiar with the effects of climate change and how it results in the displacement of people,” said Ople.
“We are also aware of the need to enhance multi-sectoral, multi-agency, and multi-country partnerships to mitigate the negative effects of climate change on migrant workers and communities,” she added.
Ople was joined in the bilateral discussions by United Nations (UN) Permanent Representative Antonio Manuel Lagdameo, Sr., and Department of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Multilateral Affairs and International Economic Relations Carlos Sorreta.