Labor agencies gearing up for new OFW department
The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) has welcomed the recent signing of a law creating a new government agency for migrant workers, adding that it is set to form a transition committee to prepare for its implementation.

POEA Administrator Bernard Olalia said the transition committee was tasked to come up with the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the newly-signed Department of Migrant Workers.
Under the law, Olalia said there will be a two-year transition period for the committee to set the agency's organizational structure and staffing patterns, as well as budget and resources for its offices.
"The formal organization of the department will start upon the approval of the 2023 General Appropriations Act kaya kinakailangang umpisahan na rin ang pag-create ng napakaraming opisina (that's why we should now start forming its offices)," Olalia explained.
According to Olalia, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), is also set to create its own transition committee as most of the agencies of the new department will be coming from them.
President Duterte last week signed into law the measure that will establish a new agency dedicated to address all concerns of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
It will be headed by a secretary, and to be assisted by four undersecretaries and six assistant secretaries.
"Mayroon nang matatawag na sariling bahay ang ating minamahal na mga OFWs (Our OFWs will now have an entirely new agency that will cater to their needs and concerns)," Olalia said.
The POEA chief also noted that the new department will provide efficient and effective delivery of services for OFWs across the country, even those in far-flung areas, as regional and provincial offices will also be created.
"Unlike the existing structure, very centralized po kasi ang functions at delivering of services ng POEA dahil limitado po ang ating resources at manpower. Dito sa bagong department ay magkakaroon ng service units, bureaus, and regional and provincial offices (the functions and the delivery of services of the POEA are very centralized due to limited resources and manpower. The new department will now have its own service units, bureaus, and regional and provincial offices)," Olalia added.
The establishment of the new government agency is expected to benefit around 2.2 million Filipinos working abroad based on the 2019 Survey on Overseas Filipinos released in 2020 by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).