The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) continues to coordinate with the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) as the latter started assuming some of its roles following its establishment. DFA Secretary Enrique Manalo on Tuesday hosted a working luncheon at the agency's headquarters for DMW Sec. Susan Ople and other department's high-level officials as the DFA started transitioning its Assistance to Nationals (ATN) program to DMW. According to DFA, Manalo and Ople both engaged in broad-ranging discussions on the transition of ATN functions to DMW. These included the training of DMW personnel; the exchange of information on ATN processes; organization development; and the continued close cooperation between Philippine embassies, consulates, and Migrants Workers Offices (MWOs) overseas under the One Country Team Approach. Under Republic Act No. 11641, the DMW will now provide ATN services to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) with MWOs. But the DFA will still continue providing such services to Filipinos who are not migrant workers as well as Filipinos in countries or areas without resident MWOs. The DFA said the luncheon concluded with Manalo's affirmation that both agencies "are partners in the Third Pillar of the Philippine Foreign Policy, which is the protection of the rights and promotion of the welfare and interest of overseas Filipinos." "Secretary Ople reiterated her appreciation for the meeting between high-level officials of the DFA and DMW and expressed the hope that both agencies could strengthen coordination at working level and address common concerns as they arise," DFA added.