House Speaker Martin Romualdez has hailed President Marcos' commitment to protect the rights and the dignity of the country’s so-called modern-day heroes, the overseas Filipino worker (OFW).

This, as Romualdez, the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) president, welcomed the set of reforms unveiled by the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) for the benefit of OFWs, particularly domestic helpers.

“Like other OFWs toiling in far-away lands, Filipino domestic workers perform work of equal value that deserves fair compensation. These reforms are not only to ensure that they can send more to their families back home, but to promote the dignity of work as members of the labor force,” Romualdez said.

The DMW said these measures include raising the monthly minimum wage of Filipino domestic helpers from USD$400 to USD$500, which will take effect 60 days after the issuance of the appropriate directive and be reflected in all employment contracts processed by the DMW.

Romualdez commended the reforms, and noted that they will not only allow Filipino household service workers to better support their families but also elevate the dignity of their work in the global labor force.

Additional safeguards announced by the DMW include annual DMW-funded medical check-ups for domestic workers, a mandatory “know your employer” video call before contract signing, and a digital monitoring system dubbed “Kamusta Kabayan” to allow proactive welfare checks.

Stricter housing standards for recruitment agencies and an enhanced whitelisting policy will likewise be enforced to ensure only compliant and ethical agencies are allowed to deploy domestic helpers abroad.

“These measures reflect our government’s genuine compassion for our OFWs and will help ensure that they are treated in a just, humane, and dignified manner by their employers,” the Speaker added.

Romualdez underscored that these reforms, backed by budgetary support under the Marcos administration, demonstrate the President’s clear priority for the welfare of OFWs.

For 2026, a P10.2 billion budget has been proposed for the DMW, including P1.2 billion for the “Agarang Kalinga at Saklolo para sa mga OFW na Nangangailangan (AKSYON) Fund” and P1.3 billion for the Emergency Repatriation Program.

Meanwhile, OWWA is set to receive P3.45 billion, of which P2.42 billion is earmarked for social protection and welfare programs for OFWs and their families.

“We in the House of Representatives will see to it that programs that will support and benefit OFWs and their families receive adequate budgetary support under the administration of President Marcos, who has consistently shown his genuine care and compassion for our OFWs. This is our commitment as public servants under a Bagong Pilipinas,” Romualdez said.