House Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs Chairperson and AGIMAT Party-list Rep. Bryan Revilla couldn't help but recall on Sunday, June 7 some words of wisdom from his grandfather, the late senator Ramon Revilla Sr. as he addressed overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

Speaking at the opening program of the OFW Global Summit 2026, Rep. Revilla shared a core lesson that had been passed down through generations in their family.

"It is not enough that the Filipinos should be served. But the Filipinos should be served well," the congressman said, quoting his grandfather who was a senator from 1992 to 2004.

"That is what I firmly believe and I promise to all of our fellow citizens, especially to our modern heroes, the OFWs," Rep. Revilla stated. He reckoned that labor governance must always prioritize human dignity, rights, and top-tier public service.

"Dahil ang laban para sa OFW ay hindi lamang usapin ng trabaho o ekonomiya; usapin ito ng dangal, karapatan, at pagkatao ng bawat Pilipino saan mang sulok sila ng mundo," said the keynote speaker during the summit.

(Because the fight for overseas Filipino workers is not merely about jobs or the economy; it is about dignity, rights, and the humanity of every Filipino, wherever they may be in the world.)

Ex-senator Revilla, an actor who shot to fame in the 1970s as the "Hari ng Agimat (King of Amulets)", died on June 26, 2020 at the age pf 93.

Held at the Quezon City Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (M.I.C.E.) Center, the summit coincided with the nationwide observance of the 31st anniversary of the enactment of the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act, on Republic Act No. 8042.

It was organized by the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) in partnership with the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) and the Quezon City government.

Carrying the theme, “Serbisyong Buo, Kalingang Totoo: An Inclusive Empowerment of Filipino Migrant Workers Towards Resilience and Nation Building,” the platform gathered OFWs, labor groups, civil society organizations, private sector stakeholders, and government leaders from across the globe to enhance migration governance, financial inclusion, and reintegration systems.

In his address, Rep. Revilla commended DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac and OWWA Administrator Patricia "PY" Caunan for establishing an aligned, collaborative relationship with the House of Representatives. This coordination has allowed the legislative committee to rapidly advance structural frameworks mirroring the actual vulnerabilities and diverse lived experiences of overseas workers.

“Isang taon pa lamang po ako bilang Chairperson ng House Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs, ngunit marami na akong natutunan mula sa inyo. Sa bawat sundo sa airport, dialogues, sa mga mensahe niyo po sa ating social media pages … mas lalo kong nauunawaan ang mga hamon na inyong hinaharap,” Rep. Revilla stated, reinforcing that grassroots feedback directly shapes ongoing policy formulation.

(I have only been Chairperson of the House Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs for one year, yet I have already learned so much from you. With every airport pickup, dialogue, and message you send to our social media pages, I gain a deeper understanding of the challenges you face.)

Rep. Revilla detailed the legislative portfolio currently being fast-tracked in Congress. He highlighted a national reintegration framework designed to be the foundation of a new start for returning workers who wish to stay in the country, providing them with livelihood opportunities, entrepreneurship training, and job placement programs.

The Global Summit follows a series of continuous legislative steps spearheaded by the Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs to transform institutional appreciation into tangible security.

Last May 26, , Rep. Revilla convened the committee’s third regular meeting to sponsor critical measures designed to shield OFWs from macroeconomic fluctuations and criminal operations. Foremost among these is House Bill (HB) No. 2716 or the “Free OFW Financial Education Act,” which mandates comprehensive, updated financial literacy programs across land-based, sea-based, documented, and undocumented sectors.

The AGIMAT solon emphasized the urgency of the bill amid global oil price volatility and a rising wave of predatory digital financial scams. The program aims to equip families with practical budgeting, investment protection, and fraud-prevention strategies to safeguard their hard-earned remittances.

Additionally, the committee tackled HB No. 7787 or the “Overseas Filipinos Consular Access Act,” which mandates Philippine foreign service posts, embassies, and consulates to operate on weekends at least twice a month. Inspired by testimonies from essential, on-site migrant workers who risk daily wages or employment standing to process documents during weekdays, the measure seeks to bridge the accessibility gap between overseas Filipinos and state frontline services.