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Duterte signs law creating new dept. for OFWs

Philippines | National

Duterte signs law creating new dept. for OFWs

By Betheena Unite

President Duterte has signed into law the measure that will establish the Department of Migrant Workers.

(Jansen Romero / File Photo/ MANILA BULLETIN)

It was signed into law during a ceremony in MalacaÃ±ang on Thursday, Dec. 30 along with the P5.024-trillion national budget for 2022.

The measure will allow the creation of an entirely new agency dedicated to address all concerns of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

The proposed department is one of the priorities of Duterte, as he even certified it as an urgent bill in March.

In his speech, Duterte said that "the establishment of the Department of Migrant Workers happens on the celebration of Rizal Day, when we honor, not only the exceptional love of country of Dr. Jose Rizal, but also the patriotism, excellence and courage of our modern-day heroes, including our overseas Filipino ."

"There is no better way to serve the Filipino people but by giving them the honest, efficient and responsive government that they deserve," the President stressed.

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).

Related Tags

President Duterte OFWs 123021 DEPARTMENT OF MIGRANT WORKERS

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