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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Villanueva: OFWs to experience convenience, easy access to gov't services soon

Villanueva: OFWs to experience convenience, easy access to gov't services soon

Published Dec 29, 2021 03:58 pm

Senator Joel Villanueva on Wednesday, Dec. 29 said Overseas Filipino workers ()FWs) would begin experiencing the convenience of a “one-stop-shop” for all their needs once the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) is signed into law, funded and rendered fully operational.

Villanueva, principal sponsor and author of Senate Bill (SB) 2234 creating the DMW, said the measure scheduled to be signed on tomorrow by President Duterte, consolidates under one roof seven agencies catering to the needs of OFWs that are currently scattered in different departments.

Doing so provides the DMW with potent mandates to address all concerns of OFWs who have long been referred to as modern-day heroes, he’d explained.

"Working overseas should always be an individual's choice and not a necessity," he continued.

At the heart of the DMW is the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, which will be joined by the following agencies from the Department of Labor and Employment: the International Labor Affairs Bureau and all Philippine Overseas Labor Offices, the National Reintegration Center for OFWs, and the National Maritime Polytechnic.

Meanwhile, the Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs of the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Office of the Social Welfare Attaché of the Department of Social Welfare and Development will also be transferred to the new department.

Villanueva, chairman of the Senate Labor committee, also noted that DMW would have offices for each region of the country, so the ease of processing papers, filing complaints or seeking assistance becomes even more convenient as travel to Manila becomes unnecessary.

“May sarili na ding pondo ang ating mga distressed OFWs, at hindi na makikihati (Distressed OFWs would have their own funds). May AKSYON fund na para sa mga OFWs, at hiwalay sa pondo ng (There is AKSYON fund for the OFWs and it is separate from the) Assistance to Nationals at Legal Assistance Fund,” he said.

Adjudicators for OFW grievances have also been increased and will be deployed per regional office.

A DMW Training Institute would also be established to train and capacitate personnel to handle OFW concerns, as well as conduct in-depth studies on migration and development trends, Villanueva explained.

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