President Rodrigo Duterte signed into law Thursday a measure that aims to improve coordination among agencies concerned with overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and OFW affairs – immediately lauded by Senators Christopher Go and Joel Villanueva, principal authors of Senate Bill 2234.
In a ceremony at the Rizal Hall in Malacañan Palace, Duterte signed Republic Act 11641, also known as “An Act Creating the Department of Migrant Workers,” and likened OFWs to the country’s national hero, Jose Rizal, for being the lifeline of the Philippine economy.
“The establishment of the Department of Migrant Workers happens on the celebration of Rizal Day. May we honor not only the exceptional love for country of Dr. Jose Rizal, but also the patriotism, excellence, courage of our modern-day heroes including our overseas Filipinos,” he said in his speech.
The creation and establishment of the Department of Migrant Workers is one of Duterte’s priorities after he certified it as an urgent bill in March.
Duterte has repeatedly pushed for the passage of a bill mandating the creation of the Department of Migrant Workers, even mentioning it in his final State-of-the-Nation Address on July 26 this year.
“I also ask Congress to pass a law creating the Department of Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos. We need this because they are suffering not only yesterday but they are still suffering now with so many inadequacies, in both our government response including the monetary assistance — to ensure that there is a department that is solely focused on addressing the needs and taking care of the welfare of our countrymen abroad,” he said.
The Department of Migrant Workers is expected to benefit an estimated 2.2 million Filipinos abroad, based on the 2019 Survey on Overseas Filipinos released in 2020 by the Philippine Statistics Authority.
Villanueva said OFWs would begin to experience the convenience of a “one-stop-shop” for all their needs with the new department.
Villanueva said the measure consolidated under one roof seven agencies catering to the needs of OFWs currently scattered in different departments.
Doing so provides the department with a potent mandate to address all concerns of OFWs who have long been referred to as modern-day heroes, Villanueva explained.
Go himself said the newly-created department shall serve as the lead agency for implementing policies, plans and programs that shall ensure the protection, promotion of interests, timely resolution of problems, and effective reintegration of OFWs.
To further ensure the effective protection of the rights of OFWs, the department is also mandated to regulate private recruitment agencies.
The Act also provides for the establishment of the Management Information System which will serve as the registry of all OFWs and a 24/7 Emergency Response and Action Center Unit and media and social media monitoring center to respond to their emergency needs.
The law likewise establishes the Agarang Kalinga at Saklolo para sa mga OFW na Nangangailangan (AKSYON) Fund which will be used to provide legal and other forms of assistance to OFWs. The AKSYON Fund will be separate and distinct from the Assistance to Nationals Fund and the Legal Assistance Fund of the Department of Foreign Affairs.