ECHOING the call of President Duterte, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has urged the Senate to pass the law creating the Department of OFW (overseas Filipino workers).
In a televised press briefing on Wednesday, Labor Undersecretary Joji Aragon appealed to senators to pass their version of the law creating a government agency solely dedicated for OFWs.
“We are already in this stage, where the House has already approved it. And in the Senate, surely they have already met with the different stakeholders to help fine-tune this Department of OFW,” Aragon said.
“We are really looking forward to a Department of OFW that will be of better service to our OFW brothers and sisters,” she added.
Last March, the House of Representatives passed its version of the bill while the counterpart measure is still pending in the Senate committee on labor, employment, and human resources development.
Aragon said having an agency solely dedicated to OFW affairs will enhance government services and programs for the country’s “modern day heroes.”
“Our OFWs, our heroes, should be provided with services not only in one place, but in a structure, which will give them assistance, benefits, protection, and care,” she said.
“We believe in the concept of bundling of services dedicated to them because it is needed now,” Aragon added.
In his 5th State of the Nation Address, Duterte urged Congress anew to pass a law establishing the Department of OFW.
The Department is projected to have a mandate that will solely focus on addressing the concerns of Filipinos abroad and their families.
