The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) is urging newly elected senators, congressmen, and local officials to place the welfare and reintegration of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) high on their legislative agenda.
In an interview on Wednesday, Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac emphasized the agency’s commitment to working with incoming lawmakers and local leaders to fulfill President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s call for “shared responsibility and common purpose” in protecting OFWs and their families.
“So we’re willing to sit down with the newly elected officials and as the President mentioned, toward a common purpose, common goal, and a shared responsibility,” Cacdac said.
Among the priority legislative measures being pushed by the department is the passage of reintegration programs for returning OFWs, which was also identified by the President as essential.
Cacdac said one of the key proposals the DMW wants to revive in the new Congress is the passage of a comprehensive reintegration program for returning OFWs.
He said that the DMW’s Legislative Liaison Office is currently reviewing relevant bills filed in the previous Congress.
“There were reintegration bills filed in the last Congress. Our Department Legislative Liaison Office is currently reviewing those, and we hope to work closely with the committees on overseas Filipino workers, both in the House and Senate, to push these forward,” Cacdac said.
He emphasized that reintegration is a priority both for the department and the President, and that they need legislative support to build sustainable programs for returning OFWs.
The DMW is also seeking to intensify the campaign against illegal recruitment, calling for better cooperation with law enforcement, increased penalties for violators, and faster resolution of cases.
Cacdac stressed that a stronger legal framework is essential in protecting vulnerable workers from exploitation.
“Tinitingnan din natin yun (We are also looking into that). What are the better ways that we can be stronger in terms of yung pag-tandem natin sa law enforcement, penalties sa mga illegal recruiters and processes para masugpo ang illegal recruitment, pagpa-file ng kaso at magpapabilis sa pagresult ng mga kaso (cooperating in the law enforcement, penalties for illegal recruiters and processes to curb illegal recruitment, the filing of cases to hasten the resolution of cases),” he explained.
Cacdac also said the DMW is preparing to engage with Congress to secure larger budget allocations for its AKSYON Fund, reintegration fund, and additional manpower.
He stressed the importance of these resources in supporting distressed OFWs, enhancing repatriation efforts, and staffing local OFW help desks across the country.
”Kasi mayroon din tayo mga kaunting mga kahilingan in terms of beefing up our license, our inspectorate, our local health desks on the ground (Because we also have a few requests in terms of beefing up our license, our inspectorate, our local health desks on the ground),” Cacdac said.
“So for the newly elected leaders, and the local government units, we’re willing to once again partner with them in an effort to fight illegal recruitment in their local communities and conduct job fairs to promote job facilitation,” he added.
Cacdac expressed confidence that with unified efforts from the executive and legislative branches, the country can improve its systems of protection and assistance for the over 2.4 million Filipinos working overseas. (PNA)
