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What has Duterte done for OFWs so far?

More than two years after President Rodrigo Duterte took his oath as the 16th president of the Philippines, various offices under his administration reported their accomplishments and future plans concerning OFWs.

During the pre-State of the Nation Address forum last week, the following OFW-related issues and accomplishments were tackled.

Protection of OFW rights

Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) secretary Silvestre Bello III underscored the recent signing of the labor deal between the Philippines and Kuwait which seeks to protect the welfare of OFWs in the Gulf state. The labor secretary said the deal is a reflection of the Philippine government’s efforts to protect OFWs abroad.

Currently, the government is eyeing to secure the same deal with Russia. The government also seeks to revise existing bilateral labor deals with other countries to pattern them with the deal signed with Kuwait.

He also highlighted that 13,000 Filipinos stranded in Saudi Arabia were able to return home since the beginning of Duterte’s leadership.

RELATED ARTICLE: PH, Kuwait ink labor deal protecting OFWs

Livelihood programs

Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Manny Piñol said that the agriculture department offers livelihood programs and loans for OFWs who wish to start their own business.

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) also have similar program providing seminars and trainings for returning OFWs.

Local job opportunities

In an effort to encourage OFWs to return to the Philippines, Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Leonor Briones announced the program “Sa Pinas Maam at Sir Ka” in partnership with DOLE.

The program seeks to encourage Filipino teachers and principals abroad to return to the Philippines by offering them salary similar to what they are receiving overseas.

Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Officer-in-Charge Prospero de Vera III added that Duterte recently signed Republic Act No. 11035 or the Balik Scientists Law that seeks to encourage Filipino scientists, investors, and engineers to return to the country through incentives and benefits.

The programs are separate from the local job fairs organized by DOLE with the latest one offering more than 80,000 jobs locally and overseas to jobseekers.

RELATED ARTICLE: Duterte signs law for OFW scientists, engineers

OFW one-stop-shop centers

Bello boasted the establishment of 17 one-stop-shop centers for OFWs where they can avail of government services related to their concerns and needs.

Participatory Governance Cluster (PGC) co-chair Benjamin Diokno reported that the one-stop-shop centers have serviced around 1.22 million OFWs.

Among the agencies included in the facility are the Bureau of Immigration, PhilHealth, Pag-IBIG Fund, Philippine Statistics Authority, National Bureau of Investigation, Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, Department of Labor and Employment, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, Professional Regulation Commission, Department of Education, Commission on Higher Education, Social Security System, Maritime Industry Authority, Commission on Filipino Overseas and Bayad Center

OFW Bank

Bello added that an OFW Bank has been established specifically for financial concerns of OFWs.

The following services are offered by the bank:

– Deposit Products: Peso ATM Savings, time deposit, checking accounts, Future Need Savings Plan
– Loan products
– Investment Product: Unit Investment Trust Funds
– Payment services for SSS, OWWA, PhilHealth dues, insurance premium, credit cards, telephone & water bills, housing and business loans & tuition fees of OFWs’ beneficiaries.

RELATED ARTICLE: OFW Bank now open

OFW ID

Bello also talked about the iDOLE OFW ID which was issued to thousands of OFWs. Balik-Manggagawa (BM), or those vacationing OFWs, are required to log-in to their BM online accounts to apply for the ID, which they can use to avail of travel tax and terminal fee exemptions.

With the use of the ID, OFWs will no longer need to queue in transacting with agencies for their overseas employment as they can now access government services online during the further phases of the iDOLE eServices implementation.

The OFW ID also serves as their Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC), which is required for their arrival to and departure from the Philippines.

OFWs who were able to receive the ID before its discontinuance are still eligible of its privileges.

PHOTO FROM: WKHS Counselors

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