The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP)’s migrants and itinerant people arm hopes that President Rodrigo Duterte will lay out plans to intensify support on overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in his second State of the Nation Address (SONA).
Balanga Bishop Ruperto Santos, chairman of the CBCP Episcopal Commission of Migrants and Itinerant people, said Duterte should include the establishment of a department dedicated to OFWs in his SONA, which will be delivered on June 24.
“Now is the time to fulfill the President’s promise for the OFWs to have their own department,” Santos said.
Santos added the best way for the government to “appreciate the selfless contribution of OFWs in improving the economy” is to “personally take care of them and prosecute those who will abuse and exploit them”.
“Be grateful to the sacrifices and services of overseas who are willing to bear separation and loneliness for the betterment of their families.
During his first SONA, Duterte called on the Congress to assess the possibility of merging agencies that deal with OFW concerns.
“I may now ask on Congress to consider drawing up bills consolidating and merging agencies and offices all having to do with [OFWs] to have a department that shall focus on and quickly respond to their problems and concerns,” Duterte said.
According to the Department of Foreign Affairs, the anticipated Department of OFW remains a proposal in Congress.
“The DFA has been attending the hearings in Congress. At All times, the DFA is cooperating with Congress on the ways to serve the people through appropriate legislation,” the department said in a statement.
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