Ever since President Rodrigo Duterte announced his vision to create a separate department for OFWs, Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Sec. Silvestre Bello III had since opposed the plan, saying it is unnecessary.
During his trip to the Middle East, the president told OFWs about this plan, which he said will cater to their needs and concerns.
However, Bello reiterated that, “[We] already have the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) and the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) as focused agencies. Duplication lang ‘yan eh.”
The labor head explained this before the Senate’s committee hearing seeking recommendations for the proposed bill on August 9.
Under this bill, OWWA and POEA will be linked to the supposed OFWs department for policy and program coordination.
Although it continues to draw opposition from no less than the labor secretary, Undersecretary Edwin Bael, Office of the Presidential Adviser on OFW and Muslim Concerns, said the old systems and agencies need to be enhanced since they “insufficiently meet the needs of OFWs”.
“We need to have a department where only one person will command,” ANC quoted Bael as saying.
Meanwhile, the proposed plan received mixed reactions from various migrant groups.
Some say that the creation of the new department will only be pointless without first addressing the need to improve government policies and programs for the welfare of OFWs.
