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Senate seeks to increase DOLE budget to improve OFW services

The Senate is seeking to increase the budget of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to improve the government’s services directed to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

According to Senator Sonny Angara, vice chairman of Senate finance committee tasked to sponsor the budget of DOLE, the additional budget will help the labor department improve its services for OFW particularly the one-stop service centers and its repatriation efforts.

Through one-stop service centers, both returning and first-time OFWs can easily request for a copy of necessary documents for their employment and deployment abroad. One-stop service centers also offer several services offered by different government agencies including the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), and Maritime Industry Authority.

“Sa pamamagitan ng pagbibigay sa kanila ng mas mabilis na serbisyo ay maiibsan natin ang mga alalahanin at mapagagaan ang buhay ng tinatawag nating mga bagong bayani ng bayan,” Angara said.

The Senate will also give an additional P100 million budget to DOLE for its emergency repatriation programs.

“The additional funding would provide the department a standby fund for the repatriation of distressed OFWs in cases of outbreaks or crisis particularly in Middle East countries,” the senator said.

Angara, however, stressed that aside from safely bringing OFWs back home, the government should ensure that decent jobs and livelihood opportunities are awaiting them here.

Angara is the sponsor of the new OWWA law or Republic Act 10801 that strengthened the government’s capacity to assist OFWs who lost their jobs or those who decided to return to the Philippines by providing additional funding for OFW reintegration program, which includes free employment and livelihood training, access to credit, and grant money to start their own business.

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