Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr. recently said, his first marching orders from President Rodrigo Duterte is to adequately address the needs and problems of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
Yasay was quoted to have said that OFWs are “subject to a lot of difficulties, uncertainties, and vulnerabilities” and the least thing that the government can do is to make their services readily available for them.
The secretary also said that the President has ordered to cut red tape in all agencies of government that deal with OFWs.
“Insofar as the DFA is concerned, we will cut short the process that is necessary in the grant of these passports or travel documents,” Yasay said, adding that the President cannot tolerate any lines or queuing of the public.
Earlier, the President announced at a press briefing in Davao City on May 16 that he will be creating a new Department that will focus on the needs of the OFWs which will be named “Department of OFWs”.
“I will create a Department of Overseas Filipino Workers and I’m thinking of converting the Post Office building in Manila into something very functional, useful to the Filipinos just like housing the Department of OFW,” the President was quoted to have said.
