President Rodrigo Roa Duterte shared that the establishment of the Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) Center in Las Pinas City intends to be a one-stop hub for migrant workers by offering government services which promote their welfare, during its groundbreaking rites on Thursday.
The OFW Center is a 10-storey building, housing satellite offices of government agencies for the travel necessities, documentation and legal assistance of OFWs.
The center is a project of the Global Filipino Movement Foundation Inc., a non-stock and non-profit organization working with Christian churches, organizations and individuals to provide free assistance to overseas workers.
Duterte personally thanked the group for its support of OFWs, sharing, “The productive collaboration of the government and its partner is the key to achieving concrete results for activities that promote the welfare and the holistic development of our unsung heroes”.
“[OFWs] will always play a crucial part in our country’s development, especially during times of recovery after tumultuous events such as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic,” he added. “In recognition of their service and heroism, this administration has remained steadfast in providing the best service it could give to our OFWs.”
End red tape
Given overseas workers’ contributions, Duterte threatened government workers who are inefficient in delivering assistance to OFWs, stating that he would not hesitate to fire them.
He issued the statement, as he expressed dismay over the constant delays in government transactions affecting OFWs.
“I am on my way out. Dadalhin ko kayo paglabas ko ng gobyerno kayong mga p***** i** niyo. Either you follow what I want. It’s not yours. It’s mine, it’s my call. It’s the executive department and I am the head of that department,” he said.
In December 2021, Duterte signed Republic Act 11641 which would establish a Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and consolidate all agencies concerned with OFWs under one office. The new department would cover both documented and undocumented migrant workers, serving as a one-stop hub from pre-employment, employment to reintegration.
The agencies to be brought under DMW include the Department of Affairs’ Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs, the International Labor Affairs Bureau, the National Reintegration Center for OFWs, the National Maritime Polytechnic, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, the Office of the Social Welfare Attache, and all Philippine Overseas Labor Offices.
