By Sonny Fernandez
The Philippines’ 17th President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Romualdez Marcos, as he addresses some 1,300 guests including lawmakers, cabinet members and diplomatic community in his first State of the Nation Address at the 19th Congress on Monday, July 25. [Photo courtesy of PCOO]
There appears to be no end in sight for the exodus of Filipino workers abroad at least in the next six years as the new leadership welcomed them to their "new home" - the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) – which is expected to be fully established in a year’s time.
In his first State of the Nation Address (SONA) at the national legislature on Monday, July 25, Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. zeroed in on improving government services for overseas Filipino workers (OFWS) instead of addressing increasing domestic unemployment that will help check labor migration.
In his marching orders to Secretary Toots Ople, Marcos Jr directed DMW, with the help of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), to cut red tape in contracts of OFWs by simplifying and automating the process.
“We shall automate the verification of contracts and issue secure OEC (overseas employment certificate) that you can keep on your smartphone,” Marcos said.
He asked the Department of Foreign Affairs to help DMW in assisting OFWs who lost their jobs to find new employment opportunities.
He instructed DMW to shorten the number of days in the processing of documents and procedures required of Filipinos applying for jobs overseas.
“Mula sa tatlong buwan ay gagawin na lamang nating tatlong linggo para sa isang dayuhang employer na iproseso ang mga papeles ng Filipinong nais nitong kunin bilang empleyado,” Marcos stressed.
He also directed DMW and DFA to simplify the handbook on the regulations for OFWs by reducing the 240 sections to less than 100 pages.
“Mahirap na nga ang buhay kaya naman ayaw na natin makitang lalo pang nahihirapan ang ating mga manggagawang mandarayuhan sa pagtupad sa kanilang mga pangarap,” he said.
He announced that Ople will visit Saudi Arabia to check job opportunities and to push the fight against human trafficking.
He said the government will settle for proper income, treatment and protection of the rights of OFWs deployed in Saudi.
“Muli nating pagtitibayin ang respeto at pagkakaibigan ng dalawang bansa tulad ng namagitan sa aking ama at sa kanilang hari,” Marcos emphasized.
Citing the need to speed up government action on distressed OFWs who are victims of abuses, Marcos also announced that his administration will put up a One Repatriation Command Center (ORCC) which will assist OFWs who want to return home and will also serve as emergency hotline.
The ORCC can be reached through hotline 1348 or via email at repat@dmw.gov.ph.
In her earlier Facebook post, Ople has actually launched ORCC las July 20 which promises a “better and more responsive approach to assisting OFWs.”
“Ilalaan natin ang isang social media platform ng Department of Migrant Workers at ang hotline upang matulungan agad at mailigtas sila mula sa mas higit na kapahamakan,’ Marcos Jr. ensured.
He also promised to help OFW children to have good education and learn financial literacy, mental awareness, sports, arts and culture.
“Sa ating mga kababayan na nasa ibang bansa: You deserve a home in government not only for the money that you send home, but you are not cold tools of the economy. You deserve it for your sacrifices, for our country and your perseverance and excellence in the global arena,” he added.
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