Bong Go renews call fro OFW dept creation

SEN. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go has renewed his call for the establishment of the Department of Overseas Filipino Workers (DoFW) as the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic continues to threaten the lives and livelihood of many Filipino workers abroad.

“Sim ula noong nakaraang taon pa, na na wag anna ako na sana’y mapadaliang pag bibigayng OFWs sa pamamagitan ng pagtayo ng isang departamento na ma mamahala sapag-aalagang kanilang kapakanan( Since last year, I have been calling for the fast delivery of services to our OFWs through the establishment of a department mandated to look after their interests and welfare),” he said.

Go added that OFW’s had been burdened by securing permits and other documents for their employment, as well as in asking assistance when they are in distress abroad.

He said the proposed department would make it easier to coordinate agencies as a single department would focus on their needs.

“Mas lumala pa ngayon dahil Covid-19 crisis. Kung mayroon pong DOFW, mas mapapadali sana ang koordinasyon ng mga ahensya at may iisang departamento ( The situation has worsened now because of the Covid-19 crisis. Things would be easier for our OFWs if there is a DOFW, an agency that will solely attend to their needs),” he added.

The creation of the DOFW is one of Go’s priority bills filed just more than a month after being elected as senator in 2019, and is also part of the Duterte Administration’s priority legislative agenda.

The House of Representatives passed its version of the bill in March, but its Senate counterpart is still pending in the Senate Committee on Labor, Employment and Human Resources Development.

“Ako ay nanawagan sa mga kasamahan maipasana ang panukalang itayo ang Department of Overseas Filipinos (I am calling on my colleagues in the Senate to support the passage of the proposed Department of Overseas Filipinos),” Go said.

Under the proposed Senate Bill 202, or the “Department of Overseas Filipinos Act of 2019,” the senator said the measure aims to make government more efficient and responsive to the needs of Filipinos abroad.

The bill aims to put government agencies that are dealing with OFW concerns under one umbrella.

Go stressed that the challenges currently faced by OFWs and the difficulties experienced by the government in responding to their needs show the relevance of the proposal to establish a department with the sole mandate to handle the concerns of our “modern day heroes.”

“Itinuturing natin silang mga bagong bayani. Malaki ang kanilang ambag sa paglago ng ekonomiyang bansa. At ngayon, sa pandemyang ito, dapat natin silang tulungan at mastutukan pa. Huwag natin sila ng pahirapan pa ( We consider them as the new heroes. They contribute much to the national economy. And now, with this pandemic, we should also focus on helping them),” he said.