By Katrina Gracia Consebido
The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) confirmed on Thursday, April 21, that President Rodrigo Duterte has approved the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) for the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW).
In the Laging Handa briefing, POEA Administrator Bernard Olalia said Malacañang has already approved the draft of IRR which will ensure better policies and broaden the access of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in processing documents in different provinces and regions.
“Ibig pong sabihin, makakapagproseso na po sila sa kani-kanilang mga probinsiya. Hindi na ho sila kinakailangang pumunta sa Maynila at nang sa ganoon ay maiwasan po iyong napakaraming problema kapag kayo po ay nasa malalayong lugar,” Olalia said.
The IRR also allows migrant workers to have legal assistance or file cases against their employers in their respective regions without having to go to POEA’s central office.
“Sa legal assistance naman po, ganoon rin, ilalapit na po natin sa ating mga OFWs iyong paghahanap ng solusyon at remedyo sa kanilang mga problema. Tulad po ng [unclear] functions ng POEA, idi-decentralize na po ito at ilalagay na po sa mga regional at provincial offices,” he said.
“Magkakaroon na po ng mga indicators diyan at maaari na pong magsampa ng mga recruitment violation cases iyong ating mga nabiktimang OFWs nang hindi na kinakailangang pumunta pa dito sa central office sa Maynila,” he added.
Duterte signed the Department of Migrant Workers measure into a law on December 30, 2021.
The department is currently waiting for the action fund for OFWs.
“Napakaimportante po ng budget ng DMW dahil diyan po manggagaling iyong tatawagin nating ‘action’ fund na kung saan kukuha po tayo ng pondo para po sa itutulong natin sa mga OFWs po natin,” Olalia said. –ag
