President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. vowed to keep protecting the welfare and families of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) as he recognized their contribution to the country’s economy.
During Friday’s gift-giving event “Pamaskong Handog Para sa Pamilyang OFW,” which coincides with the creation of the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), Marcos said his administration will continue to work for the interests of OFWs.
“Malapit po sa akin ang mga OFW at ang kanilang mga pamilya. Kaya naman sa ating administrasyon, lalo nating pinagtitibay ang Department of Migrant Workers upang mas mabilis ang serbisyo at pagkalinga para sa ating mga bagong bayani,” he said.
“Ngayon, higit kailanman ay napakahalaga ng papel na ginagampanan ninyo na maiahon ang ating ekonomiya at maiangat ang antas ng pamumuhay ng inyong pamilya at kapwa Pilipino,” he added.
Marcos also commended the DMW for its hard work that has been helping OFWs and their families since it was formed a year ago.
“Sa nakaraang taon ay nakita natin na buong sigasig na nagtatrabaho ang kagawaran upang siguruhin ang interes at kapakanan ng ating mga OFW,” he said.
The DMW said 766,290 OFWs from July to December were assisted to find decent work abroad, while 6,341 distressed OFWs were repatriated.
The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) has also extended 16,000 scholarships as of November 2022.
“At alam din namin, na kapag kayo ay nasa abroad at kayo’y nagtatrabaho, ang lagi ninyong inaalala ay ang inyong pamilya. Kaya’t siguro karapat-dapat lamang na ang Department of Migrant Workers ay hindi lamang migrant workers ang inaalala at inaalagaan, kung hindi ang mga pamilya ng migrant workers,” Marcos said.
“Kaya’t sana naman ay inaasahan namin na kahit papaano dito sa pagsimula ng ating bagong konsepto, ng aming bagong polisiya dito sa ating mga migrant workers, ay maramdaman na kaagad ay sinimulan na natin dito sa pamimigay ng konting regalo. Hindi lamang ulit para sa OFW lamang, kung hindi para sa mga pamilya.” AG
