Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 14) – The Senate has unanimously approved on final reading a bill that would create a department specifically addressing the needs and concerns of overseas Filipino workers.
Voting 20-0-0, the upper chamber on Tuesday passed Senate Bill No. 2234, or the proposed Department of Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act.
One of its proponents, Senator Joel Villanueva, said the department will serve as the go-to agency for all OFWs’ concerns, including on recruitment, red tape, regulation, emergency response, repatriation, and reintegration.
He added the proposed law will fast-track not just the applications of migrant workers, but also cases filed against illegal recruiters.
Previously, lawmakers have raised questions on the necessity of creating a separate agency and pointed out the huge amount needed to set it up. The minimum amount required is estimated at over ₱1.1 billion, and this only covers the personal services, maintenance and operating expenses, as well as capital outlay, according to the Budget department.
The measure had been certified as urgent by President Rodrigo Duterte.
The House of Representatives also passed a similar bill on final reading in March last year.
