YES, the much-awaited bill to establish a department for OFWs was signed into law by President Rodrigo Duterte.
Under its jurisdiction would be the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers' Affairs, Philippine Overseas Labor Office, International Labor Affairs Bureau, National Maritime Polytechnic, National Reintegration Center and the Office of the Social Welfare Attache.
It is about time this department was created for those we consider modern-day heroes who regularly send home their remittances to help their families and keep our economy afloat. So far, this is the most tangible tribute our modern-day heroes can expect from us in return for their sacrifices and remittances.
According to the press release, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration or Owwa will continue to function pursuant to its charter but shall be attached to the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) for policy and program coordination purposes.
With the establishment of the DMW, we would expect the hassle-free treatment of our OFWs, including the processing of their travel papers and clearances, their deployment and repatriation in case of trouble in their host countries, and the full attention they deserve from government agencies.
It was a sensible move by both houses of Congress and a salutary move by the President.
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Senator Christopher Lawrence "Bong" Go is to be credited for most of the push he has made to allow the creation of the DMW.
Other senators reacted positively to its establishment. Senator Joel Villanueva remarked: "Now that the law has been signed, we must continue to press on to ensure the spirit of the law-to provide all the services needed by our OFWs under one roof is fulfilled down to the last letter. It must be good as it is advertised."
Senate Minority leader Franklin Drilon said the DMW is the government's Christmas gift to OFWs.
We just hope that this is not ningas kugon as the other government projects have been and the DMW will honestly work to sustain the viability of our OFW service to the world and maintain the integrity expected of it by the world's employers, and further promote the integrity of our migrant workers.
There should be strict provisions in the law preventing the exploitation of our OFWs, both by their foreign and local employers.