DMW asked to keep 24/7 lines open for OFWs
SENATOR Christopher “Bong” Go urged the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) as well as its attached agencies including the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) to maintain a 24/7 open line for Filipinos working abroad, ensuring that assistance remains readily available whenever needed.
His address emphasized the crucial role of these agencies in protecting the welfare of OFWs, while also underscoring the importance of responsible fund utilization and expanded healthcare support for OFWs and their families.
As vice chair of the Senate finance committee, Go began his statement by extending gratitude to DMW and OWWA officials, highlighting their significant achievements in securing OFW welfare.
“First and foremost, I would like to put on record my full support for this year’s proposed budget of the Department of Migrant Workers and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration.”
“Your agencies have been an instrumental force in safeguarding the rights and welfare of our OFWs as it is your very mandate as an institution. I laud the efforts of your agencies, and I also acknowledge the major accomplishments that you have achieved under your respective tenures,” he stated.
Go also extended his thanks to Senator Joel Villanueva, who sponsored DMW’s budget and who principally sponsored of Republic Act No. 11641 last Congress, the landmark legislation that established the Department of Migrant Workers which Go authored and co-sponsored.
“Maalala ko po noong unang panahon, kokonti pa lang ang may gusto na maging departamento po itong DMW. Pero tandaan po natin, more than ten million po ang (Filipinos abroad), wala man lang silang sariling departamento na lumalaban po para sa kanila,” he reminded his colleagues.
Go pointed to the struggles of OFWs who, before the DMW’s establishment, relied on scattered forms of support and were often forced to plead for help across various channels. “Yung iba po ay nananawagan sa radyo, sa telebisyon, sa Facebook, kahit saan na lang po sila humihingi ng tulong,” he explained.
As one of the authors and co-sponsors of the legislation establishing the DMW, Go reiterated the department’s mission and values, describing it as a “pillar of support” designed to ensure fair treatment, safe working conditions, and access to essential services for all migrant workers.
Continuing his interpellation, Go expressed his commitment to the department’s initiatives and the Senate’s continuous support for OFW welfare.
One of the key points Go raised was the importance of efficient and effective fund utilization, stressing that government resources should be directed solely toward programs that benefit those most in need.
Go highlighted the social protection that DMW provides, not only for migrant workers but also for their families who remain in the Philippines.
“Apart from safeguarding the rights and welfare of our Overseas Filipino Workers, the DMW also offers social protection not only to our OFWs but also to their relatives and family here in the country,” Go explained.
Go turned to the critical role of the OFW Hospital which was established in Pampanga during the Duterte administration. Go filed Senate Bill No. 2822, which aims to institutionalize the said hospital and provide appropriate funding for its operations, to provide healthcare services specifically for OFWs and their families.
“The easy access of our migrant workers to healthcare services through the OFW Hospital is vital for their service to be up-to-par to the global standards,” Go stated, connecting the hospital’s services to DMW’s larger mission.
Go reiterated his “full support” for the DMW and its budgetary needs in 2025, signaling his intent to back the agency’s plans and initiatives unreservedly.
