Roque

Roque vows to support addt’l DMW funds to aid OFWs

April 4, 2022 Ryan Ponce Pacpaco 361 views

UNITEAM senatorial candidate Harry Roque has assured Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) of protection and enough funds to assist them while working outside the country.

If elected, Roque said he would make sure that the proposed Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) “would have sufficient budget, staff, and effective IRR [Implementing Rules and Regulations],” Roque said.

“Sisiguraduhin po natin na magkakaroon ng sapat na benepisyo sa Universal Health Care (UHC) mga migrants workers,” he told OFWs in a miting de avance on Friday.

In May 2021, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte certified as urgent Senate Bill 2234, which created the Department of Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos.

Roque said the new department would provide a more efficient, “whole-of-government approach” to protect the rights and promote the welfare and interest of overseas Filipinos.

Roque shared that he also worked abroad twice and her mother also worked outside the country for four years.

“Ako po ay anak ng OFW, 12-anyos lang po ako nang umalis ang aking nanay para magtrabaho sa abroad at inabot po ng apat na taon bago ko makita ang aking ina,” Roque said.

“Hindi ko po naintindihan bakit nagawa ng nanay ko ‘yun hanggang ako po mismo ay nagtrabaho sa abroad… Mas masakit pala sa isang magulang na mawalay sa mga anak,” he said.

Also, the former congressman said he hoped that Filipinos would not have to work overseas as there would be enough jobs for them.

“Sana po hindi na maulit ang karanasan ko at ng aking nanay. Sana po lahat ng Pilipino ay may sapat na trabaho sa Pilipinas para po hindi na mawalay sa kanilang mga pamilya,” Roque said.

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