Solons push bills giving cash, legal aid to OFWs
SENATORS were one in pushing for the passage of a law that will give migrant workers all the legal and financial assistance which aims to support them.
Senator Raffy Tulfo said it is high time to pass these three crucial bills concerning overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) during the hybrid hearing of the Committee on Migrant Workers, Tuesday, January 17, 2023.
Tulfo said Senate Bill No. (SB) 969 or the Filipino Migrant Workers, SBN 1175 or Encouraging New Lawyer-Scholars to Provide Free Legal Services to Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and SBN 1448 or Expanding the use of the Legal Assistance Fund will enhance the capacity of the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) to extend financial and legal assistance to OFWs.
“During the organizational meeting, I mentioned my desire for this committee’s commitment to primarily devote time and effort to the passage of laws that will make the process for deployment, repatriation, and financial assistance streamlined, hassle-free and affordable to migrant workers,” Tulfo said.
Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva, who authored SB 1448, expressed his gratitude to the committee and appealed to his colleagues to prioritize this bill that will benefit our migrant workers.
“We recognized the importance of continuously ensuring the availability of the Legal Assistance Fund separate from the Agarang Kalinga at Saklolo sa mga OFW na nangangailangan (AKSYON) Fund under the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW),” he said.
“This is for the benefit of our 10.69 million OFWs. In line with the state’s policy to afford full protection to labor, both local and overseas, we are seeking, with the help of the committee and all persons present today, to expand the coverage of the Legal Assistance Fund to include all stages of cases proceeding, from the time of the commencement of the complaint until promulgation and execution of judgment and all appeal levels.” Villanueva added.
During the hearing, Migrant Workers Acting Sec. Bernard Olalia said he supports the measures, specifically SB 969, as it protects the migrant workers when their employment is “prematurely terminated” without just cause.
Olalia said the department likewise supports SB 1175 and SB 1448 stating that the passage of these bills would give legal support to all migrant workers and urge all stakeholders to provide legal services to our OFWs.
Sen. Robinhood Padilla expressed his full support for various bills that will promote Filipino workers as he hailed the OFWs for bringing a sense of economic security and well-being to the country.
“If not for our migrant workers, our economy will not be resilient. They will always be a source of pride for our country,” Padilla said as he insisted that our migrant workers should be given all the help they need.
