Robredo to establish offices for migrant workers in each province, says Baguilat

FILE PHOTO-Repatriated Overseas Filipino Workers or OFWs arrive at an airport after being allowed to go home following weeks of quarantine amid the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Pasay City, Metro Manila, Philippines May 26, 2020. REUTERS

MANILA, Philippines — Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) will have an easier time accessing services through the establishment of offices for migrant workers in every province if Vice President Leni Robredo is elected president, senatorial bet Teddy Baguilat said Wednesday.

Baguilat said Robredo’s promise to establish an office for migrant workers in every province will bring the newly-created Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) closer to the people.

“Alam ni VP Leni kung ano ang hirap na pinagdadaanan ng ating mga OFWs para lamang maisaayos ang kanilang papeles sa pangingibang-bansa,” Baguilat, who is running under the tandem of Robredo and vice presidential candidate Francis Pangilinan, said in a statement.

(VP Leni knows the hardships our OFWs go through just to process their documents just so they could go abroad.)

“Kung tunay ngang mga bayani ang ating mga OFWs, dapat bayani rin ang turing natin sa kanila,” he added.

(If OFWs are really our heroes, then we should treat them like heroes.)

If Robredo wins the election, Baguilat said OFWs will no longer have to go to the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) office in Metro Manila to have their documents processed as they can just visit the provincial migrant workers’ offices in their respective provinces.

“Kapag naging pangulo si VP Leni, hindi mo na kailangang pumunta ng POEA sa NCR o regional office para asikasuhin ang mga dokumento mo. Hindi na luluwas ang pamilya mo sa Maynila para humingi ng tulong kapag may nangyari sa iyo sa ibang bansa,” Baguilat said.

(If VP Leni becomes president, you no longer have to go to POEA in NCR or regional office just to process documents. Your family does not have to go to Manila to seek help if something happens to you abroad.)

“Lahat ng ito ay magagawa mo na o ng iyong pamilya nang hindi na lumalabas sa sarili mong lalawigan. Wala nang mahabang biyahe, wala nang mahal na pamasahe, at wala nang paghahanap ng matutuluyan,” he added.

(You can do all of this without leaving your own province. There’s also no need to travel far and pay expensive fares, as well as look for a place to stay at.)

Baguilat said Robredo came up with the proposal because “it is in her nature to be grounded when talking about issues with the people.”

“Karanasan na ni VP Leni ang umiiral sa mahabang panahon na tumutulong siya sa mga nasa laylayan. Handa siyang makinig at tunay na alamin ang mga problema ng mga mamamayan, lalo na yung mga sektor tulad ng ating OFWs,” Baguilat said.

(It has been VP Leni’s practice for a long time to help those in need. She is ready to listen and truly know the problems of our countrymen, especially the sector of OFWs.)

“Kasama sa panukala niya ang pangangailangan hindi lamang ng OFWs kundi ang mga pamilya rin nila,” he added.

(The needs of OFWs and their families are included in her programs.)

In December 2021, President Rodrigo Duterte signed Republic Act No. 11641 or the Department of Migrant Workers Act which created a separate department strictly focused on OFW concerns.

/MUF