Church backs creation of OFW department

The Church’s migrants ministry has backed the creation of a separate executive department to handle concerns of Filipino migrant workers.

The bishops’ Episcopal Commission on Migrants and Itinerant People said that such move would address bottlenecks in delivery of services for overseas Filipino workers.

“With this, the welfare and wellbeing of our OFWs will be specifically attended,” said Bishop Ruperto Santos, ECMI chairman.

According to him, the proposed department could be a “one stop shop” where OFWs will no longer be asked to go from place to another to see different persons.

“So it will be less tiring for our OFWs, personally taken care and individually protected for illegal activities and fixers,” Bishop Santos said.

“With OFW department we know who is personally responsible for them, no more finger pointing, anyone or those amiss of their duties will specifically known and be prosecuted,” he added.

President Rodrigo Duterte on July 12 said he wants the OFW department created by December.

During the Araw ng Pasasalamat for OFWs held in Camp Aguinaldo, the president said he wanted Philippine-based recruitment agencies under strict government regulation.

Over 10 million Filipinos are abroad, and their contributions has been steering the wheel of the Philippine economy.