Incoming Migrant Workers Secretary Susan Ople said on Sunday they are targeting the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) to be operational by 2023.
This is because no budget was allocated for the DMW for 2022, according to Ople, who said a lot of adjustments would have to be made first.
"'Yung buong department walang budget, mapapasok lang 'yan for next year, so maraming mga pagmemekaniko pa ang kailangang gawin," she told DZRH in an interview.
(The whole department has no budget, it will only be included for next year. So a lot of adjustments need to be made.)
"But by next year dapat operational na 'yung [DMW]. 'Yun ang plano namin, sana kung maipasok sa 2023 budget, sana makapag-umpisa na rin kahit papano 'yung bagong department," she added.
(But by next year the DMW should be operation. That’s our plan, that if included in the 2023 budget, the new department can at least start.)
However, she stressed the Philippine Overseas Employment and Administration, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, and Labor Attachés would continue working this year because they still have funds.
But as part of the transition, the POEA would be subsumed, said Ople, where its functions and personnel would be transferred to the POEA.
"So 'yung mga recruitment agencies, hindi na POEA ang magiging kausap nila kung hindi 'yung mga opisina na dati existing sa POEA, madadala na sa bagong department," she explained.
(So recruitment agencies, they would not need to talk to the POEA. Instead, the offices previously existing under the POEA would be transferred to the new department.)
For OWWA, Ople said the agency would be "secured" and would only be transferred to the new department, while the government's Labor Attachés would become Migrant Workers Attachés with expanded functions.
"'Yung functions nila mapapalawak, maski mapahamak 'yung OFW (overseas Filipino Worker), mapasubo sa criminal case, mapupunta na 'yun sa Migrant Workers Attaché," she explained.
(Their functions would be expanded. If OFWs are in trouble, if they are tagged on a criminal case, it would be directed to the Migrant Workers Attaché.)
"Dati kasi kapag Labor Attachés, labor problems lang eh. Ngayon, napakalawak ng papel nila na basta OFW sila talaga 'yung dapat tumulong," she added.
(Before, Labor Attachés only handle labor problems. Now, their roles are expanded where they need to automatically help OFWs.)
"So wala na 'yung pasahan between DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs) saka sa DOLE, malinaw na 'yun - basta OFW, DMW na at migrant workers office ang lalapitan nila sa embahada."
(So no more passing between the DFA and DOLE. This is clear now. When it comes to OFW, they need to come to the DMW and migrant workers' office.)
Meanwhile, Ople also sought the patience of the OFWs who are waiting for the DMW.
"Humihingi rin tayo ng patience sa ating mga OFWs na aalagaan," she said. "Hindi po kaagad-agad biglang meron na ng department dahil nanalo si [president-elect Bongbong Marcos] merong proseso pa po 'yan."
(We are also asking for patience from OFWs. That just because Bongbong Marcos was elected doesn’t mean a department would be immediately available, there is a process to that.)
However, she assured them that Marcos does not want a disruption in services, adding that he wants OFWs to immediately feel the programs of the government.
"Ang maa-assure din naman sa inyo dahil iyon ang bilin ng ating President-elect na si Bongbong Marcos, ang sabi po niya: no disruption in services. In fact, gusto niyang maramdaman na 'yung magagandang programa para sa mga OFWs," she said.
(You will also be assured because the advice of President-elect Bongbong Marcos is no disruption in services. In fact, he wants them to feel the good programs for OFWs.)
In the meantime, Ople said she will work with incoming Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma to ensure that her promises to Marcos would be fulfilled.
