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Drilon moves to defer bill on OFW department: Senate Minority Leader Franklin M. Drilon moves to defer consideration of bills proposing the creation of the Department of Overseas Filipino Workers until Senate Bill No. 244 or the Right-Sizing of the National Government Act is heard by the proper committee. During the hybrid hearing of the Committee on Labor, Employment and Human Resources Development, Monday, December 7, 2020, Drilon placed into the record his letter to Sen. Joel Villanueva, citing the reasons for his motion to defer, among them the statements of Senate President Vicente Sotto III and President Rodrigo Duterte pushing for the enactment of the right-sizing bill. “Mr. President, for the record, I have an open mind in the creation of the Department for Overseas Filipino Workers. Having said that, the question that I raise is, is this the right time? Is a department for overseas Filipino workers, a program that has been there as a government policy for almost 50 years, urgently needs to be enacted in the 18th Congress? It is my respectful submission, Mr. Chairman, that this bill can wait for a more opportune time,” Drilon said. (Screen grab/ Senate PRIB)