Gordon Renews Call for Protection of OFWs

Senator Richard J. Gordon strongly urged officials of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to work for the protection of OFWs during his interpellation on the DFA budget yesterday.

There is a need for the DFA to conduct location mapping so that anytime that there is an emergency, we can quickly access our Overseas Filipino Workers, whether documented or undocumented, and advise them on what to do, and where to go, so that we can evacuate or safeguard them easily, said Gordon.

He also called for security assessments in critical areas like Kazakhstan and Lebanon where OFWs are likely to be exposed to danger due to the still unstable peace and order situations in these countries.

We have 8.5 million OFWs, and we have a responsibility to protect them, especially those who are in areas where there are no consulates or embassies such as Central Asia. We should work towards establishing representation in these areas. If we cannot afford to have a permanent embassy or consulate in these countries, we should at least ensure that DFA officials regularly visit these countries to monitor the conditions of people there, said the Senator.

OFWs from riot-torn Kazakhstan paid a visit to Gordon earlier to personally thank him for his prompt action in helping them return to the Philippines in his capacity as Chairman of the Philippine National Red Cross.