Press Release
October 1, 2021

Villanueva: Bill creating DMWOF inches closer to Senate approval

Senators wrapped up Wednesday their interpellation on the bill creating a department to handle concerns of 10 million overseas Filipinos, bringing the measure closer to approval in the Senate.

Senator Joel Villanueva, chairman of the Senate labor committee, said the termination of the period of interpellation and debates "means we're entering the last quarter of the game."

When Congress resumes sessions next month, the bill will be entering the period of amendments where senators will "further polish and improve" the bill, he said.

Villanueva described the DMWOF bill, which he sponsored and defended in plenary, as having undergone a "line by line" examination by both majority and minority senators.

"It is as if the proposed department were a building and senators took a floor-by-floor, room-by-room review of the blueprint. Ganun po kasinsin iyon, kasi ganun kahalaga ang departamentong ito sa atin, lalo na po sa ating mga kababayang OFWs," Villanueva said.

He explained that the lengthy debates allowed senators to clearly delineate the roles of the DFA, DOLE, and DMWOF "in order to expedite onsite assistance to our OFWs and implement preventive interventions."

"Kailangan po talaga ng klaro na division of labor so these agencies will work in symphony," he said.

"Another issue that was subjected to a healthy exchange of ideas was the protection of OWWA Trust Fund. I believe that the OFW-members of OWWA should not be funding their own assistance programs especially in repatriation during emergencies. Repatriation should be covered by the general appropriations act, and not sourced from the OWWA Funds," Villanueva said.

He said the debates have provided enough inputs on "how to include provisions that will make sure that the mandates of the DMWOF will be funded."

Villanueva said work on the bill would continue while Congress is in recess, particularly harmonizing the provisions to reflect the inputs and insights drawn from the debates and discussions.


Villanueva: Panukalang magtatatag ng DMWOF, malapit nang maaprubahan

Tinapos na ng mga senador ang interpellation sa panukalang naglalayong magtayo ng isang departamento na tutugon sa pangangailangan ng mahigit 10 milyong Pilipino na nasa ibang bansa, at malapit nang maaprubahan ng Senado ang bill na pinamamadali ng Malacañang.

Ayon kay Senator Joel Villanueva, chairman ng Senate labor committee, "nasa 4th quarter na ng isang laro" ang status ng panukalang magtatatag ng Department of Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos, nang matapos ang period of interpellation and debates nitong Miyerkules.

Sa pagbabalik-session ng Senado sa susunod na buwan, nasa period of amendments na ang panukala upang palakasin at pagandahin ang mga probisyon nito.

"Kung ihahalintulad ang panukala sa isang gusali, floor-by-floor, at room-by-room ang ginawang pagtatalakay ng mga senador dito. Ganun po kasinsin kasi ganun kahalaga ang departamentong ito sa kanila," ani Villanueva.

Paliwanag pa niya, ang mahabang diskusyon at debate ng mga senador ay nakatutok sa paglilinaw ng mandato ng DMWOF, DOLE at ng DFA, nang sa gayon ay hindi magkaroon ng dobleng trabaho o duplication ng responsibilidad sa pagitan ng dalawang departamento.

"Kailangan talaga ng klaro na division of labor para maayos ang trabaho ng bawat sangay ng gobyerno," sabi ni Villanueva.

"Isa pang usapin na tinalakay ng masusi ay ang pagprotekta sa OWWA Trust Fund. Hindi po dapat pinopondohan ng mga OFW-members ng OWWA ang sarili nilang repatriation program, lalo na ang mga repatriation tuwing may emergency. Ang repatriation ay pinopondohan dapat sa ilalim ng general appropriations act, at hindi kinukuha sa OWWA funds," ani Villanueva.

Tuloy-tuloy ang pagbabalangkas sa panukala habang nasa recess ang Kongreso, ayon kay Villanueva. Dagdag pa niya, magsisilbing gabay ang impormasyong nakuha sa debate at diskusyon tungkol sa panukalang DMWOF.

News Latest News Feed