SOCIAL WELFARE ATTACHÉS: ADDRESSING VULNERABILITIES OF OVERSEAS FILIPINOS
Sen. Joel Villanueva's sponsorship speech on the Social Welfare Attaché Bill

Mr. President, distinguished colleagues, it is my honor and privilege to sponsor Senate Bill No. 1819 under Committee Report No. 390 or "An Act Establishing The Office For Social Welfare Attachwith high concentration of OFWs, trafficking cases, Amending For The Purpose Republic Act No. 8042, Otherwise Known As The Migrant Workers And Overseas Filipinos Act Of 1995, As Amended, And For Other Purposes".

Sunod-sunod po ang kaso ng pang-aabuso sa mga kababayan nating OFW lalo na sa Middle East. Kamakailan lang, ang pagkamatay ni Joanna Demafelis, isang household service worker sa Kuwait, ang isa sa pinakamalagim na pangyayaring gumimbal sa ating bansa.

Dahil sa pangyayaring ito, lumutang ang iba pang kaso ng pananakit, pambubugbog at pagpaslang sa iba pang OFWs tulad nina Jakatia Pawa at Amy Santiago. Lalong tumindi ang pangangailangang repasuhin ang mga batas para sa mga OFWs, gayundin ang mga programang magpapatingkad ng malasakit ng gobyerno sa kanila.

Mr. President, since 2002, the Department of Social Welfare and Development or DSWD has been deploying social workers in countries with high concentration of OFWs to provide psycho-social services to both documented and undocumented Filipinos who are abused, maltreated, in poor working or living conditions, with expired or lost passports, overstaying or experiencing health problems.

Data shows that from 2013 until the first semester of 2017, our Social Welfare Attachwith high concentration of OFWs, trafficking casess served a total of 61,131 distressed Overseas Filipinos who were victims of physical, sexual and psychological abuse, maltreatment, trafficking and marital conflicts, as well as abandoned or neglected children and other vulnerable sectors.

Subalit nung magkaroon po tayo ng hearing sa Committee on Labor tungkol sa sitwasyon ng ating mga OFWs sa Kuwait nung Pebrero, lumalabas na pito lamang ang naka-deploy na mga Social Welfare Attachwith high concentration of OFWs, trafficking casess sa iba't-ibang panig ng mundo, as of May 2018.

Sabi nga po ni Senador Sonny Angara, kailangan ang mga "Lead Malasakit Officer" sa ating mga embahada sapagkat nakikita n'ya kung gaano kaimportante ang "puso" at "pagmamalasakit" sa ating mga kababayan abroad.

Subalit dahil sa lumalalang kalagayan ng mga OFWs, na humantong pa sa pag-rescue ng mga distressed OFWs sa Kuwait, talagang kailangang magpadala na po ang gobyerno ng S.W.A.T.- hindi po "Special Weapons And Tactics", kundi S.W.A.T. o SocialWelfare Attache Team para armasan ang ating mga overseas Filipinos ng lakas ng loob, tamang pag-iisip at desisyon, positibong pananaw, ispiritwal na paggabay, at psycho-social support para ma-empower sila at nang makaiwas sa anumang kapahamakan.

In response to this, Senate Bill 1819 provides:

First, adequate and timely social, economic and legal services to OFWs, especially since these workers are vulnerable to extreme physical, emotional and psychological stress;

Second, deployment of social welfare attachwith high concentration of OFWs, trafficking casess to manage cases of OFWs in distress; and

Third, ensures coordination among agencies and various groups to address the psychosocial needs of distressed OFWs.

In closing, allow me to say, Mr. President that the passage of this measure is indeed an important milestone for the Senate in our aspiration to protect our modern-day heroes - more than 10-million Filipinos who are spread out in more than 170 countries - from exploitation, maltreatment and abuse.

I want to reiterate my thanks and appreciation to all our colleagues for their interest and support to this measure, most especially the members of the Committee on Labor namely Senators Binay, Ejercito, Pacquiao and Gatchalian who actively participated during the deliberations of this bill.

Likewise, we want to recognize the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations led by Senator Loren Legarda for co-sponsoring the measure as Chairperson of the Committee on Foreign Relations.

We would also like to thank DOLE, DSWD, DFA, POEA, OWWA and the Commission on the Filipino Overseas and our partners from the private sector and NGOs, especially, the Blas F. Ople Policy Center and Training Institute and the Philippine Migrants Rights Watch for their valuable contributions to this measure.

Kapag may permanenteng Social Welfare Attachwith high concentration of OFWs, trafficking casess sa ating mga Philippine foreign posts, maiibsan natin agad ang mga kaso ng pang-aabuso at pagmamaltrato sa ating mga kababayang patuloy na nilalabanan ang kalungkutan at pananabik sa pamilya para lang matiyak ang magandang kinabukasan para sa kanilang mga mahal sa buhay na naiwan nila dito sa Pilipinas.

Mr. President, distinguished colleagues, I urge your support for the immediate passage of Senate Bill 1819 under Committee Report No. 390.

Maraming salamat po at pagpalain tayo ng ating Panginoon.