Villanueva's opening remarks during the hearing on the proposed Department of OFWs

Good morning to our esteemed colleagues and to all our guests.

Ang bilis po ng takbo ng panahon, mahigit isang taon na po nang huli nating tinalakay ang panukalang pagtatatag ng Department of OFWs o Department of Migration and Development o itong Department of Foreign Employment.

I would like to believe that the end goal of the bills sponsored by our senior colleagues - Senators Villar, Recto, Pimentel and Cayetano and the subject of our discussions today is to create a separate or new department or merge existing agencies on OFWs concerns like OWWA, POEA, DFA OUMWA, DSWD Social Welfare Affairs Office and CFO, not to encourage migration-for-work, but to address the plight of OFWs, our modern-day heroes.

We all know that we have good and reasonable OFW policies. We also know that unfortunately these have become so fragmented due to strict task allocation and compartmentalization of offices working for OFW affairs.

As a result, services or information regarding OFWs concerns are "scattered" throughout several offices. The administrative burden is high - each time a distressed OFWs or their relatives have to provide the same information over and over again. Often, they just can't find or even do not know about the assistance or services they are entitled to.

Madalas, mas pinipili pa nilang kumatok dito sa Senado at tayo na ang nagco-coordinate para mas maging "smooth" ang galaw ng mga kaso nila. Salamat po dahil alam ko na kapag humihingi kami ng tulong sa inyo, talagang tinututukan po n'yo. Kagabi lang, nalaman natin na 'yung in-assist nating OFW na nagka-problema abroad, makakauwi na rin within 24 hours dito sa Pilipinas. Pero hindi naman lahat nakakarating sa Senado. Paano naman po sila?

So the most natural and reasonable response must be the creation of a "super body" which will act as a "maestro" to orchestrate, synchronize, and harmonize these policies. Ang Department of OFWs na nga po kaya ang tugon sa suliraning ito?

Moreover, we are certainly aware that 5% of all labor migrants globally are Filipinos. We are ranked number 7 worldwide. As of 2016, there are over 10 million Filipinos scattered in just about every country in the world. This is equivalent to more than 6,000 Pinoys leaving the Philippines every day to migrate overseas.

Kaya nga po mahirap na hindi makumbinsi na hinog na ang panahon para magkaroon ng hiwalay na ahensya, ng isang "bahay" na titingin 24/7 sa sitwasyong kinasasadlakan at aaksyon sa mga isyung kinakaharap ng mga kababayan nating OFWs.

Natitiyak ko pong nagkakaisa tayong lahat sa hangaring ito para sa kapakanan ng ating mga kababayang OFW at ng kanilang mga mahal sa buhay at kapakanan na rin ng ating bayan. Kung paano ang magiging istruktura nito, alam ko pong malaking hamon sa ating lahat, dahilan naman kung kaya't nandito po tayo ngayon.

Our intention is clear and our purpose is both distinct and noble. It is not our intention to push for Filipinos leaving country, home and family just to work abroad. No. It is our distinct and noble purpose to provide our fellow Filipinos with the necessary and adequate support they desperately need in overcoming the various and difficult predicaments they encounter overseas; not of their own choice, but as brought about by what has become unavoidable desperate necessity.

Clearly, it has become a desperate necessity that we provide for the institution of an entity that will orchestrate our efforts and policies, which unfortunately have become fragmented, to the detriment of OFWs welfare.

Once again, this is not to push Filipinos to go out and work overseas - it has become a desperate necessity that we should provide coherent, effective and efficient policies and focus our concerted efforts to the benefit of all OFWs, permanent residents, and most especially, undocumented Filipino migrants and migrant workers who seek greener pastures and better opportunities abroad.

Gusto po natin na mas maraming Pilipino ang magkaroon ng disenteng trabaho dito sa atin, kasama ang kanilang pamilya. Sino po ba ang may ayaw nito?

Subalit kailangang-kailangan din po nating tugunan ngayon ang pangangailangan ng lumalaking bilang ng mga OFWs at isa po sa mga nakikitang solusyon - at patuloy pa po nating pag-uusapan ito - ay ang paglikha ng isang bahay na matatakbuhan, masisilungan at matutuluyan ng Pilipinong manggagawa sa ibayong dagat; isang ahensyang para lamang sa ating mga Bagong Bayaning nagsasakripisyo para sa kapakanan ng pamilya at bayan.

Salamat po.