BULACAN— Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in Bulacan no longer have to go office-to-office to complete their requirements after more than 20 government agencies gathered under one roof Friday for the first-ever OWWA Serbisyo Caravan in Region 3 held at San Jose Del Monte City Sports Complex, Barangay Minuyan Proper, City of San Jose Del Monte.
The event was led by Senator Joel Villanueva where in his remarks recounted the ordeal experienced by many OFWs, especially those outside Metro Manila who had to shuttle between different offices to get their documents cleared.
He said significant reforms were made in 2021 with the enactment of the law creating the Department of Migrant Workers, which he facilitated in the Senate, to simplify and streamline processes for OFWs.
“Noon, ang mga OFWs dito sa Pilipinas, pagdating sa Maynila, turo dito at doon para magpunta sa tanggapan ng gobyerno para makumpleto ang mga requirements nila (In the past, OFWs arriving in Manila would be directed here and there to visit various government offices to complete their requirements),” said Villanueva, chair of the Senate labor committee, before hundreds of OFWs and their families taking part at the caravan at San Jose del Monte Sports Complex on Friday morning.
“Ngayon, ang gobyerno na po mismo ang lumalapit sa ating mga mamamayan. Hindi na po mahihirapan ang ating mga OFWs para kumpletuhin ang kanilang mga requirements. Ito po ang isa sa mga programang isinulong natin sa Senado, at siyang ipinapatupad na ng ating mga katuwang sa OWWA (Now, the government itself is reaching out to our citizens. Our OFWs will no longer face difficulties in completing their requirements. This is one of the programs we championed in the Senate, and it is now being implemented by our partners at OWWA),” he continued.
Villanueva graced the caravan where OFWs and their families register or renew OWWA membership, apply for welfare assistance and social benefits, and access livelihood, education, and reintegration programs, including Balik Pinas! Balik Hanapbuhay and Tulong PUSO, with agencies such as the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Social Security System (SSS) and DMW on site.
Joining Villanueva at the caravan are OWWA Administrator Patricia Yvonne Caunan, San Jose del Monte Mayor Rida Robes and Congressman Arthur Robes.
Caunan credited Villanueva for spearheading legislative reforms for the labor sector, particularly the charter of the DMW in the 18th Congress that paved the way for streamlined processes and policies for OFWs.
“Napakarami na po niyang ipinaabot na tulong para sa ating mga OFWs, at isa sa pinakamalaking tulong ang isinulong niyang batas sa Senado ang pagtatag ng Department of Migrant Workers (He has extended a great deal of assistance to our OFWs, and one of the most significant forms of aid is the legislation he/she championed in the Senate—the establishment of Department of Migrant Workers),” Caunan said.
