Cayetano on Bagong Balikbayan Act: More interagency support needed to help prepare OFWs for life back home
Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano on Tuesday expressed support for a measure seeking to ensure the proper reintegration of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) returning to the country for good, emphasizing the need to implement this through stronger interagency cooperation.
“Let me express support for the bill. It’s a very good bill, we need it,” Cayetano said of the Bagong Balikbayan Act (Senate Bill No. 2423 under Committee Report No. 80) sponsored by Senator Raffy Tulfo.
The measure seeks to establish a comprehensive, integrated, and sustainable reintegration program for OFWs, covering their needs before, during, and after their overseas employment.
Cayetano is regarded as the father of the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) for his legislative efforts as House Speaker and as principal author of the measure that created the department.
He also served as Foreign Affairs Secretary and personally looked after OFWs from 2017 to 2018, during which he personally handled and looked after their concerns.
“I’d like to support the provision na nilagay about interagency (cooperation),” he said, underscoring the need for agencies like the DMW, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE, and other agencies to work together to ensure that the bill’s programs translate into meaningful assistance for returning OFWs.
Cayetano noted that the objectives of the Bagong Balikbayan Act are closely aligned with the original intent behind the creation of the DMW: to develop the global Filipino, help Filipinos access better opportunities abroad, and prepare for the needs of future generations of migrant workers.
Drawing from his experience in OFW welfare and protection, Cayetano has consistently emphasized the need for stronger and more coordinated government measures to protect migrant workers and support them throughout the migration cycle.
“I’m excited to discuss this at the proper time and to ask the departments how they will not only help this bill and coordinate to make sure that this bill translates to success for OFWs,” he said.
In supporting the bill, he also urged Tulfo to consider the mandatory review of the creation of the DMW in the passage of this measure.
“By next year, up for mandatory review na y’ung batas ng DMW. I really hope we pass this bill, but I hope we can review it side-by-side with how the Department of Migrant Workers can be more effective,” he said.
Comprehensive reintegration support
The Bagong Balikbayan Act mainly addresses the limited programs and initiatives available for returning OFWs, with the goal of establishing a comprehensive, sustainable, and full-cycle reintegration program that addresses the economic, social, and psychosocial needs of OFWs before their return, during their overseas employment, and upon arrival in the Philippines.
The reintegration program shall be customized to the needs and skills of OFWs and mainstreamed through the migration cycle, while promoting access to local employment, entrepreneurship, agriculture, fisheries, aquaculture, and other livelihood opportunities.
Financial literacy programs shall also be developed to help OFWs attain economic self-sufficiency, social stability, and psychosocial well-being for themselves and their families.
The bill strengthens the role of the DMW, through the National Reintegration Center for OFWs (NRCO) as the lead agency, and creates a National Reintegration Network for integrated service delivery.
It shall also institutionalize digital systems for job matching, skills recognition, training, entrepreneurship support, and access to financing.
The measure seeks to cover all returning OFWs, irrespective of their typology or status, including land-based or sea-based OFWs, documented or undocumented OFWs, those who have been voluntarily or mandatorily repatriated regardless of grounds for repatriation, and OFWs returning to the country due to distressing circumstances in their host countries.
Once passed into law, the funding to implement the Bagong Balikbayan Act shall be charged against the DMW’s current year budget along with agencies concerned, and thereafter shall be included in the General Appropriations Act.
Filipino Version
Cayetano sa Bagong Balikbayan Act: Kailangan ng mas matibay na interagency support para sa pagbabalik-bansa ng OFWs
Nagpahayag ng suporta nitong Martes si Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano sa isang panukalang batas na naglalayong matiyak ang maayos na pagbabalik sa Pilipinas at reintegration ng mga Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs).
Kasabay nito, binigyang diin niya na kailangan itong maisagawa sa pamamagitan ng mas malakas na pagtutulungan ng iba’t ibang ahensya ng gobyerno.
“Let me express support for the bill. It’s a very good bill, we need it,” wika ni Cayetano sa Bagong Balikbayan Act (Senate Bill No. 2423 under Committee Report No. 80) na sponsored ni Senator Raffy Tulfo.
Layunin ng panukala na magkaroon ng kumpleto, magkakaugnay, at pangmatagalang programa para sa pagbabalik at reintegration ng mga OFW sa buhay sa Pilipinas. Saklaw nito ang kanilang mga pangangailangan bago, habang, at pagkatapos ng kanilang pagtatrabaho sa ibang bansa.
Itinuturing si Cayetano bilang ama ng Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) dahil sa kanyang mga naging hakbang bilang Speaker ng House of Representatives at bilang pangunahing may-akda ng batas na lumikha sa departamento.
Nagsilbi rin siya bilang Foreign Affairs Secretary mula 2017 hanggang 2018, kung saan siya mismo ang humawak at tumulong sa kanilang mga problema at pangangailangan.
“I’d like to support the provision na nilagay about interagency (cooperation),” aniya, sabay giit sa pangangailangan na magtulungan ang mga ahensya tulad ng DMW, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), at iba pang ahensya upang matiyak na ang mga programa ng panukalang batas ay magiging tunay at kapaki-pakinabang na tulong para sa mga OFW na umuuwi.
Ayon kay Cayetano, tugma ang mga layunin ng Bagong Balikbayan Act sa orihinal na layunin ng paglikha sa DMW: mapaunlad pa ang kakayahan ng mga Pilipino sa buong mundo, matulungan silang makakuha ng mas magagandang oportunidad sa ibang bansa, at maihanda ang mga pangangailangan ng mga susunod na henerasyon ng migrant workers.
Dahil sa kanyang karanasan sa pangangalaga at pagprotekta sa mga OFW, palagi ring binibigyang diin ni Cayetano ang pangangailangan para sa mas matibay at mas organisadong mga hakbang ng gobyerno upang maprotektahan ang mga migrant worker at masuportahan sila sa bawat yugto ng kanilang pagtatrabaho at paglipat sa ibang bansa.
“I’m excited to discuss this at the proper time and to ask the departments how they will not only help this bill and coordinate to make sure that this bill translates to success for OFWs,” sabi ng senador.
Hinikayat din niya si Tulfo na isama sa pagtalakay sa batas ang mandatoryong pagsusuri sa pagkakalikha ng DMW.
“By next year, up for mandatory review na y’ung batas ng DMW. I really hope we pass this bill, but I hope we can review it side-by-side with how the Department of Migrant Workers can be more effective,” sabi ni Cayetano.
Komprehensibong suporta para sa umuwing OFW
Pangunahing tinutugunan ng Bagong Balikbayan Act ang kakulangan ng mga programa at serbisyo para sa mga OFW na nagbabalik sa Pilipinas.
Layunin nitong magkaroon ng kumpleto, pangmatagalan, at tuloy-tuloy na programa na tutugon sa mga pangangailangang pangkabuhayan, panlipunan, at emosyonal o mental ng mga OFW bago sila umuwi, habang nagtatrabaho sa ibang bansa, at pagdating nila sa bansa.
Iaayon ang reintegration program para sa mga pangangailangan at kasanayan ng bawat OFW. Isasama rin ito sa bawat yugto ng kanilang pagtatrabaho sa ibang bansa.
Layunin din nitong matulungan ang mga OFW na makahanap ng trabaho sa Pilipinas o magkaroon ng sariling negosyo at iba pang pagkakakitaan sa agrikultura, pangisdaan, aquaculture, at iba pang livelihood opportunities.
Magkakaroon din ng mga programa tungkol sa tamang paghawak at pagpaplano ng pera upang matulungan ang mga OFW na maging financially independent, magkaroon ng mas matatag na buhay, at mapangalagaan ang kanilang sariling kapakanan at ng kanilang pamilya.
Palalakasin ng panukala ang papel ng DMW, sa pamamagitan ng National Reintegration Center for OFWs (NRCO), bilang pangunahing ahensya para sa programa. Bubuo rin ng National Reintegration Network upang mas maging organisado at magkakaugnay ang pagbibigay ng mga serbisyo.
Gagamit din ng mga digital system para sa paghahanap at pagtutugma ng trabaho, pagkilala sa mga kasanayan ng OFW, training, suporta sa negosyo, at pagkuha ng financing o puhunan.
Saklaw ng panukala ang lahat ng OFW na umuuwi, anuman ang kanilang uri o katayuan. Kabilang dito ang mga OFW na nagtatrabaho sa lupa o sa dagat; mga documented o undocumented; mga kusang umuwi o sapilitang pinauwi – anuman ang dahilan ng kanilang pagpapauwi; at mga OFW na umuuwi dahil sa mahihirap o mapanganib na sitwasyon sa bansang kanilang pinagtatrabahuhan.
Kapag naging batas ang panukala, ang pondo para sa pagpapatupad nito ay kukunin muna sa kasalukuyang budget ng DMW at ng iba pang mga kaugnay na ahensya. Sa mga susunod na taon, isasama na ang pondo sa General Appropriations Act.
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