AMID transitional challenges, Sen. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go said he is expecting that the incoming administration would expedite the establishment of the newly created Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) so that the agency may become operational and serve migrant workers immediately.

President Rodrigo Duterte signed Republic Act (RA) 11641 on Dec. 30, 2021, creating the DMW in a bid to improve coordination among agencies dealing with the concerns of Filipino migrant workers.

The Senate version of the Act, Senate Bill (SB) 2234, authored and co-sponsored by Go, is a consolidated version of an earlier bill he introduced to establish the Department of Overseas Filipino Workers, which would ensure the efficient and effective delivery of critical public services to Filipino migrant workers.

Go said that the DMW aims to sufficiently and efficiently commit the government’s resources to defend and safeguard the rights and interests of the country’s modern-day heroes, citing the immense hardships encountered by Filipino migrant workers.

“Bagama’t patapos na po ang termino ni Pangulong Duterte noong naisakatuparan po ito, ang importante po dito ay ma-establish na kaagad ‘yung opisina dahil medyo nahihirapan pa sila ngayon dahil kakagawa lang ng IRR (Implementing Rules and Regulations), kakatapos lang po ng mga guidelines na dapat sundin (While the term of President Duterte was already nearing its end when this was enacted, what is important here is the immediate establishment of the office following the completion of the IRR),” noted Go.

“Hopefully, pag-upo ng bagong administrasyon, ng bagong secretary ay talagang madadala po ito nang maayos na nakatutok po sa ating mga OFWs (Hopefully, with the entry of the new administration and the appointment of the new secretary, the agency, focused on our OFWs, will be established),” he added.

Amid reports of migrant workers advocate Susan “Toots” Ople being nominated as secretary, Go then recognized her vast experience and reminded her that the welfare of overseas Filipino workers must always come first.

“Full support po ako dito kahit sino pong mamuno. At kung sakasakaling si Ma’am Susan Ople [‘yun], full support po ako rito (I fully support this, whoever will be designated to head the agency, especially if it will be Ma’am Susan Ople),” said Go.

“Isa lang po ang aking pakiusap, paalala. Siyempre, unahin ang kapakanan ng ating mga OFWs dahil para po sa kanila itong departamentong ito (I have only one request, reminder. Of course, let us prioritize the welfare of our OFWs because this department is for them),” he added.