Duterte to Congress: Pass law creating Department of Overseas Filipinos

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte has reiterated his plea to Congress to pass a law establishing a Department of Overseas Filipinos to address the needs of Filipino migrant workers.

“I strongly urge Congress to pass a law establishing the Department of Overseas Filipinos solely on addressing concerns of Filipinos abroad and their families,” Duterte said in his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) at the Batasang Pambansa on Monday.

Duterte had backed the creation of a department dedicated to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) since he was a presidential candidate in 2016.

During the 2016 elections, Duterte drew massive support from OFWs.

READ: House conducts first hearing for plan to create Department of OFWs

In May 2018, the Philippines signed a bilateral labor agreement with Kuwait adding protection for OFWs in the Gulf state.

This was prompted by a diplomatic row between the two nations that was sparked by the death of Filipino worker Joanna Demafelis, who was found stuffed in a freezer in an abandoned apartment a year since she was reported missing.

Before lockdown measures were imposed due to COVID-19, Duterte has expressed willingness to visit Kuwait and personally ask its government to hand out the “maximum” penalty to those responsible for the killing of Filipina domestic worker Jeanelyn Villavende.

“I want their executioner to cut off the heads of those who are responsible for the death of the Filipina,” Duterte has said.