Duterte okays IRR for Dep’t of Migrant Workers, POEA exec confirms

Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) head Bernard Olalia. INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO / CATHY MIRANDA

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte approved the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) for the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), the head of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) confirmed Thursday.

POEA Administrator Bernard Olalia said that the IRR is necessary because it will serve as the “backbone” for the implementation of the DMW Act.

“Inaprubahan na po ng Malacañang iyon pong draft IRR ng ating bagong-bagong departamento — Department of Migrant Workers,” he said in a Laging Handa public briefing.

(Malacañang approved the draft IRR of our new department — Department of Migrant Workers.)

LOOK: Pres. Rodrigo Duterte approved on Monday, April 18, the implementing rules and regulations proposed by the transition committee of the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), POEA Administrator Bernard Olalia confirmed on Thursday during the #LagingHandaPH Public Briefing. pic.twitter.com/4V6vT4gibd

— PCOO Global Media Affairs (@pcooglobalmedia) April 21, 2022

Under the IRR are the structures, operations, and mechanisms on how to continue assisting and protecting overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) through the DMW.

The law establishing the DMW was signed by Duterte in December last year.

READ: Duterte signs law creating Department of Migrant Workers

According to Olalia, services and legal assistance will be more accessible for OFWs through the newly-created agency.

“Doon po sa DMW, dadalhin na po namin sa regional, provincial offices, iyong pangunahing serbisyo para po sa ating mga OFWs,” he said.

(Under the DMW, we will bring primary services for OFWs to our regional and provincial offices.)

“Ibig pong sabihin, makakapagproseso na po sila sa kani-kanilang mga probinsya. Hindi na ho sila kinakailangang pumunta sa Maynila at nang sa ganoon ay maiwasan po iyong napakaraming problema kapag kayo po ay nasa malalayong lugar,” explained Olalia.

(It means that they can process requirements in the provinces. They do not need to travel to Manila and they can avoid several issues when they are in far areas.)

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