Senators expect 4 migrant workers offices opening before February ends

MANILA, Philippines — Senators expect four migrant workers’ offices (MWOs) catering to Filipinos working abroad to be operational before the end of February.

Senator Raffy Tulfo, during the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality, asked which countries lack Philippine MWOs in Southeast Asia.

DMW Undersecretary Bernard Olalia answered Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, and Myanmar. He assured the senator that four MWOs would be opened.

“Meron po kaming bubuksang apat na MWOs dito po sa naaprubahang 2023 first-ever budget,” Olalia said.

(We will open four MWOs under our first-ever approved 2023 budget.)

Asked when it will be established, Olalia said, “within the year.” However, Tulfo pushed for the MWO establishment as soon as possible.

“Dapat ASAP. Dapat bigyan n’yo kami ng timetable. Is it next week, next month? Huwag naman po after six months,” the senator said.

(It should be ASAP. It would help if you gave us a timetable. Is it next week or next month? It shouldn’t be after six months.)

Olalia responded: “Sir, sabi n’yo within the month, gagawin po natin.”

(You said within a month, we will do it.)

Panel chairperson Senator Risa Hontiveros said they expect it before February ends.

“Ibig sabihin, aasahan namin ni Senator Raffy na by the third or fourth week ng February up and running na ang mga ito,” she said.

(This means Senator Raffy and I can expect these to be up and running by the third or fourth week ng February.)

Tulfo and Hontiveros are pushing for the swift construction of MWOs amid human trafficking reports in Southeast Asian countries. MWOs will conduct the screening assessment of employers.

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