Migrant Workers Secretary Susan “Toots” Ople speaks during the Senate committee on migrant workers (OFWs) public hearing on the discrimination against overseas Filipino workers. (File photo taken on September 28, 2022. Senate PRIB / Voltaire F. Domingo)
MANILA, Philippines — House of Representatives has adopted a resolution sending its condolences to the family of Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Susan “Toots” Ople.
During the session on Tuesday, House Resolution (HR) Number 1226, authored by House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez and other key lawmakers, was consolidated with other related resolutions.
It was adopted through viva voce or voice voting.
Romualdez, in a statement, said Ople deserves praise for having continuously advocated fair treatment of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
She also worked on providing assistance to OFWs who were going through difficult ordeals.
“(Ople is) a staunch advocate of fair and ethical recruitment, a leading voice in recognizing the dignity of labor, no matter how small the task, and a fierce enemy of illegal recruitment and human trafficking,” he recalled.
“(Ople will forever be remembered for her great passion, dedication, commitment, and contribution to the welfare and well-being of millions of OFWs and the entire Philippine labor industry,” he said.
Last Thursday, House committee on appropriations terminated the deliberations on DMW’s proposed 2024 budget earlier than expected.
Iloilo 1st District Representative Janette Garin sought to waive the department’s presentation so that the panel could immediately proceed to the period of interpellation.
“Mr. Chair, we fully understand the situation of the [DMW] as of this moment and I believe they also have a necro(logical service) later today,” Garin explained.
“All members have actually been furnished a copy, and we are very much aware of all the hardships, the challenges, and the accomplishments that the DMW as a family headed by Secretary Ople has done,” she added.
Ople was the first secretary of DMW.
According to a statement from department last Tuesday, she died on August 22 surrounded by her family and loved ones.
She was 61.
Ople was also a columnist, writer, and former presidential speechwriter.
She used to be a researcher at the office of former Senator Ernesto Herrera.
Then, she served as chief of staff and public information officer of her father, late former Senator Blas Ople.
She was appointed labor undersecretary from 2004 to 2009.
During this time, she formed Blas F. Ople Policy Center, a non-profit organization that helps victims of human trafficking and illegal recruitment.
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