Villanueva hails rescue of 22 OFWs in Denmark

Senator Joel Villanueva welcomed the rescue of 22 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from dire living and working conditions in Denmark.

According to Villanueva, not a single OFW anywhere in the world must be subjected to cruel treatment, thus, the urgent passage of the Social Welfare Attaché bill is needed in these times.

READ: 22 OFWs rescued from ‘deplorable conditions’ in Denmark – DFA

“No Filipino worker deserves to be treated inhumanely, more so in a foreign land,” Villanueva said in a statement on Thursday.

“We expect the concerned authorities, DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs) and DOLE (Department of Labor and Employment) to extend our distressed OFWs all the necessary assistance they need—social, economic and legal services,” he added.

Senate Bill 1819  or the Social Welfare Attaché bill aims to institutionalize social welfare attachés as a permanent component of Philippine foreign posts in countries or jurisdictions with the highest concentration of OFWs or cases of Filipinos being trafficked. 

Villanueva, author and sponsor of the proposed measure, believes social welfare attachés would alleviate incidents of OFW abuses.

“Kapag may permanenteng Social Welfare Attachés sa ating mga Philippine foreign posts, maiibsan natin ang mga kaso ng pang-aabuso at pagmamaltrato sa ating mga kababayan,” he said.  /kga