Sen. Bong Go has filed Senate Bill 1776, or the National Reintegration Bill, seeking to establish a comprehensive and institutionalized support system for overseas Filipino workers returning home.
The proposed measure aims to ensure that support for OFWs does not end once their employment overseas concludes. It seeks to institutionalize reintegration programs focused on sustainable livelihood and job opportunities to help returning workers transition back into Philippine society.
Under the bill, the Department of Labor and Employment and the Department of Migrant Workers would organize regular job fairs in key areas nationwide to connect returning OFWs with employment opportunities suited to their skills and international work experience. The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority would be mandated to issue certifications or degree equivalents recognizing the education, training and expertise OFWs gained abroad.
“We must prioritize the concerns of our OFWs. Our offices should always be ready to extend immediate assistance to them and their families,” Go, vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Migrant Workers, said.
“Our OFWs have sacrificed so much. They are considered modern-day heroes. That is why the government must always be prepared to respond quickly and provide the help they need, especially during difficult times,” Go said.
The measure also directs DOLE to provide capacity-building initiatives for returning workers who plan to start their own businesses.
Go is among the authors and co-sponsors of Republic Act 11641, which established the Department of Migrant Workers to enhance protection and streamline services for Filipino migrants. He also filed Senate Bill 414, which seeks to institutionalize the Overseas Filipino Workers Hospital in San Fernando City, Pampanga, securing its long-term operation as a specialized health care facility for OFWs and their dependents.
