The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said it is confident that the proposed new department for Filipinos abroad will be signed before the end of the year.
Labor Undersecretary Joji Aragon said the House of Representatives has already completed its version of the said legislation for the creation of the new department.
While the counterpart bill from the Senate is still in the committee level, she said the pronouncement from Malacañang that President Duterte will certify the legislation as urgent will fast-track its passage.
Last Monday, the President reiterated he wants the proposed department to be created before he ends his term in 2022.
The Presidential Legislative Liaison Office (PLLO) has called for a meeting with concerned government agencies next week to ensure the Executive branch will have a consolidated version, which will be sent to the Senate for consideration.
“I am confident…that under the watch and leadership of the good President and [Labor] Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III, this will be implemented,” Aragon said during an interview with PTV.
Aragon said DOLE supports the proposal for the creation of the new department, which will “bundle up” all the needed services for Filipinos who have already immigrated abroad and overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), even as she stressed that the proposed department will not promote overseas deployment as a national policy.
Migrant advocate groups have criticized the proposed department, saying it will institutionalize the deployment of OFWs abroad.
They also consider the move as a waste of government resources since it would entail a lot of costs to be created and may even disrupt existing services rendered to Filipinos abroad.
There are an estimated 10 million Filipinos abroad who are expected to be covered by the new department.
Image credits: AP/Kin Cheung