President Rodrigo Duterte’s top order for the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is to make sure that the government assists the overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from recruitment to deployment, said Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay, Jr.
Yasay said they will guarantee government assistance for OFWs, as they are subject to a lot of difficulties, uncertainties, and vulnerabilities.
Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority shows that there are around 2.4 million Filipinos working abroad as of 2015. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas also reported that OFWs around the world sent $26.92 billion (PhP1.20 trillion) to the Philippines in 2014.
Yasay earlier said a study is being done for the creation of a Department of Overseas Filipino Workers, which Duterte promised during the campaign period for the May 9 elections.
The new DFA chief also pointed out that they will be working on rationalizing the processes involved in getting travel documents, in order to cut red tape.
Duterte himself said he will not tolerating lines or any queuing of the public, especially for OFWs.
Yasay said they will be closely coordinating with other government agencies for the planned streamlining.
