CBCP hails President Duterte’s plan to create department for OFWs

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines-Episcopal Commission on Migrants and Itinerant People (CBCP-ECMI) lauded the plan of President Rodrigo Duterte to create a department for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). (Photo: CBCP News/Facebook)

MANILA—The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines-Episcopal Commission on Migrants and Itinerant People (CBCP-ECMI) lauded the plan of President Rodrigo Duterte to create a department for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

“We at CBCP-ECMI appreciate kind gestures and compassion of our government towards our OFW,” said CBCP-ECMI chairman Bishop Ruperto Santos.

“It is now high time and very necessary to give more importance and caring protection to our OFW,” he added.

The Bataan prelate believed that the creation of an agency solely to oversee the needs and welfare of the Filipinos working abroad would be very beneficial for the OFWs.

“We support the creation of department for OFW so that their specific needs will be properly attended to; their basic interests will solely safeguarded and their personal rights and privileges will be promoted and preserved,” Santos said.

“It could be also POEA (Philippine Overseas Employment Administration) and OWWA (Overseas Workers Welfare Administration) will be under the watch of this new Department for OFW, so that common and united efforts for the welfare and wellbeing of our OFWs will be rightly and justly addressed to,” the Catholic prelate added.

On Friday, the President announced his plan to create a new department the will focus on the plight and welfare of OFWs.