Philippine Department of Migrant Workers to be fully operational by January 2023, says Ople
January 21, 2025
By Expat Media
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Philippine DMW to be fully operational by January 2023, says Ople
Incoming Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Susan "Toots" Ople stated on Thursday (May 26) that the newly constituted agency will be fully operational by January of next year.
In the meanwhile, she said, President-elect Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. assigned her to work with new Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma to "ensure that there will be no disruption in services to our OFWs and, in fact, look at enhancement of services and programs."
Ople stated in an interview with CNN Philippines that they were eyeing January of 2023 when asked when the DMW will be fully operational.
President Rodrigo Duterte approved legislation establishing the DMW in December 2021, with the goal of regulating the affairs of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and defending their rights.
The DMW was also established to govern OFW recruitment, employment, and deployment, as well as to investigate and file charges involving illegal recruitment and human trafficking of Filipino workers in other countries.
However, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea stated that the agency must first be completely formed, which includes having its own funding in the 2023 General Appropriations Act, establishing rules and regulations, and a staffing pattern, among other things.
Last month, Duterte was requested to intervene and settle the "confusion" in the DMW, when his appointed leader of the agency was engaged in a scandal after he exercised the duties of a full-fledged secretary despite the fact that the department had not yet been completely constituted.
DMW Secretary Abdullah Mama-o's have been labeled "illegal" by Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon. KMB/Expat Media
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