Bong Go breaks ground for first OFW hospital
Credit to Author: Javier J. Ismael| Date: Wed, 19 Feb 2020 16:18:30 +0000
SEN. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go led the ground-breaking ceremony for the construction of the country’s first overseas Filipino workers’ (OFWs’) hospital in San Fernando City, Pampanga.
In his speech, Go reaffirmed his commitment to push for the passage of a bill that aims to establish a department that would solely focus on the needs and concerns of overseas Filipinos.
He said a significant part of his legislation would be to push for the establishment of the Department of Overseas Filipinos, which is one of the requests of OFWs.
“Masakit makitang iniiwan ng mga kababayan natin ang mga pamilya at mahal nila sa buhay upang makapagtrabaho lamang sa mga malalayong lugar. Suklian natin ang kanilang sakripisyo ng mas maayos na serbisyo para sa kanila at kanilang mga pamilya (It is painful to see our countrymen leaving their loved ones behind just to work in far places. Let us repay their sacrifices with good service for them and their families),” Go said.
According to the senator, the proposed department seeks “to streamline the services provided for the OFWs and to make the several processes they undergo more efficient and convenient.”
“Sa tulong nitong proposed department na ito, isang lugar na lang po ang pupuntahan nila.
Mula sa paghahanap ng trabaho sa ibang bansa hanggang sa pagpo-proseso ng mga dokumento at pagrereklamo sa mga employers, diretso na po sila sa iisang tanggapan lang (With the help of this proposed department, [the OFWs] only need one place to go. From looking for overseas job until the processing of documents and in the filing of complaints against their employers, they only have to go to one office),” he added.
Go filed in July last year Senate Bill 202 or the “Department of Overseas Filipinos Act of 2019.” The proposed law aims to consolidate the powers, functions and personnel of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, Commission on Filipinos Overseas, International Labor Affairs Bureau of the Department of Labor and Employment and National Reintegration Center for OFWs.
The powers and functions of the Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs of the Department of Foreign Affairs and all Philippine Overseas Labor Offices (POLOs) and their officials will also be transferred to the new department.
The senator said the bill would help curb the proliferation of illegal recruiters. It will also provide for the creation of the Overseas Filipinos Assistance Fund for migrant workers in distress, inclusive of repatriation and provisions for life savings funds in times of emergencies.
Go thanked all the government agencies and organizations responsible for the planned establishment of the first OFW hospital in the country.