Marcos honors OFWs, vows to provide benefits for families

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. on Friday honored anew the overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who have sacrificed not just for their families but for the entire nation.

In a gift-giving ceremony at the Kalayaan Grounds inside the Palace compound, Marcos mentioned that OFWs are close to his heart as he vowed to strengthen the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) to provide the needs of Filipinos working abroad. 

"Gusto ko sanang magpasalamat at magbigay-pugay sa ating mga itinuturing na bagong bayani, ang ating mga OFW, para sa lahat ng mga nagawa ninyo para sa atin, para sa inyong pamilya, para sa inyong bansa," said Marcos.

(I want to thank and honor our modern heroes, the OFWs, for their sacrifices for us, for their families, and for the entire country.)

"Malapit po sa akin ang mga OFWs at ang kanilang mga pamilya. Kaya naman sa ating administrasyon, lalo nating pinagtitibay ang Department of Migrant Workers upang mas mabilis ang serbisyo at pagkalinga para sa ating mga bagong bayani," he added.

(OFWs are close to my heart, including their families. That's why I will continue to strengthen the Department of Migrant Workers to provide services and assistance to our new heroes.)

Marcos acknowledged the role of OFWs in reviving the country's economy and way of living of Filipino families.

"Dahil sa inyo, nagkaroon ng magandang imahe ang ating bansa sa buong mundo. Tinitingala ang mga manggagawang Pilipino bilang isa sa pinakamagagaling, di na isa sa pinakamagagaling, 'yung pinakamagaling at pinakasamasipag at pinakamaalagain sa buong mundo," he said.

(Because of you, the Philippines had a good image in the international arena. Filipino workers are being hailed as the most efficient, most hardworking, and most caring globally.)

Further, the President greeted the DMW for its first anniversary and lauded the agency's efforts in providing services not only to the OFWs but also to their respective families.

He said he wants to provide housing, scholarship, and other benefits to OFWs and their families.

"Sa nakaraang taon ay nakita natin na buong sigasig na nagtatrabaho ang kagawaran upang siguruhin ang interes at kapakanan ng ating mga OFW," Marcos said.

(In the past year, we witness the agency's efforts in providing the needs and ensuring the welfare of OFWs.)

"Ngunit, ang may kaunting pagbabago. Kagaya po ng ipinaliwanag ni Secretary Toots, ay ngayon ay hindi lamang natin tinitingnan ang mismong mga OFW, ang mismong mga nagtatrabaho sa abroad, kung hindi pati na ang inyong mga pamilya," he added.

(But there will be changes, we will not just protect OFWs but we will include their families.)

Marcos, together with First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos, and sons Joseph Simon and William Vincent, gave Christmas gifts to OFWs and their families, including a bag of goods containing 5 kilos of rice, noodles, coffee, and canned goods.

In her separate message, DMW Secretary Susan Ople said from July to December of this year, at least 766,290 OFWs have been processed by the DMW and found jobs abroad.

Meanwhile, 6,341 distressed OFWs were repatriated, Ople said. As of November, there are 16,000 scholars of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), she added.

"Pangako po, Mr. President, gagawin namin sa DMW at ng OWWA ang lahat para alagaan at ipaglaban ang ating mga OFWs at ang kanilang mga pamilya. Dahil iyan po ang inyong mahigpit na tagubilin sa amin. At dahil tunay po namin silang minamahal at ginagalang," said Ople.

(I promise, Mr. President, we will exert all our efforts in DMW and OWWA to protect our OFWS and their families. That's your order to us. And because we truly love and respect them.)

For 2023, Ople said the DMW will be in "full hiring mode" because the agency needs to fill up around 1,000 positions, as it will be opening 16 regional offices and four additional overseas labor posts or Migrant Workers Offices. —KBK, GMA Integrated News