A PROPOSED bill that sought the creation of separate department for OFWs was signed into law by President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday.
The law, which was signed by the President in front of several legislators, will put into place the process to create the Department of Migrant Workers.
Under the new law, several government agencies that address OFW concerns and other needs, will be merged into a single.
The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), on the other hand, will serve as the new department’s backbone, with the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) functioning as an attached agency.
The proposed measure, certified as urgent by the Chief Executive last May, was approved by the Lower House last March. The Senate version, on the other hand, was approved on final ready early December and was subsequently adopted by the House.