REPRESENTATIVE Marissa “Del Mar” Magsino of the OFW Party List has filed House Resolution 2056 urging for the immediate review of the government’s programs and projects on the reintegration of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) returning to the Philippines, whether permanently or intermittently.
The resolution urges the House Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs to investigate the effectiveness of existing reintegration programs implemented by government agencies, especially in light of the growing number of OFWs deployed abroad.
Per data cited by the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) during the budget deliberations last September, there are now six (6) million OFWs, wherein one (1) million are reportedly undocumented OFWs. HR 2056 also states that government data show that 44.1% work in low-wage, elementary roles, making reintegration particularly difficult.
“The OFW Party List has been incisively studying our existing policies and monitoring our government programs on reintegration. Dagdag dito, nakikita din natin ang mga karanasan ng mga nagbabalik na OFWs at tunay ngang weakest link sa migration cycle ang reintegration. At dahil dito, hindi malayong aalis lamang sila ulit dahil walang matibay na sistemang yayakap sa kanila sa kanilang pagbalik, lalo na pagdating sa kabuhayan sa bansa.”, said Rep. Magsino.
Rep. Magsino’s resolution also cites alarming data, including that 87% of OFWs who returned during the pandemic remained unemployed after three months, and most had not received reintegration support.
This inquiry, aimed at strengthening policies in support of OFWs, addresses long-standing challenges highlighted by migration experts, such as limited economic opportunities, lack of social stability, and inadequate psychological support, which have hindered reintegration efforts for many OFWs.
By helping align reintegration programs to address economic, social, and psychological needs, the resolution aims to empower OFWs to reintegrate successfully, whether through stable local employment or by using their overseas skills and savings to build businesses.
The resolution will also look into the possible strategies with private sector and civil society for a range of development interventions (economic integration) and social protection needed in the reintegration journey of OFWs.
“By creating sustainable reintegration pathways, we can have a future where returning to working abroad becomes an option by choice, not out of economic necessity.”, said Rep. Magsino.
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