ALBAY Rep. Adrian Salceda welcomed President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s certification of the proposed Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) Reintegration Act as urgent, saying the move would help speed up the delivery of assistance to returning migrant workers and their families.
Salceda thanked Marcos for giving priority to the measure, which seeks to provide returning OFWs with access to employment, livelihood opportunities and other government support.
“Salamat po, Mr. President. Napakalaking tulong po nito sa ating mga OFW at kanilang mga pamilya,” Salceda said.
Marcos certified the Senate version of the OFW reintegration measure as urgent on October 6, paving the way for faster congressional action on the proposal.
Salceda filed House Bill No. 50 on June 30, 2025, the first day of the 20th Congress. The measure initially proposed the creation of Balikbayani Centers that would serve as one-stop hubs for returning OFWs and their dependents.
The proposal was later consolidated into the broader OFW reintegration bill.
Salceda also urged the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) to establish Balikbayani Centers at major airports and other ports of entry to ensure that returning OFWs can immediately access government services.
“Paglapag na paglapag po ng ating mga OFW, ready dapat tayong tanggapin sila at bigyan ng agarang suporta,” he said. “Nasa airport pa lang, dapat may malinaw nang pupuntahan para sa trabaho, livelihood, at iba pang tulong na kailangan nila.”
The proposed centers would allow returning OFWs to access various reintegration services in one place instead of having to visit several government agencies separately.
Salceda noted that OFWs return to the country for different reasons, including the completion of contracts, displacement, conflict and other difficult circumstances.
“Whatever the reason, government has to be ready when they arrive,” he said.
Salceda expressed hope that the President’s certification would help Congress complete deliberations and pass the measure.
“Malaking bagay po ang certification ng Pangulo para matapos na natin ito sa Kongreso. Salamat po, Mr. President,” he added.
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