MANILA, Philippines — In a significant move to bolster protections for its millions of citizens working abroad, the Philippines’ Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) has teamed up with a civic group to launch a slate of ambitious programs aimed at improving the lives of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). The partnership, formalized through a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the Global Filipino Movement (GFM), was announced Tuesday and promises a lifeline of support for Filipinos toiling far from home.
The MOA, signed Monday in Mandaluyong City, marks a collaborative push to address the myriad challenges faced by OFWs, from financial insecurity to legal woes. DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac and GFM Chairman Efraim Tendero hailed the agreement as a milestone in their shared mission to uplift the welfare of Filipino migrants worldwide.
“This partnership reflects our commitment to delivering better, more comprehensive services to our kababayans abroad,” Cacdac said during the signing ceremony, emphasizing the critical role OFWs play in the Philippine economy. Remittances from these workers—numbering over 1.8 million, according to government estimates—pumped more than $36 billion into the country last year alone.
Under the agreement, the DMW and GFM will roll out a network of OFW Help Desks across local government units (LGUs) nationwide, designed to serve as one-stop hubs for information and assistance. The collaboration will also amplify efforts to combat illegal recruitment—a persistent scourge plaguing Filipino workers—through nationwide seminars and awareness campaigns.
Financial literacy sessions are another cornerstone of the initiative, targeting not just the workers but their families back home, who often manage the hard-earned remittances. Legal aid, psychological counseling, and skills development programs will round out the offerings, ensuring OFWs have the tools to thrive both abroad and upon their return.
The GFM, a non-profit Christian foundation with a track record of supporting Filipino migrants, will also train LGU staff to better serve this vital community. Tendero, a prominent figure in the organization, framed the partnership as an extension of GFM’s mission. “We’re here to walk alongside our overseas workers, providing them with the spiritual, emotional, and practical support they need,” he said.
To maximize reach, the duo plans to harness social media, traditional media, and grassroots outreach, ensuring no OFW is left in the dark about the resources now at their disposal. The initiative comes at a pivotal moment: Filipino workers, employed everywhere from Middle Eastern construction sites to North American hospitals, have long called for stronger government backing amid reports of exploitation and neglect.
For Cacdac, the MOA is more than a bureaucratic handshake—it’s a promise. “We’re building a system that doesn’t just react to problems but anticipates and prevents them,” he said. With the ink now dry, the DMW and GFM are poised to turn that vision into action, offering a lifeline to the Filipino diaspora that has long been the backbone of the nation’s economy.
