The Quezon City Government has partnered with the newly created Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), to protect the rights of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and their families.
Mayor Joy Belmonte and DMW Sec. Susan Ople led the ceremonial signing of the memorandum of agreement during the event Babaeng Kyusi: Ikaw ay Bayani,” “Babaeng tagapagtaguyod, ang araw na ito sa iyo’y inihahandog” on March 22, at the Quezon City Hall.
Under the partnership, the QC government through the Public Employment Service Office headed by Rogelio “Batoy” Reyes, and DMW will strengthen the full protection, promotion, and realization of the rights of OFWs, especially women, and their families in QC. It also aims to further develop appropriate, effective, and efficient services and programs.
Mayor Belmonte has assured OFWs in QC that the local government will continue to strengthen its partnership with DMW to ensure the benefits for migrant workers are met.
“Kami ay tunay na makikipagtulungan upang protektahan ang inyong kalagayan at inyong mga anak [OFWs]. Sisiguruhin namin na lagi kayong ligtas at mapupunan ang inyong mga pangangailangan,” said Mayor Belmonte.
According to Sec. Ople, the City’s partnership with their department will pave the way for a brighter future for the children and families of OFWs in the city.
“Masasabi natin na inaalay natin sa lahat ng kababaihan, lalo na ‘yung mga kasambahay natin nagsasakripisyo, naghihirap sa abroad pero bukod dyan, alay din natin ang partnership na ito sa kanilang mga pamilya. Lalo na ‘yung mga anak, para hindi malulong sa drugs, hindi mabiktima ng exploitation, hindi nabu-bully sa eskwelahan, at maging mataas at matayog ang pangarap nila sa buhay,” said Sec. Ople.
During the event, the City also held a soft launch for the E-Habilin project or the QC OFW Safe Migration and Reintegration for OFW Children Left Behind (QC-OFW SMARt Child), an online portal for OFWs to register their children. This project will commit to the protection and uphold the welfare of the children of migrant women through various social protection programs.
Meanwhile, a caravan was also conducted raising awareness of various migration-relevant issues, programs and services for OFWs and their families.
Prior to the agreement, QC launched the QC Migrant Resource Center under the Public Employment Service Office (PESO) through City Ordinance 2500-2016.
The ceremony was also attended by Vice Mayor Gian Sotto, DMW Asec. Venecio Legaspi, QC PESO Manager Rogelio “Batoy” Reyes, and Department of Labor and Employment Labor Attache Marie Rose Escalada, and other stakeholders.
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