Advancing the welfare of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), President Rodrigo Roa Duterte led the groundbreaking ceremony Thursday of the Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) Center, which will serve as a one-stop shop catering to the needs of overseas Filipinos.
“The productive collaboration of the government and its partners is key to achieving concrete results for our fellow countrymen, especially our hardworking kababayans abroad,” President Duterte said during the groundbreaking rites held at the Versailles Palace, Daang Hari, Las Piñas City.
“I fully support projects and other activities that promote the welfare and the holistic development of our unsung heroes who will always play a crucial part in our country’s development, especially during times of recovery after tumultuous events such as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.”
The President said he is profoundly moved by the OFWs’ unwavering dedication, perseverance, and their day-to-day sacrifices to provide a better way of life for their loved ones that make them worthy to be called “mga Bagong Bayani”.
In recognition of their service and heroism, the chief executive said his administration remains steadfast in providing the best service it could provide to the country’s OFWs.
Among the milestones being pursued by the government are the construction of the OFW hospital in Pampanga and the institutionalization of the Department of Migrant Workers aimed at easing government transactions for the benefit of overseas workers and their families.
At the same time, the President expressed hope that in the near future, OFWs who have adopted the cultures of their host countries, will find great promise and satisfaction upon their return to their homeland.
“Let us therefore continue to revitalize our sense of duty and patriotism as we collectively endeavor to uphold and protect the welfare of all Filipinos, wherever they are in this planet.”
During the occasion, President Duterte likewise expressed his utmost gratitude to the Global Filipino Movement (GFM) Foundation Inc. for its initiative in supporting OFWs through the construction of the facility.
The OFW Center is a 10-storey building envisioned to be a one-stop center for government services, ministry counseling, and legal assistance for OFWs.
The center is a project of the GFM Foundation, a non-stock and non-profit organization that works with Christian churches, organizations and individuals to provide free assistance to overseas workers.
About 11 percent of the country’s population, or around 10 million Filipinos work and stay in over 100 countries throughout the world.
OFWs have been a lifeline of the Philippines, with their remittances contributing around 9 percent of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP).
Last year, total OFW remittances reached almost $35 billion. PND
