President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has certified as urgent the proposed OFW Reintegration Act, prompting lawmaker expressions of gratitude for prioritizing social and economic support services for returning overseas workers and their families.
Albay Representative Adrian Salceda thanked President Marcos for accelerating the passage of the measure, noting that he authored the initial House version during the current Congress to address systemic gaps in post-deployment assistance.
”Salamat po, Mr. President. Napakalaking tulong po nito sa ating mga OFW at kanilang mga pamilya,” Salceda said. “I filed the first House bill on OFW reintegration this Congress, and I am grateful that the President has given the measure urgency.”
Under the consolidated legislative proposal originating from House Bill 50, the government will establish dedicated ”Balikbayani Centers” to serve as one-stop reintegration hubs for returning workers and their dependents.
Salceda urged the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) to set up these operational service hubs across major international airports and entry ports nationwide to ensure immediate access upon arrival.
”Paglapag na paglapag po ng ating mga OFW, ready dapat tayong tanggapin sila at bigyan ng agarang suporta,” Salceda emphasized. ”Nasa airport pa lang, dapat may malinaw nang pupuntahan para sa trabaho, livelihood, at iba pang tulong na kailangan nila.”
Salceda noted that centralized hubs will consolidate employment placement, emergency assistance, and livelihood programs, eliminating the bureaucratic delay of navigating multiple government entities.
”Marami sa kanila ang umuuwi after years of working abroad. Some come home because their contracts have ended; others because of displacement, conflict, or difficult circumstances,” Salceda noted. ”Whatever the reason, government has to be ready when they arrive.”
President Marcos formally certified the Senate counterpart version of the OFW reintegration measure as urgent on October 6, enabling expedited legislative deliberations on second and third readings.