The Department of Migrant Workers is preparing for full operations next year as President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. approved its P15.871 billion maiden budget for 2023.

DMW Secretary Susan Ople expressed gratitude to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for signing of the agency's budget which will be used for their operations for overseas Filipino workers.

"We promise that the DMW and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration will do its best to protect the welfare of overseas Filipino workers and their families, because this is your instructions and strict orders to us, and because we truly love and respect them," Ople said.

For next year, Ople said that they are eyeing to hire personnel in 1,000 positions, including people who will manage the Agency's 16 regional offices and four new Migrant Workers Offices.

The day also marked the first anniversary of the signing of Republic Act 11641 by former President Rodrigo Duterte, effectively creating the DMW.

Ople reported 766,000 OFWs that have been assisted by the Department in getting decent job offers from July to December, as well as 6,341 migrant workers assisted in their return home.