Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Hans Cacdac expressed hope that presumptive senator-elects and members of Congress will help advance measures aimed at strengthening the protection of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

Among the measures Cacdac hopes to be prioritized are bills on OFW registration.

“There were bills on reintegration that our department’s Legislative Liaison Office is currently looking into. So we wish to strengthen and work with our congressional committees—the Senate and House Committees on Overseas Filipino Workers,” the DMW secretary said.

He also stressed the need to intensify the anti-illegal recruitment campaign by improving coordination with law enforcement, enhancing penalties against illegal recruiters, and ensuring faster resolution of related cases.

With congressional budget deliberations approaching, Cacdac expressed hopes of working closely with national legislators to ensure sufficient allocation for key DMW programs, including the Agarang Kalinga at Saklolo para sa mga OFW na Nangangailangan (AKSYON) Fund, reintegration initiatives, local help desk personnel, and inspectorate operations.

For fiscal year 2025, the combined approved budget for the DMW and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) stands at P8.79 billion.

Cacdac also called on newly elected local government officials, emphasizing the importance of collaboration in combating illegal recruitment and organizing job fairs.

“And of course, there’s the need to establish local help desks. We need personnel and funding for every municipality, city, and province,” he said.