DMW eyes centralized service hub

Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) returning home may soon find their reintegration to be easier, as the government is eyeing a major funding increase and a centralized service hub to streamline the support for migrant workers.

Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Cacdac said the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) is seeking a 200-percent increase — about P250 million — in the budget for the National Reintegration Center for OFWs (NRCO) under the upcoming National Expenditure Program.

“Let’s just pray because the National Expenditure Program hasn’t been released yet, but there’s a possible 200-percent increase in the budget of the National Reintegration Center. We keep our fingers crossed,” he said.

Reintegration, Cacdac explained, refers to the permanent return of overseas Filipino workers who choose to stay in the Philippines for good, supporting their families and contributing to the economy through local employment.

The increase supports the creation of the National Reintegration Network (NRN), a multi-agency effort to unify government reintegration services under one roof.

Apart from the DMW and OWWA, agencies that will be a part of the NRN include the Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Social and Welfare Development, Department of Agriculture, Department of Tourism, Department of Science and Technology, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, Pag-IBIG Fund, National Commission on Muslim Filipinos, Overseas Filipino Bank, Social Security System, Philippine Pharma Procurement Inc., PhilHealth, and the Small Business Corporation.

The DMW secretary said the 10-story NRN building, to be constructed by the Department of Public Works and Highways, is expected to rise by August 2027 at the Occupational Safety and Health Center along Agham Road in Quezon City.

“While that’s not in place yet, we plan to set up a [temporary one-stop shop] at the office in Makati,” he added.

The establishment of the NRN is based on Article XII, Section 36 of the Implementing Rules and Regulation of Republic Act 11641, or the Department of Migrant Workers Act, which aims to “strengthen societal stakeholders’ coordination in the delivery of reintegration services, including but not limited to livelihood, microenterprise and employment assistance and referrals to returning OFWs.”

OWWA Administrator Patricia Yvonne Caunan said the NRN directly addresses longstanding complaints by OFWs about having to visit multiple government offices to access various support services.

The DMW also signed an agreement with the Commission on Human Rights to roll out programs benefiting OFWs, including human rights education, mobile legal clinics, quicker response to abuse cases, joint investigations, and inclusive policy consultations.