Gov’t should intensify reintegration programs for OFWs – Villanueva

The government must “further intensify” and expand the implementation of reintegration programs for overseas Filipino workers who find themselves back in the country due to COVID-19, Senator Joel Villanueva said Sunday.

In a statement, Villanueva said skills training provided by TESDA and other interventions must be given to OFWs to “become more employable or to seek a new venture through entrepreneurship.”

Aside from TESDA, the senator also called on the Department of Labor and Employment to strengthen its coordination with different industries to determine the prevailing labor demand so the government “can help match their demand for employment.”

“Matching the needs of the labor market is an effective way to reduce the unemployment in the country,” Villanueva said.

Further, he urged government agencies to empathize with OFWs.

“The way we have been treating our workers, especially our OFWs returning home falls short of how we are profuse in heralding them as our “bagong bayani.”

“We don’t leave our heroes begging on the streets and making them wait until they drop dead of hunger or depression. These deaths are avoidable if only our government extended more compassion on the plight of our OFWs and acted with dispatch and sense of urgency,” Villanueva added.

“Let us not dismiss those taking their chance by camping out at bus stations and airport terminals because they long to be with their families, especially in these troubled times.” — DVM, GMA  News