Duterte signs law creating Department of Migrant Workers

President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday signed Republic Act 11641 or the law establishing the Department of Migrant Workers.

"The establishment of the Department of Migrant Workers happens on the celebration of Rizal Day, when we honor, not only the exceptional love of country of Dr. Jose Rizal, but also the patriotism, excellence and courage of our modern-day heroes, including our overseas Filipino [workers]," Duterte said in a speech after the signing ceremony.

"There is no better way to serve the Filipino people but by giving them the honest, efficient and responsive government that they deserve," he added.

Under the law, the Department of Migrant Workers will absorb all functions and mandates of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) and will be the primary agency under the Executive branch of the government tasked to protect the rights and promote the welfare of OFWs and other overseas Filipinos.

Under the measure, the department is tasked to formulate, plan, coordinate, promote, administer, and implement policies, and undertake systems for regulating, managing, and monitoring the overseas employment of Filipino workers and reintegration of OFWs and other OFs, while taking into consideration the national development programs formulated by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA).

The new department will be composed of a secretary, four undersecretaries, and assistant secretaries.

Prior to its signing into law, the proposed Department of Migrant Workers has been certified a priority measure of the Duterte administration. —KBK, GMA News