Senator Kiko Pangilinan called for urgent and concrete government action to ensure the safety and welfare of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), following alarming reports of violence and unsafe conditions affecting Filipino workers abroad.
“Our OFWs are modern-day heroes. They endure separation from their families, unable to go home even for the holidays and special occasions, to provide a better future for their loved ones and to support our national economy. It is our moral and constitutional obligation to protect their rights and ensure their safety wherever they are in the world,” Pangilinan said.
The veteran legislator’s remarks came after the death of 49-year-old Leah Mosquera, who succumbed to the injuries she sustained from an Iranian missile attack in Israel.
The seasoned lawmaker also lamented the fate of the 21 Filipino crew of MV Eternity C, which sank in the Red Sea recently after being attacked by Houthi rebels days before.
Only eight of the 21 Filipino crew have been rescued so far.
“The government must be proactive in ensuring the safety and security of our workers abroad.”
“We cannot afford to be reactive. The government must be proactive in ensuring the safety and security of our workers abroad,” the senator stressed.
He underscored the need for strengthened diplomatic efforts, improved bilateral labor agreements, and increased funding and legal assistance for OFWs.
Pangilinan is also pushing for a review of current policies and regulations on the deployment of migrant workers, and for real-time monitoring of land-based and sea-based Filipino workers in high-risk regions.
“We need to build a country where staying is a viable option for everyone.”
“The dangers our kababayans face abroad further underscore our need to strengthen our economy, so they can have the option of returning home and staying with their families. This is a challenge to us, as legislators and public servants. We need to build a country where staying is a viable option for everyone,” he said.
Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) and the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) showed that there are some 2.2 million Filipinos working abroad, contributing billions of dollars in remittances each year.
However, many remain vulnerable to exploitation, abuse, conflicts, and neglect in foreign labor markets.
