SBG calls on colleagues to support ‘DOFil’ passage
SB 1949 is one of PDU30’s “priorities,” Sotto notes
AS both chambers of Congress returns to work this week, Sen. Christopher Lawrence ‘Bong’ Go again called on his fellow lawmakers for the immediate passage of Senate Bill 1949, or the ‘Department of Overseas Filipinos (DOFil) Act of 2020.’
“Measures that can improve the bureaucracy and further protect the welfare of Filipinos wherever they are in the world are primordial concerns amid the ongoing pandemic. The government must adapt to the changing times in order to become more efficient and responsive to the needs of Filipinos,” Go said during a media interview last May 15, 2021.
The measure seeks to safeguard the rights and promote the welfare and interests of overseas Filipinos who, according to the solon, now totals more than 10 million spread all over the globe.
SBN 1949 is the third version of a measure Go first filed in July of 2019.
The bill creating DOFil is one of the priority measures of the present administration as mentioned numerous times by Pres. Duterte, including in his last two State of the Nation Addresses (SONA).
The President also certified this most recent version filed by Go as urgent, a fact confirmed by Senate President Vicente Sotto III.
In a separate media interview on the same day, Sotto said that with only three weeks of formal session before Congress adjourns, sine die, to prepare for Pres. Duterte’s SONA in July, Sotto said the Upper Chamber would have to address first the measures certified “urgent” for passage by Pres. Duterte, SB 1949 among them.
“Yung Department of OFW, at saka yung Public Service Act, at saka yung Trade Liberalization.
“Yung mga yun, yung mga cinertify nya (Pres. Duterte) as urgent.
“Palagay ko maganda para sa administrasyon niya yun, di lang para sa kanya, para sa Kongreso…sapagkat ito yung mga napakatatagal nang hindi naaksyunan nung mga nakaraang Kongreso eh naaksyunan ngayon,” Sotto said.
The proposed department, Go explained further, will be primarily mandated to formulate, recommend and implement national policies, plans, programs and guidelines that protect overseas Filipinos, including OFWs, as well as promote their interests and resolve issues concerning them in a timely and effective manner.
“The DOFil will be responsible for providing all relevant social and welfare services, including insurance, social work assistance and legal assistance, as well as administer reintegration and social service programs to overseas Filipinos,” Go said.
“It shall also provide assistance to (Filipino) nationals especially during times of national emergencies, such as pandemic or war,” he added.
“Importante mabigyan na natin sila ng departamento. Isipin mo, ten million OFWs ang nasa ibang bansa. Ibig sabihin, 10 porsiyento yan ng ating populasuon, tapos wala silang departamento,” the lawmaker noted.
Go also earlier expressed concern over the inconveniences that occur should the bureaucracy continue to remain in its current state which affects the ability of the whole government to respond appropriately and deliver in a timely manner the assistance needed by Filipinos abroad and their families in the Philippines with regard to OFW concerns, especially amid the ongoing global health crisis.
Go emphasized the need to streamline all related responsibilities concerning Filipinos overseas into one department so that decisions and actions can be made in the most expedient, most efficient, and most responsive mechanism possible.
To expedite the passage of Malacañang’s priority bills, Sotto said he would propose during their caucus this week for the Senate to have a 4-day session each week or from Monday to Thursday.
