The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) was an agency of the government of the Philippines responsible for opening the benefits of the overseas employment program of the Philippines. It was the main government agency assigned to monitor and supervise overseas recruitment and manning agencies in the Philippines. On December 30, 2021, however, then President Rodrigo Duterte signed the Department of Migrant Workers Act (Republic Act No. 11641) creating the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), to consolidate and streamline all government efforts related to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) under one agency. This move aimed to improve efficiency and provide better support for OFWs by unifying various agencies and their functions, replacing POEA.
Under the DMW, several offices were merged from different departments, including the POEA, into a single agency dedicated to OFWs. By bringing together these offices, the DMW aims to streamline processes, reduce red tape, and provide a more coordinated approach to serving OFWs.
DMW also provides enhanced protection to OFWs. The DMW’s mandate includes not only facilitating overseas employment but also protecting the rights and welfare of OFWs, ensuring they receive adequate support and assistance throughout their employment journey.
The DMW effectively acts as a “one-stop shop” for OFWs, handling various concerns from recruitment and deployment to reintegration and repatriation.
The creation of the DMW was also driven by the need to address issues related to fragmented government services and the need for a more comprehensive approach to OFW welfare.
It was officially formed on February 3, 2022 with Hans Leo Cacdad as its current secretary. Its first secretary was Abdullah Mama-o (March 9, 2022-June 30, 2022) followed by Susan Ople (June 30, 2022-August 22, 2023).
DMW Website
The DMW website is https://dmw.gov.ph
DMW Facebook Page
The DMW Facebook Page is https://facebook.com/dmw.gov.ph
(Source: Wikipedia)
