OWWA wants transfer of department

Wilhelm Soriano, administrator of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), has requested the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to shift the OWWA from the labour department to the DFA.

"We can no longer close our eyes to the clamour of many that OWWA should deliver better programmes and services. Thus it must be under the able guidance of the DFA," said Soriano. He was speaking on the agency's 20th anniversary, on Saturday, at the Philippines Trading and Training Centre.

He said Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) organisations and their families have filed a petition with President Arroyo. It calls for OWWA's transfer to the department of foreign affairs due to "confusion because government services are not aligned for workers overseas."

Soriano said even the militant group Migrante International has joined other OFW organisations.

"People are confused like they were in the case of repatriation as where to go. OWWA takes care of OFW welfare, while the DFA is in charge of repatriation. I think our services will become better if we belong to one department," he noted.

Teofisto Guingona Jr., Secretary of DFA, who was a guest speaker, welcomed OWWA's integration to his department. "We will gladly accept it (proposal)," said Guingona. He noted there have been a number of instances when the welfare agency has collaborated with the DFA to help OFWs. "We all support OWWA programmes," he said.

In response to Soriano's speech, Guingona said DFA lawyers are now studying the possibility of OWWA-DFA merger and such a move may not need the approval of Congress. He said it would only require an executive order from Arroyo.