(Davao de Oro, 15 September 2023). The Regional Development Council (RDC) XI convened for its 3rd quarter CY 2023 Full Council Meeting on September 15, 2023 at the Dusit Thani Lubi Plantation Resort, Pindasan, Mabini, Davao de Oro, presided over by PSR Arturo M. Milan as Acting Chairperson. Several business agenda were discussed, including the briefing on the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Regional Office XI’s mandate and key programs, activities, and projects, as well as the DMW’s Full-Cycle Reintegration Program which was presented by DMW XI OIC-Regional Director Atty. Angela A. Librado-Trinidad and OIC-ARD Marie Rose A. Escalada, respectively. The nomination of DMW XI to join as a Special Non-Voting Member (SNVM) of the RDC XI was elevated to the Council after the briefing and was acknowledged by OIC-RD Trinidad-Librado.
The DMW is an executive agency of the Philippine government that was created per Republic Act No. 11641, which was signed by former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on December 30, 2021. It consolidates the mandates of the following government agencies involved in the Overseas Employment (OE) Program to deliver timely and effective services to OFWs and their families, viz: Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA); Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs (OUMWA) of the DFA; International Labor Affairs Bureau (ILAB) and all Philippine Overseas Labor Offices (POLOs) under DOLE; National Maritime Polytechnic (NMP); National Reintegration Center for OFWs (NRCO) under the OWWA; Office of the Social Welfare Attaché (OSWA) under the DSWD; and Overseas Workers’ Welfare Administration (OWWA) as an attached agency. The DMW is mandated to facilitate the overseas employment and reintegration of Filipino workers, while taking into consideration the national development programs of the National Economic and Development Authority. It is also tasked to promote the empowerment and protection of OFWs through continuous training and knowledge development.
The Council has approved the designation of DMW XI as SNVM given that its mandates were deemed to have essential contributions to the RDC XI, and its development goals and plans. The DMW XI shall take oath as RDC XI SNVM during the 4th quarter meeting of the Council on December 2023.
