Thread by @cnnphilippines

THREAD: Senate labor committee resumes discussions on the proposed Department of Overseas Filipino Workers, a priority measure of President Duterte | LIVE bit.ly/2MTrRV0

Tweets by our correspondent @meltlopez

@meltlopez Committee chair Sen. Joel Villanueva says the panel will not rush the discussions on the Department of OFWs even if the President has certified it as urgent.

"Haste makes waste," he says.

@meltlopez Most OFW rights groups support the creation of the DOFil. But Director Ellene Sana of the Center for Migrant Advocacy asks: Consider how much is the cost of restructuring. Now that the government's resources are depleted, is this the time to add to the cost?

@meltlopez LOOK: Tally of maltreatment cases and other issues faced by OFWs in 2020

@meltlopez DFA Usec. Sarah Arriola says PH should work on sending only skilled workers rather than domestic helpers abroad: We can't stop the culture of abuse inside the homes of foreigners. The only time the state can intervene is when the abuse already happened

@meltlopez DOLE International Labor Affairs Bureau Director Alice Visperas: We have yet to come up with an exit plan for Filipino domestic workers.

Sen. Nancy Binay: Kahit magbuo tayo ng DOFil, patuloy tayong magkakaroon ng problema.

@meltlopez DFA on proposal to stop deploying domestic helpers to avoid abuse from foreign employers: While we want to stop deployment of household workers, we first need to upskill our workers. Many will not be qualified for other jobs. That exit plan might take years.

@meltlopez Sen. Franklin Drilon says he prefers that the DOLE be given stronger and direct control of POEA and OWWA rather than lodge them under a new agency solely for OFWs.

DOLE Sec. Silvestre Bello: The Secretary of DOFil will have a say in policies, implementation of OWWA and POEA.

@meltlopez Sen. Imee Marcos says if OWWA and POEA remain as attached agencies, the problem of passing around OFW concerns will continue

@meltlopez DOLE Sec. Bello: Bakit umaalis ang ating mga nurse? Mababa ang bayad, minsan sila pa ang nagbabayad sa ospital para makakuha ng 'training.'