The House of Representatives paid tribute to Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Susan “Toots” Ople who passed away recently.
“Migrant workers, and workers in general, have just lost a great and tireless champion in Secretary Ople. She was the first secretary of the department Congress had created to focus on attending to the welfare of millions of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs),” Speaker Martin Romualdez said.
“She was the first secretary of the department Congress had created to focus on attending to the welfare of millions of OFWs.”
Kabayan Party-list Representative Ron Salo, Chairman of the House Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs, availed of the privilege hour, offering his speech “as a tribute to (Sec. Ople’s) work on the legacy of championing the cause of our migrant workers”.
In his privilege speech, Salo acknowledged the sacrifices of Filipino migrant workers, transcending borders, enriching nations and making an impact in the lives of peoples and communities.
“Your stories of personal sacrifice to achieve a better life for your families are sometimes marked by suffering.”
“Unfortunately, your stories of personal sacrifice to achieve a better life for your families are sometimes marked by suffering,” the lawmaker said, asking his fellow House members to “rise above our differences and unite for a national cause, which is the welfare of Filipino migrant workers” and craft a Magna Carta for Filipino Overseas Workers.
the lawmaker explained his proposal as driven by a profound sense of duty and empathy, “The proposed Magna Carta for Filipino Migrant Workers seeks to empower migrant workers, safeguard their rights and elevate their contributions to the forefront of our nation’s consciousness.”
