Mary Jane Veloso, a Filipino migrant worker, returned to the Philippines after nearly 15 years of detention in Indonesia for drug trafficking. Her arrival, just before Christmas, marked a significant moment in the ongoing efforts by the Philippine government to safeguard its overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and their families. Veloso was arrested in 2010 with 2.6 kilos of heroin and sentenced to death, but received a temporary reprieve in 2015 to aid in a human trafficking investigation. Her return was facilitated by an agreement between Manila and Jakarta, announced by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., who expressed gratitude to Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto. Veloso’s case also led to charges against the human trafficking syndicate that allegedly recruited her. Upon her return, she was placed in the Correctional Institution for Women in Mandaluyong City. Her sister, who faced sexual abuse in Saudi Arabia, was also repatriated before Veloso’s return. The Veloso family received financial aid, skills training, and healthcare support from the Philippine government.
The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) has been actively repatriating distressed OFWs, with 1,986 from Kuwait, 1,203 from Lebanon along with 52 dependents, and 1,046 from Israel with 30 dependents, due to conflicts in the Middle East. Each repatriated worker received PHP75,000 from the DMW and another PHP75,000 from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, alongside medical care, reintegration programs, and emergency assistance. The DMW’s reintegration programs have provided financial assistance to thousands of beneficiaries, including support for small business management, reintegration education, and psychosocial welfare interventions.
To bolster protection for OFWs, new Migrant Workers Offices were established in Budapest, Hungary, and Warsaw, Poland. The government has also cracked down on illegal recruitment, closing 15 establishments, removing 45,801 illegal recruitment posts from social media, and providing legal assistance to 17,044 individuals. Additionally, President Marcos signed the Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers into law, aiming to protect the rights and welfare of the approximately 400,000 Filipino seafarers worldwide. This legislation, which took over a decade to pass, offers comprehensive protections in areas such as education, training, wages, working conditions, and compensation, and establishes safety protocols for high-risk maritime zones.
In a move to enhance healthcare for returning OFWs, President Marcos led the groundbreaking of the OFW Hospital Bagong Pilipinas Cancer Care Center in San Fernando City, Pampanga. This initiative, honoring the late DMW chief Susan Ople, includes a PHP80-million cancer facility expected to be operational by 2026, reflecting the government’s commitment to supporting OFWs and their contributions to the nation’s economy.