In a recent interview on Bagong Pilipinas, Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac lauded President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. as the ‘OFW President’ for his dedicated efforts in improving the welfare and protection of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). Cacdac highlighted that 2024 marked a significant year for the DMW, despite being only in its second year of operation.
Cacdac praised President Marcos for his directive to increase the benefits under the Aksyon Fund, which supports OFWs with legal, medical, and financial assistance. The fund’s assistance has been raised from a flat rate of PHP30,000 to a range of PHP50,000 to PHP100,000, depending on the severity of the situation. This initiative has benefited approximately 135,000 OFWs, with a total fund allocation of PHP2.2 billion.
The DMW, under President Marcos’s leadership, processed a record 2.7 million contracts for OFWs in 2024, up from 2.6 million the previous year. This increase reflects the department’s enhanced regulatory efforts to ensure proper documentation and protection of OFWs’ rights.
In the fight against illegal recruitment and human trafficking, the DMW has been proactive, shutting down 15 illegal recruitment establishments and removing 71,000 illegal recruitment sites from social media platforms like TikTok and Facebook. The department has also prosecuted 71 illegal recruitment cases, with 15 convictions, and provided legal assistance to about 20,000 OFWs.
In response to international crises, such as the Israel-Hamas conflict, the DMW, following President Marcos’s directives, successfully repatriated 3,000 OFWs from Israel, Lebanon, and Gaza through a coordinated government effort.
Cacdac also acknowledged President Marcos’s commitment to OFW healthcare, noting the success of the OFW Hospital in Pampanga, which served over 86,000 patients in 2024. Additional funding from the President has facilitated the expansion of medical staff to meet the growing demand. Furthermore, in December 2024, President Marcos led the groundbreaking for a new Cancer Care Center at the OFW Hospital, aimed at serving cancer patients among OFWs and their families.