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NewsTranscript
00:00At this point, we will talk to DMW Secretary Hans Laiu-Kakdak. Good morning, Secretary Kakdak.
00:07Good morning, sir. Good morning to all of our listeners.
00:11How is the situation of our countrymen in Lebanon? Why are many withdrawing from the original application?
00:18Well, for now, the call is for them to go home on the weekend of Ambassador Balatbat in Beirut.
00:25Our embassy is in Beirut.
00:28Voluntary repatriation mode, alert level 3 for now.
00:31As far as I know, the alert level is increasing now.
00:37We are talking to the DFA. The DFA is in charge of the alert levels.
00:41So, for now, the mode is voluntary and our countrymen have a choice whether or not they want to go home.
00:50For now, this is the only way for the government to encourage them to go home.
00:56This is the only way to reduce the tension and possibly bring the situation there.
01:01So, our countrymen and women, our OFWs, would have their own reasons, right?
01:08The reason why they don't want to go home.
01:12Most OFWs in Lebanon are housewives.
01:14So, they are in their respective employers' homes, households.
01:19And maybe they feel safe in the homes of their respective employers.
01:28And maybe they have their employers' understanding when it comes to this.
01:33So, for us, we have a directive since day one.
01:39Our president has a directive to give free repatriation, free repatriation,
01:47post-arrival services of the whole-of-government approach,
01:51different kinds of services for the refugees.
01:55So, that's the only way for us to encourage them to go home.
01:59Secretary, what assistance will you give to those who have already left?
02:04I understand that the incentives for those who will go home to the Philippines have been increased.
02:08The financial assistance is unprecedented.
02:11P75,000 from the DMW alone, and then a counterpart amount from the OAH.
02:19So, that's around P150,000.
02:22And then the DSWD and the DOH are also there in the joint efforts.
02:26The SECTED and SECRETS have them personally and with their own teams.
02:33And then, of course, the DOLE and the TESDA.
02:36The TESDA, DG Benitez, is giving training vouchers to BLACO,
02:44in the sense that it's up to those who are returning,
02:46what course of voc-tech, vocational, technological, and what institution,
02:55TESDA accredited institution they want, the one that is close to them or convenient to them.
02:59So, they are there, ready to help.
03:01There is also a livelihood that is being given, a livelihood.
03:04The DMW, the OAH, the DSWD, and other government agencies, that's our CTI and DA.
03:12Well, let's wait for that, if the number of those who will go home to the Philippines will increase.
03:16I just want to ask, while I have the opportunity, you are already formal as DMW Secretary.
03:21What is your priority as the new Secretary?
03:25Yes, first of all, I would like to thank the Commission on Appointments,
03:31to the Commission's Board of Directors, and of course, to our beloved President,
03:35for the continuous efforts of the programs and services for our beloved OFWs.
03:44The priority here is the so-called violation of human rights, human rights for people,
03:50human rights for employment, basic human and employment rights of our OFWs.
03:55Continuous regulation of our procedures to make sure that everybody goes through the legal means,
04:03through the DMW, no one becomes a victim of illegal recruiter and human trafficker.
04:08And those who become victims, for example, of crimes and labor-related claims abroad,
04:14we are making sure that there is sufficient legal assistance and services.
04:18And through our action fund, there is financial assistance, humanitarian and medical.
04:24We have helped a lot of people who need to pay hospital bills.
04:28There are also children, children of OFWs who are stranded abroad.
04:33That's why we are also helping the children to go home.
04:37Now, the other side is the bilateral international cooperation.
04:42We were instructed by our beloved President of the Philippines to deepen the labor relations,
04:50to deepen the protection of OFWs by talking to the host countries.
04:55And then, lastly, reintegration and digitalization of our programs
05:02so that it will be faster and more convenient for OFWs to process their documents
05:08and for them to go home.
05:10In reintegration, they will be given sufficient employment, training, and livelihood.
05:17Thank you very much and congratulations on your formal appointment as a secretary.
05:22Thank you very much, sir.
05:23Congratulations to the listeners watching. God bless you.
05:26This is DMW Secretary Hans Kakdak.
05:53For more UN videos visit www.un.org