MANILA- Two committees of the House of Representatives have jointly created a technical working group to consolidate six bills proposing the creation of a Department for Overseas Filipino Workers (DOFW).

In a joint hearing, the Committee on Government Reorganization represented by its vice chairman, Manila Teachers Party-list Representative Virgilio Lacson, and the Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs led by its chairman, Buhay Party-list Representative Mariano Michael Velarde, Jr., approved the motion of Deputy Speaker Sharon Garin to create the working group.

Lacson said the creation of a DOFW aims to promote the overall welfare, rights and needs of OFWs, which is a fitting recognition of the significant contribution of OFWs to national economic progress.

The members of the working group are Lacson, ACTS OFW Party-list Representative Aniceto Bertiz III, Kabayan Party-list Representaive Ron Salo and PBA Party-list Representative Mark Aeron Sambar.

The six proposals to establish a DOFW, defining its powers and functions are: House Bill 227 authored by Deputy Speaker Eric Singson; House Bill 288 by 1-PACMAN Party-list Representative Michael Romero; House Bill 543 by Pangasinan 3rd District Representative Rose Marie "Baby" Arenas; House Bill 822 by Bohol 3rd District Representative Arthur Yap ; House Bill 1936 by Las Piñas Representative Mark Villar and House Bill 2334 by Tarlac 1st District Representative Carlos Cojuangco.

The two committees also discussed House Bill 192 authored by Bertiz and House Bill 3255 by DIWA Party-list Representative Emmeline Aglipay-Villar, both seeking to create the Department of Migration and Development (DMD), which aims to implement and promote programs for the protection, safety, and development of all Filipino migrants and families.