House Panel Approves Creation of Balikbayani Centers to Support Returning OFWs

The House Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs has given its approval to a proposal establishing Balikbayani Centers—integrated service hubs dedicated to assisting Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) upon their return.

Authored by Albay Representative Raymond Adrian Salceda, the initiative is set to become a crucial element of the forthcoming Magna Carta for OFWs. The centers aim to streamline access to government programs by co-locating key agencies such as the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and Department of Health (DOH).

Balikbayani Centers will be established in every region nationwide, with special emergency units positioned at major ports of entry including the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), Mactan-Cebu International Airport, and Davao International Airport. These facilities will provide returning OFWs and their dependents with access to livelihood assistance, skills training, psychosocial support, medical care, and urgent emergency services—all under one roof.

Representative Salceda highlighted the importance of the bill, stating, "This legislation is about dignity. The moment an OFW steps back into the country, government support should be immediately available. Reintegration isn’t something to be considered later. The Balikbayani Center will serve as a dedicated one-stop shop for all their needs."

He also stressed that the measure does not introduce new bureaucratic layers but rather enhances coordination by consolidating existing services, aligning it with the government’s streamlining efforts for greater efficiency. "It’s a very affordable solution that coordinates existing resources. Even prior to enactment, the Department of Migrant Workers can begin implementing this plan," Salceda added.

Concluding, he affirmed the commitment behind the proposal: "Every OFW deserves a well-organized, dignified, and compassionate homecoming. Integrating the Balikbayani Center Act into the Magna Carta for OFWs turns this promise into reality."