Hinamon ng senatorial candidate na si Susan “Toots” Ople ang susunod na pangulo ng bansa na bigyan ng prioridad ang mga pangangailangan ng mga overseas Filipino worker (OFW) sa pamamagitan ng pagtatatag ng bagong kagawaran na tututok sa naturang sektor.

“I will ask the Senate President [that there should be] a separate, sub-committee on OFW affairs, because they have one in the House [of Representatives],” pahayag ni Ople nang humarap siya sa “Hot Seat” candidates’ forum ng Manila Bulletin kahapon.

Aniya, dapat repasuhin ng susunod na administrasyon ang overseas employment program ng gobyerno upang makatugon sa iba’t ibang suliranin na kinahaharap ng mga OFW.

“It has been 41 years since my father’s (the late former Sen. Blas Ople) tenure as labor secretary, and several gaps have been [bringing about banes] for several decades now,” aniya.

Empleyadong lasing, patay matapos sapakin ng ginising na katrabaho

Si Toots ay tumatakbo sa ilalim ng Partido Galing at Puso ni presidential candidate Sen. Grace Poe at katambal nito na si Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero, subalit inampon din siya bilang senatorial bet ng kampo ng isa pang presidential bet, si Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte at running mate na si Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano.

“We have had several cases, referred to our foundation which is the Blas F. Ople Policy Center, where the family of the concerned OFW would have to go from one agency to another, which takes a lot of time, effort, and money,” aniya.