Labor and Employment Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III (extreme right) provides an update of the latest programs of the PHL government for OFWs at a meeting with Filcom representatives in Rome on 28 September 2017. With him are Philippine Ambassador to Italy, Domingo P. Nolasco, Labor Attache Haney Lynn G. Siclot.

02 October 2017 ROME - Labor and Employment Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III met with Filcom representatives at the Philippine Embassy in Rome on September 28 to give them updates on PHL government programs for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) such as the Identification Card for OFWs known as the IDOLE, the establishment of the Overseas Filipino Bank and the nationwide expansion of the one-stop-service centers for OFWs.

Secretary Bello explained that IDOLE would do away with the Overseas Employment Certificate and other documentary requirements for OFWs. The IDOLE project is set to commence towards the end of October this year after its implementing guidelines have been completed.

Secretary Bello also said that the Overseas Filipinos Bank (OFB) would be launched by January 2018. OFB is expected to provide full banking services to all Filipinos overseas.

The one-stop-service centers for OFWs will be increased nationwide to 19 in an effort to provide ease and comfort to OFWs having transactions with relevant government offices, he added.

As chair of the peace negotiating panel of the Philippine government, Secretary Bello also briefed the Filcom on the status of the peace talks between the Philippine government and the National Democratic Front, the Communist Party of the Philippines and its armed wing, the New People’s Army (NDF-CPP-NPA).

Below are some of the photos taken during the meeting. END

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Even on short notice, around 80 Filcom representatives attend the meeting with Secretary Silvestre Bello III (right, standing) at the Philippine Embassy in Rome. This photo captures some of the Filcom leaders who came to listen to Secretary Bello.

Secretary Bello (center) is flanked to the right by Ambassador Domingo Nolasco, Labor Attache Maria Corina Padilla Bunag and Welfare Officer Jocelyn Hapal of Philippine Consulate General in Milan, and Welfare Officer Hector Cruz of Philippine Embassy. To the Secretary’s left are Labor Attache Haney Lynn Siclot and Filcom representatives in Rome. This photo was taken immediately after the meeting with Filcom on 28 September 2017.