Senator Alan Peter Cayetano has committed to intensifying his efforts for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the second half of his Senate term — not only through legislation but also via direct and immediate assistance.
Speaking during his nightly livestream CIA 365 with Kuya Alan, Cayetano responded to an OFW viewer’s message of support, saying, “Pabalik, I am hoping to do more for OFWs this term, this next three years.”
A former Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) secretary from 2017 to 2018, Cayetano emphasized the vital role OFWs play in sustaining the Philippine economy, especially during turbulent periods. “Ang bumuhay talaga sa Pilipinas ay ‘yung remittances ng Pilipino, especially nung may crisis after crisis tayo,” he said.
Cayetano, who frequently greets and checks in on OFWs from around the globe during his livestreams, noted the high regard Filipinos receive abroad. “Wherever you go – to Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi – mataas tingin nila sa mga Pilipino. Grabe ang pagmamahal ng mga locals doon sa Pilipino,” he added.
During his stint as DFA chief, Cayetano pushed for faster passport processing for OFWs and expanded legal aid by increasing the Assistance to Nationals Fund to ₱1 billion.
He also urged fellow government leaders to back their words with concrete actions. “Paulit-ulit mong tinatawag na heroes, tapos wala ka namang ginagawa. Hindi puwedeng salita [lang] – dapat isabuhay,” he stressed.
