Top ILO officials visit Quezon City center for migrant workers

MANILA, Philippines — Top officials of the International Labor Organization (ILO) on Tuesday visited the Quezon City government to personally witness the local government’s efforts on local migration governance.

Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte welcomed ILO Director General Gilbert Houngbo to the QC Migrant Resource Center (MRC), which was established in 2019 to provide assistance to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and their families living in the city.

“We are privileged to have you here on your first official visit to the Philippines. Your extensive experience and track record in advocating for the rights of workers inspire us all,” Belmonte told Houngbo.

Last year, the city government partnered with ILO to strengthen the different projects of the QC MRC.

According to Belmonte, the “center has become a bridge that introduced the international frameworks to the grassroots level by providing vital training to hundreds of OFWs and their families on social protection and labor for safe, regular and orderly migration.”

“Through the Cross Borders Training, almost 300 reintegration providers and representatives of Filipino communities in leading countries of destination of QC OFWs availed themselves of various services and programs,” she added.

The MRC, said Belmonte, also helped mitigate the social costs of migration, such as by providing support and protection mechanisms for children left behind by their overseas working parents.

“We regularly conduct our online program OFW Kumustahan sessions, which allows us to connect with our migrant workers through digital channels and serves as our cross-border reintegration program,” she added.