05/05/2026
𝐌𝐖𝐎 𝐌𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐧 𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐭 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐮𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐎𝐅𝐖 𝐑𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐋𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐂𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐅𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐨𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐍𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐧 𝐈𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐲
In a milestone initiative for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in Northern Italy, the 𝐌𝐢𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐎𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐞 (𝐌𝐖𝐎) 𝐌𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐧 brought Supreme Court discussions closer to OFWs through a 𝐉𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐮𝐦 held on 𝟎𝟒 𝐌𝐚𝐲 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 at the Philippine Consulate General in Milan.
This event is particularly significant as it marks the first legal forum of the Supreme Court PH for Overseas Filipino Workers outside the Philippines. It reflects the shared commitment of Philippine institutions to bring legal awareness and access to justice closer to Filipinos abroad.
Associate Justices Ramon Paul L. Hernando, Amy C. Lazaro-Javier, and Samuel H. Gaerlan led the discussions, focusing on recent Supreme Court decisions, innovations, and jurisprudence affecting OFWs and their families. Topics included international protection, family law and the recognition of foreign divorce decrees, gender and rights protection, and the fight against illegal recruitment.
For many OFWs, these issues reflect real challenges they face while living abroad, from cross-border family concerns to questions on legal status and protection, and risks in recruitment and employment. Through the forum, participants gained a clearer understanding of their rights, available remedies, and the legal protections under Philippine law, alongside recent developments and innovations in the justice system.
The forum was attended by Department of Migrant Workers Undersecretary Felicitas Q. Bay, Undersecretary for Foreign Employment and Welfare Services, and Atty. Janine T. Tutanes, Director of the Office of Legal Services, together with officials of the Philippine Consulate General in Milan, DMW-accredited legal retainers, Filipino community leaders, and OFWs.
Through initiatives like this, MWO Milan continues to bring services, protection, and useful information closer to OFWs. In line with the Department’s commitment as the Tahanan ng OFW, it remains focused on supporting Filipino workers wherever they may be.