MANILA, Philippines – The daughter of former Foreign Affairs Secretary Blas Ople on Wednesday urged Philippine President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III to deliver on his promise to generate more local jobs for Filipinos as well as step up the fight against human trafficking.

In a statement, Susan Ople said Aquino's promise to be more responsive to the needs of overseas Filipinos is a good start but will raise expectations of Filipino migrants.

“I hope we can soon get a more detailed plan and clear definition of this new level of responsiveness on the part of the [Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of Labor and Employment] and attached agencies,” Ople, head of the Blas F. Ople Policy Center, told abs-cbnNEWS.com.

Data on deployed overseas Filipino workers in 2009 showed that the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration facilitated 1,422,586 OFWs to 190 country-destinations. At least 3,377 Filipinos are sent daily to overseas employment, according to POEA statistics in 2008.

However, complaints of abuses, violation of contracts, human trafficking among others also increases with the hike in the number of OFWs deployed abroad.

Aquino on Wednesday said his administration aims to generate more local jobs to give Filipinos another option rather than leaving the country to work abroad.

“Layunin nating paramihin ang trabaho dito sa ating bansa upang hindi na kailanganin ang mangibang-bansa para makahanap lamang ng trabaho,” he said in his inaugural speech.

He also ordered the DFA, POEA and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), as well as other relevant agencies to be more responsive to the needs of overseas Filipino workers.

Ople hopes that Aquino would also include among his marching orders an intensified campaign against human trafficking and illegal recruitment.

“Still, I am optimistic about the President's commitment to draw new investors and create decent jobs. I also appreciate his emphasis on the need for more vocational skills training programs and reference to emergency employment,” she said.

On Tuesday, Aquino named some members of his cabinet. He retained DFA Secretary Alberto Romulo to his post and appointed Rosalinda Baldoz as secretary of the labor department. Baldoz is a former administrator of the POEA.

“The appointment of OWWA Administrator Baldoz as DOLE secretary reflects the importance given by Aquino in attending to the welfare of migrant workers. We just hope it's not just a symbolism,” Ares Gutierrez, a Filipino journalist working in Dubai, told abs-cbnNEWS.com via Facebook. With Maria Aleta Nieva Nishimori, abs-cbnNEWS.com