Philippine Embassy Hosts Dialogue With Japanese Lawyers To Strengthen Legal Assistance for OFWs
Labor Attaché Ramon Lamberto C. Pastrana (standing, 3rd from left) and Welfare Officer Geronico Herrera (5th from left) with long-time legal partners of the MWO-Tokyo, (seated, left to right) Atty. Shoichi Ibusuki, Atty. Keiko Kato, Atty. Hisanori Shikata).
TOKYO, 22 July 2025 – The Philippine Embassy in Japan, through the Migrant Workers Office – Tokyo (MWO-Tokyo), hosted a dialogue titled “Strengthening Legal Assistance for OFWs: A Dialogue with Japanese Lawyers” on 14 July 2025. Implemented under the the Philippine Overseas Employment Program, the event brought together long-time legal partners of the MWO-Tokyo, members of the Lawyers Network for Foreign Workers, the Migrant Worker Research Group, NGO representatives, researchers, and journalists.
Among the attendees were Atty. Shoichi Ibusuki, Atty. Keiko Kato, and Atty. Hisanori Shikata, who have provided support to Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) for over 15 years. Representing the Embassy in the Dialogue were Labor Attaché Ramon Lamberto C. Pastrana and Welfare Officer Geronico Herrera. The hybrid event was joined by 20 participants via Zoom.
In a separate statement, Philippine Ambassador to Japan Mylene J. Garcia-Albano expressed gratitude for the unwavering dedication of Japan’s legal community.
“Our partners in the Japanese legal profession have long served as a vital pillar of support for our kababayan. Their legal expertise, compassion, and unwavering commitment to justice have empowered many OFWs to assert their rights and find hope in times of difficulty. We are glad to be working with them in upholding the dignity and advancing the welfare of Filipino workers in Japan,” the Ambassador said.
The event served as a platform for robust information exchange on emerging legal issues affecting migrant workers. MWO-Tokyo aims to institutionalize this initiative as an annual symposium, with each edition tailored to different audiences to foster stronger networks and promote more responsive support systems for OFWs in Japan.
Members of the Migrant Workers Office – Tokyo (MWO-Tokyo) and members of the Lawyers Network for Foreign Workers, the Migrant Worker Research Group, NGO representatives, researchers, and journalists at the “Strengthening Legal Assistance for OFWs: A Dialogue with Japanese Lawyers” held on 14 July 2025.
