Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Susan Ople. INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Susan Ople on Wednesday pledged to make the agency’s system easier for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs).
Ople said she intends to streamline and digitalize DMW’s processing and response to concerns of OFWs, specifically among others, is the establishment of “one repatriation command center,” an exclusive hotline service that will cater to all kinds of OFW repatriation.
“Isang number lang ang tatawagan para sa lahat ng repatriation cases. Remains man ‘yan, or nagkasakit kailangan mauwi agad, medical repatriation, o kaya dahil inaagrabyado ng amo at gusto nang umuwi, lahat ng uri ng repatriation,” Ople said during the weekly Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum.
(Only one number will be contacted for all repatriation cases. Whether it be the OFW’s remains, or gets sick and needs to go home immediately medical repatriation, or because the employer is aggravated and wants to go home, all kinds of repatriation.)
The DMW, said Ople, is eyeing to establish itself as a home for OFWs. It aims to protect OFWs and promote their welfare.
“Mahirap na nga ‘yung desisyon na iwan ang pamilya, tapos parang mararamdaman mo pa na mismong gobyerno natin ‘di naiintindihan ang pinagdadaanan [ng OFWs],” she said.
(The decision to leave the family is already difficult, and then you’ll feel that our government does not seem to empathize with what OFWs are going through.)
She added that implementing the centralized hotline service of the DMW would make it easier for OFWs to vocalize their concerns.
“Unlike before pupunta sa Philippine Overseas Employment Administration [office], pupunta sa recruitment agency, pupunta sa media, pupunta sa Overseas Workers Welfare Administration [office], ito ang ilalabas namin. Isang number lang, isang Facebook page lang, across also social media platforms.” Ople said.
(Unlike before, where you have to go to the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration [office], then to the recruitment agency, to the media, and then to the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration [office], this is what we will release. Just one number, one Facebook page, across social media platforms.)
Later in the forum, Ople also urged reporting OFW grievances and issues through the DMW website. She likewise encouraged the reporting of DMW service through the same platform and vowed that it would directly reach her.
“Magsulat po kayo sa dmw.gov.ph, makakarating sa akin ‘yon (write to dmw.gov.ph, it will reach me),” she said.
The DMW was created to ensure that the rights and welfare of OFWs are protected and upheld. It will be fully operational by January 2023. — Andy Hoo, Inquirer.net trainee
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