CEBU CITY, Cebu (PIA) — The Department of Migrant Workers in Region 7 (DMW-7) has taken steps to ensure that their office will provide efficient and fast services for the Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in the region.
After receiving concerns of the long queuing time experienced by OFWs in obtaining their Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC), DMW-7 was able to cut the turnaround time of processing OEC from 30 to 45 minutes to 10 to 15 minutes for each client.
“Kung kumpleto ang documents, 10 to 15 minutes, okay na sila. Dili na sila maghuwat og dugay, sometimes 30 to 45 minutes or even an hour,” explained DMW-7 OIC-regional director Atty. Karl Frederick Arriola during the 15th episode of the Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas hosted by the Philippine Information Agency (PIA).
(If all the documents are complete, it will now take only 10 to 15 minutes. They don’t have to wait long anymore.)
DMW-7 serves around 60 to 70 clients in a day.
Efficient issuance of OEC
Formerly known as the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), DMW is mandated to issue the OEC, a requirement for OFWs to exit the country to work abroad.
Since January to June 2024, DMW-7 has already issued a total of 4,396 OECs.
DMW-7 currently only has six regular employees, but Arriola said their interns under the Government Internship Programs (GIPs) have greatly contributed to their office’s improved efficiency.
“Despite the lack of personnel at the regional office, it’s not an excuse that we will not continue to deliver our programs and services and to execute our mandate,” assured Arriola.
DMW-7 is currently anticipating 33 more personnel to augment the manpower needs of their office.
DMW assistance
For the first six months of 2024, DMW-7 has distributed a total of P870,000 in reintegration funds, P190,000 under the AKSYON fund, and reached a total of P1,571,148.34 for the settlement amount.
In the same period, DMW-7 also facilitated a total of 26 overseas job fairs, provided reintegration assistance to 100 OFWs, and extended legal assistance to 281 clients.
Illegal recruitment, labor human trafficking
To address overseas illegal recruitment and labor human trafficking, Arriola said they continue to conduct information dissemination starting with those who aspire to work abroad.
“We conduct pre-employment orientation seminars. Moadto mi sa various universities, graduates to educate them on how to properly apply for work abroad,” Arriola said.
(We conduct pre-employment orientation seminars. We go to various universities to educate the graduates on how to properly apply for work abroad.)
Arriola also encouraged the job seekers to check their website for accurate information on the licensed recruitment agencies.
“Naay DMW, adto sa website, naa didto tanan info, approved job orders sa mga licensed recruitment agencies,” he added.
(Go to the DMW website, all the info on the approved job orders from licensed recruitment agencies are there.)
The licensed recruitment agencies are DMW’s partners in the campaign against illegal recruitment and scams.
“So kung moagi sila ani nga mga legitimate licensed recruitment agencies then siguro nga ang trabaho ana legit jud na, then documented na sila, then OWWA member na sila. So magkinaunsa na sila didto, the DMW and the OWWA will be able to help them,” said Arriola.
(So if they go to these legitimate licensed recruitment agencies, then the work there must be legit, then they are already documented, then they are OWWA members. So whatever happens to them, the DMW and the OWWA will be able to help them.)
To learn more about the services of the DMW-7, watch the full episode here:
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/vGnuiDw3Ta5Uhgqs/. (JJT/PIA7)
