Ched Rick Gatchalian

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Distressed migrant workers may use OFW app to seek help – DMW

Job Manahan

ABS-CBN News

MANILA – Distressed migrant workers could use the overseas Filipino workers (OFW) app to seek help from the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) or even request repatriation, an official said on Thursday.DMW Undersecretary Dominique Rubia-Tutay said aside from documentation purposes, the agency can use the OFW app to monitor the welfare of Filipino workers abroad.“If they need repatriation, puwede nating gamitin ang app na ito. Ang isa ring nakikita nating direksyon ay the moment na may nireport na problema ang ating mga OFW, maaaring ipaalam na natin sa next of kin, sa pamilya, para hindi na nag-aalala ang kanilang pamilya na nandito sa Pilipinas,” said Rubia-Tutay in an interview on state-run PTV.The app also alerts the country’s migrant workers offices or attaches abroad so they could respond to OFW needs immediately. Their turnaround time spans only “a few minutes,” Rubia-Tutay said during the interview.<div> <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/5/1/hundreds-seek-overseas-work-at-dmw-job-fair-1306">Hundreds seek overseas work at DMW job fair</a></div>&quot;Nag-hire na tayo ng contact center agents. Mayroon tayong 30 at ito ay dadagdagan pa ng OWWA ng 15. Magkakaroon din tayo ng pinaka-monitoring hub para sa ating mga OFWs para lang simpleng kamustahin sila,” she said.“Kung ating mga call center agents ay agad nakikita on screen ang kalagayan so mabilis magbato ng reports from one unit of the department to another,” she added.Meanwhile, the official also announced that the Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC) will be integrated into the country’s e-travel system.The e-travel system was rolled out in April 2023. It is a single data collection platform for both arriving and departing passengers.“Isa ito sa pinakaproblema ng mga OFWs bago sila lumabas ng bansa, hahanapin ito. Tapos they have to apply, dati walkin pero ngayon pwede na mag-apply online,” said Rubia-Tutay. She added that once the OEC is integrated into the e-travel system, passengers could just proceed with their travel “without additional requirements” from the Bureau of Immigration.  <div> <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/04/17/23/no-glitches-on-first-day-of-e-travel-system-rollout-bi">BI says first day of new e-travel system rollout successful</a></div>“Integrated na rin ang e-travel at BI system,” she said.The OFW app will be integrated into the eGov app by June, she said.

Distressed migrant workers could use the overseas Filipino workers (OFW) app to seek help from the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) or even request repatriation, an official said on Thursday.

Distressed migrant workers could use the overseas Filipino workers (OFW) app to seek help from the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) or even request repatriation, an official said on Thursday.