Camille Naredo

Article (news)

Seafarer Welfare Center

Francis Orcio

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1771230445413OWWA.jpeg" style="width:960px;display:block;height:auto" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/>The Philippines has opened its first Seafarer Welfare Center in Metro Manila, creating a one-stop hub for Filipino seafarers and their families. Photo courtesy of the Department of Migrant Workers.</div>MANILA -- The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), through the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), has launched the country’s first Seafarer Welfare Center in Metro Manila.The facility is a centralized, one-stop hub that brings together health care, legal aid, training, and social services for Filipino seafarers and their families, the DMW said.The center, inaugurated ahead of Valentine’s Day, was established in line with the Magna Carta for Seafarers, which mandates the creation of dedicated welfare facilities in major crew-change ports nationwide.Under the law, Seafarer Welfare Centers are also set to rise in Pangasinan, Bulacan, Cavite, Batangas, Iloilo, Cebu, Cagayan de Oro, and Davao City, areas identified as major ports for crew change. The Metro Manila facility is the first to be completed and opened to the public.“Ang layunin po nito ay in other words, gawin po sa isang lugar, sa isang pasilidad, ang iba&#x27;t iba pong serbisyo at programa ng ating pamahalaan para po sa ating mga marino. Ito po ay in line with the directive of the president to make the services of the government readily accessible to our workers,” said OWWA Administrator Patricia Yvonne Caunan.Designed as a one-stop shop, the facility houses offices and service desks of DMW, OWWA, and partner agencies such as the Social Security System (SSS), Pag-IBIG Fund, PhilHealth, and the Public Attorney’s Office.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/11/25/-bagong-bayani-awards-financial-grant-given-to-outstanding-ofws-1504" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Financial grant given to &#x27;outstanding&#x27; OFWs who bagged &#x27;Bagong Bayani&#x27; awards</a></div>It also works with training institutions, including the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), to offer non-degree courses and skills development programs aimed at capacity building for seafarers.Health services are a major feature of the center, with an on-site clinic and pharmacy offering free medical check-ups, medicines, laboratory tests, and cancer screening.“Libreng check-up po ito, dahil meron po talagang full-time na naka-assign na doctor at full-blown na botika. Libre ang gamut under the YAKAP and GAMOT program of PhilHealth. At ito po ay open sa lahat ng seafarers at kanilang mga pamilya, mga anak,” Caunan explained.According to Caunan, OWWA will also provide shuttle services for seafarers who need to undergo recommended laboratory examinations outside the facility.Beyond medical and legal assistance, the center offers psychosocial support, financial literacy sessions, and regular capacity-building activities. Partnerships with non-government organizations also allow for mental health and HIV-related services to be delivered on-site, improving access to specialized care.<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1771230766537owwa1.jpeg" style="width:960px;display:block;height:auto" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="The Philippines has opened its first Seafarer Welfare Center in Metro Manila, creating a one-stop hub for Filipino seafarers and their families. Photo courtesy of the Department of Migrant Workers." width="960"/>The Philippines has opened its first Seafarer Welfare Center in Metro Manila, creating a one-stop hub for Filipino seafarers and their families. Photo courtesy of the Department of Migrant Workers.</div>The Philippines has opened its first Seafarer Welfare Center in Metro Manila, creating a one-stop hub for Filipino seafarers and their families. Photo courtesy of the Department of Migrant Workers.Caunan emphasized that the Seafarer Welfare Center was intentionally designed as a safe and inclusive space for all seafarers, including women and members of the LGBTQIA+ community.“Ito naman po ay open sa lahat including our female seafarers, mga members ng LGBTQIA plus community. Very inclusive po itong tahanan ng ating mga seafarers,” she said.<div> </div><div>PHILIPPINES ELECTED CHAIR OF ABU DHABI DIALOGUE</div>In the same press conference, DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac announced that the Philippines has been elected chair of the Abu Dhabi Dialogue, a 20-member voluntary consultative platform of labor-sending and labor-receiving countries in Asia, until the ninth Ministerial Meeting in 2028.Cacdac said the Philippines assumed the role following the eighth Ministerial Meeting held on February 1, succeeding Oman as chair.“Slated to be taken up in the three years of our chairmanship will be a host of what we call thematic areas. So, welfare and protection obviously in the Philippine side will be on top of our agenda,” Cacdac said.“And there are also a host of other issues like skills partnerships, bridging the gap between education and employment, making sure that our workers are equipped for the national and global labor markets,” he added.As chair, the Philippines will host a series of meetings leading up to the ninth Ministerial Meeting in early 2028, which it will also host. The gathering is expected to culminate in a declaration that will guide policies and programs of member states on labor migration.He underscored that the country’s election as chair reflects international recognition of the Philippine migration governance system, particularly its long-standing emphasis on regular pathways, safe and ethical recruitment, and strong protection mechanisms for migrant workers.

The Department of Migrant Workers, through OWWA, has launched the country’s first Seafarer Welfare Center in Metro Manila.

The Department of Migrant Workers, through OWWA, has launched the country’s first Seafarer Welfare Center in Metro Manila.

PH opens 'one-stop hub ' seafarer welfare center

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PH opens 'one-stop hub ' seafarer welfare center

Francis Orcio,

ABS-CBN News

Published February 16, 2026 05:32 PM PHT

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Updated February 16, 2026 06:55 PM PHT

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