Repatriation center for distressed OFWs set up

MANILA, Philippines — To help thousands of distressed overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) wanting to return home, the newly created Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) has put up a One Repatriation Command Center (ORCC).

Migrant Workers Secretary Susan Ople said OFWs, their families or friends may seek assistance from the ORCC, which will serve as the sole government office to handle repatriation cases.

Citing data from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) and Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), Ople reported that this year alone over 6,000 OFWs have sought repatriation.

“The figure can still go up and exceed the number of those repatriated in 2021,” she said.

Ople said the ORCC is located on the second floor of the DMW office in Mandaluyong City and will be manned by trained case officers.

“The ORCC will work as a unified mechanism and also as a physical manifestation of the DMW’s priority agenda, which is to help our distressed workers,” Ople said during the ORCC launching yesterday.

POEA chief Bernard Olalia said they received about 9,000 requests for repatriation in 2019 and about 6,000 repatriation requests in 2020 for various reasons.

“Topmost reason for repatriation in 2019 was maltreatment and abuses, and in 2020, it became medical and border closure that they can’t go home due to the pandemic,” Olalia noted.

He said the establishment of ORCC will prevent confusion and OFWs needing repatriation can just seek help from one government office.

OWWA chief Hans Cacdac said all repatriation requests to the ORCC would be transferred to the OWWA’s e-care system, which can be monitored by all relevant agencies.

“Families of the OFWs needing repatriation will be getting regular updates on their request,” Cacdac said, noting that the ORCC will also be beneficial for OFW families.

Ople said the ORCC would work closely with destination countries to immediately address repatriation cases.

An OFW requesting repatriation will be provided appropriate assistance until he or she is able to come home. Upon return, the OWWA will extend help to the OFW.