DMW assures smooth, seamless transition, assumption of ATN services for OFWs

The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) assured on Thursday, June 22, all overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and their relatives of glitch-free transition and assumption of the Assistance to Nationals (ATN) services. The ATN responsibility, which covers legal, humanitarian and other forms of assistance for the OFWs, will be assumed by the DMW from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) in compliance with the Republic Act 11641. DMW Undersecretary Hans J. Cacdac said they are currently in coordination with the DFA for the transition period before the department fully takes control of the task by July 1 this year. “Our goal is to ensure that there will be no service gap or interruptions with the transfer of the ATN from one department to another. We are making sure that the transition is smooth, seamless and effective for our OFWs,” said Cacdac in a press briefing. In order to ensure uninterrupted ATN services, he said that the DFA will continue to handle cases with financial support and cases that arise or are filed on or after July 1 this year will be handled by the DMW. Meanwhile, he said the DFA has already trained and continues training DMW personnel on case-handling. “Our MWO personnel have been trained and engaged in ‘handholding’ and monitoring exercises since January (this year) through a set of readiness indicators,” said Cacdac. He said the fourth and the final leg of the worldwide training of MWO personnel on delivery of ATN services will be held this week in Dubai. Covered services Cacdac said the ATN transfer from DFA to DMW covers Legal Assistance that include assistance to detained or convicted OFWs, assistance in immigration concerns, provision of legal assistance to OFWs facing charges, assistance during court hearings, jail visitation, and payment of court-imposed penalties and charges. He said it also includes repatriation of OFWs that include one-way airfare to the Philippines, medical repatriation and medical assistance to OFWs who need them, securing exit visas and payment of immigration penalties, airport and quarantine assistance, shipment of remains and funeral and burial assistance. Labor-related services are also included, according to Cacdac, and these cover employment-related complaints, assistance to victims of illegal recruitment and human trafficking and claims of different benefits arising from employer-to-employee matters. Welfare assistance is also covered such as assistance in locating missing OFWs and those under distress, medical assistance, non-performance of family obligations, custody of runaway cases, counseling and compassionate visit of the next of kin. Shelter assistance also falls under ATN such as food and transportation assistance, provision of hygiene and emergency supplies, and reintegration and training. For emergency and crisis response, Cacdac said DMW will also continue food assistance, transportation assistance, temporary shelter, medical and financial assistance. Limitations Cacdac explained that the assumption of ATN services by the DMW is in countries where Migrant Workers Offices (MWOs) are existing. Currently, there are around 40 DMW offices around the world. “If there is no MWO present, the DFA will continue to handle the ATN services for OFWs especially on the legal assistance services,” said Cacdac. He, however, said that DMW Secretary Susan Ople is now working to open more DMW offices, including the four MWO in Guam, Bangkok, Africa and Hungary that are expected to open this year. Budget and Manpower While there is an existing AKSYON Fund where ATN services are sourced out, Cacdac said the DMW assumption of the responsibility will require additional funds from the national government that will also cover salary and other expenses for additional manpower. The AKSYON (Agarang Kalinga at Saklolo Para sa mga OFW na Nangangailangan) Fund is part of the government’s welfare services to the distressed OFWs. As of June this year, the AKSYON Fund stands at P1.082 billion. He said the additional fund for ATN services will be included in the 2024 budget. Currently, there are around 270 MWO personnel around the world and with the ATN services now under the DMW, Cacdac said Ople already authorized MWOs to hire 94 more employees. This is aside from the 98 more slots that would be handled by the DMW Central Office. Contacts Cacdac said that they are now currently developing hotlines but right now, they are sharing the hotline with the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) which is the Hotline 1438. “And of course our Migrant Workers Offices all around the world have their respective hotlines and Facebook pages. The DMW has a website and a Facebook page also,” said Cacdac.

Philippines | National

DMW assures smooth, seamless transition, assumption of ATN services for OFWs

By Aaron Recuenco

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