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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider DMW eyes satellite office in Nigeria to strengthen OFW documentation in West Africa

DMW eyes satellite office in Nigeria to strengthen OFW documentation in West Africa

Published Aug 8, 2025 01:50 pm
Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac says the government is planning to set up a migrant workers office (MWO) in Nigeria to ramp up efforts in documenting overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) in West Africa. (Photo: DMW)
Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac says the government is planning to set up a migrant workers office (MWO) in Nigeria to ramp up efforts in documenting overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) in West Africa. (Photo: DMW)
The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) is planning to set up a migrant workers office (MWO) in Nigeria to ramp up efforts in documenting overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) in West Africa.
The planned MWO will be established in the capital city of Abuja, located in the central part of Nigeria. The establishment of the MWO in Abuja will expand DMW’s presence and assistance to an estimated 7,000 Filipinos in Nigeria and its jurisdiction in West Africa.
DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac will visit Nigeria this week to further deepen bilateral relations with his counterparts and engage with the Filipino community in the Western African countries.
“Hindi naman natin pino-promote ang overseas employment but we always look out for the protection of our OFWs. Number one diyan is ‘yung safe and ethical recruitment, to make sure that our OFWs are documented and protected (We are not necessarily promoting overseas employment but we always look out for the protection of our OFWs. The number one priority there is safe and ethical recruitment, to make sure that our OFWs are documented and protected),” Cacdac explained.
According to data from the DMW, there are 150 OFWs in Liberia and around 6,000 OFWs in Nigeria. Majority of the OFWs are employed as clerical support workers, managers, and machine operators.
The DMW also has limited presence in Northern Africa through its MWO in Rabat, Morocco which only covers Libya, Algeria, Chad, Mali, Niger, Mauritania, and Tunisia as part of its oversight jurisdiction.
“So if we have an office there, the channeling of services will be more efficient. Also, through our AKSYON Fund, it will be easier to provide legal, medical, financial, and humanitarian assistance to OFWs in need,” Cacdac noted.
The migrant workers chief emphasized the importance of providing immediate assistance to Filipino seafarers who encounter piracy, and to undocumented OFWs under the third-country hiring.

Related Tags

DMW Hans Leo Cacdac West Africa MWO OFWs
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