By Brian Campued
The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) are working to establish more welfare centers in various parts of the country to further ease Filipino seafarers and their families’ access to key government services.
In a statement Tuesday, the DMW said it is planning to set up seafarers’ welfare centers in Pangasinan, Cavite, Bulacan, Batangas, Iloilo City, Cebu, Cagayan de Oro City, and Davao City.
“Isinasagawa ito sa ilalim ng Magna Carta ng Filipino Seafarers at alinsunod sa direktiba ni Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. na palawakin ang mga programang may direktang benepisyo para sa mga seafarer,” the agency said.
The assurance came after the successful launch of the first welfare center at Aseana Business Park in Parañaque City on Feb. 13.
The seafarers’ hub serves as a one-stop shop for essential government services, including those from the Social Security System (SSS), Pag-IBIG Fund, Public Attorney’s Office (PAO), and Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth).
The center also provides free medical consultations and medicines, and training facilities for skills upgrading through the National Maritime Polytechnic and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).
It also includes a Love Yourself Booth that promotes sexual health and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) awareness, recreational area, and women and child-friendly spaces.
-jpv
