By Brian Jules Campued
A mobile application for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) designed to provide assistance and comprehensive information will be launched in July, a lawmaker confirmed Tuesday.
OFW Party-list Rep. Marissa Magsino said the app will feature access to welfare assistance, various benefits, as well as an “emergency button” that connects directly to the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) operation center to provide immediate support to OFWs in distress.
Future updates of the OFW App will include services of government agencies that have frequent transactions with OFWs, with the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) signifying its intent to link vital services to the mobile app.
“The OFW App will revolutionize the way OFWs access vital services and information, bringing essential support right at their fingertips,” Magsino said following the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and OWWA.
“The OFW App aims to provide our OFWs access to services, emergency assistance, and vital information in just a few clicks. I have been pitching this idea to IT experts before, but it was only DICT’s technical assistance which allowed us to move forward with the project. And today, here we are with signing the MOU on this significant initiative,” the solon added.
Magsino, DICT Sec. Ivan John Uy, and OWWA Administrator Arnaldo Ignacio signed the MOU at the OFW Tulong at Serbisyo Center in Parañaque City. DMW Sec. Hans Leo Cacdac and DICT Undersecretary for E-Government David Almirol were also present to express support.
Simulation of the app will commence through the participation of select OFWs worldwide for their feedback. It will be formally launched after the fine-tuning of the interface and services through consultation with end-users.
Magsino thanked the DICT for collaborating with her party-list “to bring our idea to life” and the OWWA for accepting her invitation to integrate its services to the OFW App, particularly in providing welfare assistance.
She, likewise, stressed the importance of utilizing digital technology to innovate ways of bringing government services to OFWs.
“Dapat accessible at agaran lalo na’t unique ang circumstances ng ating OFWs kapag sila’y deployed abroad; our services and information must be right at their fingertips,” Magsino said. – iro
