DFA to turn over OFW assistance to DMW in some countries on July 1
Some 106 distressed overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) arrived home in this file photo taken on October 2019. (Photo from DFA)
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Wednesday announced that it would officially turn over its overseas Filipino worker (OFW) assistance functions to the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) in some countries on July 1.
According to the DFA, the turnover of its Assistance-To-Nationals functions for OFWs to the DMW is in compliance with Republic Act 11641.
“Under the said law, all assistance cases involving OFWs, including legal or medical assistance, repatriation, and shipment of remains shall now be handled by the DMW through the use of its AKSYON Fund, except in countries where there are no resident Migrant Workers Offices (MOs) under the DMW,” said the DFA in a statement.
All requests for assistance involving OFWs (whether documented or undocumented) situated in the following countries and territories will now be referred to the DMW.
Asia-Pacific:
- Australia
- Brunei Darussalam
- China (including Hong Kong, Macau)
- Japan
- Korea
- Malaysia
- New Zealand
- Singapore
Middle East and Northern Africa:
- Bahrain
- Israel
- Jordan
- Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
- Kuwait
- Lebanon
- Morocco
- Oman
- Qatar
- United Arab Emirates
Europe:
- Czech Republic
- Germany
- Greece
- Italy
- Spain
- Switzerland
- United Kingdom
Americas:
- Canada
- United States of America
Meanwhile, the DFA will continue to attend to all OFW requests in other countries, as well as other Filipino nationals worldwide who fall under other categories, such as students, tourists, dual citizens, and permanent residents, among others.
OFWs may contact the DMW through the following hotlines: 8722-1144 or 8722-1155; or email: [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected].
For OFWs in other countries or Filipino nationals who do not fall under the OFW category, the DFA can be contacted through their telephone number: 8834-4996; email: [email protected]; and on their Facebook account: https://www.facebook.com/OFWHelpPH
