THE Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) yesterday said it is ready to assume the Assistance-To-Nationals (ATN) functions for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) beginning next month.
In a virtual press briefing, DMW Undersecretary Hans Leo Cacdac said they are prepared to assume the role of providing different forms of assistance to OFWs, including legal assistance, located in countries with Migrant Workers Offices (MWOs).
“The DMW is the home for OFWs, where safety, protection, inclusiveness and multi-faceted services for OFWs and their families are the norm,” said Cacdac.
“The transition must be smooth and seamless in a sense that the delivery of services on the ground will not be affected when the baton is passed,” he added.
Cacdac said all current MWO personnel have undergone training from the DFA regarding the delivery of ATN services and case-handling.
He said they have also mandated the creation of MWO ATN units to be headed by labor attaches and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) welfare officers.
He said the MWOs around the world have also been authorized to employ 94 local hires to help in the ATN operations.
Similarly, Cacdac said the DMW is also hiring 98 organic personnel to help from the central office in Mandaluyong City.
Included in the ATN services are legal assistance, such as assistance to detained and/or convicted OFWs, assistance in immigration concerns, provision of legal services through lawyer/legal counsel for all criminal and labor cases
involving OFWs, provision of information on host country’s laws including criminal and legal procedures, jail visitation, assistance during court hearings, and payment of court-imposed penalties and charges.
The ATN shall also cover repatriation of distressed OFWs, including provision of one-way airfare to the Philippines, medical repatriation including medical escort, securing exit visas and payment of immigration penalties, shipment of remains/cremains of OFWs and their personal belongings, report of death, quarantine clearance/s, coordination with next-of-kin, funeral/burial assistance, and coordination with OWWA for airport assistance upon arrival and transfer to home province.
Labor-related services shall also be provided by the ATN, such as employment-related complaints, assistance to victims of illegal recruitment or human trafficking, and claims pertaining to death benefits, end-of-service benefits, insurance, money claims and other benefits arising from employee-employer relationship.
The DMW said they are also ready to provide welfare assistance, such as location of whereabouts and ascertaining condition of OFWs, medical referrals/assistance and hospital visitation, non-performance of family obligations, custody of runaway cases, counseling, and compassionate visit of next of kin.
Food and transportation assistance, provision of hygiene and emergency supplies, and reintegration and training shall also be part of the ATN’s shelter assistance.
Lastly, the DMW said ATN also covers emergency/crisis response, such as food assistance, transportation assistance, temporary shelter/accommodation, provision of hygiene and emergency supplies, medical assistance, and financial assistance.
With such a wide range of assistance and services, Cacdac said they are hopeful that they will be provided with additional budget come 2024.
“It requires more funding. That’s why in the 2024 national budget, we hope to have more,” said Cacdac.
