Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in distress may now use the Department of Migrant Workers’ (DMW) mobile app to seek urgent assistance or even request repatriation, an official confirmed Thursday.
DMW Undersecretary Dominique Rubia-Tutay explained that while the app was initially designed for documentation, it has since evolved into a tool for real-time monitoring and emergency response.
“If they need repatriation, puwede nating gamitin ang app na ito,” Rubia-Tutay said in an interview on PTV. “The moment a report is submitted, we can also notify their families in the Philippines para hindi na sila mag-alala.”
She emphasized that migrant workers’ reports sent through the app are immediately picked up by DMW’s contact centers and field offices abroad, with response times now down to just minutes.
“Mayroon tayong 30 [contact center agents] at ito ay dadagdagan pa ng OWWA ng 15. Magkakaroon din tayo ng pinaka-monitoring hub para sa ating mga OFWs para lang simpleng kamustahin sila,” she noted, adding that agents can view cases instantly, allowing swift coordination between units.
In another update, Rubia-Tutay shared that the long-standing burden of securing an Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC) will soon be eased with its integration into the Philippines’ e-travel system—a digital platform for international travelers launched in April 2023.
“Isa ito sa pinakaproblema ng mga OFWs bago sila lumabas ng bansa,” she said. “But with the integration, passengers can proceed with their travel without additional requirements from the Bureau of Immigration.”
The OFW app is also expected to be merged into the government’s central eGov app by June, streamlining services even further for Filipinos working overseas.
