The Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) will be joining the Bagong Bayani ng Mundo: OFW Serbisyo Caravan on August 3, 2025, at Exhibition Hall 8, Dubai World Trade Center, offering free legal consultation, representation, and counselling to eligible Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs).
As part of the one-day inter-agency outreach organized by the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and MWO Dubai, PAO will deploy a team of government lawyers to assist OFWs on various legal concerns.
Services offered:
PAO will provide legal assistance and counselling in relation to:
Criminal cases
Civil cases
Labor disputes
Administrative cases
Other quasi-judicial cases
The service is aimed at indigent or eligible individuals, with assistance provided free of charge, in accordance with PAO’s merit and indigency tests. The merit test evaluates whether a case has a reasonable chance of success and is not merely intended to harass or injure the opposing party.
Eligibility and income threshold:
PAO’s legal services are typically extended to indigent individuals based on income criteria. For example:
In Metro Manila: PHP 24,000/month or less
Cities outside NCR: PHP 22,000/month or less
Municipalities outside NCR: PHP 20,000/month or less
Although the threshold is based on Philippine standards, PAO may consider applicable adjustments and proof of financial hardship for OFWs abroad.
Services include:
Free legal representation and advice
Legal assistance in administrative hearings and quasi-judicial agencies
Document review and legal counselling sessions
The PAO operates independently under the Department of Justice (DOJ) and serves as the government’s principal law office in representing and assisting qualified individuals in legal matters.
The August 3 caravan will feature 10 government agencies in total—including OWWA, SSS, Pag-IBIG, PSA, PhilHealth, DMW, DTI-PTIC, DSWD, and the Philippine Consulate General-Dubai—delivering government services directly to Filipinos in the UAE.
OFWs are encouraged to come early and bring relevant documents if they wish to seek legal assistance from PAO. For more information about PAO’s services, visit https://pao.gov.ph or contact their hotlines listed on the official flyer.
