The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) has cautioned overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) against individuals demanding payment for assistance, stressing that its welfare programs do not carry service fees beyond the standard membership contribution.
During a virtual briefing on Wednesday, OWWA officials clarified that the only amount collected from members is the USD25 contribution, which remains valid for two years and grants access to all agency programs and benefits.
Deputy Administrator Jasmine Gapatan said reports continue to surface about fixers and scammers posing as government personnel and charging for services already covered by OWWA membership. One such case, she noted, involved a Filipino household service worker in Bahrain who sought help for repatriation and later reported the incident to the Philippine Embassy.
According to Gapatan, the communication between the worker and the alleged scammer took place through Messenger, where the OFW was asked to pay PHP15,000 in exchange for assistance.
Around the same period, the Philippine Embassy in the Kingdom of Bahrain issued its own advisory after receiving complaints about scam phone calls and messages from individuals falsely claiming to represent the embassy. The embassy said some suspects were using WhatsApp accounts bearing the official emblem to appear credible while demanding money for supposed national services.
“So, inuulit po natin in support of our Philippine Embassy, na ganun rin po sa OWWA at saka sa DMW (Department of Migrant Workers), we will never ask money in exchange for help sa ating mga services,” Gapatan said.
“So, kung medyo meron pong hinihingi pera, medyo magtaka po kayo, and please contact hotline 1348 po sa atin sa OWWA po, and ating Facebook, official Facebook and WhatsApp, Viber social media accounts po,” she added.
OWWA Deputy Administrator Ryan Vincent Uy also addressed reports of individuals offering to process OWWA membership and eCards for a fee, emphasizing that the eCard is issued free of charge.
The agency reminded members that legitimate transactions are conducted only through OWWA offices, Philippine Overseas Labor Offices, accredited outreach programs such as the Alagang OWWA Servisyo Caravan, and verified digital platforms, including the eGov app, while urging OFWs to be wary of unsolicited offers circulated through social media and private messages.
