Empathy, not just efficiency, was the throughline at the Department of Migrant Workers’ Design Showcase, where staff-developed digital tools aimed at improving the migration experience for overseas Filipino workers took center stage.
The event, organized by the DMW Design Thinking Club under the leadership of Atty. Janine Tutanes, drew a panel of evaluators from across government — including representatives from the Foreign Service Institute, the Anti-Red Tape Authority, the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority, and the Development Academy of the Philippines — to assess a slate of technology-driven proposals.
Three projects rose to the top. Project HALIGI, a redesigned pre-employment online orientation system, claimed first place. The H.E.R.O.E.S. e-learning platform for Migrant Workers Offices and an electronic monitoring and coordination system were also recognized as major winners.
FIM Undersecretary Dominique Rubia-Tutay set the tone for the program early, calling on participants to build with an agile mindset and to centre innovation on the needs of the people the department serves.
Winning teams were brought into a coaching session with DMW Secretary Hans Leo J. Cacdac following their pitches. The Secretary drew a direct line between digital design and human dignity, warning against systems that reduce workers to data points. He urged teams to ensure that whatever automated tools they develop remain accessible and humane, particularly for families in the Philippines waiting on updates from loved ones abroad.
Undersecretary Darlene R. Pajarito closed the event with remarks framing the showcase as evidence of the DMW’s broader institutional shift toward more compassionate and future-oriented governance.
