Mayroon tayong natanggap na kahilingan mula kay Adminstrator Carmelita S. Dimzon ng Overseas Workers Welfare Administration na kung maari ay ating mailathala dito sa ating kolum ang kanyang letter to the editor ng Philippine Daily Inquirer na nagpapaliwanang tungkol sa pondo ng OWWA at kung paano ito ginagastos. Dahil sa napakahalaga ng mga impormasyon na kanyang ipina-aabot sa kaalaman ng bawat isang OFW minabuti ko nga na ito ay ating ibahagi sa ating mga tagasubaybay sa ngayon. Kung sakaling kayo ay may mga katanungan pa tungkol sa isyung ito mabuti na ito ay inyong ipadala ng diretso sa opisina ni Administrator Dimzon sa OWWA. Narito ang nilalaman ng sulat ni Administrator Dimzon.

OWWA FUND INTACT

THIS REFERS TO THE STORY “OFWs ASK OWWA: Where’s our money?” (Philippine Daily Inquirer, page 6, 28 August 2009).

The Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator asked why OWWA does not use its emergency repatriation fund for the repatriation of all stranded/distressed overseas Filipino workers when this is provided for by Republic Act 8042.

To clarify, Section 15 of Rebublic Act 8042 directs OWWA to tap the emergency repatriation fund in “cases of war, epidemic, disasters or calamities, natural or man-made, and other similar events without prejudice to reimbursement by the responsible principal or agency.” The law is therefore clear on the use if this fund; it cannot be used for purposes other than the above. In these instances, OWWA, in coordination with international organizations, repatriates all OFWs, regardless of their status, just like what happened during the Gulf wars and the Lebanon conflict.

OWWA, as created by law, is a welfare agency that provides social services for the welfare and protection to its members and families. On site, however, it does not make any distinction on whether the worker is a registered member or not. Under the one-country team approach, our welfare offices in the 38 posts across the globe provide shelter, board, medicine, beddings, counseling services, etc. to every stranded worker, whether OWWA member or not, who had sought the help of the Philippine mission. We facilitate the repatriation of these workers by negotiating with the employer the issuance of the worker’s exit permit and coordinating with immigration authorities for his/her exit clearance. However, under the law again, OWWA cannot shoulder the airfare of non-registered members using the regular repatriation fund of the agency; the Assistance to Nationals Unit of the Department of Foreign Affairs shoulders the air travel costs.

Upon arrival, OWWA does not also distinguish the members from the non-members. We extend airport assistance services, facilitate immigration clearances, and provide temporary accommodation and domestic transportation.

OWWA has advanced the repatriation costs of hundreds of stranded and distressed workers whose recruitment agencies could not produce the air tickets on time, without prejudice to the reimbursement by the responsible agency. Our mandate is clear to us; we therefore never renege on our obligations under the law.

We welcome and appreciate the kind assistance extended by some individuals and private groups in repatriating distressed overseas Filipino workers who unfortunately left the country without registering through the legal government channel. We continue to coordinate closely with them in every step of the way of the repatriation process.

Regarding the reported increase in the number of runaways in the Middle East region, we reiterate our advice to our OFWs to immediately contact the nearest embassy, consulate or Philippine Overseas Labor Office at the first instance of trouble or problem with the employer. Our Philippine mission will help prevent their situation from graduating to an immigration case.

Lastly, we would like to assure the legitimate OWWA members that the Trust Fund is intact and that disbursements of funds are carried out in accordance with the law and the mandate of the agency. We know they appreciate the prudent and judicious management of their Fund.

Thank you for publishing this clarification. More power.

Sincerely yours,

CARMELITA S. DIMZON, DPA
Administrator

Maraming salamat sa inyong patuloy na pagsubaybay.