Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 22) — The Department of Migrant Workers’ command center for distressed overseas Filipino workers has so far received more than 400 requests for repatriations since its launch on Wednesday.
“Mula nung nag-umpisa last Wednesday, mayroon na tayong 186 na walk-in dito sa POEA [building]. Pupunta lang sila second floor. Hanapin lang nila yung One Repat Command Center. Mayroon din tayong natanggap na 138 calls requesting for repatriation assistance. Sa email naman, 84,” said DMW Secretary Toots Ople in an interview with CNN Philippines’ Newsroom Ngayon on Friday.
[Translation: Since we launched on Wednesday, we have 186 walk-ins here in POEA building. They just need to proceed to the second floor and look for the One Repat Command Center. We have also received 138 calls requesting for repatriation assistance. In our email, we have received 84.]
DMW’s “One Repatriation Command Center” consolidates government agencies in facilitating OFW repatriation, including the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration and the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration.
Ople explained that all repatriation requests are being farmed out to various labor and welfare attaché.
“Lahat ito, on a daily basis, fina-farm out ng ating team sa iba’t-ibang labor attaché offices natin, sa mga welfare attaché natin, ang iba naman ay para sa DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs),” she said.
[Translation: On a daily basis, all of these are being farmed out by our team to different labor and welfare attaché offices, while some are given to DFA.]
Ople said the command center can also accommodate those who have expired contracts but who are still being required to work by their employers, as well as victims of human trafficking and illegal recruitment.
OFWs in distress or their immediate families or next of kin need to call the One Repat-DMW hotline 1-248 to ask for assistance.
