This is a good news for OFWs and their dependents. Informatics is offering FREE TRAINING.
Informatics Philippines intends to train more OFWs and their families through the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration’s Skills for Employment Scholarship Program (SESP). The program aims to develop highly-skilled and more employable workers thru career-enhancing technical and vocational courses. It is offered free of charge by OWWA to its active OFW members or their designated dependents.
For more information visit Informatics website and the nearest Informatics training center nearest you
The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), an attached agency of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), is the lead government agency tasked to protect and promote the welfare and well-being of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and their dependents.
OWWA Mandate
The agency has two-fold mandate:
a. Delivery of welfare services and benefits; and b. Ensuring capital build-up and fund viability
Objectives: a. Protect the interest and promote the welfare of OFWs in recognition of their valuable contribution to the overall development effort;
b. Facilitate the implementation of the provisions of the Labor Code concerning the responsibility of the government to promote the well-being of OFWs;
c. Provide social and welfare services to OFWs, including insurance, social work assistance, legal assistance, cultural services, and remittance services;
d. Ensure the efficiency of collection and the viability and sustainability of the fund through sound and judicious investment and fund management policies;
e. Undertake studies and researches for the enhancement of their social, economic and cultural well-being; and
f. Develop, support and finance specific projects for the welfare of OFWs.
Vision and Mission
OWWA develops and implements responsive programs and services while ensuring fund viability towards the protection of the interest and promotion of the welfare of its member-OFWs.
OWWA is the lead membership welfare institution that serves the interest and welfare of member-Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs).
OWWA commits to a fund stewardship that is transparent, judicious, and responsive to the requirements of the member-OFWs.
OWWA Logo
The LOGO was designed in 1981 by Mr. Paeng Asuncion using a Greek capital letter Delta, a triangle or a pyramid which symbolizes CHANGESthat increases rapidly and progressively step by step on a broadening base that supports a concomitant upward trend.
The three (3) major points of the triangle is coherent with the concept of "trinity", meaning the union of key stakeholders: the government in partnership with OFWs and the private sectors.
The red, white and blue represent the colors of the Philippine flag which emphasizes the true spirit of the world class Filipino citizen workers.
The inner ring represents the world destinations of the Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs). It features the half-size of a rising sun (upper portion) and the pouring rain (lower portion).
The sun represents energy, life-giving force, warmth and sustenance. The rain represents the sun's complement in the life-giving force. The sun and the rain also represent the favorable and adverse conditions encountered by the OFWs in the overseas job-sites. Both sun and rain symbolize the gains and pains of OFWs ... it symbolizes the concern on the WELFARE of OFWs and their families.
OWWA serves as a potent force in providing timely and responsive interventions: 24 hours, seven days a week with assured quality standards.
It goes with the theme: "UMULAN MA'T UMARAW.... ANG OWWA AY MAASAHAN".
As of this writing, the number of death from the deadly earthquake that hits and devastated Haiti is already approximately 100,000 and the death toll continues to rise.
The Philippine government has already issued the documented count of the Filipinos based in Haiti : There are 462 Filipinos in Haiti, 290 civilians and 172 military-police peacekeepers. Majority of the 290 civilians are working in telecommunications, and power generation industry.
Government agencies such as the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Red Cross has set up several hotline numbers for the families of the Haiti based Filipinos.
DFA thru Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs (OUMWA).
Hotline number : +632 834-4996.
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in Camp O'Donnell, Tarlac. The center will provide the latest news as well as answer questions regarding the Filipino contingent in Haiti. The hotline number : +639198776728.
The Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC) would provide help by means of contact tracing, repatriation, and psychosocial support. The PNRC also expressed willingness to provide temporary shelters for the victims.
Hotline numbers of PNRC’s Operation Center:143, 527-00-00, 524-57-87, 666-50-34, and 994-05-03
The OFW Electron Card (E-card) is an identification card issued by the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) through its attached agencies, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) and the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA). The card is a multi-function card containing information about the OFW which he will need in dealing with government institutions, locally and abroad.
The card is issued for free. Security features contain the following:
Photo card.
Digital signature on card face with matching signature at the back
Tamper proof signature panel
Magnetic stripe with security code
Several benefits may be derived upon activation of the E-card at all Equitable banking institutions:
Serves as proof that cardholder is a legitimate OFW and an OWWA member
Provides a permanent ID card number that will link OFW''s information necessary in dealing with various government and private agencies
Facilitates availment of OWWA benefits and services
Can be used as a remittance card and ATM or a debit card at the option of the OFW
OWWA is now in the process of negotiating with other institutions for percentage sales discount/other freebies to cardholders.
Last August 11, 2009, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) officially launched the Philippine ePassport.
In line with DFA's 111th Founding Day anniversary, DFA Secretary Alberto G. Romulo presented to President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo the first Philippine ePassport.
President Arroyo’s ePassport bears the serial number EA0000001. To illustrate its features, the President scanned her ePassport on the passport reader which revealed her biometric information, digital signature and photograph.
Despite its advanced security features, the Philippine ePassport will be available for a fee of P950, making it one of the lowest-priced ePassports in the world.
Filipino passport applicants may still choose between the ePassport OR the machine readable passport (MRP) currently priced at P500.
The ePassport project is part of the DFA’s passport modernization program which started in 2007 with the launch of the machine readable passport. To date, about four million MRPs have been issued.
Initially, application for the ePassport will be on appointment basis. Full implementation of the project will take place in the next three months.
Philippine Electronic Passport (e-passport) - microchip-loaded new passport.
Unlike the Machine Readable Passport (MRP), which is also compliant with the minimum standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the e-passport sports enhanced security features, including hidden encoded image, an ultra-thin holographic laminate and a tamper-proof electronic microchip that is expected to be of big help to Filipino travelers and migrant workers.
The e-passport’s microchip stores the passport holder’s photograph and other personal details for easy verification of identity and is fully inter-operable, meaning that the chip can be read by border officials in other countries using a passport chip reader.
The Philippine Electronic Passport (or Philippine ePassport) uses the digital image of the passport photograph that can be used with face recognition technology to verify the identity of the passport holder.
It captures the fingerprints of the passport holder, for identification using the Automated Fingerprint Verification System (AFIS).
It has 64-kilobyte microchip where the security features and personal data of the holder are stored, making it difficult for syndicates to commit passport fraud.
What are the special features of the Philippine ePassport?
The Philippine ePassport allows information stored on the chip to be verified with the information visually displayed on the passport.
It uses contactless microchip technology that allows the information stored on the chip to be read by special chip readers at a close distance.
It contains an integrated photograph of the holder, a digitized secondary photo, and an electronic print of the holder’s signature.
It contains overt and hidden security features such as Invisible Personal Information (IPI), letterscreen, microprinting, and UV reactive ink, among others.
Who can avail of the Philippine E-Passport?
The ePassport will initially be made available in limited number. Regular issuance will start sometime in October 2009 from whence all applicants who can comply with the documentary requirements may avail of the ePassport.
What other countries use ePassports?
ePassports are already being used in more than 60 countries worldwide. In ASEAN, five countries have already issued ePassports (Singapore, Brunei, Malaysia, Thailand and Cambodia). In the future, all countries are seen to switch to the ePassport due to the increasing need for efficient and better border security.
How much does an ePassport cost?
The ePassport is available for P950. A passport applicant, however, may choose between the ePassport and the less expensive Machine Readable Passport, both compliant with ICAO standard.
Where can I apply for an ePassport?
The ePassport will be initially available at DFA Manila, to be followed by Philippine Embassies and consulates abroad and throughout the Philippines through DFA’s regional offices.
For more details about the new Philippine ePassport please visit DFA site here
OFW Station is a brain-child of husband and wife tandem of Allan and Cielo. Allan is currently working as an Overseas Foreign Worker (OFW) in the far land of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. While Cielo also known in the blogosphere as Brown Pinay, has been constantly giving inspiration and first hand experience about the experiences, sacrifices, gains and struggles of an OFW and their family in her blog. For almost 6 years now, they have been a member of the Pamilyang OFW.Read the full story »
