‘OFW Serbisyo Caravan’ records 11,383 transactions in the UAE

A government-led comprehensive caravan for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), piloted in three key cities in Saudi Arabia from July 18; and, which earned a barrage of complaints from distraught OFWs in the UAE – where 11,383 total transactions were recorded – shall definitely be improved.

Data furnished Gulf Today showed that the two-phased six-day “OFW Serbisyo Caravan” in the UAE, served 992 clients during the July 28 to 30 Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) outreach programme held at the Migrant Workers Office-Dubai (MWO-Dubai). Of this, 25 were membership registrations; 69 membership amendments; 683 document issuance/printing including identification cards and Membership Data Records; and 215 enquiries/verifications.

On August 3, from Hall 8 and Rashid Hall of the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) and from August 4 and 5 at the MWO-Dubai – because of the unexpected influx of OFWs at the original Hall 8 venue – the agency that rendered the most number of services was the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), an attached office of the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW). DMW is the main implementor of the Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Administration’s “Serbisyo Caravan,” aimed at primarily serving densely-populated OFW countries.

OWWA recorded 1,492 membership enrollments; 815 electronic cards issuance; 2,371 processed e-cards online; and 13 welfare assistance for a total of 4,691. From the Social Security System (SSS): 2,798 with 2,574 enquiries/verifications; 11 each for pensioner services and registration of new SSS number; 94 My SSS online services; and 108 Pension Booster. From MWO-Dubai: 1,353 job contract verifications but only 1,215 were approved as the 138 “processed” were “disapproved” or marked with “pending compliance decision,” and 17 labour-related Assistance-to-Nationals cases. From the Philippine Statistics Authority: 555 broken down as 355 National Identification Card applications/printing; 198 civil registration services; and two registration status enquiries. From the Public Attorney’s Office, the independent quasi-legal body attached to the Department of Justice: 330 clove into 64 free legal assistance and 266 legal information dissemination. From the PagIBIG (Home Mutual Development) Fund: 281 encompassing new membership registration, membership verification/updating, PagIBIG Mode 2 enrollment, virtual assistance, housing loan enquiry/consultation, and multi-purpose loan application. From the Department of Social Welfare and Development: 205, ranging from 34 crisis assistance; 36 minors travelling abroad; 64 sustainable livelihood programme consultations; 27 social pension/solo parents welfare requests; six mental health & psychosocial support; five psychosocial counselling; 15 child custody cases; and 18 other programmes. From the Department of Trade and Industry/Philippine Trade and Investment Centre-Dubai: 113 with 52 interested in franchising opportunities; 26 business and financial literacy programmes; and nine small group corporation loan assistance. From the Philippine Consulate General-Dubai: 74 consultations and processing surrounding legal capacity to contract marriage, affidavit, and report of birth.

On the social media bamboozle that continued for three days, arising from the rage of the OFWs, Labour Attache in Dubai and the Northern Emirates John Rio Bautista said: “Post underestimated the crowd. We were only expecting 2,000. Based on special services rendered in the past, only 50 per cent of the pre-registered appeared on the actual days.”

By 10:30am on August 3, the Rashid Hall was opened. That was after the One Philippines Team led by Ambassador to the UAE Alfonso Ferdinand Ver and visiting OWWA chief Atty. Patricia Yvonne Caunan, consulted with the DWTC management, Community Development Authority-Dubai (CDA-Dubai) and Dubai Police.

A volunteer from Filipino Social Club, the organisation accredited by both the Philippine Government and the UAE through CDA-Dubai, confirmed that food and drinks were distributed: “But, many were enraged. They said they deserved much better than the burgers, bread and drinks because they are OFWs.”

Bautista said the last served on August 3 was done with at 1:45am, “the following day.”

On the lessons learnt, Bautista said: “It is crucial to set the limit by requiring pre-registration per individual agency’s set limit.” He recommended for “longer caravan schedules.”

Through a press release, DMW Secretary Hans Cacdac apologised. He vowed for more enhanced digitalisation procedures, which MWO-Dubai pilot-tested a few years back, and improved last month.