OFWs’ welfare programme returns to UAE on Nov.15-16

In a little over three months, a government-led comprehensive service to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) returns to the UAE this Nov.15 and Nov.16 (Saturday and Sunday).

This is the “OFW Bagong Bayani ng Mundo-Serbisyo Caravan (OFW New Heroes of the World-Service Caravan),” spearheaded by the Philippines’ Department of Migrant Workers through the Migrant Workers Office-Dubai (MWO-Dubai).

Registrants may avail of a new facility from the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), the government-owned and controlled corporation set up in 1995 to manage the Filipinos’ universal health coverage, and first-time government agency participant, Land Bank of the Philippines (Land Bank) set up in 1963 focused on rural growth development.

The media received the advisory on Sunday evening from the Filipino Social Club (FilSoc) the apolitical, non-religious umbrella organisation of all Filipino societies in Dubai and the Northern Emirates. FilSoc is recognised by the Philippine Government, through the One Philippines Team in the UAE, and the UAE Government through the Community Development Authority in Dubai.

To be held from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Hall 3 of the Dubai World Trade Centre, Filipinos across the seven emirates are encouraged to enlist over https://www.bit.ly/SerbisyoCaravan-Leg2

Highlighted in the three-page advisory, signed by Labour Attache in Dubai and the Northern Emirates John Rio Bautista: “Only registered clients will be entertained during the caravan. Strictly no walk-ins.”

The advisory moreover states that “Participating agencies separate from MWO-Dubai have different registration forms embedded” in the main registration link. Parties interested to avail of services are also advised to visit the MWO-Dubai website, mwodubai.org, and the MWO-Dubai Facebook Page, https://www.facebook.com/MWODubaiOffical/ for enquiries and other clarifications."

The service caravan with 11 Philippine Government agencies participating, duplicates the July 28 to August 3 two-phased landmark service caravan in the UAE.

However, in the advisory, there is no indication that this November, the services rendered by PhilHealth would be separately held at the MWO-Dubai headquarters in Al Qusais, Dubai.

The added PhilHealth facility – aside from the usual frontline services, registration and data amendment, and Personal Identification Number generation and issuance – is the Konsulta Registration (Medical Consultation Registration).

Via the Konsulta Registration, active paying PhilHealth members are going to be given access to free unlimited primary care consultation, free selected laboratory tests and diagnostics exams, and free selected maintenance medicines, as determined by an accredited physician of the Philippine-based primary healthcare centre where they are registered. The PhilHealth Board approved the Konsulta Registration policy on May 14, 2025.

Land Bank officers shall provide registrations for the Go Bayani Account, deposit/loan/investment products and services.

Following are the services from the other nine other government agencies:

•MWO-Dubai - job contract verification and assistance-to-nationals services

•Philippine Consulate General-Dubai – passport renewal, notarial services, civil registration, report of marriage, and legal capacity to contract marriage

•Overseas Workers Welfare Administration – membership registration, electronic car issuance, acceptance for Wireless Application Protocol application, welfare and other assistance services

•Social Security System – inquiries and verification, Member Data Change and Annual Confirmation of Pensioner acceptance, online services assistance

•PagIBIG (Home Mutual Development) Fund – membership registration, records and accounts membership, Modified PagIBIG Fund enrollment, housing loan consultation/inquiry/assistance requirements, receipt of Multi-Purpose Loan application

•Department of Trade and Industry-Philippine Trade Investment Center (Dubai) – franchising opportunities, business and financial literacy programmes, Small Business Corporation loan assistance

•Department of Social Welfare and Development – OFWs programmes and services, psychosocial counselling

•Philippine Statistics Authority – National Identification Card registration and other services, Birth/Marriage/Death Certificate/Certificate of No Marriage/Certificate of No Death copy issuance, and consultation on registration matters

•Philippine Attorney’s Office – free legal assistance.

The initial “OFW Bagong Bayani ng Mundo-Serbisyo Caravan,” the goal of which is the provision on a wider scale, the one-stop services conducted in Filipino communities by the various One Philippines Team worldwide, took place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on July 18. It was continued on in Jeddah on August 8 to 9 in Jeddah then in Al Khobar on August 15 to 16.

According to the MWO-Dubai data, total transactions recorded from the July 28 to August 3 service caravan in the UAE – also home to nearly one million Filipinos – like Saudi Arabia, were at 11,383.