From the Department of Labor and Employment
In countries with large concentrations of migrant Filipinos, MWOFRCs serve as central hubs of welfare and assistance. These will be used as temporary shelters for overseas Filipinos in distress as well as areas for developmental activities.
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Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz said that one of the more important features of the newly-issued Joint Manual of Operations in Providing Assistance to Migrant Workers and Other Filipinos Overseas is the Migrant Workers and Other Overseas Filipinos Resource Center, or MWOFRC, which shall serve as central hub of welfare and assistance for migrant Filipinos.
“As mandated by R.A. 8042, or the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995, as amended by R.A. 10022, there are already MWOFRCs, or Centers, in countries where there are large concentration of migrant Filipinos, but the Joint Manual now specifies the usage of the Centers and the multi-purpose hall which shall be established therein (Sec. 21 and 29); clarifies management and supervision and the duties and functions of responsible officials for the orderly operation of the Centers (Secs. 22 and 23); prescribes the criteria and procedures for admission, as well as discharge (Secs. 24, 25, and 27); prescribes the general rules and regulations to maintain order, discipline, and security (Sec. 26); and outlines the reporting system on Center operations,” Secretary Baldoz explained.
The labor and employment chief emphasized that the Joint Manual was developed consistent with the directive of President Aquino III to transform Philippine missions abroad into Centers of Care and Excellence for Overseas Filipinos, and the MWOFRC is a focal point of this pursuit.
The MWOFRC, as provided in the Joint Manual, shall be used as a temporary shelter for overseas Filipinos in distress. Therefore, Baldoz said the centers should reflect the ideal standards of how workers should be treated, served, and cared for.
According to Baldoz, MWOFRC is solely for female migrant Filipinos in distress, but the Joint Manual provides that a separate center for males shall be established, as may be allowed by the rules and regulations of the host government, and subject to availability of funds.
To ensure the well-being, safety, and security of the wards, the center coordinator shall maintain a systematic recording, reporting, and monitoring system which shall include information such as the date and time of admission, brief statement of personal circumstances (health condition and special medical attention required, if any) inventory of ward’s personal belongings at the time of admission, and the date and time of discharge from the center, as well as identity of visitors entering and leaving.
The labor and employment chief also said the Filipino community and non-government organizations shall be allowed to use the multi-purpose hall of the center for developmental activities, such as reintegration preparedness seminars, skills training, meetings, and other community activities, but subject to certain conditions and with the prior approval of the head of the Philippine Overseas Labor Office.
dole.gov.ph
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