THE number of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) served at Region 7’s One-Stop Service Center for OFWs (Ossco) skyrocketed to 82,554 in 2017.
The Department of Labor and Employment Region 7 (DOLE 7) earlier reported that the Ossco had tallied 2,493 OFWs assisted since its launch on October 7, 2016, up to December that same year.
The Ossco is where migrant workers transact, file applications, raise inquiries and process documents just in one place.
“The significant increase of the number of OFWs coming to the Ossco is proof there are more migrants becoming aware of the services being delivered by the agencies involved in the center’s operations,” DOLE 7 acting director Cyril L. Ticao said.
The Center, located at the second floor of the Government Express Center, SM City Cebu, North Reclamation Area, Cebu City, houses the 15 agencies rendering selected assistance and services to OFW-clients.
For 2017 the months of June and July recorded the most number of OFWs seeking assistance at the Center, with the PhilHealth registering the highest number of clients served at more than 4,000 individuals for each month.
National Reintegration Center for OFWs (NRCO 7) Regional Coordinator Dexter F. Paro said PhilHealth assisted 45,537 OFWs that year.
It was followed by the Professional Regulation Commission tallying 10,777 clients served. The Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority assisted 6,009 OFWs, while Pag-IBIG recorded 5,055 individuals assisted.
The National Bureau of Investigation reported more than 4,000 OFWs served, with the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration assisting 3,278 migrant workers.
The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration rendered assistance to more than 2,000 OFWs, closely followed by the Maritime Industry Authority, serving around 1,890 clients. There were 1,364 OFWs assisted by the Social Security System, while about 434 clients were served by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.
The Philippine Statistics Authority came in next with 403 OFWs assisted, followed by the Commission on Higher Education and the Bureau of Immigration with 282 and 235 OFWs served, respectively. The NRCO 7 served 87, and the Department of Labor and Employment served 34.
On its first anniversary on October 7, 2017, the OSSCO registered 6,500 OFWs assisted coming from all agencies concerned.
“The implementation of the OSSCO was in response to the marching orders of President Durterte, through Labor Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III, to streamline government services particularly those solely designed by government to cater to the needs of the OFWs,” Ticao said.