One-Stop Service Center for OFWs in CV Now Open at SM City Cebu

The Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in Central Visayas can now transact, inquire, clarify, and process documents  at the One-Stop Service Center for OFWs (OSSCO).

OSSCO is located at the at the 2nd Floor of the Government Express Center, SM City Cebu, North Reclamation Area, Cebu City.

The center does not only cater to the needs of OFWs but helps minimize their expenses and saves time since they do not have to hop from one office to the next for their transactions and documentation processes.

“We were supposed to launch OSSCO last September 5, 2016 and would have been the first region nationwide to have its own operational One-Stop Service Center for OFWs,” said DOLE-7 Regional Director Exequiel Sarcauga.

He said the establishment of OSSCO is in response to the marching orders of President Rodrigo Durterte through Labor and Employment Secretary Silvestre Bello III to streamline government services particularly for the OFWs.

Sec. Bello gave instructions to all DOLE regional offices to set up their OSSCO not later than December 16, said Sarcauga.

During the launching early this month, Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) Deputy Administrator Amuerfina Reyes said that having the OSSCO fully operational is an “early Christmas gift” for the OFWs in Central Visayas.

The region’s OSSCO can serve as a benchmark for other regions who have yet to put up their one-stop service center.

“I urge all of you especially the personnel who will form part of the OSSCO operations to be sensitive and attentive to every OFW seeking for assistance. The rationale of this endeavor is to actually make things easier for OFWs,” she said.

Sarcauga encouraged the OFWs to take advantage of the OSSCO.

“Each agency involved has identified the services and programs they will deliver at OSSCO within 72-hour transaction period,” he said.

Most of the services offered at OSSCO cater to the needs of workers who are seeking for employment opportunities outside the country.

Heads and representatives of the 16 agencies attended OSSCO’s launching with Father John Mission of the Stella Maris Seafarers’ Center, Apostleship of the Sea blessed the Center.

SM City Cebu management were represented by its officers Ma. Luz Generoso and Tata Mempin.

OSSCO is open from Monday to Saturday at 10:00 A.M. until 7:00 P.M. (rmn/jsme/PIA7-Cebu)