DOLE-7 One-Stop Service Center for OFWs Served Over 80,000 in 2017

Around 82,554 Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) were served at Region 7 One-Stop Service Center for OFWs (OSSCO) in 2017.

“The significant increase of the number of OFWs coming to the OSSCO is proof that there are more migrants becoming aware of the services being delivered by the agencies involved in the center’s operations,” said DOLE-7 OIC-Regional Director Cyril Ticao.

The center is located at the 2nd Floor, Government Express Center, SM City Cebu, North Reclamation Area, Cebu City that houses 15 agencies rendering selected assistance and services to OFW-clients.

For 2017, the months of June and July recorded the highest number of OFWs seeking assistance at the center with the PhilHealth registering the highest number of clients served at more than 4,000 for each month.

In his report to Director Ticao, National Reintegration Center for OFWs (NRCO-7) Regional Coordinator Dexter Paro cited that PhilHealth assisted a total of 45,537 OFWs for the year.

This is followed by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) tallying 10,777 clients served.

The Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) assisted 6,009 OFWs, while PAG-IBIG recorded 5,055 assisted.

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) reported more than 4,000 OFWs served and following it is the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) with 3,278 migrant workers assisted.

The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) rendered assistance to more than 2,000 OFWs, which is being closely followed by the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA), serving around 1,890 clients.

A total of 1,364 OFWs were assisted by the Social Security System (SSS), while about 434 clients were being served by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).

The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) came in next with 403 OFWs assisted, followed by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and Bureau of Immigration (BI) with 282 and 235 OFWs served, respectively.

The National Reintegration Center for OFWs (NRCO), on the other hand, served 87 and DOLE, 34.

“The implementation of the OSSCO is in response to the marching orders of President Durterte, through Labor and Employment Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III, which is to streamline government services particularly those solely designed by government to cater to the needs of the OFWs,” added Ticao.

The center is a place where migrant workers transact, file applications, raise inquiries, and process documents in one place. (jsme/PIA7-Cebu/DOLE-7)