Davao City to set up hotline service for migrant workers

The City Government of Davao will set up soon a hotline service for Overseas Filipino Workers and their families as the city starts the implementation of Ordinance No. 0411-20 Series of 2020 creating the OFW Families Welfare and Crisis Center.

Davao City Social Welfare and Development Office Head Atty. Marlisa Gallo, in a recent interview over the Davao City Disaster Radio, said this program will help link OFWs to their families, especially when they face problems while working abroad.

“Base sa ordinance, siya tong contact person sa atoang OFW sa gawas ug sa iyang families diri nga ma-left behind. So posible ang pamilya diri moingon na si mama nako didto dili namo ma-contact, mao na ang among trabahuon karon. Very challenging ang programa og dako kaayo ang matabang sa OFW ug sa ilang pamilya nga nagpabilin nila. (Based on the ordinance the center will become the contact person of our OFWs outside and their families who are left behind. So possible that the families would say that they could not contact their family members and that is what we will work on. This is a very challenging program at the same time very helpful for the families of OFWs),” Gallo said.

She added that the CSWDO is preparing for the full implementation of the program and has partnered with agencies for data collection.

So far, CSWDO received a total of 210 reports of OFWs in distress in the year 2021. These came as referrals from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and other partner agencies.

The center will also have a monitoring and coordinative function that will link with other agencies to help OFWs and their distressed families.

The direct services for the OFW and their families include a 24-hour hotline. The crisis intervention programs available to the families are welfare and crisis assistance, financial assistance for emergencies, financial literacy seminars, livelihood workshops, business and economic workshops, personal development workshops, basic health care services in coordination with our City Health Office.

Psychiatric and Legal services will also be provided for the OFW and their distressed families through partner agencies.

Gallo said that since they are yet to launch the hotline, OFWs and their distressed families can report or send messages to the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) Facebook Page or contact Kean Gabriel Hotline (09088184444) for child rescue concerns. CIO