THE Overseas Workers Welfare Administration Regional Welfare Office 11 (Owwa 11) handled a total of 1,419 welfare cases of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in 2018.
Of this number, 42 cases were filed by the next-of-kin for OFWs with physical illness; seven cases with mental illness; 120 cases of OFWs who were maltreated/mistreated; 36 were physically and verbally abused; and 50 cases with alleged rape or sexual harassment.
There are also 136 OFWs with unpaid or delayed salaries; 27 dependents who were asking for the whereabouts of their families abroad; 63 requested for assistance due to non-communication with the OFWs; 37 asked for the status or condition of the OFW; 71 complaints of OFWs who were overworked; 15 sought for medical assistance and 37 families requested assistance for OFWs who were imprisoned.
Owwa-Davao Region said they have been responsive to the concerns they received and coordinated with other concerned agencies in order to give quality service to all its clients.
Their record further showed that 91 OFWs with personal or family problems and 23 clients were catered with request for assistance for OFWs who want to retrieve their personal belongings, missing at sea, request to transfer employer and request for OFW membership certification.
They likewise recorded a total of 557 requests for repatriation of OFWs with different cases. Among them include; physically and mentally challenged OFWs, human remains and other OFWs who are in distressed.
“The above-mentioned requests for assistance were well-taken by this office and were properly endorsed to the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) to look into the cases,” the statement read.
Meanwhile, for those who are families who have concerns for the welfare of their families working abroad, they could report it to their office for immediate assistance. Contact or visit the regional welfare office located at Doors 31 E-G, G.B. Cam Building, Monteverde Street, Davao City or call hotline numbers 0917-7011135 or 0917-7011126.