THIS pertains to the letter to the editor of Mr. Francis Oca dated 22 February 2008 (”OWWA’s Undeclared Priority,” 22 February 2008).
We at the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), sympathize with the relatives of the late OFW Roberto E. Panganiban. However, the medical assistance program for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) was transferred to the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PHIC) or PhilHealth since March 2005.
OWWA provides to OFWs, among other programs and services, disability/dismemberment, life insurance and burial benefits. The life insurance and burial benefit, of which OFW Panganiban is entitled to as an OWWA member, has already been facilitated. Also, OWWA provided financial assistance to his family while the said OFW was ill on top of this entitlement.
We take this opportunity to express our gratitude for the feedback that OWWA receives from our clients and social partners as those aid the agency in improving its operations and the services provided for OFWs and their families.
We are in the process of reviewing the package of services to the member-OFWs to be more responsive to their needs.
– Marianito D. Roque, Administrator, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration
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March 10th, 2008 at 9:41 am
Di lang naman bayani ang mga OFWs. Immune pa from suits and the gallows kung gumawa ng heinous crimes sa labas. Nakauwi nang walang bahid ng crime nila courtesy of our government. Pumila lang dito masama na ang pakiramdam.
March 9th, 2008 at 8:04 pm
Just wondering what happened to my suggestion earlier. So disturbing to the continued existence of OWWA perhaps?
March 6th, 2008 at 1:29 pm
WAG ISISI SA POEA ANG 3 ORAS NA PAG PILA PARA SA EXIT PERMIT O PAGBABAYAD SA POEA….
PROBLEMA KASI MGA TAMAD MGA YAN PUMUNTA SA EMBASSY KUNG SAAN BANSA SILA NAG TATRABAHO PARA MAGBAYAD NG KAUKULANG HALAGA.
March 6th, 2008 at 11:48 am
The government always hails the OFWs as “bagong bayani”. But what exactly are the programs that they have put in place that would make the OFWs feel like they are heroes. Every time the “bayanis” come back, they have to go to POEA and wait in line for at least three hours so that they can get their exit permit (OEC). I’m sure there’s a better way.
February 28th, 2008 at 11:19 pm
Whatever OWWA did in the concerned case, still there are questions. Most important one is, whether or not OWWA is useful and needed.
There are so many OFWs, at least in western countries,where health insurance is anyway a duty and covers most of what OWWA would cover, or even better. Much more useful if the administration would make sure that all countries with OFWs provide such insurance, ususlly the fees are shared between employer and employee. So, in case or accident or illness, the OFW can easily avail of the services needed, there where he works.
Instead of trying to enforce a minimum salary in other countries which is a meddling in local matters of other countries the government should check if the often exorbitant placement fees are correct, since it is very usual that an employer who contacts an agency is already paying his client fees, mostly even including transportation of the OFW. What is fully normal since the employer is buying a service from the agency. There should not be any double charching of employer and employee for the same services. Then, maybe there would not be so many illegal agencies which disappear after a short time, if there would not be the possibility of a big profit. Agencies want to make it looking as if they roam around in foreign countries and ask if someone wants to hire an OFW. The contrary is usual, employers are looking viaads and agencies where they could get the needed employee.
February 28th, 2008 at 2:50 pm
i’ve been an ofw. yes, owwa will provide benifits like burial expense, disability,life insurance..saka na lang ba sila tutulong pag inutil na ang ofw, paano na yong remittance ng mga ofw na binibigay sa pilipinas? sana habang buhay pa ang ofw, owwa should help them..are we that useless, worthless, if we finished our contrac and stay here in the philippines?
February 28th, 2008 at 2:09 pm
mga kabayan na tulad kung OFW,
yong mga ibinabayad natin sa OWWA as membership fee ay parang inilagay natin sa banko na nag declare ng bankrupt at wala tayong nakuha.
o kaya, ang mga ibinayad natin ay pinaghatihatian ng mga buwaya, swapang, walang modong empleado sa ating gobyernong bulok. ginagamit nila sa pagpapaaral sa mga anak na pag nakatapos ay kagaya rin nila. nasisikmura nila na ang ipinapakain sa mga pamilya nila ay galing sa hindi nila pinagpaguran. samantalang si kawawang OFW na nagtitiis na malayo sa pamilya para lng mabigyan ng konting kaligayahan ang mga mahal sa buhay ay pinagdadamutan ng serbisyo.
ang suggestion ko lng sa OWWA na yan ay dapat ng mabuwag dahil wala naman naitutulong sa kagaya kung OFW. o kaya katulad sa nasabi ng isa nating OFW na depende na lng sa OFW kung sasali siya o hindi.
kayo naman na taga OWWA, sana man lng maisip niyo na ang tinatangap niyong sahod ay galing sa amin na mga OFW.
February 28th, 2008 at 1:00 pm
Too bad for this OFW, they work overseas away from family, they work for cheap and come home broke. They should not pay taxes and the government shoud pay their healthcare and their family. Most of their money goes to the pocket of recruiter, overseas employer, and OWWA vultures.
so whats the use of going OFW to enrich others at our own expense?
Our country’s leaders and managers are so incompetent, that is why filipinos are working for cheap abroad.
February 28th, 2008 at 12:22 pm
Now that it had been more than 2 years na akong hindi nagcocontribute sa owwa:
1. May health benefits pa ba akong maasahan pag ako ay nagkasakit? Wala.
2. May burial pa ba? Wala
What can I avail being a former OFW and OWWA contributor?
February 28th, 2008 at 12:15 pm
drama lang yan…they just want to collect money from us for no reason at all… i am a member for years, noong umuwi ako, i tried to avail their livelihood assistance…dami requirements, ang daming collateral na kailagan, at daming seminar ang dapat daluhan…wala rin, I gave up because of so much red tape etc.
If i time deposited all the money I paid to owwa baka…baka di ko na kailangan pa ang mangutang!
Now that I am home (2 years na)…wala na. Parang I donated all the money to owwa….for nothing!
February 28th, 2008 at 4:59 am
OFW sa Kuko ng OWWA
OWWA…ano bang pakinabang namin sa yo?
Sa oras ng aming pangangailangan ikaw ay di maasahan
Sa oras ng kagipitan ikaw ay di malapitan
Saan mo ba dinadala mga pera naming pinagpaguran
Sana aming magamit upang kabayan gipit magkaroon ng ticket
Papauwi sa Pilipinas upang mahal sa buhay ay mayakap ng mahigpit
OWWA…ano nga ba ang iyong kahulugan?
Ikaw ba ay para sa mga OFW o para gatasan…
Ng mga pulitiko at mga magnanakaw sa kaban ng bayan
Dapat kami ay iyong pagsilbihan at kung hindi…
Ikaw ay dapat nang buwagin dahil ikaw ay pahirap lang!
February 28th, 2008 at 12:26 am
Gawing OPTIONAL na lang ang pagbayad o pagmember sa OWWA. Kung ayaw ng OFW magpa-insure sa OWWA, huwag pilitin. Kung ayaw ng OFW mag-enjoy ng so-called OWWA “benefits”, huwag pilitin. Pinaghirapang kitain ng mga OFW ang perang nilulustay ng OWWA sa kanilang mga kapritso. Ako’y isang OFW for ten years now. Every two years, tuwing bakasyon, nagbabayad ako sa OWWA.
Wala pa akong na-avail na benefits mula sa OWWA. Pag-retire ko, may makukuha ba ‘ko sa OWWA?
February 27th, 2008 at 5:43 pm
–
OWWA is supposed to be (or understood to be) an institution created to protect and/or promote the WELFARE OF OFWs.
Are we (OFWs) to believe that OWWA has no jurisdiction over processing of claims for and on behalf of an OFW as regards medical benefits?
Doesn’t it make even more difficult for us and/or our family members to claim such medical benefits, when the said “transfer to PhilHealth” was made - without clear reasons and explanations to the main beneficiaries (OFWs) on why it was made; without ensuring that the process is understood by the beneficiaries and is easily accessible?
Does it need a case like that of the late fellow OFW Panganiban to clarify and rectify OWWA’s oversights and missteps made in the past (not necessarily with the current OWWA administration)?
OWWA should be structured in a way that an OFW can treat it as a one-stop-shop for his needs - “needs” are to be specific and clearly understood by the OFW / beneficiary. It should cover all the current programs and services and should include the medical assistance program - regardless whether it is outsourced (currently thru PhilHealth) or otherwise.
The medical assistance program need not be through PhilHealth as it currently appears imposed to be with. Asking how and why it is as it is now, is totally moot and useless.
But rectifying a mistake, if it is a mistake - is very much in order.
There are other health insurance providers that must be considered and must be invited to bid on providing the services to OFWs and OWWA should have a link with this health insurance provider to directy demand the service on behalf of the beneficiary OFW when the need arises.
Perhaps, OWWA should also explore the possibility of creating a social insurance system similar to SSS with considerations focused on the unique circumstances surrounding the “OFW phenomenon”.
I believe a truthful review of the “package of services” along with an “organized and systematic consultation” with the OFWs regarding the same package - is ideal.
A truthful and real change is now warranted.
February 27th, 2008 at 4:49 pm
di ko lang maintindihan dyan sa OWWA kung bakit every year kailangang magbayad ang vacationing ofw ng membership fee??? Magmula pa noong 1997 ofw na ako ibig sabihin hindi pa ako member unless updated ang bayad ko? At saan napupunta nag mga nakokollekta nilang milyones sa mga ofw? sa mga bulsa nila o sa malacanang mafia?
February 27th, 2008 at 4:11 pm
Isa pang loophole sa policy ng OWWA.
Namatay ang isa nating kababayang OFW sa Diego Garcia. Nag claim ang mga kaanak ng life insurance at burial benefits sa OWWA. Sabi ng OWWA, hindi daw siya qualified sa life insurance dahil 1 year lang daw yung coverage nya (yearly kasi ang uwi at contract duration niya) at nag expire na ito noong time na namatay yung OFW.
Dahil nag extend siya ng stay at hindi umuwi for 2 years, hindi nga naman na renew yung kanyang coverage. Ang pag re renew ay ginagawa lang pag umuwi ka ng Pilipinas. Wala namang instruction sa amin na mag renew ng coverage pag nasa ibang bansa ka.
Dahil maraming ganitong kaso - nag eextend ng stay sa ibang bansa, saan nga ba lulugar ang OFW.
Paki liwanag nga po ito.
February 27th, 2008 at 9:13 am
Enough of the lip service.
You owe to all OFW who pay for your salary that you prepare report of the ff:
1. Major Problems you have identified.
2. What are your corrective actions?
3. When will you implement your solutions?What year/month/date?
4. When will we expect results?What year/Month/Date?
This is basic right of all OFW’s.
February 27th, 2008 at 9:13 am
OWWA must sympathize with the relatives of the late OFW Roberto E. Panganiban. It must be assisted by the OWWA. -erwin repoldo-
February 26th, 2008 at 8:33 pm
Or perhaps, each one must have a place at the libingan ng mga bayani. Kung bayani nga talaga ang mga OFWs.
February 26th, 2008 at 8:31 pm
Death is permanent. The burial benefit must be given to all OFWs, past and present. It goes that OWWA should be grateful that one does not die during his watch abroad and uses his contribution longer. He should be entitled to the benefit just the same even long after he is worthless.
February 26th, 2008 at 5:49 pm
Dito sa saudi maiiyak ka kapag nalaman mo ang ibatibang karanasan ng mga kababayan natin sa bahay kalinga. Ang nais na mangyari ay ibaiba din. Karamihan ay gusto nalang umuwi at makapiling ang mahal sa buhay.bakit kaya kailangan pang paabutin ng buwan bago makauwi? wala bang magawa ang OWWA dito,
napapansin ko din po ang daming empleyado sa POLO.may mga janitors pa nga eh kaso ibang lahi.bakit kaya di pa kababayan natin ang kinuha?
ang mga employees po ng embahada natin pag naguwi sila ng imported cars nila etc.. may tax o wala? pero kaming ordinaryo sigurado ko meron. Bakit kaya? Tapos sasabihing kami ang bagong bayani ng pilipinas? Kaya lang naman kami bayani (kuno) dahil sa dollar na padala. ano kaya kung maliit ang padala at minimal ang effect sa ekonomiya bayani pa rin kaya ang turing sa amin?
ang hirap intindihin ang gobyerno………. diyos ko po.
kung maranasan niyo lang ang magtrabaho dito na tatanggap ng suweldo ng di mo alam kung kailan,ewan ko lang.tinitiis namin kasi paguuwi kami sa ‘pinas ‘GUTOM’ ang katapat.
blessed are those in the government…. kita nalang tayo sa ibayong buhay
February 26th, 2008 at 5:34 pm
i may address my inquiry to OWWA. i am an OFW since nov 6, 1984. i do pay my philhealth every year. my employer here will retire me when i reached the age of 58 by feb of 2011. by that time i am no longer employed. who will take care of my health needs? will philhealth still covers my health insurance with out paying my yearly premium? can i get any benefit from OWWA, say..a monthly pension to sustain my daily needs? i brought home all the DOLLARS i earned during my stay here. what do i expect from the republic of the phillipines in return of my sacrifices away from home and from my family for the past several productive years.
sana naman po magkaroon kami nang monthly pension kahit pambili lang nang makakain sa araw araw at pambili nang mga gamot pang maintenance.
i hope you can have a reply on this from owwa through you section.
maraming salamat ang more power to you.
February 26th, 2008 at 5:31 pm
Napakabait po pag nagreply ang OWWA sa mga MEDIA, kami po dito na nagtatrabaho sa ibang bansa ang nagbibigay ng pondo sa OWWA, pag kami din po ang na ngangailangan ng tulong sa ahensiyang ito kailangan pang kalampagin ng MEDIA bago kumilos.
Masmabuti po siguro kung wala ng OWWA para wala din kaming aasahan na ahensiya. It shows evidently that MEDIA are more attentive to extending their hands ratherthan government agencies whos function is CIVIL SERVICE. Ibigay nalang natin sa isang NGO mas kapanipaniwala pa.
Nawa pagpalain kayong nasa ahensiya ng diyos.