By ROY C. MABASA
Starting July 1, 2023, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) will turn over its Assistance-To-Nationals functions (ATN) for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) to the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW).
This is in compliance with Republic Act No. 11641, an act creating the DMW.
Under said law, all assistance cases involving OFWs, including legal or medical assistance, repatriation, and shipment of remains shall now be handled by the DMW through the use of its AKSYON Fund, except in countries where there are no resident Migrant Workers Offices (MWOs) under the DMW.
To ensure uninterrupted service, the public is requested to refer to the DMW all requests for assistance involving OFWs (whether documented or undocumented) situated in the following countries/territories with resident MWOs:
Asia-Pacific: Australia, Brunei Darussalam, China (including Hong Kong, Macau), Japan, Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore.
Middle East and Northern Africa: Bahrain, Israel, Jordan, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, United Arab Emirates.
Europe: Czech Republic, Germany, Greece, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom.
Americas: Canada, United States of America.
OFWs from the above places who need assistance may personally, or through their relatives, contact the DMW through the following 24/7 Hotline Numbers: 87221144 or 87221155; or email addresses: lepat@dmw.gov.ph; connect@dmw.gov.ph: cacdac@dmw.gov.ph.
For all OFWs situated in countries other than the above, the DFA will continue to be responsible for assisting them through its Assistance To Nationals (ATN) and Legal Assistance Funds (LAF).
The DFA shall also continue to assist all other overseas Filipino nationals worldwide who are not OFWs/temporary workers, but fall under other categories (students, tourists, dual citizens, permanent residents, etc.). Such persons, or their relatives, may request the DFA for assistance through Telephone number: 88344996 or through email: oumwa@dfa.gov. ph.
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