OWWA DESK. Antique Provincial Board Member Karmila Dimamay sponsors resolution requesting the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) to reestablish the overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) Desk or Satellite Office in Antique during Thursday’s regular session (Jan. 23, 2020). Currently, OFWs from Antique travel to the OWWA regional office in Iloilo City for their transactions. (PNA photo by Annabel Consuelo J. Petinglay)
SAN JOSE DE BUENAVISTA, Antique -- The Antique provincial board on Thursday requested the reestablishment of desk or satellite office of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) and the reinstatement of the OFW (overseas Filipino worker) family affairs officer in the province.
The provincial board, during its regular session, unanimously approved the resolution sponsored by Board Member Karmila Rose Dimamay, urging for the revival of the OWWA desk.
Dimamay said Antique has a big number of OFWs, who greatly contribute to the province’s economy, especially in uplifting the lives of their families.
“The province is home to an estimated more or less 18,000 Filipino OFWs/migrant workers,” she said.
She added the big number of OFWs still transact their business and relay their concerns to the OWWA Regional Office 6 in Iloilo City.
“It could take a whole-day commute for the OFWs/migrant workers from the northern towns of Antique like Libertad to be able to reach Iloilo City,” she said.
“Antiqueños will find relief with the reestablishment of the OWWA desk or satellite office in Antique they can transact business and relay their concerns faster and more conveniently,” she said.
She was informed that the OWWA desk in the province was closed in 2017.
Currently, the Antique provincial government under the Provincial Planning and Development Office has established its own OFW Desk that coordinates with OWWA Regional Office 6 for the concerns of the OFWs.
The OFW Desk, however, offers only referral services. Most OFWs/Migrant Workers still prefer to go directly to the OWWA regional office. (PNA)
