Overseas Filipino workers (PNA file photo)
DAVAO CITY – A two-week vaccination drive, which covers weekends and holidays, will roll out for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) at the Matina Town Square (MTS) compound here starting Aug. 18.
Public Employment and Service Office (PESO) manager Lilibeth Pantinople, in a radio interview Wednesday, said the vaccination express lane was requested by Mayor Sara Duterte after learning that OFWs are not yet on the priority list of the Department of Health (DOH).
She added that the vaccination express lane will cater to around 5,000 departing and returning or repatriated migrant workers.
“Based on experience, OFWs are not found yet in the DQR (Davao quick response). They are mixed into different categories. This is why this vaccination site is created to cater to OFWs,” she said.
Pantinople said applicants who will fill out the forms will not automatically qualify because these would be validated first by the PESO in partnership with allied agencies.
“PESO will validate if applicants are really OFWs. We will refer to Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) for the returnees or repatriated OFWs, and the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) for overseas employment certificates for departing OFWs if they are indeed for departure. Once the application is approved, the applicant will be immediately informed. No walk-ins will be allowed,” Pantinople said.
Rey Elaya, OWWA-11 officer-in-charge, said his office will validate OFWs in their database, and those who are not yet in their database may present contracts, termination letters, official receipts as proof that they worked abroad.
Elaya added that there will be a two-day validation of OFWs' documents set on Aug. 16 and 17 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the MTS compound where they can present their documents.
“The pre-vaccination validation will be in two days and during the day of vaccination, we will also place a desk in the site for validation,” Elaya said. (PNA)
