(Courtesy of OFW Help Facebook)
MANILA – The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) mobile application is secure and overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) are encouraged to use it without worrying about data breach.
DMW Undersecretary Hans Leo Cacdac assured that the app has security features that passed the standards of the Department of Information and Communications Technology.
“Meron naman hong safety measures and standards. Meron tayong hired experts, consultants para magbigay ng payo at input at maniniguro na safe (We have safety measures and standards. We hired experts and consultants to seek their advice and inputs to make sure it is safe to use),” he said at the Saturday News Forum at the Dapo Restaurant in Quezon City.
If the OFWs encounter glitches, which Cacdac said are possible, they can seek “24/7 technical support,” which is one of the mobile app’s features.
Cacdac said the app offers seamless services as it is fully operated by the government.
“This is not processed or built through private entities but an in-house process system by our government, an in-house DMW ICT tool. Sa pamahalaan po ito. Meaning, pag-aari ng taong bayan. Wala pong private ads dito o commercialization ng app (It is run by the government. The people own it. There will be no private advertisements or commercialization of the app),” he said.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Friday led the pilot test run of the app in a ceremony at Malacañan Palace in Manila, with DMW Secretary Susan Ople.
The DMW identified 10 countries and territories with the most number of OFWs as pilot testing sites for the OFW Pass – the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Singapore, Malaysia, Oman, Japan, Taiwan, the United Kingdom, and Hong Kong.
The full launch will be announced at a later date.
The app will provide more convenient services for OFWs, including an OFW Pass that will serve as their digitalized identification.
A digital alternative to the Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC), the OFW Pass is free of charge and valid until the expiration of the employment contract.
A traditional OEC costs PHP100 and can only be used once in 60 days.
The DMW will continue to issue paper-form OECs while transitioning from analog to digital. (PNA)
