Soriano
Vacationing overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) can now renew their insurance policies at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Manila.
Wilhem Soriano, administrator of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), said that the special service of the Labour Assistance Centre (LAC) was established recently to make services more efficient and accessible to returning and departing OFWs.
"This window of service was spawned by the huge volume of arrivals during the holiday season. We thought it's just logical to extend the programme to accommodate the same vacationers who are leaving again. We're thinking of keeping the services permanently, but we're looking at the demand and the season," Soriano told Gulf News.
OWWA, the government welfare body charged with helping Filipinos overseas, claims to have assisted 127,000 OFWs who went home to spend Christmas in the Philippines.
"Returning or vacationing workers are usually pre-occupied with a lot of things. Their OWWA membership renewal is farthest from their minds. Most OFWs are not that conscious about dangers posed by various factors arising from their employment abroad," Soriano pointed out.
He said that OWWA officers are assigned round-the-clock at the airport with authority to collect the membership renewal of $25 ( P1,100), which covers life insurance and repatriation services for OFWs on a per-contract basis.
"We're intensifying our drive for bona-fide OFWs to renew their membership. This on-site airport collection unit complements the services already available to OFWs through our overseas offices attached to the Philippine embassies and consulates," said Soriano.
OWWA has pegged insurance coverage on the duration of a member's overseas job contract since 1998. Apart from insurance coverage, active members are also eligible to apply for scholarship grants, airport or repatriation assistance, a reintegration scheme, livelihood assistance, counselling and information programme.
"The per-contract basis means that if your contract is valid only for two years, you have to renew after the contract expires to have the coverage," explained Ferdinand Roxas, Dubai-based supervising welfare officer. Filipinos in the UAE are charged Dh100 for the OWWA insurance coverage, he added.
Under the OWWA scheme, all contract workers deployed overseas are automatically covered by the agency's insurance programme of as much as P120,000 (Dh9,230) for a land-based worker and P70,000 (Dh5,384) for sea-based worker.
In the event an OFW enters into two or more consecutive job contracts overseas within one year, the member will be covered for the total duration of the two or more contracts, Roxas explained.
As such, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) must issue the Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC) in lieu of a travel tax when the OFW presents documentary proof of coverage or payment of the OWWA Welfare Fund contribution.
Filipinos can also check their Medicare coverage via OWWA's online database www.owwa-medicare.org.ph by typing their name in the search box.
Roxas pointed out, however, that unlike the insurance coverage, Medicare membership must be renewed every year. He said that UAE-based Filipinos are charged a uniform fee of Dh128.57 for their Medicare coverage, while the OEC is Dh15.
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As a seasoned expert in overseas Filipino workers' (OFWs) welfare and insurance policies, I bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to shed light on the comprehensive system outlined in the article about the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Manila. My expertise is grounded in a deep understanding of the intricacies of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) and its role in safeguarding the well-being of Filipinos working abroad.
The introduction of the Labour Assistance Centre (LAC) at NAIA, spearheaded by Wilhem Soriano, the administrator of OWWA, is a strategic move aimed at enhancing efficiency and accessibility for returning and departing OFWs. The motivation behind this initiative stems from the surge in arrivals during the holiday season, reflecting a keen awareness of the unique challenges faced by OFWs during this period.
Soriano's insight into the mindset of returning or vacationing workers underscores the importance of the OWWA membership renewal, a facet often overlooked by individuals preoccupied with various concerns. The proactive measure of establishing an on-site airport collection unit, allowing OWWA officers to collect the $25 (P1,100) membership renewal fee, demonstrates a commitment to ensuring that OFWs have life insurance and repatriation services on a per-contract basis.
The article emphasizes the significant role played by OWWA since 1998 in providing insurance coverage pegged to the duration of an OFW's overseas job contract. Beyond insurance, active OWWA members gain access to a spectrum of benefits, including scholarship grants, airport or repatriation assistance, reintegration schemes, livelihood assistance, counseling, and information programs.
The per-contract basis is a crucial aspect clarified by Ferdinand Roxas, a Dubai-based supervising welfare officer, who highlights the necessity for renewal after a contract expires to maintain coverage. The fee structure for OWWA insurance coverage, such as the Dh100 charge for Filipinos in the UAE, further illustrates the financial aspects of this comprehensive welfare program.
The mention of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) issuing the Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC) in lieu of travel tax when OFWs provide proof of OWWA Welfare Fund contribution showcases the integration of administrative processes to streamline services for OFWs.
Furthermore, the article touches on the distinction between OWWA insurance coverage and Medicare membership, emphasizing the annual renewal requirement for Medicare. Roxas clarifies the uniform fee of Dh128.57 for Medicare coverage for UAE-based Filipinos, providing transparency about the financial obligations associated with healthcare benefits.
In conclusion, the comprehensive system outlined in the article reflects a meticulous approach by OWWA to address the diverse needs of OFWs, with the LAC at NAIA being a testament to the commitment to efficiency, accessibility, and overall welfare of Filipino workers abroad.
