OFW SITUATIONER:

EMPOWERMENT
THROUGH
REINTEGRATION

Overseas employment is
temporary. It is an
accepted fact among
Overseas Filipino
Workers.

For the past years, the Philippine

government has initiated policies,
programs, services and assistance to
OFW returnees broadly ranging from
the basic assisted-return scheme of
providing pre-departure information,
counselling and the organization of the
voluntary return, to projects aimed at
facilitating the long-term reintegration
and their economic viability following
their return home.

By taking into account:

The problems OFWs face upon their return
home
The ready interventions available for them
Their coping mechanism with wage
differentials between their former host
country and in the Philippines
Available self employment or
entrepreneurial activities for OFW returnees

Based on POEAs
2010-2014 Overseas Employment Statistics,
the current number of
Deployed Overseas Filipino Workers by Type:

TYPE

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

LANDBASE
D

1,123,676

1,318,727

1,435,166

1,469,17
9

1,430,842

NEW HIRE

341,966

437,720

458,575

464,888

487,176

REHIRE

781,710

881,007

976,591

1,004,291

943,666

SEABASED

347,150

369,104

366,865

367,166

401,826

1,470,826

1,687,831

1,802,031

1,836,34
5

1,832,668

TOTAL

In the past years, there is a steady increase in the number of

new hires and re-hires of land-based and sea-based OFWs
deployed.
Based on POEA data, 1.7 million OFWs were deployed during
the last quarter of 2014, or 4,508 deployed daily. But the
number of OFWs leaving daily was pegged at 5,200 nine
months prior to September 2014.

Top Ten Destinations of Deployed Landbased

OFWs, both New Hires and Rehires
COUNTRY

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

KSA

293,049

316,736

330,040

382,553

402,837

UAE

201,214

235,775

259.546

261.119

246,231

SINGAPOR
E

70,251

146,613

172.690

173.666

140,205

QATAR

87,813

100,530

104.622

94,195

114,511

101,340

129,575

131.680

130,686

105,737

KUWAIT

53,010

65,603

75,286

67,856

70,098

TAIWAN

36,866

41,896

41,492

41,145

58,681

MALAYSIA

9,802

16,797

25,261

34,088

31,451

BAHRAIN

15,434

18,230

22,271

20,546

18,958

CANADA

13,885

15.658

19,283

18,120

18,107

OTHERS

241,012

231.314

252,995

245,205

224,026

TOTAL

1,123,67
6

1,318,727

1,435,166

1,469,179

1,430,842

HK

Top Ten Flags of Registry of Deployed Seafarers

COUNTRY

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

PANAMA

66,523

72,614

67,567

69,297

71,356

BAHAMAS

41,814

42,363

38,942

41,627

50,379

LIBERIA

32,561

39,260

36,912

35,585

35,974

MARSHALL IS

21,824

24,235

25,795

27,444

32,179

MALTA

16,971

17,116

17,662

19,249

23,793

SINGAPOR
E

16,417

17,401

19,488

18,820

22,561

BERMUDA

9,562

12,830

12,621

15,203

16,509

12,136

14,187

11,916

11,877

13,232

9,602

10,198

10,644

7,921

12,582

11,927

12,822

11,564

11,865

12,297

OTHERS

107,813

106,078

113,754

108,278

110,964

TOTAL

347,150

369,104

366,865

367,166

401,826

NORWAY
NETHERLAND
S

ITALY

Thus

The OFWs represent a major socioeconomic

sector of the Philippines due to remittances
Research shows that overseas migration is a
positive anti-poverty strategy wherein
households with migrant workers move up
the income ladder faster than households
without a migrant worker.
Despite the economic gains from overseas
employment, the OFWs sector is still beset
with major policy challenges that revolve
around the issue of whether or not labor
migration should be considered a permanent
development strategy for the Philippines.

OFW
REINTEGRATION
PROGRAMS & SERVICES
Providing opportunities and
alternatives for OFWs to
overseas employment.

NRCO
National Reintegration
Center
for OFWs
A fully functioning and operational Reintegration
Services Center providing OFWs and their families
the necessary reintegration assistance anchored
on the concept of full utilization of the migrants
capacities and resources coupled with strategies
for enhancing reintegration preparedness.

OWWA
Overseas Workers Welfare Administration

OWWA is the government welfare

institution that protects and
promotes the interest of memberOverseas Filipino Workers. It
develops responsive programs and
services for the social protection of
its members.

Reintegration Policy Framework

OWWA promoted, revitalized, reestablished

and ensured coherence in the implementation
of the reintegration policy strategy by
coordinating with different regional initiatives.

Initiated a Comprehensive Philippine

Reintegration Program providing overall
strategy on reintegration of Overseas Filipinos
led by NRCO with the participation of OWWA,
representatives of relevant national and local
government, NGOs, migrant orgs, OFCs,
migrant returnees, GFIs, private sector and
other stakeholders

Pilot Programs

Pilot programs were developed for

group reintegration that are client
specific, area specific, and country
specific involving significant numbers of
OWWA member and engaging multistakeholder partners both in the
receiving province and country of
destination.

Social Preparation Program

Job referrals (local and overseas

employment), business counseling,
community organizing, financial literacy
seminar, networking with support
institutions and social preparation
programs. Reintegration Program is
being implemented by OWWA and
DOLE-National Reintegration Center for
OFWs (NRCO).

Grants & Credits Programs

"Balik-Pinas, Balik Hanapbuhay" is a

program of DOLE-OWWA where displaced
/ distressed workers can avail of either
starter kits worth Php 7,500.00 or a
livelihood assistance of Php 10,000.00.

2 Billion-Peso Reintegration Fund for

enterprise development is a loan facility
where a member or their legal
dependent can avail of Php 300,000.00
to Php 2 million.

SSS
Social Security System
Providing meaningful protection to
members and their families against
the hazards of disability, sickness,
maternity, old age, death and other
contingencies resulting in loss of
income or financial burden.

By 2013, the SSS intensified marketing activities

for the Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in order
to provide to our new heroes the opportunity
for social security protection.
A total SSS-registered OFWs reached 923,065,
adding almost 106,000, representing a 13
percent increase from 2012.
In 2013 alone, some 30,890 OFWs registered as
new SSS members, significantly higher by 40%
than in 2012.
Opening of two foreign offices in Bahrain and
Macau, wherein sizeable numbers of OFWs can
be found.

Deployment of additional roving SSS officers

to assist foreign representatives in the
Middle East, Europe and Asia to reach out to
OFWs working in remote areas and far-flung
work camps.
Meeting with Filipino communities in Doha,
Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Oslo, Berlin, Hamburg,
Tokyo, Bangkok, Beijing, Vietnam, Cambodia,
Laos, USA and Canada for them to gain a
better understanding about the value of SSS
membership and to create a venue to
address OFWs issues and concerns.

PAG-IBIG FUND
Home Mutual Development Fund
Answering the need for a national
savings program and an affordable
shelter financing for the Filipino
worker.

PHILHEALTH
Philippine Health
Insurance Corporation
Established to provide health
insurance coverage and ensure
affordable, acceptable, available and
accessible health care services for all
citizens of the Philippines.

TESDA
Technical Education and
Skills Development
Authority

The government agency tasked to

manage and supervise technical
education and skills
development in the Philippines.

TESDA is now offering a FREE! online course that lets anyone learn
online by simply registering to the official TESDA Online E-Learning Site

Other
initiatives to ensure
efficient and effective
delivery of services to
OFWs

Joint Manual of Operations in

providing assistance to migrant
workers and other Filipinos
overseas.

Country team approach as mandated by RA

8042 as amended by RA 10022
Shall be observed by the concerned
personnel of:

Department of Foreign Affairs

Department of Labor and Employment
Department of Social Welfare and Development
Department of Health
Overseas Workers Welfare Administration
Philippine Overseas Employment Administration