THOUGHTSKOTO

Wednesday, April 19, 2017

POST REPATRIATION ASSISTANCE AND SERVICES EVERY OFW SHOULD KNOW

POST REPATRIATION ASSISTANCE AND SERVICES The HO, with the Repatriation Assistance Division (RAD) as the focal unit, delivers the needed assistance and services to returning distressed OFWs. Prior to arrival of the OFWs, the RAD coordinates with the concerned units of the HO for efficient delivery of services. The services provided to OFWs at the HO are as follows: Airport assistance This refers to the services at the airport to address the immediate needs of all arriving distressed OFWs. This includes facilitation of documents at the Immigration Counter, first aid/initial medical evaluation, retrieval of luggage, and facilitation of their exit. The OWWA Airport Assistance Counter (AAC) at the NAIA serves as the focal center in providing airport assistance. It is manned by a regular Airport Assistance Officer (AAO) and a duty nurse who attend to arriving distressed OFWs. The counter is open from 8:00 A.M. up to the arrival of the last passenger flight. 2. Temporary shelter This refers to a temporary board and lodging facility where returning distressed OFWs are accommodated. The OWWA Halfway Home was established to assist OFWs in their immediate needs, including stress debriefing, counseling, and initial discussion of their plans towards recovery and reintegration. 3. Stress debriefing This refers to the process of helping individual or groups of OFWs and their families in dealing positively with the emotional impact of a severe exploitation experienced while working abroad and educating them their current and anticipated stress response through stress management and contingency planning towards recovery. 4. Counseling This refers to the process of helping individual or groups of OFWs and their families in identifying, understanding and solving their problems using available resources geared towards improved individual or family functioning or circumstances. It aims to help the clients enhance and develop their capabilities to cope and function adequately in facing problems and difficulties. 5. Medical assistance This refers to services of OWWA-partner medical institutions being availed of by OFWs to diagnose their health conditions and disabilities until they become fit to travel to their home destinations. 6. Legal Counseling /Conciliation Services This refers to the services provided by a lawyer, or person(s) under the supervision of a lawyer, to assist the client in seeking or obtaining legal help in resolving his/her case/s. 7. Transportation service This refers to the provision of appropriate transportation service to physically/mentally ill or distressed returning OFWs from the airport to the HO or to other pre-identified destination points such as hospitals, airports, seaports, bus stations, or to their places of residence, if necessary. REGIONAL WELFARE OFFICES (RWO) The Regional Welfare Offices (RWOs) are strategically located in 17 regions in the country. These offices provide and sustain OWWA services to OFWs including their families. It is the implementing arm of OWWA in extending its reintegration programs and services to returning OFWs in the region. The services provided to OFWs at the RWO are as follows: Arrival assistance This refers to the help extended to distressed OFWs who arrive through the local airport, sea port or land travel accompanied by the HO Case Officer/Repatriation Officer. This assistance includes coordination with the NOK and provision of appropriate vehicle or transportation assistance up to home destination of the client. 2. Client recovery This refers to the formulation of treatment plan leading to the psychological, emotional, and physical recovery of the client. This includes psycho-social intervention such as case assessment, identification of immediate and other underlying needs, stress debriefing, referral to medical and legal assistance, conduct of individual and family counseling, networking with other service providers, and advocacy efforts towards recovery and reintegration of the client. 4. Regular OWWA programs and services This refers to other programs and services of OWWA available to all qualified OWWA-member OFWs and their families. These include skills training and upgrading, scholarship grants, insurance benefits, and loan programs. 5. Monitoring and evaluation This refers to tracking the effectiveness of the reintegration plan by measuring the client’s achievement in relation to his/her goals and the impact on himself/herself. 6. Data basing This refers to a systematic data collection of the relevant demographic information of the clients, their experiences and the services provided to them. The database is utilized by the system’s functions in generating case information for sharing and documentation of best practices and other related reportorial requirements. Procedures at the RWO Assistance prior and upon arrival of the client at the RWO For clients who are sick, with physical disability or mental illness as advised by the OP/HO/NOK and other sources: 1.1 Prior to arrival of the client, the CO confirms the flight details of the arriving client/OFW. 1.2 The CO informs the NOK the flight details and condition of the client. 1.3 Upon arrival, the CO attends to the client and introduces himself/herself as the duty officer. 1.4 The CO assesses the immediate needs of the client. 1.4.1 For clients needing further medical evaluation/treatment as recommended by the OP/HO: If the NOK is present, the CO assists the NOK in bringing the client to a medical institution. If the NOK decides to bring home the client, the CO turns-over the client to the NOK after a waiver is signed. If necessary, the CO facilitates the client’s travel to his/her home destination. The CO provides the client/NOK information on OWWA programs and services available at the RWO. 1.4.2 For clients who are sick, with physical disability or mental illness accompanied by HO Repatriation Officer: The CO coordinates with the NOK prior to the arrival of the client. The CO turns-over the client to the NOK if present. If the NOK is not present, the CO arranges onward travel or shall accompany the client to his/her home destination. If the client needs further medical evaluation/treatment as recommended, please refer to Procedure A 1.4. The CO provides the client/NOK information on OWWA programs and services. B. Assistance for the recovery of the client 1. For walk-in clients: 1.1 The CO receives the client and assists him/her in filling up the OFW Information Sheet. For trafficked victims, the CO accomplishes the Client Card. 1.2 The CO assesses the immediate needs of the client. 1.2.1 If the client needs medical assistance: The CO informs or coordinates with NOK and prepares referral letter to a medical institutions and/or other service providers for assistance. The CO provides the client and/or NOK with OWWA programs and services that the client can avail of upon his/her discharge. The CO prepares a case summary report. 1.2.2 If the client’s case involves violation of RA 8042, the CO refers the client to appropriate authorities. For labor related cases involving money claims, the CO refers the client to National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC). For cases involving the recruitment-related violations, the CO refers the client to POEA. For illegal recruitment cases, the CO refers the client to Interagency Committee on Anti-Illegal Recruitment: POEA, Department of Justice (DOJ), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), and Philippine National Police (PNP). 1.2.3 If the client refuses to pursue any case, the CO informs him/her of other services that he/she can avail of from OWWA and other service providers. 1.2.4 If the client’s case involves violation of RA 9208 (trafficked or severe exploitation): The CO refers the client to appropriate authorities such as the Regional Inter-Agency Committee on Anti-trafficking (RIACAT) -- NBI, DOJ, PNP, POEA, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) --- to pursue case against his/her perpetrator. The CO may accompany the client to the said offices, if necessary. The CO monitors the status of the case, if filed. If the client refused to pursue case, the CO informs him/her of other services that he/she can avail of from OWWA and other service providers. 1.3 The CO conducts stress debriefing and counseling, individual and group, upon assessment of the client’s need and readiness to undertake the activities. 1.4 The CO evaluates the client’s physical and emotional recovery and discusses his/her reintegration plans. 1.5 The CO monitors the status of the client and his/her readiness towards reintegration. If the client is ready, the CO shall conduct career counseling and coaching. If not, the CO shall follow Procedures C, D, and E. 1.6 The CO follows the procedures on client’s social and economic reintegration. Please refer to Procedure C. 1.7 The CO prepares and/or updates the client’s case summary report. 2. For clients with endorsement/prior advice from the OP and HO and other sources, the CO receives the client and reviews his/her case summary report and accomplished Workers Assistance Information Sheet. Please follow Procedures B 1.7. 3. For clients and/or NOKs who report their cases through phone with or without referral from OP, HO and other sources: 3.1 The CO identifies the client’s needs. 3.2 The CO verifies if the client is an OWWA member or not. 3.3 If the client is a member, the CO informs him/her of the OWWA services that he/she can avail of. 3.4 If the client is capable to go the RWO, the CO follows Procedures B 1, for walk-in clients. If the client is not capable, the CO may monitor case through home visitation until such time that he/she is able to proceed to the RWO. The CO may also refer to other service providers/networks. 3.5 If the client is not a member, the CO refers the client to other service providers/networks. C. Client’s reintegration assistance 1. Personal and social reintegration: 1.1 The CO assesses the client’s emotional and psychological readiness towards social reintegration. 1.2 The CO validates from family members the improvement of client’s social functioning and emotional stability. 1.3 The CO enhances the self-esteem of the client by entrusting some responsibilities he/she can perform and cope with. 1.4 The CO encourages/motivates the client to join and participate in various activities of OFW Family Circles and other community groups. 1.5 The CO prepares/updates the case summary report. The CO assists the client to enrol in skills training/upgrading program under Skills-for-Employment Scholarship Program (SESP), subject to existing guidelines. If the client is not qualified under the SESP program, the CO may refer the client to other institutions that offer skills training and upgrading courses. The CO monitors the progress of the client’s training. After completion of the training, the CO shall refer the client to the Bureau of Local Employment (BLE) of DOLE or Public Employment Service Office (PESO) for local employment. If the client prefers to be re-employed overseas: The CO provides the client with information that will raise his/her awareness on safe migration to avoid similar experience of exploitation and/or trafficking. The CO provides guidance on how to improve his/her situation abroad by having networks of information and social support from Filipino communities. The CO provides the client with the directory of Philippine Embassies/Consulates/POLOs. The CO informs the client to deal with legitimate LRA and/or POEA only to avoid fraudulent and exploitative practices during the recruitment process. THANK YOU!!!

The services provided to OFWs at the HO are as follows:

1.Airport assistance
This refers to the services at the airport to address the immediate needs of all arriving distressed OFWs. This includes facilitation of documents at the Immigration Counter, first aid/initial medical evaluation, retrieval of luggage, and facilitation of their exit. The OWWA Airport Assistance Counter (AAC) at the NAIA serves as the focal center in providing airport assistance. It is manned by a regular Airport Assistance Officer (AAO) and a duty nurse who attend to arriving distressed OFWs. The counter is open from 8:00 A.M. up to the arrival of the last passenger flight.

2.Temporary shelter
This refers to a temporary board and lodging facility where returning distressed OFWs are accommodated. The OWWA Halfway Home was established to assist OFWs in their immediate needs, including stress debriefing, counseling, and initial discussion of their plans towards recovery and reintegration.

3.Stress debriefing
This refers to the process of helping individual or groups of OFWs and their families in dealing positively with the emotional impact of a severe exploitation experienced while working abroad and educating them their current and anticipated stress response through stress management and contingency planning towards recovery.

4.Counselling
This refers to the process of helping individual or groups of OFWs and their families in identifying, understanding and solving their problems using available resources geared towards improved individual or family functioning or circumstances. It aims to help the clients enhance and develop their capabilities to cope and function adequately in facing problems and difficulties.

5.Medical assistance
This refers to services of OWWA-partner medical institutions being availed of by OFWs to diagnose their health conditions and disabilities until they become fit to travel to their home destinations.

6.Legal Counseling /Conciliation Services
This refers to the services provided by a lawyer, or person(s) under the supervision of a lawyer, to assist the client in seeking or obtaining legal help in resolving his/her case/s.

7.Transportation service
This refers to the provision of appropriate transportation service to physically/mentally ill or distressed returning OFWs from the airport to the HO or to other pre-identified destination points such as hospitals, airports, seaports, bus stations, or to their places of residence, if necessary.

REGIONAL WELFARE OFFICES
(RWO)

The Regional Welfare Offices (RWOs) are strategically located in 17 regions in the country. These offices provide and sustain OWWA services to OFWs including their families. It is the implementing arm of OWWA in extending its reintegration programs and services to returning OFWs in the region.

The services provided to OFWs at the RWO are as follows:

1.Arrival assistance

This refers to the help extended to distressed OFWs who arrive through the local airport, sea port or land travel accompanied by the HO Case Officer/Repatriation Officer. This assistance includes coordination with the NOK and provision of appropriate vehicle or transportation assistance up to home destination of the client.

2.Client recovery

This refers to the formulation of treatment plan leading to the psychological, emotional, and physical recovery of the client. This includes psycho-social intervention such as case assessment, identification of immediate and other underlying needs, stress debriefing, referral to medical and legal assistance, conduct of individual and family counseling, networking with other service providers, and advocacy efforts towards recovery and reintegration of the client.

4. Regular OWWA programs and services

This refers to other programs and services of OWWA available to all qualified OWWA-member OFWs and their families. These include skills training and upgrading, scholarship grants, insurance benefits, and loan programs.

5.Monitoring and evaluation

This refers to tracking the effectiveness of the reintegration plan by measuring the client’s achievement in relation to his/her goals and the impact on himself/herself.

6.Data basing

This refers to a systematic data collection of the relevant demographic information of the clients, their experiences and the services provided to them. The database is utilized by the system’s functions in generating case information for sharing and documentation of best practices and other related reportorial requirements.

Procedures at the RWO

A. Assistance prior and upon arrival of the client at the RWO

1. For clients who are sick, with physical disability or mental illness as advised by the OP/HO/NOK and other sources:

1.1

Prior to arrival of the client, the CO confirms the flight details of the arriving client/OFW.

1.2

The CO informs the NOK the flight details and condition of the client.

1.3

Upon arrival, the CO attends to the client and introduces himself/herself as the duty officer.

1.4

The CO assesses the immediate needs of the client.

1.4.1

a.For clients needing further medical evaluation/treatment as recommended by the OP/HO:

b.If the NOK is present, the CO assists the NOK in bringing the client to a medical institution. If the NOK decides to bring home the client, the CO turns-over the client to the NOK after a waiver is signed. If necessary, the CO facilitates the client’s travel to his/her home destination.

c.The CO provides the client/NOK information on OWWA programs and services available at the RWO.

1.4.2
For clients who are sick, with physical disability or mental illness accompanied by HO Repatriation Officer:

a.The CO coordinates with the NOK prior to the arrival of the client.

b.The CO turns-over the client to the NOK if present. If the NOK is not present, the CO arranges onward travel or shall accompany the client to his/her home destination.

c.If the client needs further medical evaluation/treatment as recommended, please refer to Procedure A 1.4.

d.The CO provides the client/NOK information on OWWA programs and services.

B. Assistance for the recovery of the client

1. For walk-in clients:

1.1

The CO receives the client and assists him/her in filling up the OFW Information Sheet. For trafficked victims, the CO accomplishes the Client Card.

1.2

The CO assesses the immediate needs of the client.

1.2.1

If the client needs medical assistance:

a.The CO informs or coordinates with NOK and prepares referral letter to a medical institutions and/or other service providers for assistance.

b.The CO provides the client and/or NOK with OWWA programs and services that the client can avail of upon his/her discharge.
c.The CO prepares a case summary report.

1.2.2

If the client’s case involves violation of RA 8042, the CO refers the client to appropriate authorities.

a.For labor related cases involving money claims, the CO refers the client to National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC).
b.For cases involving the recruitment-related violations, the CO refers the client to POEA.

c.For illegal recruitment cases, the CO refers the client to Interagency Committee on Anti-Illegal Recruitment: POEA, Department of Justice (DOJ), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), and Philippine National Police (PNP).

1.2.3

If the client refuses to pursue any case, the CO informs him/her of other services that he/she can avail of from OWWA and other service providers.

1.2.4

If the client’s case involves violation of RA 9208 (trafficked or severe exploitation):

A.The CO refers the client to appropriate authorities such as the Regional Inter-Agency Committee on Anti-trafficking (RIACAT) -- NBI, DOJ, PNP, POEA, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) --- to pursue case against his/her perpetrator

B.The CO may accompany the client to the said offices, if necessary.

C.The CO monitors the status of the case, if filed.

D.If the client refused to pursue case, the CO informs him/her of other services that he/she can avail of from OWWA and other service providers.

1.3

The CO conducts stress debriefing and counseling, individual and group, upon assessment of the client’s need and readiness to undertake the activities.

1.4

The CO evaluates the client’s physical and emotional recovery and discusses his/her reintegration plans.

1.5

The CO monitors the status of the client and his/her readiness towards reintegration. If the client is ready, the CO shall conduct career counseling and coaching. If not, the CO shall follow Procedures C, D, and E.

1.6

The CO follows the procedures on client’s social and economic reintegration. Please refer to Procedure C.

1.7

The CO prepares and/or updates the client’s case summary report.

2. For clients with endorsement/prior advice from the OP and HO and other sources, the CO receives the client and reviews his/her case summary report and accomplished Workers Assistance Information Sheet. Please follow Procedures B 1.7.

3. For clients and/or NOKs who report their cases through phone with or without referral from OP, HO and other sources:

3.1

The CO identifies the client’s needs.

3.2

The CO verifies if the client is an OWWA member or not.

3.3

If the client is a member, the CO informs him/her of the OWWA services that he/she can avail of.

3.4

If the client is capable to go the RWO, the CO follows Procedures B 1, for walk-in clients. If the client is not capable, the CO may monitor case through home visitation until such time that he/she is able to proceed to the RWO. The CO may also refer to other service providers/networks.

3.5

If the client is not a member, the CO refers the client to other service providers/networks.

C. Client’s reintegration assistance

1. Personal and social reintegration:

1.1

The CO assesses the client’s emotional and psychological readiness towards social reintegration.

1.2

The CO validates from family members the improvement of client’s social functioning and emotional stability.

1.3

The CO enhances the self-esteem of the client by entrusting some responsibilities he/she can perform and cope with.

1.4

The CO encourages/motivates the client to join and participate in various activities of OFW Family Circles and other community groups.

1.5

The CO prepares/updates the case summary report.

A. The CO assists the client to enrol in skills training/upgrading program under Skills-for-Employment Scholarship Program (SESP), subject to existing guidelines.

B. If the client is not qualified under the SESP program, the CO may refer the client to other institutions that offer skills training and upgrading courses.

C. The CO monitors the progress of the client’s training.

D. After completion of the training, the CO shall refer the client to the Bureau of Local Employment (BLE) of DOLE or Public Employment Service Office (PESO) for local employment.

If the client prefers to be re-employed overseas:

The CO provides the client with information that will raise his/her awareness on safe migration to avoid similar experience of exploitation and/or trafficking.

The CO provides guidance on how to improve his/her situation abroad by having networks of information and social support from Filipino communities.

The CO provides the client with the directory of Philippine Embassies/Consulates/POLOs.

The CO informs the client to deal with legitimate LRA and/or POEA only to avoid fraudulent and exploitative practices during the recruitment process.

SOURCE: DOLE