Gov’t to shut down OFW seminar providers

MANILA, Philippines - The government will close down “undesirable” private companies giving pre-departure orientation seminars (PDOS) to departing overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) is assessing how these firms are implementing OWWA’s PDOS module.

“We would like to see a more improved and responsive PDOS, particularly the quality of instruction and the quality of the people who conduct it,” she said.

Baldoz said she has been receiving complaints that some of them are allowing private banks, remittance companies and insurance agencies to eat up much of the time of the PDOS to promote their businesses.

“Less time is being devoted to the substantial – and more important – aspects of what OFWs expect and need to do once they have been deployed to their countries of destination,” she said.

Baldoz said she has directed OWWA administrator Rebecca Calzado to do a serious review of the PDOS.

OWWA must regularly monitor and assess the performance of the PDOS providers and rate them accordingly, she added.

The registration or accreditation of those allowing the PDOS to be used as some kind of marketing outlet must be withdrawn, Baldoz said.

OWWA has accredited 336 PDOs providers.

Baldoz said OWWA has forged an agreement with the Asian Institute of Management (AIM) for the implementation of a project that will evaluate the effectiveness of PDOS for OFWs.

She is awaiting the results of the project and expects the OWWA to identify the factors that can enhance the PDOS, institute changes in the program and improve further government services to OFWs and their families, she added.