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JOINT MANUAL of OPERATIONS in Providing Assistance To Migrant Workers
JOINT MANUAL of OPERATIONS in Providing Assistance To Migrant Workers
TITLE I
RATIONALE
SECTION 1. STATE POLICY
It is a declared policy of the State to promote the welfare and well-being and protect
the rights of all Overseas Filipinos. Under Section 2 (a) of Republic Act (RA) 8042, the
Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995, as amended by Republic Act (RA)
10022, the State shall, at all times, uphold the dignity of its citizens whether in country or
overseas, in general, and Filipino migrant workers, in particular, continuously monitor
international conventions, adopt/be signatory to and ratify those that guarantee protection to
our migrant workers, and endeavor to enter into bilateral agreements with countries hosting
overseas Filipino workers. Section 2 (b) also provides that the State shall afford full
protection to labor, local and overseas, organized and unorganized, and promote full
employment and equality of employment opportunities for all. Towards this end, the State
shall provide adequate and timely social, economic and legal services to Filipino migrant
workers.
To ensure efficient and effective delivery of services to Overseas Filipinos, RA 8042
as amended by RA 10022, mandates that a country team approach be adopted by all
Foreign Service Posts in the conduct of development diplomacy. Under Section 27 of the
said law, the country team approach, as enunciated under Executive Order No. 74, series of
1993, shall be the mode under which Philippine embassies or their personnel will operate in
the protection of the Filipino migrant workers as well as in the promotion of their welfare. The
protection of the Filipino migrant workers and the promotion of their welfare, in particular,
and the protection of the dignity and fundamental rights and freedoms of the Filipino citizen
abroad, in general, shall be the highest priority concerns of the Secretary of Foreign Affairs
and the Philippine Foreign Service Posts. Section 28 also states that under the countryteam approach, all officers, representatives and personnel of the Philippine government
posted abroad regardless of their mother agencies shall, on a per country basis, act as one
country-team with a mission under the leadership of the Ambassador.
This Joint Manual of Operations in Providing Assistance to Migrant Workers and
Other Filipinos Overseas is promulgated to advance this policy and ensure efficient and
effective delivery of services to Overseas Filipinos, particularly those in distress, who require
prompt and proper assistance at all times.
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TITLE II
LEGAL BASES
SECTION 2. INTERNATIONAL LAWS
1. Vienna Convention on Consular Relations (1963);
2. International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrants Workers
and Members of Their Families; and
3. United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.
SECTION 3. NATIONAL LAWS AND OTHER ISSUANCES
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
SECTION 4. DEFINITION OF TERMS. For purposes of this Manual, the following terms and
phrases shall mean:
1.
2.
3.
4.
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5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
It also refers to those who are employed through means that do not conform to
the host country and Philippine labor and immigration laws;
15.
16.
OUMWA Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs of the DFA;
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17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
URAF Unified Request for Assistance Form, The uniform intake sheet used
by all Philippine Missions to document requests for assistance from clients; and
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32.
Wards Overseas Filipinos who are admitted to the Migrant Workers and Other
Overseas Filipinos Resource Center for temporary shelter.
TITLE IV
GENERAL POLICIES
SECTION 5. MANPOWER COMPLEMENT
1. Assistance-to-Nationals Unit (ATNU)
a. The ATNU at the Foreign Service Post (Post) should be headed by a Consul
or Vice Consul who is designated as the Head of ATN by the Head of Post.
The ATNU is under the direct supervision of the Head of Post.
b. In cases where no Consul or Vice Consul is available to assume the position,
a competent senior staff officer (Foreign Service Staff Officer) may be
designated as Head of the ATNU.
c. The Head of ATNU is assisted by a Vice Consul, when applicable, or attachs
designated as ATN Officers, other staff officers and employees.
d. The Department of Foreign Affairs should ensure that Foreign Service Posts
have an adequate complement of Foreign Service officers, case officers,
translators/interpreters and locally-hired employees to man the ATNU to
ensure that case management efforts are at an optimum and sustainable
level.
2. Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO)
a. The POLO should be headed by either a Labor Attach II or a Labor Attach I
designated as the Head of POLO by the Secretary of the Department of
Labor and Employment (DOLE).
b. The Head of POLO is assisted by a Labor Attach I, when applicable, a
Welfare Officer, Technical Support Staff, Administrative Staff, and local hires
such as interpreters and drivers.
c. In case of absence or incapacity of the Head of POLO, the next ranking
officer shall act as the Officer-in-Charge of the POLO until the Secretary
designates a regular or acting Head of POLO. In cases where the next
ranking officer is an Administrative Staff (AS), s/he shall act as OIC, in so far
as administrative matters are concerned. No verification function and
disbursement of funds shall be undertaken by the AS, unless written
authorization is issued by the Secretary.
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a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
i.
j.
2.
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f.
4.
Counseling;
Psycho-social processing (PSP);
Stress Debriefing;
Value Inculcation/Emotional Healing;
Play Therapy; and
Pre-Marriage and Marriage Counseling.
Food Assistance;
Clothing Assistance;
Provision of Hygiene Supplies;
Transportation Assistance;
Local Transportation Assistance; and
Medical Assistance.
c. Capability-Building Activities;
d. Alternative Parental
guardianship);
Care
Services
(adoption,
foster
care,
legal
e. Referral Services to concerned agency of host government, nongovernment organizations, or other individuals/groups; and
f.
5.
Passport Application/Renewal/Extension;
Authentication of Documents, Attestation and Notary Services;
Marriage Application and Solemnization;
Report of Birth, Report of Marriage, Report of Death;
Issuance of Travel Documents;
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6.
7.
8.
9.
Labor Documentation;
Issuance of Overseas Employment Certificates (OEC);
OWWA Membership Enrolment/Renewal; and
Information and education such as post-arrival orientation.
The JCMT shall be directly under the supervision of the Head of Post, and shall have the
following functions:
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1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
The JCMT shall meet regularly to discuss all matters brought to its attention, provided there
is a quorum. It may conduct special meetings, as the need arises.
SECTION 10. SHARED DATABASE SYSTEM
A shared database system shall be developed and maintained jointly by DFA, DOLE, and
DSWD to include all data as prescribed in the Unified Request for Assistance Form (URAF).
The JAD shall be responsible in encoding the cases received, including pertinent information
and initial actions taken. However, the Case Officers from ATNU, POLO, and SSO shall
have access to the shared database system for the purpose of updating the status of the
cases. The JAD shall also encode and process information indicated in the prescribed
Prison Visit Form (PVF).
In order to protect the confidentiality of cases, the ATNU, POLO, and the SSO shall maintain
individual files, which will reflect the actions taken in the resolution of each case handled.
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These offices shall identify what cases shall be considered confidential for case and
database management.
TITLE V
BASIC RULES AND PROCEDURES IN PROVIDING ASSISTANCE
To ensure delivery of prompt and efficient assistance and services to Overseas Filipinos in
Distress, the following rules and procedures shall be observed at Post:
SECTION 11. RECEIVING REQUESTS FOR ASSISTANCE
The procedure starts upon receipt of Request for Assistance (RA) from any of the following
clients/requesting party:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
All RAs shall be filed using the Unified Request for Assistance Form (URAF), indicating the
type of assistance requested and other pertinent information.
RAs filed either at the DFA-OUMWA, DOLE, OWWA, POEA, or DSWD shall be immediately
referred to the concerned Post for appropriate action.
For RAs emanating from phone calls, SMS (text), mails, emails or referrals, and received
directly at Post, the onsite personnel, who received the RA, shall act with dispatch by
accomplishing the URAF and endorsing it to the JAD for appropriate action. Post shall
acknowledge the receipt of RAs within 48 hours upon receipt.
In line with the provision stated in Paragraph b (1), Section 8 of Republic Act 9485,
otherwise known as the Anti-Red Tape Act of 2007, all RAs shall be acted upon by Post and
reported to Head Office (DFA-OUMWA, DOLE, OWWA, POEA or DSWD) and other
concerned parties not longer than five (5) working days in case of simple transactions, and
not longer than ten (10) working days in the case of complex transactions from the date the
request for assistance was received.
SECTION 12. INITIAL ASSESSMENT BY THE JAD. The JAD shall:
1.
Validate the accuracy and completeness of the information in the URAF, and
ensure that the client, if walk-in, signed the URAF;
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2.
Conduct an initial interview and ascertain the clients immediate needs, for
walk-in cases; and
3.
All RAs involving criminal/potential criminal cases, and those falling under Basic
ATN and Legal Services of this Manual shall be endorsed to the ATNU.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Review the nature of the RA based on the information provided by the client in
the URAF, and assess her/his immediate need and desired relief;
2.
3.
The client shall be assisted if, for any reason, she/he is not capable of making
her/his own affidavit;
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The affidavit shall be made in a language known to the person, shall be read
to her/him in the presence of a witness before she/he signs the affidavit;
The concerned officer shall ensure that the client understands the contents of
the affidavit and that she/he signs it voluntarily and knowingly;
4.
5.
6.
7.
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Coordinate with the POLO, SWATT/SSA and the Police Attach, if present
at Post, in the implementation of the action/intervention plan;
j.
j.2.
j.3.
j.4.
k. Report to the JCMT actions taken and updates on the cases handled.
3.
Rescue Operations
Post shall undertake relief and rescue operations to assist an OFW whose life
is in danger, upon reasonable verification of the OFWs situation and subject to
host country regulations. For this purpose, Post shall endeavor to establish
contacts and liaison with local authorities and support groups for information
gathering and cooperative relationships.
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4.
5.
Prison Visits
The ATN Officer shall exert best efforts to acquire updates on the status of
cases of Filipino detainees, and send reports on the progress of cases to DFAOUMWA for information of NOKs and other concerned parties.
The ATN officer, with the POLO officer and SWATT/SSA, shall, as a team,
conduct prison visits. Detainees shall be requested to accomplish the
prescribed Prison Visit Form (PVF), as may be allowed by jail authorities.
6.
Temporary Shelter
If the Overseas Filipino In Distress needs temporary shelter, the JAD shall
endorse the case to the POLO for the latter to facilitate her/his accommodation
at the Center or alternative accommodation, in accordance with RA 8042, as
amended by RA 10022, DOLE AO 168, series of 2013, DOLE AO 262 & AO
262-A, series of 2013.
In Posts where there is no Center or in cases where the Overseas Filipino In
Distress, male or female, may not be accommodated thereat, JAD shall
endorse the case to POLO and/or ATNU, to seek the help of host government,
NGOs, CSOs religious groups, Filipino community leaders/members, or other
support organizations, subject to the laws of the host country.
Similarly, in Posts where there is no POLO, Post may seek the help of host
government, NGOs, religious organizations or Filipino community
leaders/members subject to the laws of the host country, or, in the absence of
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shoulder the medical expenses, as the case may be. If the financial
support is not provided, POLO shall link up with other networks and other
sources for assistance. POLO shall notify directly the NOK regarding the
condition of the worker, or through the OWWA Central Office/ Regional
Office.
If the client needs surgical operation, a medical certificate attesting to the
need to undergo such shall be secured from the attending physician and
the NOK shall be notified. A written permission from the NOK allowing the
performance of the surgery shall be secured. In emergency cases that
require immediate operation, the doctors judgment call or decision shall
prevail.
The POLO, through the Welfare Officer, shall closely monitor the workers
condition.
If it is necessary to file a case based on the medical findings, the POLO
shall coordinate with the ATN officer who shall then report to the police
authority.
The POLO shall monitor the case/condition of the client and provide
regular report to ILAB/POEA/OWWA.
7.3. Confined OFW
Upon receipt of information that a Filipino worker has been admitted to a
hospital, the POLO shall call the hospital immediately to inquire about
the patients condition.
The POLO shall visit the worker in the hospital at the earliest opportunity
and thereafter monitor the patients health condition.
The POLO shall coordinate with the workers NOK on-site or in the
Philippines to report/provide update on the condition of the worker.
If worker is abandoned by employer, the POLO shall inform the Foreign
Placement Agency (FPA) or the Philippine Recruitment Agency (PRA)
about the condition of the worker.
If hospitalization requires intervention of Philippine Embassy/Consulate,
the POLO shall inform the ATN officer and/or the Head of Mission at
once
8.
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Repatriation
The repatriation of migrant workers and Overseas Filipino in Distress shall be
made with utmost consideration for their safety and well-being, guided by
existing Philippine laws and regulations, and taking into account relevant rules
and policies of the host government.
A.
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and
be
the
the
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the concerned Post shall obtain from POLO a certification that the
overseas Filipino is a non-active OWWA member.
6. Shipment of Human Remains
ATNU shall facilitate and coordinate the shipment of the human
remains, as well as the required documentation.
In case of death of documented workers, the insurance provider,
through the employer/PRA, shall arrange and pay for the shipment
costs of the workers remains. It shall also render any assistance
necessary, including but not limited to, locating a local and licensed
funeral home, mortuary or direct disposition facility to prepare the
body for transport, completing all documentation, obtaining legal
clearances, procuring consular services, providing death certificate,
purchasing the minimally necessary casket or air transport container,
as well as retrieval of the remains from site of death and delivery to
the receiving funeral home. This provision shall be without prejudice
to the stipulations of RA 10022, and its omnibus rules and regulations
holding the principal, employer, or agency primarily responsible for the
shipment of human remains, especially so when the worker is no
longer covered by an insurance, at the time of death. The POLO shall
ensure that arrangements for the early shipment of the human
remains are undertaken by monitoring the required obligations of the
insurance provider, employer, principal or agency. In Posts where
there is no POLO, ATNU shall coordinate with the employer and
agency.
The ATNU shall handle the shipment of human remains in the case of
irregular/undocumented migrant workers.
The NOK of the deceased Filipino, whether regular/documented or
irregular/undocumented at the time of death, shall be assisted by
DFA-OUMWA to accomplish and submit a Letter of Acceptance of
Human Remains and other documentary requirements, as may be
required by the host government.
B.
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The Labor Attach shall keep track of the status of all repatriation
requests and shall submit a monthly report to the Secretary, through
ILAB, copy furnished the Repatriation Unit, Adjudication Office of the
POEA, the OWWA Repatriation and Assistance Division (RAD) and
the Overseas Operations Coordination Service (OOCS).
The report shall basically contain ticket and fund utilization, names of
repatriated workers, names of supportive and non-supportive
employers and their agencies, best practices applied, if any, and other
information relevant to enforcement and enhancement of the
repatriation system.
1.1. If the employer/agency provides the ticket and all exit
requirements:
a.
b.
c.
d.
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the
progress
of
the
workers
POLO
shall
likewise
coordinate
with
concerned
DOLE/OWWA Regional Office, if necessary; and
j.
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b.
c.
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a.
b.
c.
Upon receipt of report from Post, POEA shall take the necessary
action against the recruitment/manning agency that deployed the
underage migrant worker, such as cancellation of license and
imposition of fine, pursuant to relevant Philippine laws;
d.
e.
b.
c.
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e.
The NOK of the deceased Filipino shall be required by DFAOUMWA to accomplish and submit a Letter of Acceptance of
Remains and such other documentary requirements, as may be
required by the host government. In case the NOK would
choose to bury the remains within the host country, a duly
notarized Affidavit of Consent to Bury shall be submitted to DFAOUMWA, which in turn shall forward this to the concerned Post;
f.
g.
h.
Upon receipt of the flight details, the ATN Officer at DFAOUMWA shall coordinate with OWWA, DSWD, or DOH, Bureau
of Quarantine, as necessary.
b.
Post
shall send
a
report
to
DFA-OUMWA
DOLE/OWWA/POEA, including her/his flight details;
c.
and
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Military Attach
a. Serve as military adviser to the Head of Post, particularly on the protection
of Filipino nationals within the receiving country; and
b. Extend to the Head of Post such assistance as may be required of him by
reason of his professional training and experience.
2.
Police Attach
a. Provide technical advice to the Head of Post on law enforcement matters,
as well as the protection of nationals within the receiving country;
b. Advice the Head of Post on courses of action for various security threat
levels for embassy staff and expatriates; and
c. Coordinate with the police authorities of the receiving country, in cases
where Filipino nationals are confronted with police-related problems.
3.
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4.
5.
ATNU, POLO, SSO and other partner agencies shall submit urgent reports on critical/high
profile cases to the Head of Post and their respective Departments. All partner agencies
shall be provided timely access to these urgent and critical reports. Urgent reports shall
contain, among others, the names of Overseas Filipinos involved, contact details of their
NOK in the Philippines, the nature of the case and initial actions taken, and the
recommendation/s of Post.
Post shall submit updates/progress report and terminal report on these cases to the Head of
Post and respective Department Secretaries.
TITLE VI
MIGRANT WORKERS AND OTHER OVERSEAS FILIPINOS RESOURCE CENTER
SECTION 19. ESTABLISHMENT OF THE CENTER
Migrant Workers and Other Overseas Filipinos Resource Centers (MWOFRC or the Center)
shall be established in countries where there are large concentrations of migrant workers, as
determined by the Secretary of Foreign Affairs and the Secretary of Labor and Employment.
The location of the Center shall be jointly approved by the two Secretaries, taking into
account the inputs of the concerned Philippine Embassy or Consulate, the situation of the
migrant workers, and the relevant laws, regulations and policies of the host country.
The concerned Philippine Embassy shall inform the Foreign Ministry on the proposed
establishment of the Center within, proximate to, or outside the premises of the Philippine
Embassy or Consulate, and shall endeavor to secure the appropriate recognition for the
Center.
SECTION 20. SERVICES OF THE CENTER. The Center shall provide the following
services:
1. Counseling and legal services;
2. Welfare assistance including the procurement of medical and hospitalization
services;
3. Information, advisory programs to promote social integration such as post-arrival
orientation, settlement and community networking services and activities for
social interaction;
4. Registration of irregular/undocumented workers to bring them within the purview
of RA 8042, as amended by RA 10022;
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A Center Coordinator shall be assigned by the Labor Attach from the POLO, subject to the
approval of the DOLE Secretary, to manage the daily operations and orderly maintenance of
the Center. In the performance of this function, she shall:
1. Strictly enforce the House Rules and Regulations;
2. Monitor the status of wards using a prescribed Daily Report;
3. Coordinate with the Welfare Officer/ATN Officer on the provision of assistance for
medical emergencies and illness of wards;
4. Assist in the implementation of social and developmental programs and activities
for wards;
5. Prepare and submit to the Head of POLO a weekly custodial report of wards;
6. Prepare a monthly report on the Center operations; and
7. Maintain the following logbooks:
a. Record of admission and discharge of wards;
b. Record of POLO/Embassy/Consulate personnel and visitors entering and
leaving the Center; and
c. Record of arrival in and departure from the Center of the wards.
The Center Coordinator may be assisted by an Assistant Center Coordinator, also to be
designated by the Labor Attach, whenever necessary.
The SWATT/SSA, if present at Post, shall provide psychosocial services to the wards of the
Center, in coordination with and upon request of Head of POLO or ATNU.
SECTION 23. MANAGEMENT POLICY COMMITTEE
A Management Policy Committee shall be formed at Post to promulgate policies, rules and
regulations in addition to what has been set forth in this Manual, for the orderly operation
and maintenance of the Center. It shall be composed of the following:
Co - Chairpersons:
Vice-Chairperson:
Members:
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It shall meet monthly or whenever necessary, and shall ensure that these policies, rules and
regulations are implemented.
A counterpart Management Policy Committee shall be formed at the Home Office to monitor
the operations of all Centers at Posts. The Committee shall be composed of representatives
from DFA-OUMWA, DOLE-ILAB, OWWA, DSWD, and DOH.
SECTION 24. CRITERIA FOR ADMISSION
It shall be the duty of the Welfare Officer to assess the admissibility of an applicant to the
Center, taking into consideration the rules and policies on the admission of distressed
overseas Filipinos at the Center. The criteria for admission are the following:
1. The applicant should be a female Filipino citizen in distress;
2. She must have a pending or on-going employment contract-related problem;
3. She must have left her accommodation and has nowhere else to go; and
4. She must have reported to the Center within 48 hours after leaving her
accommodation, unless she has a legitimate reason for failing to appear at the
Center within the prescribed period, or cleared by the Head of Post/POLO.
Female OFWs charged or arrested for a criminal offense, and subsequently released to the
Philippine Embassy/Consulate on a second party custody arrangement, and those involved
in other ATN cases, may be admitted to the Center, subject to the approval of the Head of
Post/POLO.
OFWs, who have warrants of arrest, shall be endorsed to the ATNU for appropriate action.
OFWs with mental and physical problems, requiring professional care, must be
endorsed/referred immediately to an appropriate health service provider.
Request for readmission of OFWs, who previously left the Center in violation of the rules,
shall be subject to clearance and approval of Head of Post/POLO.
A separate Center for males shall be established, as may be allowed by the rules and
regulations of the host government, and subject to availability of funds.
SECTION 25. PROCEDURE FOR ADMISSION. The following admission procedure shall be
observed at Post:
1. The applicant must fill out the required Application for Center Admission, which
contains both the general and country-specific rules and regulations of the
Center;
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2. The Welfare Officer shall evaluate the application based on the established
criteria for admission and house rules at Post, with the safety and well-being of
the applicant and the rest of the Center wards as primordial consideration. The
Welfare Officer shall recommend approval/disapproval to the Head of Post/POLO
or his authorized representative. Approval or denial of application must be
communicated immediately to the applicant;
3. Upon approval of admission, the Welfare Officer shall immediately endorse the
accomplished Application for Center Admission to the Center Coordinator, who
shall brief the new ward on Center rules and regulations;
4. The new ward shall be made to sign her Conforme to the House Rules, indicating
that she understands and will abide by the rules and regulations of the Center,
and that violation of these rules shall be a ground for disciplinary action and/or
discharge from the Center; and
5. The Center Coordinator shall maintain a recording system which shall include the
date and time of admission, brief statement of personal circumstances including
health condition and special medical attention required, inventory of wards
personal belongings at the time of admission, and the date and time of discharge
from the Center.
SECTION 26. CENTER RULES AND REGULATIONS
To maintain order and discipline inside the Center for the overall safety and security of the
wards, and to enhance the operations of the Center, the following general rules and
regulations are prescribed:
1. An inventory of the wards belongings shall be accomplished upon admission as
ward in the Center;
2. To prevent the loss or damage of important personal belongings, occurrence of
conflict among Center wards, and the imprudent use of such personal effects, all
appliances, gadgets and valuables of the ward shall be registered upon
admission and turned over to the Center Coordinator for safekeeping. The
inventory of turned-over belongings shall be signed by the ward for conformity. A
copy of the inventory shall be provided to the ward, and another copy shall be
kept among the records of the Center Coordinator, for reference when returning
the belongings to the ward upon discharge. For this purpose, the Center
Coordinator shall take adequate measures to secure the personal belongings of
the wards entrusted to the Center for safekeeping;
3. Upon their admission at the Center, the wards shall be profiled accordingly, and
the Center shall facilitate necessary seminars and skills training/upgrading in
preparation for their personal, social and economic reintegration when they return
to the Philippines;
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4. The wards shall be prohibited from engaging in any work inside or outside the
Center, whether full time or part time, whether with or without remuneration, while
under the custody of the Center. Likewise, they shall not be allowed to work in
the households of the Embassy/Consulate, and POLO officers and other staff, or
do personal errands for any of them, or for the Center Coordinator;
5. No ward shall be allowed/permitted to perform volunteer work in the offices of the
Embassy/Consulate and the POLO;
6. Only the designated female Center Coordinator shall be allowed to reside at the
Center. No member of her family shall reside at the Center;
7. The Head of POLO shall conduct weekly dialogues with the Center wards for
purposes of case updating, and to address their needs and other concerns.
Highlights of the meeting shall be reported to the Secretary;
8. The Center shall always maintain a First Aid kit for their wards and personnel;
and
9. Activities at the Center shall be geared towards the enhancement of values and
skills of the wards.
SECTION 27. DISCHARGE OF WARD FROM THE CENTER
Non-HSW wards shall be discharged from the Center upon resolution of their case, which
may result in either their return to the employer, transfer to another employer, or repatriation
to the Philippines, as may be allowed under the host country laws, and consistent with
Philippine rules and regulations.
An HSW ward may be discharged from the Center only upon resolution of her case, or when
her custody is legally required by the host government authority, or when she is bound to be
repatriated to the Philippines.
Other wards may be discharged subject to the respective House Rules of each Post.
SECTION 28. PROCEDURE FOR DISCHARGE
The following procedures in the discharge of ward from the Center shall be observed at
Post:
1. The ward for discharge shall present her belongings for inspection. She must
take with her all her belongings upon departure from the Center;
2. The Center Coordinator shall return all the personal belongings of the ward that
were deposited to the Center for safekeeping. The ward shall duly acknowledge
the return thereof and shall sign the Discharge Form, which shall form part of her
case file; and
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3. A Discharge Report, indicating how the wards case was settled/terminated, shall
be prepared and signed by the appropriate unit/officer, and shall form part of the
wards record/file.
SECTION 29. USE OF MULTI-PURPOSE HALL BY THE FILCOM AND NGOS
Members of the Filipino Community (FILCOM) or non-government organizations (NGOs), or
Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) shall be permitted to use the Multipurpose Hall of the
Center for their activities, subject to the following conditions:
1. The requesting party shall submit a letter of request addressed to the Head of
POLO, at least one month in advance from the date of the intended activity,
specifying the name of the group, a directory of the officers, the activity that they
wish to conduct, as well as the date and time of the activity. The letter request
must also indicate the duration of the activity and the expected number of
participants or attendees;
2. The letter request shall also specify the Center facilities/equipment to be used
provided the same are available (i.e., projector, desktop/laptop, whiteboard and
marker, sound system, and the like). The requesting party shall be liable for any
damage or breakage resulting from the use of such facilities/equipment;
3. The requesting party shall obtain the prior approval of the Head of POLO;
4. The FILCOM/NGO shall sign Conforme that it will abide by the rules and policies
on the use of the Center facilities, which shall include among others:
a. Ensuring that activities or meetings are conducted without violating any laws,
rules and regulations of the Philippines and the host country, including the
latters religious beliefs and cultural traditions;
b. Ensuring that such activities shall not hamper, disrupt or interfere with the
normal operations of the Center, Embassy/Consulate and the POLO; and
c. Ensuring that the Multipurpose Hall is clean and orderly after the activity.
5. Organizations or persons, whose use of the Center may pose conflict of interest,
or raise issues or possible security or political concerns, shall not be allowed to
use the Center facilities; and
6. The Head of POLO and the Center Coordinator shall be responsible for the
scheduling of the use of the Center facilities by the FILCOM/NGO.
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TITLE VII
CRISIS MANAGEMENT, EVACUATION AND REPATRIATION
The Head of Post shall immediately extend assistance to Filipinos overseas in case of war,
rebellion, riots, natural disasters, pandemics and other public health emergencies, or other
crises posing imminent danger to them.
SECTION 31. CONTINGENCY PLANS
Foreign Service Posts shall regularly update, preferably every six (6) months, or as the need
arises, their respective contingency plans, which shall include the evacuation of Filipinos to
safety zones for temporary relocation, or until their repatriation to the Philippines. The
Contingency Plan shall contain, among others, the following items:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Country Profile;
Political and Security Situation;
Current Political Climate, including threats to political stability;
Data and profile of the Filipino Community;
Area Coordinators, including their contact information;
Details on the implementation of the contingency plan;
Relocation and Evacuates Centers;
Exit Points and alternate evacuation routes;
Composition and Functions of the Crises Management and Security Committee,
including contact information of Posts officials and personnel;
10. Support Network;
11. Registration system;
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4. Assist in the negotiations with employers and recruitment agencies for the
release of OFWs;
5. Assist the Philippine Post in locating Filipino nationals and relocating them to a
safer and more secure area or to Posts halfway quarters; and
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on international relations, the following Crisis Alert Levels, with their respective indicators
and deployment status, shall be adopted in this Manual:
ALERT LEVEL 1 (Precautionary Phase)
1. It is issued when there are valid signs of internal disturbance, instability,
and/or external threat to the host country.
2. Filipinos are alerted to take necessary precautions.
ALERT LEVEL 2 (Restriction Phase)
1. It is issued if there are threats to the life, security and property of Filipinos
arising from internal disturbance, instability, and/external threat.
2. Filipinos are instructed to restrict non-essential movements, avoid public
places, and prepare for evacuation.
3. DOLE only allows returning OFWs, with existing employment contracts, or a
group of OFWs under special circumstances, to go back to their host
country.
ALERT LEVEL 3 (Voluntary Repatriation)
1. It is issued when violent disturbances or external aggression occur in a
limited area.
2. Overseas Filipinos are enjoined to return to the Philippines upon
employers, or if not possible, governments expense.
3. DOLE shall impose absolute deployment ban.
ALERT LEVEL 4 (Mandatory Repatriation)
1. It is issued when there is a large scale internal conflict or full blown external
attack.
2. The Philippine
procedures.
Government
3. Likewise, DFA in consultation with the DOH, may impose crisis alert level in
times of pandemics and other medical hazards.
The DFA, in consultation with the DOH, may impose crisis alert level in times of pandemics
and other public health/medical emergencies.
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The POEA Governing Board, after consultation with the DFA may, at any time, impose or
terminate a ban on the deployment of migrant workers, pursuant to Section 4 of the RA
8042, as amended by RA 10022 and Sections 6 and 7 of its Omnibus Rules. The POEA
Governing Board may, after consultation with the DFA, grant exceptions to the ban.
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The DFA, DOLE and DSWD shall share on a prorated basis, in the expenses for food of the
Center wards, depending on the nature of the case. They will also be responsible for the
medical check-up and provision of basic medicines to their respective wards, inland
transportation, as well as for the personal hygiene needs of the wards.
The expenses for the conduct of developmental activities such as honoraria of resource
persons/trainers, and food of participants/attendees shall be shouldered by the office which
initiated/organized the event.
TITLE IX
POST-REPATRIATION ASSISTANCE
SECTION 37. ASSIST WELL PROGRAM OF DOLE. To facilitate the reintegration of OFWs
repatriated from crisis/emergency situations, the following reintegration assistance/services
under the Assist WELL program of the DOLE may be availed of by the repatriated workers,
as needed:
1. Welfare Assistance
a. Airport assistance facilitating airport procedures and formalities from the
tube to airport exit;
b. Temporary shelter/accommodation provision of free food and
accommodation at the OWWA Halfway Home while awaiting onward travel to
home provinces;
c. Transport assistance to residence provision of transportation services for
those residing in Metro Manila or boat/bus fare for those residing in the
provinces;
d. Emergency medical assistance provision of medical referral to the airport
clinic upon arrival and ambulance services, as necessary; and
e. Stress Debriefing provision of counseling sessions especially to those who
may have undergone traumatic experiences.
2. Employment Assistance
a. Job placement / referral for local employment assistance in finding local
employment through the employment facilitation services of DOLE Regional
Offices, and Public Employment Service Offices;
b. Job placement / referral for overseas employment assistance in finding
overseas employment through referral to licensed recruitment agencies with
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Recovery is the process of healing physically, psychologically and socially. It includes the
provision of programs and activities that develop skills, build resiliency, assertiveness,
communication, adeptness, self-confidence and rights awareness. These activities are those
that prepare a person to re-enter society as an empowered individual and may include
occupational skills, life skills, protection skills, and self-support skills.
Reintegration refers to renewed reunion or reunification with a social unit. In many cases
reintegration into the family is considered to be most desirable. This means that OFs are
reunited with the family and will go back to live in the community or town where they used to
live. As such, this is also a reunification with friends, neighbors and other residents. For
many, it has a consoling effect to be track in the trusting environment in which they lived
before they have known all their life.
1. Residential Care Services:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
i.
j.
k.
l.
Psychological Services;
Home Life Service;
Educational Services;
Productivity/Livelihood Services;
Legal Services;
Health Services;
Recreational Services and other Cultural Activities;
Dietary Services;
Spiritual Enrichment;
Community Participation;
Maternal and Childcare Skills Development; and
Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) to include assistance for
transportation, food and non-food, financial, burial, educational, clothing and
medical concerns.
2. Community-Based Services:
This is a package of services that will hasten the recovery or reintegration of
releasing OFWs and lessen the adverse effects of repatriation, deportation and
employment upon return to their families/communities in the Philippines, including
those trafficked persons. These services are the following:
a. Psychological interventions such as counseling services and family life
enrichment/reunification;
b. Involvement in community development programs/projects;
c. Employment facilitation and micro-enterprise/livelihood assistance to include
skills training and job placement;
d. Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) to include assistance for
transportation, food and non-food, financial, educational, clothing and medical
concerns;
e. Scholarships/educational assistance;
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f.
Referral services (to LGUs and other concerned agencies for other support
services;
g. Legal Assistance; and
h. Airport Assistance.
SECTION 39. POST-REPATRIATION ASSISTANCE FROM DOH
In cases of medical repatriation, DOH shall assist repatriated OFs in providing appropriate
medical services. The DOH, in coordination with Philhealth and its retained hospitals across
the country, shall facilitate availment of medical and hospitalization benefits.
TITLE X
MONITORING/REPORTING/EVALUATION
The DFA, DOLE, DSWD, DOH, OWWA and POEA shall conduct a regular joint monitoring
and evaluation of the implementation of this Joint Manual of Operations.
The full implementation of the provisions of this Joint Manual of Operations is subject to the
existing laws, rules and norms of the host country.
TITLE XI
REVIEW AND REVISION
This Joint Manual of Operations shall be jointly reviewed and revised accordingly after three
(3) years from the date of effectivity, and every three (3) years thereafter.
TITLE XII
EFFECTIVITY
This Joint Manual of Operations shall take effect upon signing, and shall be observed by the
concerned personnel of DFA, DOLE, DSWD, DOH, OWWA and POEA upon such effectivity.
TITLE XIII
FILING
This Joint Manual of Operations in Providing Assistance to Migrant Workers and Other
Filipinos Overseas shall be deposited with the Office of the National Administrative Registry
(ONAR) of the UP Law Center.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties to this Joint Manual of Operations in Providing
Assistance to Migrant Workers and Other Filipinos Overseas hereunto affixed their
respective signatures this 18 th of August 2015 at the Local Governance Learning Center,
Blas F. Ople Building, Department of Labor and Employment, Intramuros, Manila,
Philippines.
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ROSALINDA DIMAPILIS-BALDOZ
Secretary
Department of Foreign Affairs
Secretary
Department of Labor and Employment
CORAZON JULIANO-SOLIMAN
JANETTE LORETO-GARIN
Secretary
Department of Social Welfare and
Development
Secretary
Department of Health
REBECCA J. CALZADO
Administrator
Overseas Workers Welfare Administration
Administrator
Philippine Overseas Employment Administration
Witnesses:
NICANOR M. BRIONES
LEAH S. PAQUIZ
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