Assistance Provided to Almost 600 Families at Davao Overseas Workers Center
Untamed, Uncensored Assistance:
Hey there! Let's dive into the help that's been provided by Davao City's OFW Families' Welfare and Crisis Center (OFWCC) since its launch in 2022. This center, a brainchild of the Davao City government, functions as the primary lifeline for social protection services targeted at Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and their families.
As of April 2025, this center has extended a helping hand to 596 families, including both documented and undocumented OFWs, their kins, and dependents.
Interestingly, it's the very OFWs themselves, while toiling abroad, who often reach out for aid from the center. The OFWCC offers emotional support, dishes out financial aid under the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program, and aids returning OFWs in setting up small businesses. The objective is to foster self-reliance among these families and reduce remittance dependency.
One of the center's star programs is the annual Children's Congress, giving voice to the concerns of OFW children, often left behind. This event ensures these kids receive support at the grassroots level.
The OFWCC also puts a strong emphasis on anti-human trafficking awareness and regularly conducts Pre-Migration Orientation (PMO) sessions. These sessions aim to prep OFWs and their families, managing expectations about life abroad and informing them about the available support systems. The goal is to empower these families to make educated decisions and seek assistance when tough times hit.
To enhance its offerings, the center is hatching a local database of OFWs. This database will permit more accurate tracking of OFWs and help tailor programs to meet the distinct needs of various communities. While national data usually focuses on documented workers, this local database intends to incorporate undocumented OFWs, who are often overlooked in support services.
Despite not all OFWs enjoying financial stability, some confront grave personal and familial issues, including relationship strife and gender-based violence. To combat this, the center undertakes community-level advocacy and capacity-building activities to instill resilience and economic empowerment.
The OFWCC's help desk is stationed on the ground floor of the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) Building on Magallanes Street, behind the City Hall Annex. For those residing in remote areas, the center recommends contacting their barangay social workers or the nearest CSWDO district office for simpler access to assistance.
While specific additional services offered by the OFWCC beyond psychosocial support, financial aid, and livelihood assistance aren't listed, they can be inferred in the context of broader support for OFWs and their families. Potential services might include reintegration assistance, education and scholarships, healthcare and medical aid, legal and advocacy support, and community engagement and networking.
However, for an exhaustive list of services offered by the Davao City OFW Families' Welfare and Crisis Center, it's advisable to initiate direct inquiries. These potential services align with broader initiatives that bolster OFWs and their families across the Philippines.
- The Davao City government, through the OFW Families' Welfare and Crisis Center (OFWCC), empowers workers by offering aids and programs to reduce remittance dependency and instill self-reliance among Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and their families.
- In a bid to foster sustainable living, the OFWCC intends to create a local database that will enable them to tailor more precise programs and services to cater to the specific needs of various OFW communities, even those that remain undocumented.
- With an emphasis on empowerment and resilience, the center conducts community-level advocacy and capacity-building activities to aid OFWs dealing with personal and familial issues, such as relationship strife and gender-based violence.
- The annual Children's Congress, organized by the OFWCC, provides a platform for OFW children to voice their concerns and offers grassroots-level support, ensuring they are not overlooked in the process.
- To access the services provided by the OFWCC, OFWs and their families living in remote areas can contact their barangay social workers or the nearest CSWDO district office, or pay a visit to the help desk stationed at the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) Building located on Magallanes Street, Davao City.
