Owwa bats for more protection to OFW kids

THE Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and the Department of Justice (DOJ) forge a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the full protection of the children of the overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) against any form of abuse by those individuals left behind to look after their welfare.

Signatories to the MOU to be held at the DOLE office in Intramuros, Manila, are Labor Secretary Silvestre H. Bello lll who represents Owwa, as the agency’s Chairman of the Board of Trustees; Secretary Vitaliano N. Aguirre ll for DOJ, and Secretary Judy M. Taguiwalo for DSWD.

Under the Agreement, Owwa shall provide orientation on its programs and services, procedures and processes in availing of programs and other guidelines that may deem necessary for the swift delivery of its programs and services, Intensify child protection campaigns on

violence against children especially children of OFWs; Conduct regular consultations and monitoring thru the Family Welfare Officer for the immediate clarification and resolution on issues and concerns raised by the clients; Provide relevant information on specific cases of OFWs, when necessary; assist in the distribution and dissemination of the Child Abuse and Exploitation information materials thru its OFW Family Circles (OFCs) and OFW Help Desks; Integrate/include the Child Abuse and Exploitation module prepared by the DSWD in its regular conduct of trainings and orientations for OFWs and their families; and report to DSWD, DOJ and other law enforcement authorities suspected child abuse activities and/or brought to its attention in the course of implementation of its programs and services, such as PDOS, community organizing, community meeting/orientation, family counseling, among others. PR