(4th OFW Serbisyo Caravan (Infographics))
MANILA – The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) has provided government services to 20,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) through four Serbisyo Caravans held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), over the past 12 months.
Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said Monday that the latest caravan, held at Millennium Plaza on Saturday, brought together around 20 government agencies and private-sector partners to provide essential services to Filipinos working in Dubai.
Cacdac said the initiative was part of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to make government services more accessible to OFWs.
“We’re glad to report, nagkaroon ng pang-apat. And dito sa pang-apat, we hit our 20,000 mark in terms of OFWs served in these four legs of Serbisyo Caravan,” Cacdac said.
According to DMW data, the fourth caravan served 4,579 OFWs and delivered 8,654 services in a single day.
The one-stop-shop initiative offered passport renewals through the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), professional license renewals through the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), and National ID processing through the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
Other participating agencies and service providers included the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), OFW Hospital, medical clinics and DMW personnel handling employment contract verification.
Cacdac said many professionals, including engineers, architects and nurses, took advantage of the caravan to process licenses and other employment-related documents.
The DMW reported that more than 93 percent of participants expressed gratitude for the services, while 89.2 percent rated their overall experience as excellent.
Meanwhile, 76.9 percent of respondents said their transactions were completed very quickly.
Philippines, UAE strengthen migrant worker cooperation
During his visit to Dubai, Cacdac also met with UAE Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation Abdul Rahman Alawar to discuss stronger bilateral cooperation and improved protection for Filipino migrant workers.
Cacdac said it was his fourth meeting with Alawar this year, reflecting continuing coordination between the two countries on labor-related concerns.
“Talagang masigasig ang aming pagkikita ni Minister Alawar. Gawa ng pangangailangan, we all know what has transpired all throughout the year,” he said.
The discussions also covered preparations for the 2028 Abu Dhabi Dialogue Ministerial Conference, a regional platform involving labor-receiving Gulf countries and labor-sending Asian nations.
With the Philippines currently chairing the Abu Dhabi Dialogue, Cacdac said the DMW is working closely with UAE officials and the dialogue’s secretariat to establish priorities and programs ahead of the conference.
He also personally invited Alawar to visit the Philippines, which is scheduled to host at least two meetings in 2027.
“So precisely we met and laid the agenda, the programs for 2027, mga meetings leading up to the ministerial conference in 2028,” Cacdac said.
The DMW said the continuing service caravans and bilateral engagements are aimed at improving access to government assistance and strengthening the protection and welfare of Filipino migrant workers overseas.
