The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) has extended financial aid and verified employment records for 69 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) affected by the magnitude 7.7 earthquake that struck Myanmar on March 28.
DMW Undersecretary Felicitas Bay said in a press briefing Wednesday that a team from the DMW, Migrant Workers Office (MWO), and the Philippine Embassy in Bangkok visited affected areas from April 28 to May 2.
“For the part of the DMW and the MWO in Bangkok, we have provided to our OFWs financial assistance — 58 in Yangon, and then there’s 11 who visited our Migrant Workers Office in Bangkok. So it’s a total of 69. Sa kasalukuyan po, meron daw ngayon dalawa sa regional office,” Bay said.
The team informed OFWs that those who decide to return to the Philippines may seek assistance from the DMW or any of its regional offices.
Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac also held a virtual town hall meeting with Filipinos in Myanmar.
“Nakarating sa ground zero ng earthquake in Mandalay. Nakita pa nila mismo yung Sky Dormitory na gumuho kung saan nandun yung apat na kababayan natin. Natukoy, na-identify na, and we have helped, assisted all the families,” he said.
Despite the tragedy, no OFWs have asked for repatriation. Instead, many requested help reconstructing employment documents lost in the collapsed dormitory. The DMW verified 32 job contracts and issued five overseas employment certificates (OECs).
“Their first request during our virtual town hall meeting was help in reconstructing their documents. That was our first priority,” Bay said.
The DMW team also visited four schools in Yangon where most OFWs work. According to DMW data, around 700 OFWs in Myanmar are mainly employed in academic institutions.
The visit included ground assessments and support for displaced OFWs who either relocated or stayed with friends and family. Myanmar remains under Alert Level 2, allowing only returning OFWs with valid contracts to re-enter.