By Rachel Magday

 

NUEVA VIZCAYA, Philippines — The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) is accelerating its digital transformation to make government services faster, safer and more accessible to overseas Filipino workers and their families, OWWA Administrator Patricia Yvonne “PY” M. Caunan said.

Speaking to local media during her visit here on July 7, Caunan said the agency’s modernization efforts are aimed at reducing processing time, improving welfare monitoring and ensuring that OFWs can access assistance whether they are in the Philippines or abroad.

Caunan led the OFW Serbisyo Caravan in Nueva Vizcaya, the first OWWA-led caravan of its kind in the country, bringing together various national government agencies in one venue to make frontline services more accessible to migrant workers and their families.

More than 2,000 OFWs and their family members availed themselves of government services during the caravan.

She cited as among OWWA’s key initiatives the digital payment system for membership renewal through GCash, allowing OFWs anywhere in the world to pay directly to the government through the mobile app’s “Bills” feature.

Caunan also highlighted the Kumusta Kabayan App, a digital welfare monitoring platform launched with the Department of Migrant Workers, which provides OFWs a faster channel for communication and emergency assistance.

OWWA services have also been integrated into the e-Gov platform, streamlining membership processing and ID printing to cut waiting time for clients, she said.

The agency is likewise offering free digital literacy and information technology training for OFWs and their dependents to improve employability and help migrant workers maintain communication with their families.

Caunan said OWWA is also promoting better data management through cloud storage orientation, enabling OFWs to safely store, organize and access important documents.

“Through modern technology, the processing of important documents of OFWs has become more secure and more organized,” Caunan said.

During the event, Caunan commended the provincial government of Nueva Vizcaya, led by Gov. Jose V. Gambito, for its programs for migrant workers, including the establishment of an OFW Welfare Center that provides support services to OFWs and their families in the province.

Gambito, for his part, declared Caunan an adopted daughter of Nueva Vizcaya in recognition of her efforts to bring OWWA programs and services closer to OFWs and their families.