A DIGITAL LIFELINE FOR OUR OFWs: TIME TO TRY "OFW TULONG"

A DIGITAL LIFELINE FOR OUR OFWs: TIME TO TRY "OFW TULONG"

Congratulations are well deserved for Secretary Hans Leo J. Cacdac on his appointment to head the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW). The challenges ahead are immense, but so are the opportunities to innovate for the benefit of our modern-day heroes—the Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs).

One such innovation is something I am proud to be part of: a web application called “OFW TULONG”—co-developed with my partner and good friend, Mr. Ferdenand Ibraheem Sabado of Yaramay IT. It is our humble offering to the DMW, a system designed with one simple goal: to make it easier for any OFW, anywhere in the world, to ask for help when they need it most.

Let me be clear from the start—this isn’t about replacing existing platforms like Musaned or the OFW Welfare Monitoring System (OWMS). Those systems have their uses, but let’s face it—most of them depend heavily on agency reports. And we know how that goes. Self-reporting isn't always the most reliable. That’s why “OFW TULONG” takes a different route: it empowers the OFWs themselves to report directly and ask for help—no intermediaries, no filters.

The system is currently accessible via any web browser—on a laptop, tablet, or smartphone. Soon, we’ll release it as a mobile app for a smoother user experience. But for now, it works well, and it works worldwide, if there’s an internet signal.

Here’s how it works in a nutshell:

·       OFWs sign up for free.

·       They log in anytime to request help.

·       The system alerts the relevant Migrant Workers Office (MWO) or Philippine Embassy.

·       MWOs can also check the dashboard in real time to know who needs assistance.

And the best part? It’s completely free for the DMW and all its offices abroad. No licenses to pay for, no usage fees, and no limit on the number of users. How is this possible? We’ve arranged for the system to be supported by Filipino recruitment agencies (FRAs and PRAs) who are required by law to monitor their deployed workers anyway. They need this, too—it’s a win-win.

We’re also opening the same system to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO), and the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO). Everyone benefits from better data, better communication, and faster response times. And in emergency situations—when seconds count, “OFW TULONG” could be the difference between life and death. All we’re asking from the DMW is the green light to proceed—and the list of email addresses of users they want to onboard.

To address concerns raised, yes, Musaned exists, and yes, agencies do use OWMS. But again, those are largely agency-driven. What we’re offering is a worker-centered system. A tool built for Filipinos, by Filipinos—with our own workers’ real needs in mind.

We also understand that information coming from Labor Attachés, Welfare Officers, and ground personnel is critical. That’s why we’ve baked their expertise into the system’s design. This isn’t a foreign solution trying to be localized—it’s a local solution made for global Filipinos.

In a world where everything is going digital, it’s time that our assistance-to-nationals function gets digitized, too. The DMW should lead the way, and “OFW TULONG” is ready to help make that happen—today, not tomorrow.

Let’s not let this opportunity pass us by. Let’s put technology to good use—for the safety, welfare, and dignity of every OFW.

Ramon Ike V. Seneres, www.facebook.com/ike.seneres
iseneres@yahoo.com, 09088877282, senseneres.blogspot.com

09-18-2025 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

HOW IS THE CRIME RATE COMPUTED IN THE PHILIPPINES?

HOW IS THE CRIME RATE COMPUTED IN THE PHILIPPINES? When we talk about the crime rate in the Philippines, we often assume that the figures we see are accurate reflections of reality. But have we ever paused to ask—how exactly is the crime rate computed? Where does this data come from, and how reliable is it? The computation of the crime rate in the Philippines is officially handled by the Philippine National Police (PNP). The formula itself is straightforward: Crime Rate = (Total Reported Crimes / Total Population) x 100,000 This simple equation gives us the number of crimes per 100,000 people, allowing for fair comparison across regions and time periods. However, the reality behind these numbers is more complex than it appears. Data from the Ground The foundation of our national crime rate is empirical data collected at the grassroots level—from individual police stations scattered across the country. Every reported crime is logged in local police blotters, forming the buil...
Read more

GREY AREAS IN GOVERNMENT FUNCTIONS

GREY AREAS IN GOVERNMENT FUNCTIONS Dear Mr. President: May I ask who is going to be the arbiter or referee whenever there are overlaps in functions between two or more government agencies? I imagine that there would be no problem if these agencies would just cooperate and collaborate with each other, but what if they are unable to settle their differences and they would just end up throwing blame at each other or finger pointing at each other? Allow me to cite some examples. Who is supposed to take the lead in waste to energy projects? Is it supposed to be the DENR that is supposed to handle waste? Or is it supposed to be the DOE that is supposed to handle energy generation? Or is it supposed to be the DILG since it is the one that could direct or influence the waste to energy projects of LGUs? Who is supposed to take the lead in producing and promoting the use of biofuels? Is it supposed to be the DA, since the production of biofuels is supposed to be all about planting biofuel ...
Read more

LOCALIZED FREE AMBULANCE SERVICES

LOCALIZED FREE AMBULANCE SERVICES As it is supposed to be, anyone in the Philippines should be able to dial 911, and a telephone operator should be able to dispatch fire, rescue, ambulance and police (FRAP) units as soon as possible, based on acceptable response times. I invented the FRAP acronym for easy recall, and I hope it sticks, if there is no other alternative. Unfortunately, due to a mixture of technical and political reasons, the Philippines has not adopted 911 as a national number, because some LGUs would rather use their own three-digit numbers such as 117 and 168. I actually proposed a technical solution to that problem, but it was not adopted either. For whatever it is worth, my solution is to install a call forwarding system that could route all calls to a central operator, regardless of what number is dialed. It is very sad for me to know that up to now, even if our country is already over one hundred years old, there are still many LGUs that do not have fire trucks. it ...
Read more