The secretary of Labor and Employment, Rosalinda Baldpoz announced that seventeen (17) one stop processing centers (OSPCs) are now ready to serve overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and their families. The one-stop centers for OFWs that are located in eleven (11) regions all over the Philippines were created through the efforts of Overseas Workers and Welfare Administration (OWWA) and Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA).

Baldoz also said that they are to put up two more OSPC’s before the year ends. The Labor Secretary encouraged returning OFWs and their families to visit any of the 17 centers.

She said, “I also urge our OFWs and their families to avail of the government’s programs and services available in these OSPCs. Two other OSPCs will be set up before the end of the year, one in Legazpi City (Region 5) and another in Tacloban City (Region 8)."

OFWs and their Families Can Avail of the Following Services in OSPCs

• OWWA membership processing
• Issuance of Overseas Employment Certificates (POEA)
• Information services for OFW welfare concerns

Baldoz cited the report of OWWA chief, Carmelita Dimzon and said that in the OSPCs, OWWA-related concerns of OFWs will be handled by full time employees.

Baldoz said, "Most of these OSPCs are already housed in one location together with the regional or field office of the POEA. The logic behind a one-stop shop is to fast-track action on an official transaction and provides convenience to the client.”

"Returning OFWs wishes for more time to be spent with their loved ones, so we in the government should empathize and serve our OFWs fast to enable them to maximize their vacation in the Philippines," she added.

Earlier this year, the Labor chief had given deadlines to both POEA and OWWA administrators namely Hans Leo Cacdac Jr. and Carmelita Dimzon to create an OFW center that will combine in one roof the basic OWWA and POEA services and programs for OFWs. This project is expected to improve the coordination of POEA and OWWA centers in different regions and at the same time make OFW transactions more convenient. The deadline for this is until the end of 2012.

 
The OSPCs where the OWWA and the POEA are housed in one location/building:

Region 1--Zambrano Bldg., San Fernando, La Union, with Marie Ganal as focal person.

Region 2--Regional Government Center, Carig Sur,Tuguegarao City;

Region 3--Clark Special Economic Zone, with Alma Dizon, Ely Llanes, and Maricel Ayson as focal staff

Region 4-A--Chipeco Ave., Brgy Halang, Calamba City;

 Region 6--2nd Floor, Old City Hall Bldg., Luzurriaga St., Bacolod City, with Jennelyn Oyco as staff;

Region 7--LDM Bldg., Legaspi cor., M. Cuenco Ave., Cebu City, with Ma. Ofelia Maloloy-on as staff;

Region 10--2/F Trinidad Bldg., Corales Yakapin St., Cagayan de Oro City, with Aniceta Corpin as staff;

Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao--POEA-ARMM ORG Compound, Gov. Gutierrez, Cotabato City, with Gem Torres as staff

Caraga--Nimfa Tiu Building, J. P. Rosales Avenue, Butuan City


OSPCs which are separated from the POEA field or regional office:

Region 1--DOLE field offices at the Laoag Provincial Capitol in Laoag City; Brgy. Carmay, Rosales, Pangasinan, manned by Dolly Anne Camacho; Rizal Street in Vigan City, Ilocos Sur, with Vera Andre Orcino as focal staff; and Alaminos City and Dagupan City, Pangasinan;

Region 5--OWWA Satellite Office, Naga City Hall Complex, Miranda Avenue, Naga City, with Kaye Villamor as staff

Region 11--2/F Amiya Bldg., Quiapo Boulevard, Davao City.