Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from any part of the worl can now ask for help through short message service (SMS) to the Center for Migrant Advocacy (CMA), the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), and the Department of Foreign Affairs-Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs.

According to CMA Executive Director Ellene Sana, SMS rates would be same rate in the country where they are employed. Whenever they have questions or need help all they have to do is key in “SOS” send to +63 9209 OFW SOS or +63 9209 639 767.

She added that through this 24/7 text-based service, the Philippine government agencies and non-government agencies will be able to help them in a timely, adequate, and efficient manner, especially when it the life, safety, or well-being of the OFWs are in risk.

The OFWs themselves make the first move to accomplish this project for their fellow OFWs all over the world.     

“What makes the project more significant is that it was “initiated, conceptualized, and developed by OFWs for OFWS around the globe. They volunteered their time, expertise, and resources to conceptualize, develop, and maintain this SOS SMS project,” she said.

Among the OFWs who are eager to complete the SOS SMS project are Victor Barrazona, Joseph Henry Espiritu, (from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia); Christian Ramilo (of Australia); and Roberto Soriano (of the Institute for Popular Democracy here in the Philippines).

According to Sana CMA board members also helped the OFWs to make this project possible. They are Mike Bolos and Daphne Ceniza (of Hong Kong); Edna Aquino (of the United Kingdom); Gerry Capatig, Rashid Fabricante, and the Pusong Mamon Task Force (of Saudi Arabia); and Cheekay Cinco, Ian Velasco, Cirio Cinco, and Sarge Colambo.

"As a text-based mechanism, SOS SMS rides on the backbone of the cell phone technology, capitalizing on the OFWs' familiarity with the SMS utility," said Sana.

"Sanay na tayo sa text, ganito na tayo tumutulong noon pa, pinalawak lang natin yung scope [We are used to text messaging. This is how we have been helping even before, we only widened the scope],” said Sana, whose organization helps OFWs in distress.

Sana said that the 24/7 service of SOS SMS will be economical in reporting any cases of OFWs from any part of the world. This text-based information and reporting system allows messages to be sent to and received by a central computer. The messages received will be auto-forwarded to both the CMA and government agencies responsible with the welfare and safety of OFWs.

“The project has other uses as well,” Sana said.

“As a research tool, SOS SMS establishes a database that will...enable CMA to document, index, classify, and analyze reported cases of distressed OFWs in terms of work categories, geographical location, gender, types or forms of abuses, destination or work place, type or form of intervention extended, case response and resolution times, groups [GOs, NGOs and individuals, here and abroad] involved or mobilized for the case resolution,” she said.

She added that the SOS SMS project would be an advocacy tool. The information coming from the system would develop and identify loopholes in respect to migration attitudes, policies and practices, as well as make recommendations to address them.

“The SOS SMS system establishes an electronic trail by logging and storing automatically all critical message details that will be useful in developing research leads, remedial recommendations, and advocacy thrusts,” she said.