DOLE says data protected under tracking system on returning OFWs

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) on Thursday gave assurance on the protection of data being used to track overseas Filipino workers planning to return to the Philippines amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Launched early this month, the OFW Assistance Information System (OASIS) aims to facilitate an orderly and smooth repatriation, and assistance to the thousands of returning OFWs.

“Ang hinihingi lang po natin sa kanila ay impormasyon na may kinalaman doon sa pag-uwi nila dito sa Pilipinas dahil gusto po natin na maging maayos ‘yung pagdating nila dito,” DOLE Assistant Secretary Alex Avila said in a televised briefing.

“Nakalagay din po sa system na ginagarantiya natin sa mga magre-register na OFW na gagamitin ang mga impormasyon na naaayon sa Data Privacy Act of 2012.”

According to the Labor Department, the system will help them identify and classify arriving OFWs in a number of ways to facilitate organized arrival at the airport, efficient swab testing, and rapid pick up and transport to their respective hotels and homes and other necessary processes.

OFWs bound for the Philippines are requested to register online with OASIS through oasis.owwa.gov.ph.

Avila said the OFWs can also fill out the forms manually. Overseas Workers Welfare Administration personnel will also assist the OFWs in accomplishing the forms upon their arrival in the country.

President Rodrigo Duterte told Congress on Monday that 47,793 OFWs were awaiting repatriation.

“Barring any complications, this would bring the total number of repatriates to 93,675,” he said in his weekly report as mandated by the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act.

“However, due to the continuing impact of the pandemic, the number of repatriated Filipinos could reach 100,000 or even higher in the coming months.” — RSJ, GMA News