Government to expand orientation, counseling for future OFWs

The Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) will be expanding its online Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar (PDOS) services starting Monday, April 13, 2026.

On Wednesday, CFO said that it will be increasing the number of sessions and slots for the online seminar in line with the increasing travel costs and mobility constraints due to the ongoing fuel crisis.

“The CFO aims to make its essential services more accessible by allowing constituents to complete PDOS requirements online,” the statement read.

“This move ensures that overseas-bound Filipinos can continue their preparations safely, conveniently, and efficiently,” it added.

CFO also said that the Peer Counseling Program (PCP) for migrants aged 13 to 19 years old will also now be available online.

Meanwhile, it said that some programs like the Guidance and Counseling Program (GCP) for spouses, fiancés, and other partners of foreign nationals, and the Country Familiarization Seminar (CFS) for Au Pairs, will remain on-site due to their more vulnerable nature.

CFO’s offices remain open from Monday to Thursday for face-to-face programs, while Friday remains limited to online sessions.

“The CFO is dedicated to enhancing our services in response to crises, prioritizing the welfare and protection of Filipino migrants,” CFO chairman Secretary Dante Ang II said.

The PDOS and the PCP are programs conducted for Filipinos bound to move overseas, tackling issues on travel regulations, immigration procedures, cultural differences, settlement concerns, employment and social security concerns, and rights and obligations of Filipino migrants. —LDF, GMA News