Guidelines on the Comprehensive Delivery of Reintegration Services for Deportees, Repatriates and Returned Irregular OFWs

April 2, 2012

DSWD ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 003-12

 

I. Rationale:

Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) leave the country primarily for the reason of improving their families' socio-economic situation. This has become a trend for Filipinos to work in other country for a high paying job which started more than two decades. In the June 2007 report of the Department of Foreign Affairs, there are about 7.1 million overseas Filipino workers all over the world. The remittances of these Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) have helped boost the Philippine economy as such that they have been regarded as modern day Filipino heroes.

Of the 7.1 million OFWs, about 443,768 are Irregular. 1 Many of them returned home after experiencing abuse from employers or when the foreign country's government discovered their presence without legal documents. The Office of the Social Welfare Attaché in Malaysia in year 2008-June 2010 for instance, had served a total of 62,316 Filipino deportees and repatriates. These were cases of irregular Filipino nationals who were accused of immigration law violations. One thousand eight hundred eighteen (1,818) of them were trafficked victims and victims of illegal recruitment.

For CY 2010-2011, the Social Welfare Attaché in Malaysia in coordination with the Embassy's Assistance-to-Nationals Unit, Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) and other concerned agencies at the Posts had provided assistance to 1,595 cases who were victims of human trafficking, illegal recruitment, with health problems and other consular cases. Of this number, 479 were victims of human trafficking. While in Riyadh KSA, there are 1,253 cases assisted such as rape victims, abandoned children, distressed OFWs, marital problems, violation of immigration law, no Iqama ID/No exit Visa, runaway from their employers, detained at the deportation center and health problems in 2010. In addition, a total of 353 adult cases and 145 unregistered children born (January to May 2011) were also assisted. 2

Working overseas at times is not the best option. Not all who seek employment outside the country have succeeded to meet their dreams of economic stability. There are many who have become preys to illegal recruiters and human traffickers. Some have had the misfortune of suffering from abuses and exploitation from their employers. These victims end up as irregular migrant workers due to the lack of legal documents to support the legality of their stay in the receiving country.

The Philippine Constitution declares that the "State shall promote social justice in all phases of national development". The State must give preferential attention to the welfare of the less fortunate members of the community, the poor, the underprivileged and those who have less in life. The Constitution also emphasized that the "State values the dignity of every human person and guarantees full respect for human rights" which recognize the belief in the inherent dignity and worth of every human person regardless of their origin, status and condition in life. EAaHTI

The state shall afford full protection to labor, local and overseas, organized and unorganized, and promote full employment and equality of employment opportunities for all. It shall likewise provide adequate and timely social, economic and legal services to Filipino migrant workers (RA 8042, Sec. 2, b).

Deportees and Irregular Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) face many challenges which prevent their successful reintegration to their families and communities. The Social Technology Bureau conducted a consultation-workshop with twenty (20) returned OFWs and service providers on December 13-14, 2007 resulting in the identification of appropriate responses. The study was conducted in Regions IX and ARMM due to high cases of reported migration and deportation in the area. Based on the findings of the study on the situation of 852 deportees conducted in November 26 to December 7, 2007, going back to their communities has been difficult since majority of them sold their properties leaving nothing to themselves. The stigma of being a "halaw" (one who was expelled/ousted in the country) attached to them coupled with their negative experiences in other countries, made it hard for them to be reintegrated in their families and communities.

Realizing the need of this group, a project to provide comprehensive services to alleviate the situation of deportees and Irregular OFWs was piloted in January 2009 until June 2010 in Region IX due to the high number of deportees in the region. Recognizing the complex needs of the clients, an inter-agency mechanism was established during the pilot implementation for a collaborative response and to appropriately address the needs of the beneficiaries thus; causing positive change in the lives of the deportees. Hence, the guidelines on the implementation of Comprehensive Reintegration Services for Deportees and Returned Irregular OFWs have been formulated for national implementation.

II. Legal Bases

This program is based on the following international, national and regional legal instruments:

A. International Instruments

o International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of all Migrant Workers and Members of their Families

 This Convention is applicable to all migrant workers and members of their families without distinction of any kind such as sex, race, color, language, religion or conviction, political or other opinion, national, ethnic or social origin, nationality, age, economic position, property, marital status, birth or other status. The present Convention shall apply during the entire migration process of migrant workers and members of their families, which comprises preparation for migration, departure, transit and the entire period of stay and remunerated activity in the State of employment as well as return to the State of origin or the State of habitual residence.

o Convention on the Elimination and Discrimination against Women (CEDAW).

 It is the first and only international treaty that comprehensively addresses women's rights not only within civil and political spheres but also within economic, social, cultural and family life. It guarantees women's rights to be free from all forms of violence whether physical, mental or economic as well as all forms of trafficking and exploitation and prostitution.

o Convention on the Rights of Children

 This recognizes the human rights of children and provides measures to ensure the child's rights to survival, development, protection and participation. In Article 35, State Parties are to take appropriate measures to prevent the abduction of, the sale of, or trafficking in children for any purpose or in any form.

o United Nations Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against women (DEVAW)

 Defines violence against women (VAW) as any act of gender based violence that results in or likely to result in physical, sexual, psychological, harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of, liberty, whether occurring in public or private life. TcDAHS

B. Regional Instruments

o Bangkok Declaration on Irregular Migration

 It states that migration, particularly irregular migration, should be addressed in a comprehensive and balanced manner, considering its causes, manifestations and effects, both positive and negative, in the countries of origin, transit and destination. The orderly management of migration and addressing of irregular migration and trafficking will require the concerted efforts of countries concerned, whether bilaterally, regionally or otherwise, based on sound principles of equality, mutual understanding and respect.

o Cebu Declaration on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers.

 It calls for stronger protection and improved conditions for migrant workers in the region, and assigned "obligations" on both the "sending" and "receiving" states. The so-called "receiving" or employing states are expected to ensure workers' access to information, education and social welfare services, as well as ample representation in the host country's justice system.

C. National Laws

o 1987 Philippine Constitution

 Article II, Section 12 provides that the state recognizes the sanctity of family life and shall protect and strengthen the family as a basic autonomous social institution; and Article XV, Section 1: the state recognizes the Filipino family as the foundation of the nation. Accordingly, it shall strengthen its solidarity and actively promote its total development.

o Republic Act 8042 or the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995

 It focuses on the protection of migrant workers through the one-country team approach in the Philippine Embassies/Consulates, the creation of the Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs (OUMWA) and availability of Assistance to Nationals (ATN) funds for displaced, abused and exploited migrant workers managed by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA). R.A. 8042 considers children as the indirect beneficiaries of OWWA benefits and services of their OFW parents who are OWWA members.

o Republic Act 9208 or the Anti-Trafficking in Person Act of 2003

 It defines trafficking and policies to eliminate trafficking as well as to protect the victims. It also provides penalties for violators of the provisions of the law.

o Republic Act 6955 or Mail Order Bride Law

 Imposes criminal sanctions against the business that engages in the practice of matching Filipino women for marriage to foreign nationals on a mail order basis and other similar practices, including the advertising of such services.

o RA 8239 or Philippine Passport Act of 1996

 Regulates the constitutional right to travel by imposing requirements and procedures for getting a passport and other travel documents

o RA 9262 or Anti Violence Against Women and their children Act of 2004

 Defines violence against women and their children, provides protective measures to victims and prescribed penalties for its violation.

o Magna Carta of Women Republic Act No. 9710

 It promotes empowerment of women and pursues equal opportunities for women and men and ensure equal access to resources and to development results and outcome through the development of plans, policies, programs, measures, and mechanisms to address discrimination and inequality in the economic, political, social, and cultural life of women and men.

D. Executive Orders

o Executive Order 74 Series of 1993 or Directing the Adoption of the Country-Team Approach in the Conduct of Development Diplomacy recognizes all officers, representatives and personnel of the Philippines government posted abroad shall, on a per country basis, act as one country-team with a mission under the leadership of the Ambassador, who shall act as team leader. DaTHAc

o Executive Order No. 15 Series of 1998 as amended by E.O. 221 S. 2003 mandates the DSWD to provide assistance to develop and implement programs, projects and services that will alleviate poverty and empower disadvantaged individuals, families and communities for an improved quality of life.

o Executive Order 287 Series of 2003 entitled "Directing the Deployment/Posting of Social Welfare Attachés in Selected Diplomatic Posts" authorizes the deployment/posting of Social Welfare Attaches in selected Diplomatic Posts for the protection of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and their families.

Other related laws concerning this issue are the following:

o ILO Convention on Decent Work for Domestic Workers adopted by the International Labor Code (ILO) on June 16, 2011.

o Article II, Section 9 of the 1986 Philippine Constitution states that the State shall promote a just and dynamic social order that will ensure the prosperity and independence of the nation and free the people from poverty through policies that provide adequate social services, promote full employment, a rising standard of living, and an improved quality of life for all.

o The Local Government Code devolved the direct implementation of social welfare services. Hence, the LGUs are responsible for the replication and direct implementation of programs such as this.

III. Definition of Terms

1. Overseas Filipino Workers — A Filipino citizen who is legally engaged or has been legally engaged in a compensated activity in a foreign country for a prescribed period.

2. Deportees — are persons who were sent back to the country of origin due to unlawful presence in another country and are being provided with psycho-social services by the Department.

3. Repatriate — a person who has been sent back to his/her country of birth, citizenship or allegiance 3 country and are being provided with psycho-social services by the Department.

4. Social Welfare Attaché — A social worker on a diplomatic capacity attached to an embassy posted by the Philippine Government in selected countries in Asia where there is a large concentration of distressed OFWs. As a member the One Country Team, he/she is assigned to look after the needs and welfare of migrant Filipinos through the delivery of core social welfare services and the establishment of linkages with the host countries' Social Welfare and other relevant offices.

5. Trafficking in Persons — refers to the recruitment, transportation, transfer or harboring, or receipt of persons with or without the victim's consent or knowledge, within or across national borders by means of threat or other forms of coercion, abduction, fraud, deception, abuse of power or position, and taking advantage of the vulnerability of the person. This also pertains to the giving or receiving of payments or benefits in exchange of a person's consent for the purpose of prostitution or other forms of sexual exploitation, forced labor servitude, slavery, or the removal or sale of organs. 4

6. Irregular Overseas Filipino Workers — A Filipino citizen who, without valid documentations (i.e., invalid/expired visa, residence or work permits and the like), engaged or has been engaged in a compensated activity in a foreign country.

7. Poverty Threshold — the minimum income/expenditure required for a family/individual to meet the basic food and non-food requirements. 5 IcEACH

8. Reintegration — is a process focused on reuniting the deported irregular OFW with his/her family and community or on integration in a new community. It includes a package of measures towards restoring the victim's rights, social status and health and helping him/her regain vital capacity for activities that were restricted due to some reasons. It includes measures on restoring/building friendly relations in the family, vocational training and employment, regaining the feeling of being full-fledged members of society, feeling of self-respect and other ethnic personal interrelations. 6

9. One-Stop Shop — a specific place or area where all Filipino deportees, repatriates, and/or irregular overseas workers are provided with required services to expedite all documents necessary to facilitate their return to the families and communities.

10. Case Management — is a procedure to plan, seek and monitor services from different social agencies and staff on behalf of a client. Usually one agency takes primary responsibility for the client and assigns a case manager, who coordinates services, advocates for the client, and sometimes controls resources and purchase services for the client. 7

11. Assistance to Individual Crisis Situation (AICS) — this is a daily service/intervention of Emergency Assistance Program to be extended to a walk-in needy adult client who comes to the Office requesting for financial assistance for his/her immediate need such as food, medicine and transportation.

IV. The Conceptual Framework:

Comprehensive reintegration services are provided for the client's dignified and sustainable reintegration into the family and society and a restored functional life. It is desired that the deportees and returned irregular OFWs shall be reintegrated to their families and communities with positive life attitude and in a wholesome environment.

Reintegration starts upon the return of the irregular Overseas Filipino Workers to the Philippines through deportation or repatriation because of their irregular employment status. These clients could be referred to by the Social Welfare Attachè of the country where they came from.

The helping process at the local level starts upon clients' arrival at the ports. They will be referred for temporarily shelter in the processing centers of the receiving region where they are provided with food and other basic needs. Subsequently, their return to their local places of origin will be facilitated.

Comprehensive services cannot be provided by any single agency. Considering the complex needs of the deportees and returned irregular Overseas Filipino Workers, a concerted effort of different agencies is needed to comprehensively respond to the needs of this group.

The framework shows the process of project implementation which will start from the situational analysis or environmental scanning. This will be conducted through a research to serve as the baseline data. The data will reflect the situation of the deportees, repatriates and returned irregular OFWs and will guide the project conceptualization as well as the services that will be provided by the stakeholders.

The implementation will involve the participation of the community including the services rendered by other government and non-government agencies. Successful reintegration of the deportees will be realized based on the following personal, family and community indicators.

The following indicators will determine the impact of the services in the lives of the returned OFWs, to wit;

 

	Scope of	Objectives		Indicators
	Reintegration
A.	Individual	Individual recovery of	[ ]	Understood present situation of having
		the system of vital		been deported and coping abilities
		values and perception		towards understanding self.
		of the world
			[ ]	Determined to overcome the negative
				effects of illegal migration and be able
				to move on from being an irregular
				OFW to a documented overseas worker.
			[ ]	Gained basic knowledge on planning
				and decision making process
			[ ]	Identified initial options and plans
				including legal processing of travel
				documents
			[ ]	Developed life skills e.g., interpersonal
				skills, communication, etc.
			[ ]	Developed self-confidence and trust in
				his/her own capacities, positive attitudes
				toward life and hope for the future
B.	Family	Building reciprocally	[ ]	Encouragement and support of family
		supporting ties within		members including a no victim-blame
		the family as grounds		attitude
		for successful building
		of ties with members of	[ ]	Openness and acceptance of family
		the community.		members on the disclosure of client's
				deportation situation
			[ ]	Communication and decision-making
				skills among family members
			[ ]	Caring/nurturing behavior towards
				client's family integration
			[ ]	Participate in activities enhancing family
				solidarity
			[ ]	Understood the effects of illegal
				migration on individual and family
		Supporting desire to build	[ ]	Aware of rules and procedures on safe
		and/or harmonious		migration and measures to prevent
		relationships with parents		deportation
		and other family members
			[ ]	Initiative in seeking justice by the client
				with support of family
			[ ]	Participated in activities enhancing
				family solidarity
			[ ]	Appreciation and behavior based on
				family values and relations
			[ ]	Interest to join support groups
C.	Community	Recover/building of	[ ]	Aware of community groups/
		social ties		organizations
			[ ]	Interpersonal skills with community
				leaders and groups
			[ ]	Show self-confidence
			[ ]	Active membership in a community of
				support group
			[ ]	Advocate open discussion on migration
				issues and share experiences as needed
			[ ]	Openness with the community on
				migration issues

V. Objectives of the Project

General Objectives:

To provide a package of social and economic reintegration services for deportees, repatriates and returned irregular Filipino workers who worked overseas towards an improved quality of life.

Specific objectives:

1. To increase the economic capacities of the deportees, repatriates, and returned irregular OFWs through the provision of livelihood and other support services.

2. To facilitate psychological healing and recovery and promote harmonious relationship among family members through the provision of various psychosocial services to deportees, repatriates, and returned irregular OFWs and their families.

3. To promote Inter-Agency partnership for resource augmentation to respond to the needs of deportees, repatriates, and returned irregular OFWs and their families through commitment setting, meetings and other related activities.

VI. Coverage

These Guidelines shall apply to the target beneficiaries of the reintegration program which include deportees, repatriates and irregular OFWs who have returned to their places of origin.

The Department, through its field Offices, shall promote the adoption of these guidelines by local government units especially those with high incidence of deported, repatriated and irregular OFWs. EScHDA

VII. Project Description

This intervention is a package of basic, social and psychosocial services that will buffer the adverse effects of crisis events brought about by the repatriation, deportation and unemployment of deportees, repatriates and Irregular OFWs and provides developmental and support services for their effective reintegration upon their return to the Philippines.

The inter-agency mechanism is the strategy that will be used to maximize existing programs and services of the DSWD, other government agencies, non-government organizations and the private sector. These programs and services are also integrated to facilitate the protection of the identified victims/survivors of human trafficking and provide similar assistance for their eventual reintegration of the OFW to his/her family and community.

The provision of comprehensive services will facilitate the protection against re-trafficking and eventual reintegration of the OFW to his/her family and community empowering them towards an improved quality of life.

VIII. Components

1. Advocacy and Social Preparation — involves the process of raising the awareness of the beneficiaries and the community of the services through conduct of activities like community assemblies, for a, and distribution of flyers for information dissemination on illegal migration. This also involves information dissemination on the rights of migrant workers and where/how to avail of programs/services for returned OFWs.

2. Technical Assistance and Capability Building of Implementers — involves conduct of training and continuous technical assistance for agency partners and service providers to ensure the effective delivery of services in the care and management of deportees and irregular Overseas Filipino Workers.

3. Networking and Resource Generation — involves tapping and maximizing local, national and international resources, linking with other agencies and organizations for resource mobilization and technical expertise for the core staff of the reintegration and recovery program.

4. Data Banking and documentation — involves data banking and securing all pertinent information on migration which includes the profile of the beneficiaries being served, services extended, GOs and NGOs involved.

5. Service Delivery — involves the provision of psychosocial interventions, Assistance in Crisis Situation (AICS), economic and livelihood assistance, emergency shelter assistance, educational assistance and referral services in collaboration with other government and non-government agencies.

6. Monitoring and Evaluation — involves the conduct of periodic monitoring and evaluation to ensure effectiveness of the strategy for the purpose of improving service delivery as well as replication by other stakeholders.

IX. Intervention Process Flow

1. The worker in-charge shall administer the intake interview of the clients. Based on the result of the interview, needs of the clients shall be assessed, as well as their qualification for the specific service.

2. Once appropriate interventions for clients have been identified, delivery of the appropriate services shall follow.

3. To ensure efficient and effective delivery of services, monitoring and evaluation shall be conducted. Each client shall be included in the data bank of project beneficiaries. AHTICD

Case Management Process

The Case Management Process discussed at this chapter is based from the Manual on Gender Responsive Case Management (GRCM). The GRCM process is adopted to ensure that deportees and irregular OFWs are provided with appropriate interventions in a gender-based manner.

Gender responsive case management is a process of coordinating and providing direct services to deportees, irregular OFWs with systematic attention given to the differences between women and men in society with a view of addressing the structural constraints to gender equality and to optimize the functioning and well-being of clients with multiple needs.

The case manager seeks to accomplish the following goals:

1. To enhance/develop the skills of the client in accessing and utilizing these supports and services.

2. To provide opportunities to the clients that would contribute to the restoration of their social functioning for their eventual reintegration into the mainstream of society.

3. To develop the capacity of social networks and relevant service providers in promoting the functioning and well-being of the client; and

4. To strengthen the integration and coordination of social networks and relevant service providers to ensure a comprehensive holistic and efficient delivery of services.

5. To promote effective service delivery that will help facilitate victim-survivors immediate recovery and social reintegration.

6. To promote service effectiveness while attempting to have services and supports delivered in the most effective manner possible.

Case Management Process is adopted from the Manual on the Recovery and Reintegration Program of Victims-Survivors. The flow of the case management process is shown below:

a.	Initial Supportive Responses	•	Intake Interview
		•	Initial Assessment
		•	Problem Identification
		•	Initial Response
b.	Gender Assessment Process	•	Data Collection
		•	Use of Gender Assessment format
c.	Intervention Planning, Partnership and	•	Intervention Plans
	Implementation	•	Healing Process and Empowerment
d.	Monitoring and Evaluation, Closure	•	Reassessment
	and Follow-up	•	Use of Gender Responsive Indicators

Steps in the Initial Support Responses:

Step 1: Assess the psychosocial condition of the victim-survivor

The client most often is in a state of crisis evidence by:

• Temporary loss of self-control; in a state of shock, hysterical or withdrawn.

• Worried on the economic situation of his/her family.

• Defensive, insecure of herself and distrustful.

Step 2: Create a safe and stable environment for the client and family

• Providing a safe room/place with privacy

• Offer first aid, if necessary

• Make him/her feel that you are concerned

• If client is withdrawn, take time to assure her in a non-blaming stance and the confidentiality of information. Give her time and respect her pace during the disclosure.

Step 3: Use a gender-sensitive interview

• Make the client feel welcome. (Acceptance).

• Allow the client to tell her story and express her emotions. (Purposeful Expression of Feeling). TACEDI

• Avoid uncalled interruptions and use short encouraging words to let her go ahead with her story. (i.e., Yes, understand, please go ahead).

• Use active listening, that is concentrating exclusively on what the client is saying.

• Use active observation, that is watch the non-verbal actions of the victim-survivor as she talks.

• Use eye contact as this re-assures the client of your interest to help.

• Use words that are clear, simple and easily understood. Be concrete and specific and avoid words that need to be interpreted.

• Maintain a non-judgmental attitude.

• Control your emotions so that your reactions do not inhibit the client.

Step 4: Make an initial assessment and identification of the problem

• Gather the necessary identifying information and pertinent data of the case using the intake form.

• Identify clearly the nature of the problem to avoid wastage of time, jumping to conclusions and solutions that do not deal fully with each aspect of the problem. This is done together with the client depending on her psychosocial condition. If this is not possible, it can be done later after the immediate concerns are attended first.

• This is done by identifying the client system, specifying the problem in behavioral terms, analyze the problem and prioritizing the most pressing ones.

Step 5: Take immediate responsive action

• Make the necessary actions/referrals needed such as medical, psychiatric, temporary shelter and legal assistance.

• Look out for severe anxiety, post-traumatic stress (PTSD) and disassociation and refer accordingly. Keep tract of the referrals made to ensure the client has access to services.

• Give top priority response to matters that present a clear and present danger to the client.

Gender-Based Assessment (Adopted from the Recovery and Reintegration Program for Victims-Survivors' Manual) is the comprehensive analysis of the client experiences of abuse and violence and her responses within the context of existing inequalities in society.

Initial Assessment

Done during the intake stage and is the basis for the initial supportive responses.

In-depth Assessment

• Done after the intake stage. It is more comprehensive and is the basis for planned intervention.

• Follow-up the initial data gathered through several collateral interviews and follow-ups with the family, relatives, friends, neighbors or co-workers of the client.

• Stresses through collateral interviews:

o Dynamics of gender relations and violence in the client's family.

o Perceived strengths of clients from the point of view of other people.

o Possible support system for the client among her relatives, friends and community. SaHTCE

• Use of Assessment tools and interdisciplinary approach to broaden understanding of client and her/his situation.

Periodic Reassessment

• Done during the monitoring and evaluation phase of the implementation of the intervention plan to appraise the progress made in the healing process.

• Make a summary statement of the assessment to ensure that all the data are synthesized and ready for the intervention planning.

It has Three (3) phases:

Gender-based assessment is done through the following:

a. Use of Participative Involvement

The victim-survivor participation is an integrated and important part of the healing process. The victim-survivor can best describe her psychosocial condition, her feelings, what he/she can do or willing to do and what he/she cannot or will not do. This is a process where he/she gains an understanding of him/herself. It is a way of giving back a sense of control of his/her situation.

Participative involvement is done by:

• Establishing with the victim-survivor that the assessment is a very important part of the change process and his/her help is needed.

• Explaining the data needed and other sources of information.

• Soliciting her suggestions on the data collection process.

• Discussing with her the collated data and analysis.

• Summing up the experience and stress the point that the assessment is the result of their co-responsibility as healing partners.

b. Use of Gender Lens in Data Analysis

Basic to a gender-based assessment is the use of gender lens. This tool looks at the different needs and realities of the deportees, irregular OFWs and victim-survivor. It provides a summary statement of the assessment to ensure that all the data are synthesized and ready for intervention planning.

c. The Gender Survivor Assessment (GSA)

This framework uses a simplified external and internal factors inter-related to the presented problem of the deportees/irregular OFWs and the victim-survivor. As defined:

External factors — elements outside of the person contributing to the presenting problems and outcome.

a. Dynamics of gender relationships existing in the family.

b. Sustaining and constraining support systems of the survivor in the family, community and other agencies.

Internal factors — aspects within the survivor that has relations in presenting problem and outcome.

a. Internal power of survivor

b. Strengths and constraints

d. Multi-disciplinary Gender Assessment (MDGA)

Multi-disciplinary team broadens efforts to help deportees/irregular OFWs and victim-survivor. Different perspectives coming from several professionals can lend a balanced, integrated and comprehensive analysis of the survivor-in-situation of violence. Major components are:

a. Medical assessment

b. Psychological testing/evaluation

c. Psychiatric evaluation acSECT

d. Functional assessment

e. Legal advice/opinion

X. Institutional Arrangements

Department of Social Welfare and Development

Social Technology Bureau (STB)

a. Provide funding support to concerned regional offices for social marketing and for the initial expansion initiative.

b. Provide technical assistance to the field offices.

Protective services Bureau

a. Monitor the operation and implementation of the program through Field Offices.

b. Provide technical assistance and fund support to the Field Offices in their provision of appropriate services to deportees.

c. Install data bank in coordination with the Information and Communication Technology Management System (ICTMS) for monitoring of the program implementation and reporting purposes.

Standards Bureau

a. License and accredit social welfare agencies (SWAs) providing services to deportees, repatriates and irregular overseas workers ensuring standards are complied with for residential and community based services.

b. Develop/monitor/recommend standards for residential and community based services of SWAs and LGU to deportees, repatriates and irregular overseas workers.

DSWD Field Offices

a. Coordinate with NGAs, NGOs and other organizations for the provision of services not within the scope of the DSWD e.g., legal services and employment opportunities.

b. Provide technical assistance, resource augmentation or generation to LGUs and partner agencies for possible access.

c. Provide support services not limited to AICS, emergency shelter assistance and other support services in partnership with the Local Government Unit.

d. Maintain a databank on the list of employers and job vacancy, schools with short-term training courses and the list of training they could offer to the clients, and profile of clients served by the program as well as their employment skills.

e. Advocate/encourage Regional Development Councils (RDCs), concerned LGUs, and other regional and local bodies/structures having concerns on deportees and undocumented OFWs to intensify awareness raising activities on the following: a) immigration laws and policies of different countries, b) fate of many deportees/OFWs over time to discourage people from migrating illegally; and c) efforts of the government to facilitate legalization of travel documents through the "One-Stop-Shop" particularly on its roles, processes adopted in legalizing travel documents, assistance provided to deportees, and applicants' role in the legalization process.

f. Ensure the functionality of One-Stop-Shop in their respective areas.

Local Government Units (LGUs)

a. Assist the client in the preparation of their resume for possible employment to be posted on the internet (e.g., Phil_jobNet, jobstreet.com and others).

b. Monitor status of the client's job applications and provide feedback to the client. CSDcTH

c. Conduct assessment as to the client's eligibility for assistance and case management.

d. Provide support services not limited to psychosocial interventions, AICS to clients based on assessed needs.

e. Identify qualified deportees and irregular OFWs and facilitate referral to the DSWD Field Office for Pantawid Pamilya services.

f. Establish or designate a "One-Stop-Shop" where LGUs can intensify awareness raising activities on the following: a) immigration laws and policies of different countries especially in countries with high cases of deportation/illegal migration; b) fate of many deportees over time to discourage people from migrating illegally; and c) efforts of the government to facilitate legalization of travel documents particularly on its roles, processes adopted in legalizing travel documents, assistance provided to deportees, and applicants' role in the legalization process.

g. Identify community/office work to be rendered by the beneficiaries and grantees of livelihood and scholarship assistance.

h. Include in the annual investment plan for the implementation of the program.

i. Attend inter-agency meetings.

Public Employment Service Office (PESO)

a. Assist in inventory of job openings in the locality.

b. Assist in matching jobs vis-à-vis skills of the beneficiaries.

National Government Agencies:

TESDA and Other Training Agencies/Schools

a. Provide list of trainings;

b. Provide livelihood and/or skills training;

c. Extend other services to the program beneficiaries based on agency mandate like scholarship assistance;

d. Monitor and report to DSWD status of clients extended with services;

e. Participate in the conduct of project evaluation;

f. Attend inter-agency meeting.

Department of Education Bureau of Alternative Learning System (BALS)

a. Test and assess the youth scholars and provide refresher or review courses prior to the accreditation exams;

b. Conduct Alternative Learning System (ALS) sessions and assist client in taking up accreditation and equivalency test;

c. Attend inter-agency meetings.

Commission on Higher Education (CHED)

a. Facilitate inclusion of the client to the Expanded Tertiary Education Equivalency and Accreditation Program (ETEEAP) of CHED;

b. Attend inter-agency meeting.

Department of Agriculture

a. Provide agriculture based skills training to clients.

b. Provide seedlings and other farming equipment/paraphernalia to beneficiaries.

c. Attend to inter-agency meeting.

Business sector/Companies/Agencies Offering Job Opportunities

a. Provide list of job vacancies. CSAcTa

b. Absorb the newly skilled clients through on-the-job apprenticeship and hiring of eligible client.

c. Report client's employment status to DSWD.

Department of Health (DOH)

a. Provide health services such as but not limited to the following: medical and psychiatric care and medication to clients with mental illnesses;

b. Extend other medical services to the program beneficiaries; and

c. Attend inter-agency meeting.

Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)

a. Ensure the functionality of One-Stop-Shop services for beneficiaries;

b. Provide list of job vacancies to DSWD and link the clients for employment;

c. Extend other support services like livelihood skills training to the program beneficiaries based on agency mandate;

d. Participate in the conduct of program evaluation;

e. Monitor and report to DSWD status of clients extended with services; and

f. Attend inter-agency.

Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)

a. Provide livelihood skills training to the project beneficiaries and other eligible family members;

b. Extend other support services to the project beneficiaries based on agency mandate; and

c. Attend inter-agency meeting.

Department of Science and Technology (DOST)

a. Provide livelihood skills training to the project beneficiaries and other eligible family members;

b. Extend other support services to the project beneficiaries based on agency mandate; and

c. Attend inter-agency meeting.

XI. Effectivity

This Order shall take effect immediately.

Issued in Quezon City, this 2nd day of April 2012.

(SGD.) CORAZON JULIANO-SOLIMANSecretary

 

Footnotes

1. POEA, Compendium of OFW Statistics, 2008; data for 2009.

2. Draft Standard Operating Procedures in Handling and Management of DSWD-Assisted Cases of Overseas Filipinos (OFs) in Distress and their Families.

3. Webster Dictionary.

4. Sec. 3.Definition of Terms (a) of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003 (RA 9208).

5. NSCB Resolution No. 2, Series of 2007.

6. Referral System for the Recovery and Reintegration of Trafficked Persons.

7. Handouts, Management of CICL Cases.