Target Beneficiaries
- All Filipino migrant workers needing immediate or emergency repatriation.
- Covers all validated repatriation requests regardless of prior determination of liability.
Implementing Units
- Field Services Office (FSO) via Workers Assistance Division (WAD) responsible for Metro Manila cases.
- Regional OWWA Units (ROUs) and Overseas Operations Coordinating Center (OOCC) through Philippine Overseas Labor Officers (POLOs) handle foreign posts.
- Internal Management Services Office (IMSO) manages Emergency Repatriation Fund (ERF) and accounting.
- Plans and Programs Office (PPO) monitors and evaluates program implementation.
Emergency Repatriation Fund (ERF)
- Created and controlled by OWWA as mandated by law.
- Initially funded with ₱100 million advanced from OWWA funds.
- Subsequent annual appropriations must not be less than the initial amount plus any outstanding balance.
- Fund maintained via a subsidiary account to preserve interest income.
General Guidelines
- Primary repatriation responsibility lies with the principal or agency that recruited/deployed the worker.
- National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) exclusively determines liability of repatriation costs.
- OWWA undertakes repatriation in emergency situations such as war, calamities, illness, danger to life, or if the principal/agency cannot be identified.
- Agencies failing to provide repatriation tickets within 48 hours face license suspension or sanctions.
- OWWA advances repatriation costs with recourse to agencies/principals for reimbursement within 15 working days.
- Legal action follows non-payment of advanced funds.
- Defined repatriation costs include airfare, visas, penalties, escort travel, mortuary charges, customs duties, quarantine, packaging, and clearances.
- All repatriation expenses post-August 16, 1995, are charged to the ERF.
- No refund is charged to OFWs for emergency repatriation assistance.
- Assistance provided to OFWs for refund claims against recruitment agencies including documentation and referral to NLRC.
Accomplishment Reports
- FSO maintains a database of assisted OFWs and issues regular reports.
- IMSO handles monthly financial and collection reports.
- PPO consolidates quarterly program reports for OWWA oversight.
Fund Management
- IMSO manages ERF funds and subsidiary accounts.
- Quarterly financial reports support monitoring and budget allocation.
- IMSO ensures proper representation for reimbursement from the General Appropriations Act.
- Travel agencies for ticket procurement are selected via semi-annual bidding for cost efficiency.
Monitoring and Evaluation
- PPO leads program monitoring and evaluation.
- Consolidates reports into quarterly summaries for the Administrator and Board of Trustees.
- Program evaluation scheduled one year after implementation and as necessary thereafter.
Process Flow for Workers Repatriation
- Repatriation requests filed with ROUs, WAD, or foreign posts.
- Welfare officers verify cases and communicate with foreign employers and notify OWWA/POEA if employer fails repatriation.
- POEA notifies recruitment agencies; agencies must provide prepaid tickets within 48 hours.
- POEA may suspend licenses for non-compliance.
- OWWA advances repatriation after approval; coordinates monitoring and reporting with foreign posts.
- POLOs accountable for ticket issuance and usage.
- OFW reception coordinated with regional units ensuring proper ticket retrieval and reimbursement actions.
Payment and Collection Procedures
- WAD processes payment vouchers based on verified tickets and certifications.
- IMSO collects reimbursed funds from recruitment agencies through formal demand letters.
- Legal department handles collection cases exceeding prescribed deadlines.
Referral of Refund Claims by OFWs
- OFWs who paid repatriation costs may seek refund assistance from OWWA.
- Documentation prepared according to NLRC requirements.
- Official referrals to NLRC issued, and case monitoring conducted by WAD/ROUs.
Effectivity
- The memorandum of instructions takes effect immediately upon issuance on February 13, 1997.