If you are an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) who is planning to return to the Philippines soon, it is important to know the latest procedures, especially amid travel restrictions enforced due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Among the first steps you need to take is to register in OWWA’s “OASIS.”
These letters stand for OFW Assistance Information System (OASIS), a tracking system for all OFWs who plan to return to the Philippines during the pandemic. It aims to extend fast, smooth, and appropriate assistance, especially to those who have lost their jobs abroad. It was developed by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), and the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA).
DISCLAIMER: The following guide is presented for general information-sharing purposes only. To learn more about the OFW Assistance Information System (OASIS), please visit the official website of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).
Guide to OASIS OWWA GOV PH for OFWs
The OASIS form by OWWA is really important nowadays so you can quickly provide your details as a Filipino working abroad. After all, we are living in a time of crisis and so the process of approving loans or granting cash assistance takes a bit more time given that so many people are affected. So it is important that we practice patience when waiting for the aid from OWWA. What is OASIS and how can OFWs register in this system? Below is a quick guide to the Philippine government’s tracking system for all returning OFWs:
What is OWWA OASIS?
The OFW Assistance Information System (OASIS) is basically an online platform that aims to facilitate fast and smooth delivery of services to returning OFWs. It was launched in June 2020, when huge numbers of OFWs were returning to the Philippines, mainly because they had lost their jobs abroad due to the COVID-19 pandemic — which is still affecting the world today.
By registering in OASIS, returning OFWs can provide the DOLE, OWWA, POEA, and other agencies with information regarding their needs and concerns. This information would enable faster delivery of services, such as COVID-19 testing, quarantine, and transportation assistance.
“An oasis symbolizes hope in a desert of trials,” Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III had stated in a DOLE news release about OASIS. “The system that we created aims to give our OFWs a ray of hope by ensuring that we provide them efficient and timely assistance to ease their anxieties when returning home in the midst of this pandemic.”
“Through this system, the government can track the whereabouts of our returning OFWs and provide them prompt assistance and relief upon their return to the country,” he added.
Upon registering in OASIS, returning OFWs can provide information such the airlines they will use, their health condition, address in the Philippines, and other details. These will enable DOLE, OWWA, POEA, and other agencies to facilitate the necessary services, such as repatriation, COVID-19 testing, quarantine, transportation, and eventually, re-employment or reintegration.
Who Should Register in OASIS?
All OFWs who are planning to return to the Philippines during the COVID-19 pandemic are requested to register in OASIS and provide the necessary information.
Where to Download OWWA OASIS Form?
There are two ways to register in OASIS: online or manually. Registration via OASIS Online Form is encouraged for faster processing and delivery of services.
However, in case it is not possible to accomplish the form online, OFWs can download it through the DOLE official website, write their details clearly, and submit the form to an authorized staff of DOLE, OWWA, POEA, or Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO).
Steps to Register in OWWA OASIS
All OFWs who intend to return to the Philippines during the COVID-19 pandemic are requested to register in OASIS at least five (5) days before their scheduled repatriation. Here is a step-by-step guide to registering in OASIS online:
- Go to https://oasis.owwa.gov.ph/.
- Choose your preferred language (Filipino or English) and click “Register.” Enter the necessary data and information.
- Check the box to certify that you have read the form, understood its contents, and give the consent to process your information under the Data Privacy Act of 2012.
- Click “Submit.”
- You will receive a link via email, notifying you about your successful registration in OASIS.
- If you need to update any information in OASIS, click the link sent to your email and make the necessary changes.
- Click “Submit.” That’s it!
NOTE: As an alternative to online registration, you can download the OASIS form through the DOLE official website. Fill it up manually and submit to an authorized staff of DOLE, OWWA, POEA, or POLO.
Latest Update: Over 500K OFWs Repatriated
As of this writing, more than 500,000 OFWs who have been displaced by the COVID-19 pandemic have been repatriated, based on a report by the Philippine News Agency (PNA) on April 4, 2021.
Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) head Hans Leo Cacdac, in a report to Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III, stated that 502,581 OFWs have been safely transported to their home provinces. All of them have undergone COVID-19 testing and quarantine protocols in different hotels around the country.
In fact, the latest “batch” consisted of 1,471 repatriated OFWs who had been sent home on April 3, Black Saturday.
In a separate report by the Department of Labor and Employment – International Labor Affairs Bureau (DOLE-ILAB), it was revealed that so far, 645,071 OFWs have been affected by the pandemic. Of these, 627,576 had been displaced. According to ILAB Director Alice Visperas, 49,698 of these displaced OFWs had requested for repatriation, whereas 75,297 decided to stay abroad.
The Bureau also recorded increasing numbers of OFWs who have been infected with COVID-19. As of Sunday, April 4, ILAB recorded 17,495 confirmed COVID-19 cases among OFWs. This figure was drawn from reports submitted by 40 Philippine Overseas Labor Offices (POLOs) around the world. Among the 17,495 cases — 10,155 have recovered and 938 have passed away.
Notably, data from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) reported these numbers: 10,406 total COVID-19 cases; 10,060 recoveries; and 1,049 fatalities.
Labor Secretary Bello assures everyone that the Philippine government continues to provided assistance to affected OFWs. “Our government will not renege on its commitment to provide the needed assistance to our OFWs,” he declared. “We will continue to assist them for as long as it takes.”
As the Philippines — and the entire world for that matter – continues to face the COVID-19 pandemic, it is good to know about initiatives such as OASIS, which help provide much-needed assistance to OFWs and their families. Notably, here are several programs implemented by the Philippine government during these uncertain times: DOLE-AKAP, Tabang OFW, and Project EASE. Be sure to read about these services, which can be availed by OFWs and their families.