Latest news with #JointAdministrativeOrder
Filipino Times
11-06-2025
- Business
- Filipino Times
DMW, DOF launch financial literacy drive for OFWs and families
The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and the Department of Finance (DOF) have teamed up to roll out financial literacy programs aimed at helping Filipinos working abroad and their families manage their money better. Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac and Finance Secretary Ralph Recto met in Manila to discuss how the government can provide long-term financial support to migrant families. The joint effort will provide guidance on government-backed savings and investment options such as MP2 savings, SSS investments, retail treasury bonds, equity funds, and exchange-traded funds. 'This initiative will empower OFWs to protect their hard-earned money—whether they send it home, invest it, or use it for important purchases,' Cacdac said. Recto explained that understanding financial concepts like exchange rates and inflation can help overseas workers make better money decisions. 'They should understand how exchange rates, tariffs, and market conditions affect their purchasing power and savings,' he said. Financial literacy teams are expected to be deployed to major OFW hubs in the Middle East by November. In a related move, Recto also signed a Joint Administrative Order with the DMW and the Bureau of Customs to protect Filipinos in the shipping sector from scams and fraudulent practices.
Filipino Times
09-06-2025
- Business
- Filipino Times
Gov't issues new rules to speed up delivery of OFW balikbayan boxes
The Philippine government has introduced new regulations aimed at expediting the delivery and improving the security of balikbayan boxes sent by Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs). This comes in response to numerous complaints about undelivered, delayed, or missing boxes, and growing concerns over fraudulent freight forwarding services. The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and the Bureau of Customs (BOC), together with other key government agencies, signed a Joint Administrative Order (JAO) on Monday at the DMW Central Office, outlining a coordinated government effort to regulate sea cargo forwarders, protect OFWs from scams, and ensure their packages reach recipients safely and on time. The initiative supports the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to prioritize the needs and welfare of OFWs. The administrative order was developed following investigations and public hearings conducted by the House Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs (HCOWA), which identified regulatory loopholes and a lack of accountability mechanisms that have long plagued balikbayan box shipments. 'This JAO is the product of sustained collaboration and strong legislative oversight,' said DMW Secretary Hans Leo J. Cacdac. The administrative order establishes a comprehensive framework to monitor and regulate freight forwarding services. It also introduces a multi-agency complaints and tracking system to help OFWs report issues and follow up on the status of their packages. Additionally, a nationwide public information campaign will warn against using unaccredited cargo services and educate OFWs on their rights and available support. Since 2023, the DMW and BOC have helped retrieve and deliver over 9,900 balikbayan boxes. Just last week, 2,500 more boxes were recovered at the Port of Davao and are currently being prepared for free delivery to recipients in Mindanao. To support OFWs affected by unrecovered shipments, the DMW has made ₱30,000 in financial assistance available through its AKSYON Fund. The program now operates under expanded guidelines to speed up aid and include more beneficiaries.
GMA Network
09-06-2025
- Business
- GMA Network
DMW, Customs ink order to hasten delivery of OFW balikbayan boxes
The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and the Bureau of Customs (BOC) on Monday signed a joint administrative order that seeks to hasten the delivery of balikbayan boxes and protect senders from scams. The order was in response to the complaints from overseas Filipino workers about undelivered, delayed, or lost balikbayan boxes, with the issue brought up during a House committee hearing in March. 'The Joint Administrative Order establishes a whole-of-government framework to regulate the sea cargo forwarding industry, protect OFWs from scams, and ensure balikbayan boxes reach their destination safely and on time,' the DMW said in a statement. 'The JAO also includes a multi-agency complaints and monitoring system to fast-track the reporting, tracking, and resolution of cases involving delayed or lost boxes. Public education campaign will warn OFWs against using unaccredited forwarders and inform them of their rights and options,' it added. Under the JAO, both the DMW and the BOC will work closely with the Department of Finance, Department of Trade and Industry's Fair Trade Enforcement Bureau, Department of Transportation, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, and the Philippine Ports Authority. The DMW and the BOC were able to retrieve and deliver more than 9,900 balikbayan boxes since 2023. The BOC recently turned over 2,954 balikbayan boxes to the DMW for distribution to their intended recipients, the families of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). For unrecovered boxes, the DMW has provided P30,000 cash assistance to each affected OFW through the AKSYON Fund. — Vince Angelo Ferreras/BM, GMA Integrated News
