BAGUIO CITY – The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) will open satellite offices in Abra, Kalinga and Apayao to improve access to services for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), particularly those belonging to Indigenous Peoples (IP) communities.
DMW-CAR Officer-in-Charge Regional Director Cheryl Daytec said in a phone interview on Thursday that the agency has documented about 36,000 OFWs from the Cordillera.
Daytec, however, believed that the number may be higher as almost every household in the provinces has at least one family member who is an OFW.
“We have recorded 36,000 OFWs, but we know there are more. In almost every household in the provinces, there is at least one family member working abroad,” Daytec said.
Citing data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), she noted that the Cordillera is among the country’s top five regions with the highest number of OFWs.
Many workers from Abra, Kalinga, and Apayao often transact with DMW offices in Regions 1 and 2 due to the distance of Baguio City from their home provinces.
Daytec said Cordilleran OFWs, many of whom are members of IP communities, have distinct needs that can be better addressed through closer and more culturally responsive services.
“That is why we are opening our offices in these three provinces so that we go closer to the communities where our clients are located,” she said.
The new offices are expected to be operational by the first quarter of 2026.
These offices will offer assistance not only to OFWs but also to their families and dependents.
Drawing from her experience as a former Philippine envoy in Geneva, Switzerland, Daytec shared that some IP communities tend to rely on community support rather than seek government assistance due to accessibility and awareness gaps.
She emphasized that government support for OFWs is a right and entitlement that should be availed. “Bringing DMW services closer to the communities will help our clients better understand their rights, benefits, and the assistance available to them—even when they are not in distress,” Daytec said.
She added that cultural differences and practices among IP communities can pose challenges to service delivery, further underscoring the need for localized DMW offices in the region. **Liza Agoot
