15 August 2013 - The Philippine Embassy in Phnom Penh and the Samahan ng Mga Pilipino sa Cambodia (SAMAPI), the Filipino community organization in Cambodia, held the first-ever Inter-Agency Service Mission to Cambodia on July 21 at the Cambodia-Korea Cooperation Center (CKCC) in Phnom Penh.

Between 350 to 400 Filipinos attended the event, which brought together various Philippine government agencies as partners in disseminating information and in delivering services to Filipino nationals in Cambodia.

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) were represented by officials from the Philippine Overseas Labor Office in Singapore (POLO-Singapore):  Atty. Vicente Cabe, Labor Attaché; Ms. Rosanna Siray, Welfare Officer; and Mr. Hilario Gracia, Administrative Assistant.

Atty. Floro Balato, Senior Immigration Officer, represented the Bureau of Immigration.  PhilHealth was represented by Ms. Jane M.N. Sta. Ana, Board Member; Mr. Gregorio Rulloda, Vice President for Membership; and Mr. Reynaldo Ferrer, Head (PhilHealth Solano).

The Social Security System (SSS) was represented by Ms. Joy Villacorta, Head of OFW Management Department; and, Mr. Roberto Roldan, SSS Representative in Hong Kong SAR.  Atty. Eduardo Labo, Information Officer V - PIOG Overseas Operations, represented the Pag-IBIG Fund.

The mission extended on-site services such as OEC processing and issuance; OWWA, PhilHealth, and SSS enrollment, membership status updating and amendments; consultations on programs and services of each agency; and, consular services.

Each agency also provided a briefing on their respective programs and services.  OWWA, PhilHealth, SSS and Pag-IBIG Fund representatives made comprehensive presentations on benefits offered to OFWs such as savings and pensions facilities; personal and accident insurance; medical benefits; and scholarships for OFWs and their dependents. 

The Bureau of Immigration representative made a presentation on the Philippine government’s efforts to combat and eradicate trafficking in persons (including labor trafficking) and addressed concerns regarding offloading of outbound passengers at Philippine international airports.

Filipino nationals and community leaders hailed the Philippine government for providing important services on-site and for keeping Filipinos overseas apprised of programs and services available to them. END