Overseas Workers Welfare Administration(OWWA)

September 2, 2021 Dear Ms. Carmela Pile, Greetings! Thank you for your request dated Sep 01, 2021 08:02:34 PM under Executive Order No. 2 (s. 2016) on Freedom of Information in the Executive Branch for data on the number of OFW in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia who passed the Pre-departure Orientation Seminar (PDOS). Ms. Pile we at OWWA would like to assist you in the completion of your thesis. However, we assessed that we are wanting of more information as to the problem and methodology as well as some statements of your objectives. Foremost, you are asking for the list of OFWs with their email addresses who underwent the Pre-departure Orientation Seminar in the past 10 years. Apparently you are not familiar with the Data Privacy Act which prohibits the giving of personal information (name and email addresses, included) to the public without consent of the individual/group. Also, you failed to extend your Review of Literature to get an understanding of what the PDOS is, the PDOS-providers and the accompanying/subsequent government (in partnership with the private sector and civil society) support programs. If your Review of Literature is vast, then you will know that the data (statistics) you need is available at the public file of the Philippine Statistics Authority and the Phil. Overseas Employment Administration. The PDOS is a requirement for newly hired OFWs in all types of occupation. However, for the professional and highly skilled workers, this is waived if the nature of their employment is classified as consultant/expert of their field of specialization. Hence, simple logical assessment of studies (published and unpublished) and the information in the government websites that caters to overseas Filipino will give the conclusion that the semi-skilled and the household service workers have to be certified that they attended the PDOS prior to the processing of deployment documents by the POEA. If you are unhappy with this response to your FOI request, you may ask us to carry out an internal review of the response by writing to Administrator Hans Leo J. Cacdac at email: [email protected]. Your review request should explain why you are dissatisfied with this response and should be made within FIFTEEN (15) calendar days from the date you received this letter. We will complete the review and tell you the result within THIRTY (30) calendar days from the date we received your review request. However, if you are still not satisfied with the result of the review, you then have the right to appeal to the Office of the President under Administrative Order No. 22 (s. 2011). Thank you. Respectfully, RODRIGO F. PASCUA, JR. OWWA Deputy Administrator FOI Decision Maker