Overseas Filipino workers often rely on government helplines, such as the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration’s (OWWA) Helpline 1348, to assist them while working abroad. Available 24/7, the OWWA Helpline 1348 enables the government agency to provide faster and more responsive service to client calls requesting assistance on various OWWA programs, services, and benefits, including issues on employment contracts, repatriation assistance, and other OFW-related concerns.
However, the prohibitive costs of international calls affect access to the OWWA hotlines.
To help boost awareness and bridge the gap between Filipinos abroad and OWWA, PLDT Inc (PLDT), through its international unit PLDT Global Corporation (PLDT Global), has launched a new service that enables OFWs to access the OWWA Helpline 1348 for free via TINBO (Tindahan ni Bossing), the one-stop online marketplace for global Filipinos.
“We are excited to launch this new service with OWWA, as part of our overall thrust to uplift the lives of Filipinos living overseas. This shows that our Pusong TINBO and malasakit extend beyond borders. This is also one of the many ways that we can boost government initiatives to make services more accessible through digital platforms,” said Albert V. Villa-Real, President and CEO at PLDT Global.
TINBO has integrated a helpline button that enables OFWs to connect to the OWWA Helpline 1348 through online or web-based calls swiftly and securely. To use, TINBO users simply need to log on to their TINBO account and click on their registered Smart Virtual Number to access the OWWA Helpline 1348 button.
“This positive development in our partnership with PLDT Global is a testament to our commitment to serving millions of OFWs around the world. By providing our OFWs with a convenient channel to connect to the OWWA Helpline 1348 free of charge, they can be assured that help in any form can come to them at their most trying times,” said Arnell Ignacio, OWWA Administrator.
Stronger Partnership to Enable Filipinos Living Overseas
Less than two months after the announcement of their collaboration — aside from boosting the helpline — PLDT Global and OWWA are rolling out even more initiatives to support OFWs. Outbound OFWs will be given a handy Pusong TINBO Kit that contains relevant information such as government agency and embassy numbers, locations of Filipino stores in their country of destination, among others. TINBO will also equip the OFW Lounge with charging stations to let OFWs charge their devices conveniently. PLDT Global will also provide free local SIM cards to OFWs for the select countries that they will be deployed to, through the government-to-government partnerships of the Philippines with other countries. And for when they come home, PLDT Global will also continue to roll out programs to support OFWs and their immediate families and dependents to help them reintegrate into the community through various re-skilling and upskilling trainings with partner agencies.
Powered by PLDT Global, TINBO is the one-stop marketplace that enables Filipinos living overseas to buy load, send food vouchers, e-gifts, healthcare PINs from mWell, and even gaming PINs for their families in the Philippines. They can acquire a Smart virtual number (SVN) through TINBO, enabling them to receive OTPs from their e-wallets and e-banks in the Philippines like Maya. TINBO also enables overseas Filipinos access to a convenient and secure online bills payment platform for their Philippine utilities and other digital services while outside the Philippines.
