MANILA, Philippines—Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) view the government Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) with distrust and are largely uninformed about what the agency is supposed to do for them, a survey by a migrant labor group showed.The findings were released Friday by the Center for Migrant Advocacy (CMA) which conducted the poll over the Internet among 400 OFWs in the Middle East, Asia, Africa, Canada and Europe in both high-skilled and low-skilled job sectors. The survey report, titled “The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration: From the Eyes of Selected Overseas Filipino,” was supported by the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung Foundation. The government estimates there are currently some 8 million Filipinos working abroad. According to the survey, OFWs have conflicting perceptions about the agency’s functions, their membership, and their benefits. “After more than 31 years of operations, a significant number of OFWs remained either unaware or misinformed about the role of OWWA,” CMA said in its summary. “This proves OWWA’s failure to adequately inform its clients and maintain an effective communication line with them,” the survey concluded. A copy of the findings obtained by the Inquirer showed that 87 percent of the OFW respondents perceived OWWA as a membership organization. Around 59 percent said they were not aware that they could voluntarily apply for membership in their job sites. A significant number of the respondents were also ignorant of how the OWWA board worked, the survey said. About 92 percent of the OFWs thought the OWWA board could alter the benefits and services to OFWs unilaterally. About 85 percent knew that OWWA was administering a “trust fund.” About 48 percent knew that OWWA provided benefits such as life insurance, repatriation, loans and disability pay to its members. About 26 respondents or 7 percent, had availed of these benefits. Only 16 respondents said OWWA’s package fulfilled their needs. | 
