Philippine Department of Migrant Workers receives two accolades at GovMedia Awards 2025
The agency scored the Philippines Campaign of the Year - Labour and the Philippines Public Facility of the Year - Health category wins.
The Philippine Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) took home two major wins at the GovMedia Conference & Awards 2025 for its intensified campaign against illegal recruitment and for its provision of comprehensive and free healthcare services for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and their families.
Intensified campaign vs. illegal recruitment
The DMW Anti-Illegal Recruitment and Trafficking in Persons (AIRTIP) Programme won the Philippines Campaign of the Year - Labour category, which aligns with the Philippine government’s commitment to migrant protection, access to justice, and gender-responsive policies, ensuring that legal mechanisms are in place across all stages of migration.
Under this initiative, the agency has provided PHP32.91m in financial aid to 749 beneficiaries who are also victims of illegal recruitment. It has also provided legal assistance to 39,245 individuals and has successfully prosecuted 204 cases of illegal recruitment involving 317 complainants and 51 trafficking cases with 73 victims.
At the same time, DMW has conducted 411 surveillance operations, resulting in the closure of 21 illegal recruitment establishments, and has also deactivated 86,319 fraudulent recruitment posts and accounts on Facebook and TikTok. Around 800 trafficking victims have also been rescued at Philippine airports.
To ensure better capacity building and awareness, it has also organised 402 seminars, training 79,628 participants on safe migration and anti-recruitment laws. 132 memoranda of agreement have also been signed with government agencies and local government units (LGU) to strengthen anti-trafficking efforts.
Meanwhile, AIRTIP has also introduced the Door-to-Door Victim-Survivor Support Programme, an on-the-ground outreach initiative ensuring immediate assistance to trafficking victims. Unlike traditional programmes requiring victims to seek help, this initiative delivers aid directly, reducing further trauma.
This programme features 24/7 multi-channel access for victims to seek help, personalised reintegration support, including medical aid, legal services, and financial assistance, as well as collaborative efforts with non-governmental organisations, LGUs, and international partners for long-term survivor care.
This has strengthened ties with Philippine embassies, foreign governments, and law enforcement agencies to rescue trafficked OFWs. It has also supported repatriation efforts in several countries to ensure that survivors receive legal and financial aid upon return.
Quality and free healthcare for OFWs
Being the health arm of DMW, the OFW Hospital provides comprehensive, quality healthcare services for Filipino overseas workers and their dependents.
It envisions itself to be a leading centre of excellence and serves as a testament to the government's commitment to promote the welfare of its workforce abroad and their families, honouring the significant contributions of the Filipino migrant workers to the country's economy and nation as a whole.
The OFW Hospital’s continuously growing free services currently include outpatient consultations, radiology diagnostic imaging, laboratory services, inpatient admission, emergency room services, medical repatriation services, ambulance and patient transport services, obstetric and gynaecological procedures, and surgical procedures, amongst others.
Now under the leadership of DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac, the facility has laid the foundation for expanding its services, with plans including the establishment of the OFW Hospital Bagong Pilipinas Cancer Care Centre, which will offer haemodialysis services and specialised cancer care units, accreditation as a licensed medical facility for overseas workers and seafarers, as well as the establishment of a medical repatriation programme.
“Despite inevitable challenges and setbacks, OFW Hospital will remain steadfast in fulfilling the vision of the late Secretary Susan ‘Toots’ Ople — by providing the ‘gold standard’ in healthcare for OFWs, extending help wherever it is needed, and honouring the legacy of all Filipino migrant workers by giving them the care they truly deserve — paying it forward for generations to come,” the agency said.
The hospital’s accomplishment has brought DMW the Philippines Public Facility of the Year - Health category win.
GovMedia Conference & Awards 2025 celebrates the achievements of government projects and initiatives from both government organisations and private sector companies that are not only transforming Asia Pacific, but are also making a significant impact across the globe.
The Gov Media Awards is presented by Gov Media Magazine. To view the full list of winners, click here. If you want to join the 2026 awards programme and be recognised for your organisation's government projects and initiatives, please contact Jane Patiag at [email protected].
