The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Ilocos regional office is targeting to launch this year its first operations center that will cater to the needs and concerns of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and their families 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

In a press conference on Friday, overseas welfare workers officer Amapola Villar said the center will be established in San Fernando City, La Union.

“It will be like a mini operations center on a regional level just like that of the central office. There will be shiftings of personnel. It will be operational even on weekends and holidays,” she said.

OWWA will assign a four- or five-digit number to access or connect to the operations center.

Villar said it will be available worldwide and there will be free of charge for domestic and international calls.

She added the OFWs and their families can also reach them through WhatsApp and Viber applications.

“The concerns of the clients will not only be addressed through our existing hotline numbers, social media accounts, and email addresses,” Villar said.

The OWWA has existing hotline numbers the OFWs may call depending on their concern.

Villar said they are now in the process of setting up the office and will soon hire personnel for the operation center.

The center will be manned by two supervisors and nine “care” personnel preferably with call center background and customer care experience.

“Ang gusto namin ay may puso kasi kami ay ahensya na may serbisyong may puso at ang mga dumudulog ay may matitinding pangangailangan (We want those who have heart since we are an agency that offers service with a heart and those whom we serve have grave needs),” she said.

There are a total of 543,530 documented OFWs from the Ilocos Region, according to OWWA. (PNA)