This Department Order establishes the operational guidelines for Department Order No. 101-10, series of 2010, placing the National Reintegration Center for Overseas Filipino Workers (NRCO) under the supervision of the Office of the Administrator of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), to better respond to the varied reintegration needs of Overseas Filipino Worker returnees and their families.

1. Nature of the NRCO

The NRCO shall continue to be a One-Stop-Center that will address the multi-faceted needs of OFW returnees and their families, including the socio-economic development of their communities.

2. Policy Objective

Consistent with the mandate of OWWA to provide social welfare and protection services and benefits, the NRCO shall provide a mechanism for the reintegration to the Philippine society of OFW returnees, serve as a promotion house for their local employment, and tap their skills and potentials for national development.

3. Functions of the NRCO

The NRCO shall undertake the following:

3.1 Develop and support programs for livelihood, entrepreneurship, savings, investments and financial literacy for returning Filipino migrant workers and their families in coordination with appropriate DOLE and OWWA offices, relevant stakeholders, service providers and international organizations;

3.2 Develop and implement through OWWA Regional Welfare Offices programs other than those stated in 3.1 to promote the welfare of OFW returnees; ™

3.3 Coordinate with appropriate stakeholders, service providers and relevant international organizations for the promotion, development and the full utilization of overseas Filipino worker returnees and their potentials; and

3.4 Develop, in coordination with appropriate government agencies, capacity-building programs for OFW returnees and their families, implementers, service providers and stakeholders;

4. Organizational and Functional Structure

The administrative, financial and support services of NRCO shall be mainstreamed into the existing offices and units of the OWWA that perform the same functions. Additional personnel shall be hired, if deemed necessary, and their salaries shall be drawn from the funds derived by the NRCO from the General Appropriations Act (GAA).

The new functional structure of the NRCO shall be:

4.1 Center Director

The NRCO shall be headed by a Center Director who shall manage and oversee the operations of the Center.

The Center Director shall be designated by the DOLE Secretary, and shall report regularly to the OWWA Administrator for policy guidance.

4.2 The Program Development and Monitoring Division (PDMD)

The Program Development and Monitoring Division (PDMD) shall develop, manage and monitor reintegration programs and services, including capacity building for promotion and full utilization of potentials of returning OFW and their families, in coordination with appropriate stakeholders.

The Division shall conduct research studies on the needs of overseas Filipino worker returnees and their families for program development and policy recommendation.

4.3 The Special Projects Division (SPD)

The Special Projects Division (SPD) shall develop, manage, and oversee projects with technical and/or financial assistance coming from local and/or foreign/ international institutions and organizations designed to facilitate the reintegration of overseas Filipino worker returnees through various programs like entrepreneurship, cooperativism etc.

4.4 The Databank Division

The Databank Division shall institute a computer based information system on returning Filipino migrant workers which shall be accessible to all local recruitment agencies and employers, both public and private, and shall likewise, maintain an internet-based communication system for on line registration and interaction with clients, and maintain and upgrade computer-based service capabilities.

5. Official Address

The OWWA-NRCO shall be located at the ground floor of the Blas F. Ople Development Center for OFWs located at the corner of Solana and Victoria Streets in Intramuros, Manila.

6. Budget

The OWWA-NRCO shall continue to utilize the funds from the GAA for reintegration programs to support the continuity and sustainability of the delivery of projects and services, maintenance and operating expenses, capital outlay, and personnel services. The OWWA shall keep and manage the funds which will be deposited in a separate trust account. All disbursements shall be approved by the OWWA Administrator.

The OWWA-NRCO shall seek to draw the support of the public and private sectors and international organizations in addressing the reintegration needs of OFWs.

7. Effectivity

This Guidelines shall take effect immediately.

(SGD.) MARIANITO D. ROQUE
  Secretary