MANILA: A mobile application providing comprehensive assistance and information to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) globally will be launched in July. OFW Party-list Rep. Marissa Magsino said the OFW App will synergize the digitization efforts of government agencies and provide access to welfare assistance, various benefits, and a crucial emergency button that connects directly to the Overseas Workers and Welfare Administration (OWWA). Magsino, Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Secretary Ivan John Uy and OWWA Administrator Arnaldo Ignacio signed the memorandum of understanding (MOU) on the OFW App at the OFW Tulong at Serbisyo Center at Ayala Malls Manila Bay in Parañaque City on Tuesday. Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac and DICT Undersecretary for E-Government David Almirol were also present during the signing to express support for the initiative. 'The OFW App will revolutionize the way OFWs access vital services and information, bringing essenti al support right at their fingertips,' Magsino said. 'The OFW App aims to provide our OFWs access to services, emergency assistance, and vital information in just a few clicks. I have been pitching this idea to IT experts before, but it was only throught DICT's technical assistance, which allowed us to move forward with the project. And today, here we are with signing the MOU on this significant initiative," she added. Magsino said the evolving features will later include services of government agencies with frequent transactions with OFWs, with the DMW signifying its intent to link vital services to the OFW App. The simulation of the app will commence through the participation of select OFWs all over the world for their feedback. The app will be formally launched after finetuning of the interface and its services through consultation with end-users. 'I would like to thank DICT Secretary Ivan John Uy and Undersecretary David Almirol for walking hand in hand with the OFW Party List to bring our idea to lif e,' Magsino said. 'I am also thankful that OWWA accepted our invitation to collaborate on the delivery of services, especially welfare assistance. Our world is fast evolving through digital technology and we should be in sync with the innovations in how we bring our services to our OFWs," she said. Source: Philippines News Agency