Filipino workers abroad can seek help via SMS

Link: Filipino workers abroad can seek help via SMS –OFW watchdog – INQ7.net.

OVERSEAS Filipino workers ("OFW") in distress anywhere in the world can now send an SOS via SMS back home.  CMA executive director Ellene Sana said that an OFW who needed help or had questions could text ‘SOS ” and send to  63 9209 OFW SOS (or  63 9209 639 767).

She said the SMS rate would follow the same charges in the OFWs’ country of employment.

She said this 24/7 text-based mechanism would allow Philippine government agencies and non-government agencies to respond or intervene ‘in a timely, adequate, and efficient manner, especially when the OFW’s life, safety, or well-being is a critical consideration.”

This is a good example of a Government implementing text as a communications medium.  It makes perfect sense, but not, it seems, to any Government agency here in the United Kingdom, where, if you’ve got an enquiry, you should make it in writing, in triplicate and with the correct accompanying forms filled out in black ink from a ballpoint pen, between the hours of 9.30am and 10am on every third Tuesday.