The Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) and the Overseas Workers Welfare Association (OWWA) is a government arm of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) that helps in enforcing policies and programs relevant to overseas Filipino workers. Here we list down a directory of POLO-OWWA offices to guide you where they are located abroad.
Note: All POLO offices are now renamed as MWO offices. Please be advised of this new update.
The POLO-OWWA offices cater to Overseas Filipino Workers by ensuring that the rights of Filipinos are protected and assisting Pinoys with their welfare. The POLO-OWWA office also provides assistance for those working abroad with their legal, social, medical as well as financial needs.
If you are currently in the Philippines, you may visit the nearest OWWA Regional Welfare Office in our province.
There are currently a number of POLO-OWWA branches located internationally across different countries which provide services to OFWs such as: providing free information on labor laws; arranging emergency loans via Land Bank Philippines; assisting with passport applications, travel permits, or other pertinent documents for employment purposes; facilitating payment of insurance premiums or benefits due to death, sickness, disability, or retirement; reimbursing visa application fees or airport tax to returning OFWs who have stayed for at least one year abroad, and advocating the interest of Filipino workers through their embassies. Please check out the directory guide below if you need details on the nearest POLO office near your work country.
Contents
List of Philippine Overseas Labor Branches Abriad
Note: If there is no POLO-OWWA office in the country/city you are currently based, it is best to just contact the nearest Philippine Embassy or Philippine Consulate General office for assistance.
POLO OWWA Brunei
Welfare Officer: Anuar A. Ampang
Administrative Staff: Katrina A. Del Valle
Address: Simpang 336-17, Diplomatic Enclave, Kampong Kianggeh Jalan Kebangsaan, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam
Contact Number: T: POLO (006732) 2237052; Hotline: (00673) 7291316, T: OWWA (00673) 2225526; Hotline: (00673) 7291315
Email: E: brunei@owwa.gov.ph
POLO OWWA Hongkong – SAR
Welfare Officer: Virsie B. Tamayao
Administrative Staff: Dioanne E. Arlan, Rhona Z. Fahigal
Address: 2902 29/F, United Centre, 95 Queensway Admiralty Hongkong-China
Contact Number: POLO (00852) 28664882 / 28238567; Hotline: (00852) 55291880, OWWA (00852) 34604335; Hotline: (00852) 63459324
Email:hongkong@owwa.gov.ph
POLO OWWA Japan – Tokyo
Welfare Officer: Amy B. Crisostomo
Administrative Staff: Christelyn R. Caceres
Address: 5-15-5 Roppongi, Minato-Ku, Tokyo, 106-8537 Japan
Contact Number: POLO (00813) 64410428 / 64410478, OWWA (00813) 64410959; Hotline (00813) 64410959
Email: japan@owwa.gov.ph
POLO OWWA Japan – Osaka
Officers: (Welfare Officer)Pilipina C. Dino, (Administrative Staff) Luisito A. Bianzon
Address: 7 th floor Urban Center Midosuji, 4-3-5 Awaji-Machi, Ch0u-ku, Osaka, Japan
Contact Number: POLO (0081) 665 757 593, OWWA (008170) 24474016
Email: osaka@owwa.gov.ph
POLO OWWA Macau – SAR
Welfare Officer: Zosima Maria P. Santos
Administrative Staff: Brenda D. Olinares
Address: Unit 1406, 14/F AIA Tower, 251-A 301, Avenida Commercial de Macau, Macau-Special Administrative Region
Contact Number: Hotline: (00853) 66872509
Email: macau@owwa.gov.ph
POLO OWWA Malaysia
Welfare Officer: Leonor C. Mabagal
Administrative Staff: Jed C. Dela Cerna, Brenda S. Salazar
Address: POLO MWOFRC: No. 95 Jalan Perkasa, Taman Maluri, Cheras 55100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Contact Number: POLO (603) 2148-4233 loc 122 / 21817299, OWWA (603) 9202 3756; Hotline: (0060) 197326516, +60173687858 / +60192501490 / +60147206418
Email: malaysia@owwa.gov.ph
POLO OWWA Singapore
Welfare Officer: Marivic C. Clarin
Address: 20 Nassim Road, Singapore 258395
Contact Number: POLO (0065) 65060546 ext 134 & 135, POLO +6581863459, OWWA (0065) 69514001 ext 107, +65 9023 5601 / +65 9457 4001 / +65 8422 1090 / +65 8161 4614 / +65 9785 4390
Email: singapore@owwa.gov.ph, owwasingapore15@yahoo.com
POLO OWWA South Korea
Welfare Officer: Aniceta G. Deuna
Administrative Staff: Marivic A. Digma
Address: 2nd Flr 5-19 Itaewon-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea
Contact Number: POLO (00822) 37853634 / 37853635; Hotline (008210) 45736290, OWWA (008210) 7358-5841
Email: southkorea@owwa.gov.ph
MECO Taiwan – Kaohsiung
Welfare Officer: Eduardo Y. Mendoza, Jr.
Address: 9F-3, No. 80 Grand 50 Tower. Min Tzu 1st Road, San Min District, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan
Contact Number: (008867) 3982475 , 3987078; Hotline: (00886) 988976596
Email: kaohsiung@owwa.gov.ph
MECO Taiwan – Taichung
Welfare Officer: Rosario C. Burayag
Administrative Staff: Atty. Janell P. Serrano
Address: 20F, No. 220 Longbang Building (Building B) Sec. 2, Taiwan Bouluvard, West Dsitrict, Taichung City, Taiwan
Contact Number: POLO (008864) 23029089, OWWA (008864) 23029093
Email: taichung@owwa.gov.ph
MECO Taiwan – Taipei
Welfare Officer: Dayang Dayang Sittie G. Jaafar
Administrative Staff: Ian Aguilar
Address: 55 & 57 Zhouzi Street, Neihu District, Taipei City, Taiwan
Contact Number: (008862) 26588299; Hotline (00886) 932218057
Email: taipei@owwa.gov.ph
POLO OWWA Bahrain
Welfare Officer: Redina C. Manalapaz
Administrative Staff: Aprila C. Bisquera
Address: Villa No. 939, Road 3220, Block 334, Mahooz, Manama, Bahrain
Contact Number: POLO (00973) 17740951, 17740139 (MWOFRC), OWWA (00973) 17721908; Hotline: (00973) 34673268 / 37214911
Email: bahrain@owwa.gov.ph
POLO OWWA Israel
Welfare Officer: Dina C. Ponciano
Administrative Staff: Antonio M. Sanchez Jr.
Address: 18 Rehov Bnei Dan Street 62260, Tel Aviv, Israel
Contact Number: POLO (009723) 5444531 / 6010517 / 6010521, OWWA (009723) 6022469; Hotline: (00972) 507691533 / (00972) 507691533
Email: israel@owwa.gov.ph
POLO OWWA Jordan
Welfare Officer: Berna P. Del Castillo
Administrative Staff: Rosalin Lavin
Address: 113, Kaled Yassin AI Tahone St., AI Manadr Building, Wadi Alseer Hay AI-Diyar, Dhei Ghabar, Amman, Jordan
Contact Number: (009626) 5350169 / (009626) 5930464 / (009626) 5930385
Email: jordan@owwa.gov.ph
POLO OWWA Kingdom of Saudi Arabia -Al Khobar (CRO)
Welfare Officer: Yolanda U. Penaranda, Amelito S. Adel,
Administrative Staff: Rocelda Galeria, Jeffrey B. Signo
Address: 3627 Makkah Al Mukarramah Branch Road, Al Mutamarat, Riyadh 12711 8103
Contact Number: 0545664964
Email: alkhobar@owwa.gov.ph
POLO OWWA Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – Jeddah
Welfare Officer: James B. Mendiola, Marlyn E. Jamero, Habib G. Malik
Administrative Staff: Juvelyn C. Idul, Raymund K. Leonor, Laureen Musa
Address: 4663 Al-Fajr St., Al-Rehab District 6, Jeddah 21412 Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Contact Number: (009665) 573084431; Hotline: 0544737797 / 0545712323 / 0569290184
Email: jeddah@owwa.gov.ph
POLO OWWA Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – Riyadh and Unaizah (CRO)
Welfare Officer: Racquel L. Llagas-Kunting, Levin Reynald Gabutan
Administrative Staff: Neomi M. Tañag, Austin V. Bade, Zandro R. Almendarala, Eric Val T. Miranda, Bernard John C. Bonnet
Address: 3627 Makkah Al Mukarramah Branch Road, Al Mutamarat, Riyadh 12711 8103
Contact Number: (00966) 502850944 / 570042744
Email: riyadh@owwa.gov.ph
POLO OWWA Kuwait
Welfare Officer: Aniceta G. Deuna
Administrative Staff: Marivic A. Digma
Address: Block 3 St. 304 Building 133, Sabah Al Salim, Kuwait
Contact Number: POLO +96594039063, OWWA +96594039063
Email: kuwait@owwa.gov.ph
POLO OWWA Lebanon
Welfare Officer: Mary Catherine O. Pastor
Administrative Staff: Maria Luisa S. Eddun
Address: W Building, Rue Mar Geries, Haddath Baabda, Mount Lebanon, Republic of Lebanon
Contact Number: 0096171418657
Email: lebanon@owwa.gov.ph
POLO OWWA Oman
Welfare Officer: Aurea E. Rivero
Address: Shatti Al- Qurum, P.O Box 420, Postal Code 115, Madinat, Qaboos, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman
Contact Number: POLO (00968) 2460 96917 / (00968) 24605177; Hotline: (00968) 93557931, WWA Hotline: (00968) 79905211
Email: oman@owwa.gov.ph
POLO OWWA Qatar
Welfare Officer: Evelyn C. Laranang, Maribel C. Carisusa
Administrative Staff: Gregoria T. Lim, Frederick G. Dizon
Address:Al Furat corner AL Qaisoum Streets, Zone 66, Onaiza Area, Al Dafna, Doha, State of Qatar
Contact Number: (00974) 44868001 / 44861220 / 44884485 Hotline: (00974) 77756733
Email: qatar@owwa.gov.ph
POLO OWWA United Arab Emirates – Abu Dhabi
Welfare Officer: Julian F. Fabian
Administrative Staff: Mercedes Ilano, Romyl Cabillo, Chona D. Balangon, Christopher Jim Torres, Martina R. Muli
Address:W-48, Street No. 8, Sector 2-23, Plot No. 51, Al Qubaisat, Abu Dhabi United Arab Emirates
Contact Number: POLO (009712) 6390024 / 6582889 /6390023, OWWA (009715) 62721578, (009712) 6390025
Email: abudhabi@owwa.gov.ph
POLO OWWA United Arab Emirates – Dubai
Welfare Officer: Melvin D. Caseda
Administrative Staff: Yolanda H. Fabre
Address: No. 35A Beruit St., Community 234, Al Qusais 3, P.O Box 4960. Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Contact Number: (009714) 2207011; Hotline: (00971) 505585536, (00971) 545682946 / 502274963 / 505106170
Email: dubai@owwa.gov.ph
POLO OWWA Canada – Toronto
Welfare Officer: Maria Lourdes V. Reyes
Administrative Staff: Marisol V. Ebron
Address: 160 Eglinton Avenue East, Suite 200, Toronto, Ontario M4P 3B5, Canada
Contact Number: POLO (1416) 9758252
Email: toronto@owwa.gov.ph
POLO OWWA Canada – Vancouver
Welfare Officer: Lilia F. De Guzman
Administrative Staff: Lorraine B. Raymundo
Address: Suite 601, World Trade Center Office Complex, 999 Canada Place, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6C 3E1
Contact Number: POLO (1604) 641-1234
Email: vancouver@owwa.gov.ph
POLO OWWA Greece
Welfare Officer: Marivic L. Mondina
Administrative Staff: Gemma G. Dio
Address: 10 Fthotidos St., 11523 Ambelokipi, Athens Greece
Contact Number: +210 6982871; Hotline: +30 6943278819
Email: greece@owwa.gov.ph
POLO-OWWA Italy – Milan
Administrative Staff: Giovanni B. Docusin
Address: Viale Stelvio 71-Via Bernina 18, 20159 Milan, Italy
Contact Number: POLO Hotline: +39 3756572333, OWWA Hotline: +39 3756762592
Email: milan@owwa.gov.ph
POLO-OWWA Italy – Rome
Welfare Officer: Norlita P. Lugtu
Administrative Staff: Anna Jhenalyn C. Sangga
Address: Vialle Delle Medaglie D’ Oro 112-114, 00136 Rome, Italy
Contact Number: (003906) 39746101; (003906) 39740872, (003906) 39746621 local 205; 216; 226
Email: rome@@owwa.gov.ph
POLO-OWWA Spain
Welfare Officer: Maria Corazon Sangco
Address: Calle Serrano 161, 2B 28009, Madrid, Spain
Contact Number: POLO (0034) 915776755, OWWA (0034) 917818626; Hotline: (0034) 697058728
Email: spain@owwa.gov.ph
POLO-OWWA United Kingdom
Welfare Officer: Sheila Mae J. Aguilar
Address: 6 Suffolk St., London, SW1Y 4HG
Contact Number: POLO (0044207) 4511832; (0044207) 8398039; (44207) 4511833, OWWA (0044207) 8398078; (0044207) 4511832; Hotline: (0044) 7823627119
Email: london@owwa.gov.ph
POLO-OWWA Germany
Welfare Officer: Sylvia H. Gabriel
Address: Luisenstrasse 16, 10117 Berlin, Germany
Contact Number: +49152237657614 / +490308649500 local 303
Email: berlin@owwa.gov.ph
POLO-OWWA USA
Administrative Staff: Meriam T. Nicolas
Address: 1600 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20036, United State of America
Contact Number: 0012024679413
Email: washington@owwa.gov.ph
POLO-OWWA New Zealand
Welfare Officer: Sylvia Tolentino
Address: Level 1, 286 Thorndon Quay, Pipitea, Wellington, New Zealand 6011
Contact Number: +6442601161
Email: wellington@owwa.gov.ph
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are some common questions and answers about the POLO-OWWA offices:
1. What is POLO-OWWA?
POLO-OWWA stands for the Philippine Overseas Labor Office-Overseas Workers Welfare Administration. It is a governmental department of the Department of Labor and Employment that oversees policies and programs related to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
The POLO office plays an important role in ensuring that Filipinos are protected. The main function of POLO is to assist Filipino migrant workers in their protection, advocacy, social welfare, education, employment opportunities abroad as well as meeting emergency needs back home.
2. What does the acronym POLO-OWWA stand for?
POLO-OWWA are two different offices that work hand in hand. POLO means Philippine Overseas Labor Office and OWWA means Overseas Workers Welfare Administration.
3. Is there a POLO-OWWA office in my country/city?
Different countries/cities have different POLO-OWWA offices. The directory of existing POLO-OWWA offices is listed above in this article.
4. How can I get assistance from them if they don’t have an office in my country/city?
Contact the nearest Philippine Embassy or Philippine Consulate General office in your country/city.
5. Are there other Philippine government offices overseas that cater to Filipino workers as the POLO-OWWA does?
The key difference between POLO-OWWA and other Philippine government offices abroad is that, while the Embassy or Consulate address also addresses the needs of Filipinos in their jurisdiction (consular affairs), it does not offer services related to labor.
POLO-OWWA generally has staff that can assist with labor matters like certification of documents, visa requirements for OCWs (overseas contract workers), repatriation assistance, labor intelligence/investigation which may not be done by Embassies or Consulates.
The Diplomatic and Consular Officers at Philippine Embassy/Consulate are primarily mandated to represent the policies and interests of our country in a foreign land. This is because many countries see Filipino diplomats as representatives of their own authorities back home
6. Does OWWA membership automatically renew upon expiration?
OWWA membership does not automatically renew so you have to make sure to renew your OWWA membership every 2 years to maximize the benefits of this insurance program for you as an OFW.
7. What are the services of the POLO-OWWA?
These are overseas labor offices that provide information and assistance to Filipino workers abroad. It also provides protection, mediation, settlement, or other relevant services for OFWs.
8. How do I register as an OFW for OWWA?
You have to pay a registration fee, probably with the help of your Embassy or Consulate – who will be able to give you information on the process. The Fee for OWWA membership USD 25 every 2 years.
In order to register as an OFW for OWWA, you can inquire from the nearest POLO-OWWA office about the procedure, or you can also renew your OWWA membership via OWWA mobile application.
9. Can I process my OWWA membership dues after registering as an OFW?
If you do not have an OWWA membership, it is best to have it activated immediately so that in times of crisis, you can get some benefits and programs available for its members.
Summary
So the above is the list of existing POLO-OWWA offices for your reference. As a Filipino working abroad, it is good to know the location, contact number, and details of these offices because you might get separated from your kababayans and you want to communicate right away, or if ever they may be in trouble. Assistance will be given immediately at the soonest opportunity of any situation, of course.
In times of assistance, crisis, and emergency, you can contact the officers inside these POLO-OWWA offices for help. Remember that the officers have prepared for this kind of situation to happen. They are ready to help because they understand what you could be experiencing now.