In accordance to the revised Mirant Workers Act that aims to provide better protection to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) are now accepting nominations for OFW representatives to their respective boards.

The two government agencies announced that they have signed a joint memorandum circular that would seek for nominees for OFW representatives. This move is in compliance with Republic Act (RA) 10022, an mandatory law to RA 8042 or the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995.

The law has allotted three slots to both the POEA governing board and the OWWA board of trustees. The said vacant positions will e occupied by OFW representatives from the land-based, sea-based and women sectors.

According to the government agencies, the nominations for OFW representatives in each sector ca only be done by a non-government organizations (NGOs) with a goal to protect and promote the welfare of OFWs.

The nominating NGOs should be in existence for at least three years and must represent the women, land-based and sea-based sectors.

The OFWs to be nominated should be 25 years old and above, literate, currently working abroad and with a minimum of three years experience as a migrant worker.

The RA 10022 also mandates the POEA and OWWA to carry out aggressive information campaigns regarding the call for nominees. They should also conduct consultative sessions with the leaders/representatives of the sectors concerned before selecting the OFW representatives.

The names of the final three OFW nominees for each sector will be presented to the President and will be published in major newspapers nationwide. President Aquino will be the one to select and appoint the OFW representatives to the POEA and OWWA boards. This will be done one month after the submission of the list.

The appointed OFW representatives will be in the position for three years and can be reappointed for another three years.

Submission of nominations and other required documents provided in Section 4 of the Joint OWWA-POEA Memorandum Circular No. 001, Series of 2011, should be done on or before closing of office hours (6:00pm) of March 8, 2011, addressed to:

For OWWA: The Chairman

Screening and Selection Committee

Overseas Workers Welfare Administration

7th Street corner F.B. Harrison Street

Pasay City

For POEA: The Chairman

Screening and Selection Committee

Philippine Overseas Employment Administration

Corner EDSA and Ortigas Avenues

Mandaluyong City

The Joint OWWA-POEA Memorandum Circular No. 001, Series of 2011 as well as the

Personal Profile and Qualifications Form for the Nominees can be downloaded from OWWA website

(www.owwa.gov.ph) or POEA website (www.poea.gov.ph)