The Department of Migrant Workers people from Manila and Dubai with Caunan (sixth from left) and Cacdac (seventh from left).

Mariecar Jara-Puyod, Senior Reporter

Filipino contractual workers in the UAE have registered the highest number of participants from among 10 selected destination countries for the 2023 pilot-testing of the digitalised Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC) or the OFW (Overseas Filipino Workers) App.

“At 25,000 from the UAE, they were at 85 per cent of the total number (almost 29,412). I am so thankful. With the Department of Information Communications Technology under Secretary Ivan Uy, we guarantee that our government is doing its best (to lessen the burdensome paperwork required from all OFWs around the world),” said the Philippines’ Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Officer-In-Charge Hans Leo Cacdac in Filipino.

The free OFW Pass in contrast to the Dhs10-worth OEC - to be downloadable via Google Play and App Store for Android and Apple users respectively, and which shall also assist OFWs - with their personalised identification numbers - connect with other relevant Philippine government agencies - was initially presented to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at the Malacanang (Presidential Palace) by the late Migrant Workers Secretary Susan Ople on July 21, 2023.

The pilot-testing was consequently conducted and carried out until September 29 by all the 16 Migrant Workers Offices (MWOs) located in the OFW-densely populated UAE (2), Saudi Arabia (3), Qatar (1), Singapore (1), Malaysia (1), Oman (1), Japan (2), Taiwan (3), UK (1), and Hong Kong (1).

Cacdac, in Dubai for the February 10 and 11 “Abu Dhabi Dialogue Seventh Ministerial Meeting” (ADD Meeting) and the February 12 to 14 “World Governments Summit” (WGS), with DMW-Policy and International Cooperation Undersecretary Patricia Yvonne Caunan, DMW Pre-Employment Services Assistant Secretary Levinson Alcantara, and DMW-Policy and Cooperation Bureau Director Jainal Rasul Jr., was interviewed on Monday evening, after the Filipino Social Club (FilSoC), unveiled the logo for the the 126th Philippine Independence Day (PID) community celebrations.

Prior to the unveiling, Cacdac briefed the community about the ADD Meeting and the WGS, the OFW Pass, and other DMW projects such as the OFW housing programme in coordination with the Philippines’ Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development.

FilSoC is the non-profit, non-political, non-religious organisation, composed of individuals and associations, licensed by the Community Development Authority-Dubai to collaborate with multi-cultural groups and support community engagement programmes under the Philippine Government and the host country, the United Arab Emirates.

It will host the celebrations on June 8 at the Dubai World Trade Centre-Zabeel Hall.

Commissioned to design the logo, that depicts the PID 2024 theme of “Filipino Pride: Embracing Diversity, Celebrating Unity, and Love of Country” was Dubai resident Edcel Cabalan, an architect by profession whose innate interest in painting, leaning towards watercolour and coffee granules, re-surfaced, during the Novel Coronavirus pandemic.

Merited for his visuals, Cabalan’s first solo exhibition was during the “OFW Night” at the MWO-Dubai in June 2023. He has participated in group art exhibits across the UAE and other countries such as Vietnam.

Playing on the red-white-blue-yellow, Cabalan combined the Philippine national flag with the country’s national bird, the Philippine Eagle: “The Philippine Eagle epitomizes the Filipinos’ tenacity and resilience in overcoming the odds to achieve goals, soaring high as our eagles amidst all adversities.

Cacdac was overheard admiring Cabalan’s artwork, particularly how the sun has been positioned “like a sunrise, (a new beginning).”

FilSoC president Ericson Reyes said: “The Philippine Eagle, being the country’s national bird holds a significant cultural and ecological importance. It symbolises the country’s rich biodiversity and unique heritage. Being an endangered species endemic to the Philippines, it embodies the nation’s struggle for freedom and independence. Its resilience and strength reflect the Filipino people’s enduring spirit and their fight for sovereignty.”

“By featuring the Philippine Eagle, FilSoC can raise awareness about the importance of environmental conservation and biodiversity preservation. It sends a powerful message about the need to protect endangered species and their habitats,” he also said adding that in connection with the nearly one million Filipinos across the seven emirates, the Philippine Eagle as the PID 2024 logo, serves as the anchor for all overseas Filipinos, their roots and culture, as well as heritage and identity.