OFWs to benefit from VoIP
Iloilo -- The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration 6 (OWWA) expects that communication between Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and their families will become frequent and easier with the use of VoIP or Voice over Internet Protocol which is being pushed by Senator Mar Roxas.
Roxas, co-chair of the oversight committee on e-commerce who filed a bill amending the Public Telecom Policy Act or RA 7925 said the use of VoIP will enable OFWs to communicate with their loved ones as often as they want and Business Process Outsourcing (BPOs) and exporters to transact business at lower cost making them even more competitive.
VoIP is a generic term that refers to all types of voice communication using internet protocol technology, instead of the traditional circuit switched technology. It enables users from different parts of the world to engage in voice conversations, even from long distance, without having to pass through part or all telecommunications facilities.
'With this technology innovation maging mas madali ang communication ng OFW at ang kaniyang pamilya considering reportedly this comes at a lower cost', OWWA 6 Director II Saul de Vries said.
De Vries said the move is also along their agency's thrust to upgrade their communication facilities to enable them to get easy access with the country's embassies situated in other parts of the world.
'Our OFWs will just go to their respective embassies to use t he equipment in order to be connected with their loved ones', De Vries said.
Currently, the OWWA is also implementing an Information Technology (IT) training program that include nine courses offered for free for OFWs and their dependents to broaden their knowledge and upgrade their skills in IT.
'The skills acquired by our OFWs and their dependents in this IT training program will equip them to get better access to this technology innovation or to catch up with the latest trend in communications technology', De Vries said.
De Vries said the training for Visayas is presently conducted in Cebu but hopes that this will become available in Iloilo next year. He disclosed that Western Visayas is among the top three in the deployment of OFWs in the country. The first is National Capital Region followed by Central Luzon.
OFWs who have heard of this technology welcome this move of the government as it will help them and their loved ones abroad reduce their communication cost.
(PIA)