FILIPINOS vying for overseas workers certificate (OEC) will have to bear the ordeal of queuing at the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) offices following another cyberattack.
According to the (DMW), online systems are temporarily unavailable in view of another ransomware attack which could possibly lock and encrypt the agency’s data, files, devices or systems, rendering its website inaccessible and unusable until after a ransom has been paid to the hackers.
The agency however assured that no overseas Filipino worker (OFW) databases had been compromised in the cyberattack.
Interestingly, the DMW claimed that it is more prudent to be safe for which a decision to temporarily shut down the system was reached.
“While efforts to restore online systems are ongoing, electronic or online systems that issue OECs, OFW Passes and OFW information sheets and other online services may not be used temporarily,” the DMW said on its official Facebook page.
In trying to appease OFWs, the DMW assured that they are already working with the Department of Information and Communications Technology to restore online systems, while coordinating with the Bureau of Immigration to facilitate the departure of OFWs.
This comes as the DMW urged migrant workers who wish to secure an OFW or OEC pass, to bear the ordeal of undergoing manual processing at the DMW National Office, Regional Offices and extensions, One-stop Shops, and Migrant Workers Assistance Centers.
Relatedly, OFWs in need of information sheets may do the request by sending an email to infosheet@dmw.gov.ph, from which the agency will send a QR-coded information sheet to the requesting party.
Other than email, the DMW also asked migrant workers to shoot a message to the DMW’s Official Facebook account.
“The DMW apologizes for inconveniences to the OFWs and members of their families and is exerting all efforts to continue serving OFWs while instituting stronger measures to protect their information,” the DMW said.
Interestingly, DMW isn’t the only government agency that has been breached.
