Feature Online Dialogue: Using Mobile Phones for Action

hi ken, nancy:

thanks for your postings. perhaps, one of the novelties of the sos sms system for distressed migrants is its forwarding functionality to pre-selected recipients. what does this mean?

1. first, the cell phone number we use is an ordinary cell phone number -- its +63 9209 OFW SOS (+63 9209 639 767). the sms fee or charge  is the normal regular charge.

2. to send a text for help, simply start the message with the letters SOS and then the message for help. part of our information campaign is to make sure the texter does not forget her/his name on the first text message he/she will send us. then send the message to the sos sms number above.

3. the message goes through the sos sms system --which is in a computer with a modem, and is connected online 24 hours/ 7 days a week where the message is automatically logged. the texter gets an auto-reply assuring the texter that the message has been received and that the matter will be attended to as soon as possible. 

  4. the message then is autoforwarded simultaneously to pre-selected recipients (cma chooses the receipients) -- current recipients include the following: cma, the department of foreign affairs office of the undersecretary for migrant workers affairs, focal person/ IT-manage in saudi arabia, the IT-manager in Manila. we inluded a focal person in saudi arabia because more than 60% of the text messages come/ originate from saudi arabia.

5. as soon as we receive the text message, we text back the texter to verify the report, get more details about the person and the case;  in cma--we have a case documentation system and a case form where we document the case, log all actions taken until its resolutions. for saudi messages, the focal person in saudi will automatically respond to the case --in terms of verification and subsequent course of action. cma has a network of OFW partners scattered in the kingdom --from riyadh to jeddah to the eastern province....the network is mobliised accordingly...

6. for cases outside saudi, cma is primarily in charge. again, the key is to have a network of committed OFWs in the other countries and destinations whom we can mobilise and serve as back up as we start to negotiate with concerned agencies of our government (i.e. embassies, consulates and labor offices) -- in the main, our communications with these offices will be either by email or text messages too -- cma has funds limitations --we can only email and send text messages overseas...we are pleased to note that the various government posts overseas reply to our emails and text messages too -- in many cases, they call us too. 

7. for the autoforwarding of messages to selected recipients, cma purchases bulk sms credits. we also purchase bulk sms credits to send our replies for overseas messages. although we also use chikka and ym.... unfortunately, we purchase the bulk sms from another company (not the company of the cellphone number because it does not have bulk sms yet)

8. how do the migrants learn of the sos sms? last february 14, 2006, we had an online-launch. we also solicited the help of our media friends in the philippines and overseas to support it and they advertise it free of charge. we managed to get OFW sponsors to produce posters and flyers.

ace saatchi, an advertising agency, volunteered to do the poster designs for the sos sms, free of charge. the posters were distributed to concerned agencies of government, partners in the country and overseas for promotion. we have been requesting the aiport authorities to allow us to display the posters at the airports, we are not successful yet.

at present, we are working out some arrangements that will boost the promotion of the sos sms helpline. we will update you on this later on as we do not want to pre empt the negotiations just as yet. :)) 

the sos sms system is also accessed by families of migrants especially from those outside metro manila --the other islands of the archipelago to request help for their loved ones in distress overseas. those who access the sos sms system eventually pass on the information to others. this is another way of promoting the sos sms.

the system works because filipinos are a texting people. the system works because of the broad network of committed partners of cma in the country and overseas plus the good working professional relationships we have established with our various embassies, consulates and labor offices. the circle of media friends also help a lot from time to time.

it is also becoming SOP for OFWs to bring a cellphone when they go overseas. in selected countries, there is prohibition for migrants to possess a cellphone...  

the sos sms system is being sustained by our network of volunteer individuals and organisation who believe in the cause....

all for now. i hope this is useful. thanks.

ellene