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