Roberto Suson, Abot Tanaw's Information Technology Director talks with a colleague assigned to man the service hub in Hong Kong

Working overseas has its numerous social costs that affect not only the Filipino migrant worker but the family left behind in the Philippines as well.

Reports have been made about broken families, infidelity, and strain on the relationship with their children, among others, because of the lack of vital communication between the worker abroad and relatives in the Philippines.

The technology mostly available to OFWs in order to get in touch with their families like texting, making regular phone calls, and or chatting with the use of the Internet is costly.

“I believe communication is the key to keeping the family’s foundation at home strong and stable. Hence, we developed a project to help families stay in touch,” said Ephraim Genuino, chairman of Abot Tanaw.

Abot Tanaw says it is a social media network that aims to give OFWs relief from the high cost of keeping in touch with their families. The network held a pilot launch of its free voice and video telephony services Wednesday at the SMX, Mall of Asia in Pasay City.

“We utilized the latest technology to allow OFWs and their families the chance to see and hear each other as if they were face to face,” said Genuino who is also Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation chairman.

Delighted

In a time of a global economic crisis, the free services are expected to help OFWs and their families cut the high cost of communication and save a little.

Relatives of Connie Sampilo were some of the OFW families who tried out the technology service offering located at one of its hubs at the Mall of Asia.

Sampilo, 46, a household service worker based in Hong Kong, looked delighted to be able to talk and see her family. She has been working there for more than 15 years now.

According to her relatives who came from FTI in Taguig, Sampilo visited them August of last year. They said Sampilo usually calls home when she could not help herself to inquire about her family’s condition.

“Tumatawag lang po siya madalas. Hindi po kami nagcha-chat. Maganda ito kasi malinaw,” said her daughter.

One of Abot Tanaw's booths in its service hub located at SMX Convention Center in Mall of Asia

Relatives of Philippine Consulate staff Maria Jesusa Fajardo said the same thing about Abot Tanaw’s free services.

“Maganda po. Dati sa Web cam lang. Ito okay siya, kasi direkta na siya. Pati pag-uusap malinaw. Mabilis ang serbisyo niya,” said Fajardo’s younger brother Nino.

‘Greatest need’

Alexander Uypuanco, Abot Tanaw’s marketing officer said that their initial objective is to communicate to OFWs “because they have the greatest need.”

Uypuanco explained that both users should first register with Abot Tanaw before they can use its services.

“Two members must register. They must first agree on a time and date to talk,” he said.

Initially, the system allows the users to talk to their families for five to 10 minutes for free. 

"Because we have no data that tells us that they probably need 15 to 20 minutes,” he said.

Furthermore, the group also gave great consideration of the time. For example, in Hong Kong, they see that traffic will be heavy during weekends, which are the day offs of workers and also on evenings.
 
“The schedule is heavily dependent on the schedule of the OFW. If we see what the patterns are like and what the needs are like, yes we can (extend),” Uypaunco said.

Nationwide service

Roberto Suson, Abot Tanaw’s Information Technology Director said that other service hubs will be located in SM malls in Pampanga, Cebu, Davao and in Quezon City (SM North).

“Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao already covered,” said Suson.

The service hub in Hong Kong and in the Mall of Asia is already live and operational. Abot Tanaw is now setting up hubs in Macau, Singapore, Taiwan and Dubai.

The hub in Mall of Asia has 17 booths while the one in Hong Kong has 35. Each booth can accommodate four members of a family and is equipped with an LCD monitor mounted on the wall and a video phone installed with a system developed in the Philippines.

Suson explained that Abot Tanaw is really targeting OFWs and their families who do not have computers at home.

“Kasi kung may computer ka mag-Skype ka na lang di ba? Ito, it caters to people na walang computer. Rather than going to an Internet café dito na lang. Libre pa naman. This is the same as calling through a cellphone.” Suson said.

While it gives free services to its end-users, Abot Tanaw will also tap potential sponsors to sustain its operations here and abroad.

(from abs-cbn.com)

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/pinoy-migration/06/11/09/group-offers-free-video-call-ofws-kin