OWWA to Expand Pre-departure Seminars

The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) plans to expand its Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar (PDOS) so that this will now include dependents or families of overseas Filipino workers, according to OWWA 6 Family Welfare Officer Rizza Joy Mapa.

PDOS is a mandatory requirement for all OFWs before they are deployed to their country of destination. It aims to prepare OFWs to cope with the new culture and work environment of their host countries.

On the other hand, Mapa said the PDOS for OFW Family intends to help dependents or families of OFWs cope with the challenges of separation, to understand migration realities and financial literacy, and to inform them about OWWA programs and services, among others.

Mapa said Western Visayas is one of the three regions in the country being considered as pilot areas for the PDOS for OFW Family.

“The initiative is part of the continuing efforts of OWWA to look into the rising needs not only of our OFWs but also their families or dependents,” said Mapa in response to the queries on how the OWWA could help OFW families access government programs and projects and give importance to their remittances, during the round table discussion at UP-Visayas Training Room, Iloilo City.

The roundtable discussion was held to get the responses of concerned agencies in Western Visayas on how they can best address the needs of the OFW families based on the focus group discussions conducted by Women’s Feature Service Philippines, in line with its study on the impact of female migration on Filipino families.

The three FGDs were participated in by OFW children, teachers, parents and carers/guardians here in the city and province of Iloilo.

Some of the recommendations of the study are the following: counseling program or support organizing groups for carers or guardians of OFW families wherein they can get tips on good financial management, dealing with school, appropriate discipline and response to sensitive child issues like sexuality, physical/sexual abuse, special education services, among others; inventory of skills for carers and guardians to be done by concerned government agencies to provide jobs and other opportunities for self-employment; counseling centers with programs focusing on family issues involving OFW parents effective communication with guardians and absent parents, among others.

Source: PIA

List of OFW Dependent Scholars in Misamis Oriental

22 OFW dependents from the province of Misamis Oriental, signed the contract and received their individual Notice of Award under the “OFW Dependent Scholarship Program” today during the regular Monday program of the Provincial Capitol at the capitol grounds.

The OFW Dependent Scholarship Program, by mandate of Memorandum of Instructions No.003, offers financial assistance to the qualified dependents of the Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) who are active members of the OWWA and receive a monthly salary of not more than US$400. The beneficiary shall enroll in any four year or five year baccalaureate degree or associate degree leading to a baccalaureate degree.

NAME	ADDRESS	COURSE
Welnie Rose D. Aguilar	Centro, Pagatpat, CDOC	AB Mass Communication-COC
Ron Ron Jay M. Obliosca	Lagonglong, Mis. Oriental	BS Mechanical Engineering-MUST
John Albert T. Capricho	Macanhan Carmen, CDOC	BS Information Technology –MUST
Audrey F. Cagalawan	Brgy. 3 Balingasag, Mis. Or.	BS Education-SPC
Steeve Josepine R. Banawa	Lower Balulang, CDOC	BS Business Administration-BSU
Kevin S. Labalan	Macabalan, Cag. de Oro City	BS Mechanical Engineering-CU
Jade R. Casas	Villanueva, Mis. Oriental	BS Education-MUST
Queeny Rose R. Daayata	Sacred Heart, Carmen, CDOC	BS Accountancy-LC
Mark Gleen J. Bajao	Kauswagan, Cag. de Oro City	BS Business Administration-XU
Farrah Lou B. Daaca	Macabalan, Cag. de Oro City	BS Education-MUST
Haron T. Malazarte	Balingasag, Misamis Oriental	BS Auto Mechanical Tech.-MUST
Rizel P. Gabutan	Lagonglong, Mis. Oriental	BS Education-BSU
Keane Bee M. Ariata	Balingasag, Misamis Oriental	BS Computer Engineering-MUST
Jaybee W. Simacon	Villanueva, Mis. Oriental	BS Electrical Technology-MUST
Elmer S. Tadena	Balingasag, Misamis Oriental	BS Information Technology-STC
Vince R. Caiña	Xavier Heights, CDOC	BS Computer Engineering-MUST
Ryan R. Batuto	Opol, Misamis Oriental	BS Auto Mechanical Tech.-MUST
Ruben E. Dangcal	Jasaan, Misamis Oriental	BS Information Technology-MUST
John Mikelle C. Sabequil	Balingoan, Misamis Oriental	BS Business Administration-BSU
Evangiline S. Domo	Balingasag, Misamis Oriental	BS Elect. Comm. Tech.-MUST
Ruperto D. Calderon	Balingasag, Misamis Oriental	BS Environmental Engr. MOSCAT
Earl John C. Granados	Xavier Heights, CDOC	BS Information Technology-LDCU

The OFW dependent shall also receive a financial assistance of P20,000 per year or P10,0000 per semester to cover the tuitions fees and other academic-related expenses. Also covered in the package is a group health and accident insurance worth P100,000 per scholar.

The 22 scholarship grants are only part of the 68 slots allotted for Region 10. The remaining slots are distributed to the other provinces of Region 10 of which the dispensation of the Notice of Award will soon be scheduled.

The significant event was also witnessed by Governor Honorable Oscar S. Moreno, Vice-Governor Norris C. Babiera and some of the members of the Sanguniang Panlalawigan of Misamis Oriental.

In his message, Governor Moreno quoted OWWA 10 as one of the most dependable partner agencies in the government and further expressed his gratitude to the responsive conduct of the agency to the requests of the Province.

Source: OWWA

OWWA-10 Conducts Skills Training for “Star of the Sea-Iligan” OFW’s

At least 28 members of the Star of the Sea, an organization of seafarers and their dependents in Iligan City, attended the Livelihood Skills Training Seminar (LSTS) on Fish Processing, recently.

Sponsored by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), region 10, the training was held last August 25-26, at Raquel Bakeshop Function Hall, Barangay Camague, this city.

It was conducted with the assistance of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), region 10, through Leah Lastima Bucog, Post Harvest Technical Staff.

Topics of the training included Bottling of Sardines, “Rellenong Bangus” Preparation and “Bangus” Deboning.
The “Star of the Sea-Iligan,” is a church-based civic organization of seamen’s wives, mothers and legal dependents of Filipino Seafarers and Overseas Filipino Workers of Iligan City and Lanao del Norte.

Headed by Marisa Doromal, the organization’s President, it aims to build and maintain mutual cooperation and support among its members in building and sustaining a strong family.

Meanwhile, Regional Director Petrona M. Bergado of OWWA-10 said the LSTS is one of the reintegration programs of OWWA intended to bring about an improved economic well being of returning OFWs and their dependents.

One way of availing the LSTS is by forming an organization of OFW’s and their dependents, such as, the “Star of the Sea-Iligan,” she said.

During their graduation, the 28 participants received certificates of attendance which were personally handed to them by the OWWA Regional Director and Remegio Cabañog Provincial Head, Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Lanao del Norte.

Source: Philippine Information Agency

Jobs, Trainings in Bulacan Await Middle East Repatriates

Beleaguered overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who will be returning home from hostilities in the Middle East will be greeted with a financial aid from the Balik Pinay program and a list of job offers and trainings in Bulacan.

Under the joint program of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), the displaced OFWs could avail of the starter kit with P10,000 as aid in putting up business.
The financial assistance could increase depending on the business proposal of the OWF and the result of the ensuing interview.

DOLE-Region III Director Leopoldo De Jesus said the OFWs could train under seminars from health care like reflexology, massage, production of bath soap, to household repairs such as plumbing, welding, electrical servicing, and appliance restore.

According to DOLE provincial director Lanie Reynoso, the bulk of business proposals they receive from OFWs were putting up of stores and nego-carts which sell various merchandise.

But during the granting yesterday of the P3 million financial assistance to OFWs in the province who have returned from Libya, the repatriates said they would still like to work abroad to support their families.

With this, Elizabeth Alonzo, chief of the Provincial Youth, Sports, Employment, Arts, Culture and Tourism Office, said that the government would still support them. In particular, they would be protected from illegal recruiters.

Alonzo said the Bulacan government had held talks with the Ministry of Employment in Taiwan to discuss a tie-up program in removing the placement fees for overseas employment.

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OWWA Strengthens Fight Vs Human Trafficking

BY PHILIPPINE INFORMATION AGENCY - With 52,059 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) coming from the Bicol region who are now toiling abroad either to earn a living or simply fulfill a dream to set foot on a foreign land, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) is left with a gargantuan task to look after their welfare and ensure their dependents are protected.

This was one of the key points discussed by OWWA OIC regional director Jocelyn Hapal during the discussion on Mainstreaming Migration in Local Development Plans held at the Avenue Plaza Hotel, Magsaysay, Naga City over the weekend.

OWWA, an attached agency of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is also mandated to ensure that the provisions of RA 10022 or an Act “Amending Republic Act No. 8042 Otherwise Known as the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995, as amended, further Improving the Standard of Protection and Promotion of the Welfare of Migrant Workers, Their Families and Overseas Filipinos in Distress, and For Other Purposes” are properly implemented.

“Camarines Sur has the highest number of OFWs, totaling to 42 percent of the total OFWs in the region. These are the documented workers who have registered in our office. We should not forget that there are still a lot of our kababayans who left the country without completing their documents,” Hapal added.

Camarines Sur registered a total of 17,903 land based OFWs and 4,101 sea based workers, totaling to 22,004. The province of Albay comes next with 28 percent of the share from the total of 12,094 land-based OFWs and 2, 608 seafarers totaling to 14, 702 contract workers.

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