Region 12 OFWs get P7.2M from OWWA

May 30 ------ THE Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) and the National Reintegration Center for OFWs (NRCO) have awarded a total of P7,250,000 in livelihood grant to 18 organizations of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Region 12 (Soccsksargen).

Marilou Sumalinog, OWWA regional director, over the weekend said the one-time grant was made through the Tulong Pangkabuhayan sa Pag-Unlad ng Samahang OFWs (Tulong Puso) program of OWWA-NRCO. Sumalinog noted that the program aims to provide assistance for the livelihood undertakings of OFW organizations in the form of raw materials, equipment, tools and other support services. With the help of the Department of Trade and Industry, OWWA also provides training and social preparation intervention to ensure the success of the chosen livelihood projects of the OFWs. Sumalinog said they continue to recognize OFW organizations to strengthen their knowledge and enable them to become active instruments of development in the community.

NRCO Director Dindi Tan assured the OFW beneficiaries that funds are readily available from the program. "We are dedicated to giving financial aid. We still have P350 million to farm out to our regions and provinces to aid in the OFWs' livelihood projects," Tan said. Last year, OWWA-NRCO also shelled out financial assistance to 39 OFW organizations in Soccsksargen under the Tulong Puso program.

Tan said she believes that programs and reforms initiated by outgoing President Rodrigo Duterte, especially for OFWs will be continued by the incoming Marcos administration. "In light of the creation of the Department of Migrant Workers, there are no talks that the government agency's operations will cease. In fact, the programs we are doing right now will hopefully be carried over to the next administration," she added.

Tan said Republic Act 11641 or the "Department of Migrant Workers Act" provides a one-stop shop that would address all the needs of OFWs, from applying for jobs abroad, working abroad and returning to the country. Tan said she is also positive that the OFW Hospital, recently inaugurated by Duterte in Pampanga in Central Luzon will be replicated in the Visayas and Mindanao.

Source: manilatimes.net