OFW Maceda’s endeavor amidst challenges of COVID-19 pandemic
BUTUAN CITY -- Notwithstanding the challenges and difficulties brought by COVID-19 pandemic, former Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) Roy Maceda strove to put up his now thriving Water Refilling Station in Cabadbaran City, Agusan del Norte.
Maceda is a Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant Process Engineer in Aramco, Saudi Arabia. He is an OFW for over 15-years. Due to COVID-19 pandemic, he was among the thousands of displaced OFWs who were repatriated in the country in 2021 that the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) was able to assist.
“Dahil sa tulong ng OWWA, mula ng dumating ako ng Maynila hanggang dito sa Mindanao ay wala po akong ginastos kahit piso at naka-avail din ako ng DOLE-AKAP at Balik Pinas Balik Hanapbuhay Program ng OWWA na nagkakahalaga ng P20,000.00,” shared Maceda.
Further, Maceda said, the assistance he received from OWWA was added to his savings for his water refilling station business. He disclosed that he can earn an estimated gross amount of P50,000.00 per month.
With his promising business, Maceda plans to further expand his business by establishing another branch of his water refilling station within Agusan del Norte area.
Aside from the financial assistance he benefited from OWWA, his son, Engr. Summer Roy Maceda was also an OWWA scholar under the OFW Dependent Scholarship Program. Engr. Maceda who graduated in BS Mechanical Engineering in 2018 is now employed as Engineer II at Department of Public Works and Highways Dapa, Siargao Island, Surigao del Norte Engineering District.
“Ako ay nagpapasalamat sa tulong na binigay ng OWWA at sana ay marami pang OFWs na matutulungan ng OWWA,” bared Maceda. (OWWA Caraga/PIA Agusan del Norte)
