Around 300 OFWs, dependents celebrate Migrant Workers Day with OWWA Caraga
BUTUAN CITY -- With the theme, “Kabayan, Sa Galing at Sakripisyo Mo, Nakabangon Ang Mundo,” the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration Regional Welfare Office (OWWA-RWO) Caraga recently commemorated the 27th Migrant Workers Day dubbed as “Araw ng Pasasalamat” at Robinsons Place Butuan.
In his opening remarks, Officer-in-Charge Rodel P. Deligero conveyed the message of the OWWA Administrator Atty. Hans Leo J. Cacdac who expressed the importance of the Migrant Workers Day (MWD) Celebration to recognize the heroism and sacrifices of our beloved OFWs especially during the time of COVID-19 pandemic.
“Kasagsagan ng pandemya may dalawang taon na ang nakalipas, kinilala ang kontribusyon ng ating mga OFW frontliners sa iba’t-ibang panig ng mundo. Sa kabila ng banta ng COVID-19 virus ay buong tapang nilang hinarap ang pandemya magampanan lamang ang kanilang sinumpaang tungkulin,” Administrator Cacdac said.
Administrator Cacdac also bared that the continued patronage of other countries to the OFWs’ skills and competence depicted that OFWs have great contribution in the continuous circulation of the world.
“Sa lahat po ng ating mga mahal na OFW, ako po ay taos-pusong nagpapasalamat sa inyo sa pagkakataong ibinigay ninyo sa akin at sa buong OWWA na kayo ay aming mapaglingkuran sa mga oras na pinaka-kailangan ninyo ang aming serbisyo,” Administrator Cacdac added.
Adminsitrator Cacdac also said that during the pandemic over 1,200,000 OFWs were served by OWWA through the provision of food, hotel accommodation and transportation onward to their respective home provinces. At the same time, OWWA also strengthened the implementation of its education assistance for OFW dependents with over 75,416 beneficiaries of the agency’s different scholarship programs.
In his message, Assistant Regional Director Raymond Fel Sajor of DOLE-Caraga also lauded the sacrifices of OFWs to provide the needs of their families. Further, he said that OFWs are in demand because of their world class quality of work and easy to adopt attitude despite language and culture barriers.
One of the Highlights during the Migrant Workers Day celebration is the awarding of checks under the Balik Pinas Balik Hanapbuhay Program (BPBHP) to ten (10) OFW program beneficiaries.
Two of the program beneficiaries Luisito Amodia and Rochelle Pink Bernales expressed their gratitude and appreciation to OWWA for providing them assistance to be able to start a livelihood undertaking in their respective communities.
“Kani nga programa (BPBH) sa ilang gihatag nga 20k, dako gyud ni siya nga tabang sa akoa arun makapuhunan pangnegosyo, (I am grateful for this program, the 20k cash assistance given to me, because it will greatly help me have a starting capital for my business)” said Amodia.
“Dako kog pasalamat kay inspite sa mga niaging mga problema naghatag silage (OWWA) open door para sa mga OFWs nga napauli (I am very grateful because in spite of the problems I encountered in the past, OWWA has opened its door for the OFWs who have returned suddenly),” opined Bernales.
The Balik Pinas Balik Hanapbuhay Program is a package of livelihood support intended to provide immediate relief to returning member-OFWs, active or non-active, who were displaced from their jobs due to wars/political conflicts in host countries, or policy reform, controls & changes by the local host govt., or were victims of illegal recruitment and/or human trafficking or other distressful situations.
To make the activity more fun and meaningful, OWWA and other social partners such as Caraga Association of Recruitment Agencies (CARA) and Paramount Life and General Insurance Corporation afforded various home appliances and kabuhayan package to the participants via raffle draw and door prizes. Competitions such as Tiktok Dance Challenge of Overseas Filipino Citizens (OFCs) and OFW Singing Idol 2022 also brought merriment to the participants. OFW Family Circle Buenavista OFWs and Dependents Association won the Tiktok Dance Challenge while OFW Liezl Bacasmas hailed as the 2022 OFW Singing Idol Champion.
Likewise, partner regional line agencies Social Security System (SSS), PhilHealth-Caraga and PAG-IBIG Fund Butuan City presented updates on their programs and services. While Department of Health (DOH) and City Health Office (CHO)-Butuan City conducted simultaneous vaccination drive.
OIC-Programs and Services Division Yolanda H. Fabre expressed her gratitude to OWWA’s active partners both in government and private institutions which contributed to the success of the activity. She also appreciated the efforts of OWWA Caraga employees who exerted effort to realize the activity as well as to the participants for sparing their time to participate in the said event.
The Migrant Workers Day celebration ended with a community dance led by the RWO Caraga employees. (OWWA Caraga/PIA Caraga)
