Search on for the model OFW Family of the Year award

The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) formally launched this year's search for the model family among the country's Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and their families.
    
The search is a medium for recognizing the achievements of OFWs and their families in managing the impact of overseas employment on family life. It serves as a strategic mechanism for exemplifying the best practices of OFW families towards optimizing the gains of migration. It also recognizes the ultimate results of OFW family success in terms of enterprise development and generation of employment opportunities.

Those who can be nominated to the Model OFW Family Award (MOFYA) are only families with either a land-based or sea-based OFW as its head, and meet the following criteria: head of family has at least four years of experience as OFW; known as a solid/stable family in the locality; has at least a child who finished college; has managed family finances well, resulting in savings; and currently enjoying a comfortable life with sustained income from investments or any legitimate entrepreneurial activity.

Religious leaders or groups, non-government organizations, and community-based social or civic organizations may nominate awardees.

The nomination and selection for this contest starts from the regional level with the panel of judges composed of the regional directors of the Labor and Employment department and OWWA and one representative each from the land-based industry sector, sea-based, religious group and major sponsor. The awardees from the regions automatically qualify in the selection process at the national level but only one representative per region shall be considered for qualification for the Finals and Awarding ceremonies scheduled on November 11, 2005 in Manila.

Nominees and awardees are chosen on the same factors with maximum point scores as follows: length of overseas employment (20 pts.), over-all family stability (20 pts), success in children's education (20 pts.), success in managing family finances (20 pts.) and success in business from savings or loans (20 pts.)
 
Nominations for the search must be submitted to the MOFYA Regional Secretariat, OWWA Regional Welfare Office 6, 2nd Flr. AJL Bldg., Gen. Luna St., Iloilo City. The nomination should include a covering letter and all supporting documents required. These include certified overseas employment record/contract; certified copy of college diploma/transcript of records of children; certified copy of business registration document/financial statements; and other relevant documents.
Deadline for nomination is on October 25, 2005. (PIA)