Wanted: Model OFW family for 2007
Roxas City -- A search for the 2007 Model OFW Family of the Year Award (MOFYA) was announced recently by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) to give proper recognition to the overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and their families.
"It is important for us to show our gratitude to our OFWs because they work very hard to provide a better quality of life for their families," said OWWA Administrator Marianito D. Roque.
He added that the annual award is the government's "small way of showing everyone how proud we are of our Filipino workers and their loved ones."
The focus for this year's MOFYA search is on successful family relations -- a different approach from the previous years which looked into the entrepreneurial development of an OFW family.
"The award is a testament to their achievements," Roque said. "We know how much they had to sacrifice and how hard they had to work. It's but right to acknowledge them."
Nominees for the MOFYA are families with either a land-based or sea-based OFW as its head, and meet the following criteria: head of family or main provider for the family; supports the education of a child/ family member/s; known as a solid and stable family in the community; and financial stability.
Specific selection criteria for the 2007 awards are functional OFW family, involvement of OFW in community, educational achievement of children, and success in managing family finances. Each criterion has its respective indicators that will determine the winners.
The nomination and selection for the awards will start in October at the regional level with the panel of judges composed of the regional directors of the Labor department and OWW A and one representative each from the land-based industry sector, sea-based, religious group and major sponsors.
Three of the finalists will be chosen as national champions representing Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao in November 2007.
The three big winners will receive cash prizes of Php200,000.00, vacation trip packages, laptop units plus other exciting prizes from GLOBE and Php25,000.00 from Western Union for the 17 regional winners and Php20,000 G-cash and cell phones from GLOBE.
The MOFYA is hosted by OWWA with the assistance of its sponsors: GLOBE, Philamlife and Western Union among others.
(PIA)