OFWs' families should prepare for the future
There is no state of "rush-back-home" for the Filipino overseas workers in the face of global economic crunch as of now, but it is worthwhile for their families to prepare for their eventual return.
Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) 6 Director James Mendiola said this "eventual return" is not just for lack of work abroad but for the fact that overseas employment is never a permanent thing.
"We consider it our main task to help the OFWs and their families manage their earnings abroad so that they can put these in productive investments back home," Mendiola said.
Mendiola said the government is always seeing to it that OFWs and their families are guided on how to invest, spend and save the remittances being poured in so that when the OFWs finally decide to return home, they can be assured of stable situation and reintegration into the community.
He said the OWWA, other than the reintegration program, is also conducting values formation among OFW families and financial literacy sessions.
He added that they have found it important to conduct financial literacy for the families to understand the importance of savings, not only deposits but also investments that entail skilled bookkeeping, even personnel management.
This October 22-23, a livelihood training will be undertaken with the OFW Families circles in Igbaras, Tigbauan and Dumangas.
So far in the region, the OWWA has organized 58 livelihood programs with 120 OFW Family circles involved.
In reaching out to the OFWs' families, the OWWA establishes strong linkages with each Public Employment Service office (PESO) to help it identify the OFWs in their respective municipalities.
Mendiola said reaching out to OFW families is an effective way of helping them survive in unforeseen eventualities as well as when the OFW returns home for good.
He said, previously OWWA found it hard to reach the OFW families, now it is they themselves who go to OWWA, or to the PESO to inquire on how they can avail of or participate in various programs.
Mendiola added that OWWA is working more to make pre-departure seminars beneficial by asking not only the departing OFWs but their families as well to attend so that both are prepared for the situation abroad and here back home, and mutually support each other.
The OWWA chief said the government is encouraging preparation of the OFW and his family not just for untoward events but also for the eventual return to a more stable family life in the country. (PIA6/ESS)