OWWA, POEA assure Bacolod of their support to OFWs
BACOLOD CITY — The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) have both assured the Bacolod City government of its commitment to help returning OFWs affected by the economic global downturn.
The expression of commitment stemmed from Resolution No. 521 proposed by Bacolod City Councilor Wilson “Jun” Gamboa Jr. last June, this year, requesting national government offices such as DOLE, DFA, POEA and OWWA to expand their assistance given to OFWs who returned to the country as a result of the worldwide financial crunch.
The resolution calls “to alleviate the plight of our overseas Filipino Workers by providing more benefits and protection such as but not limited to livelihood, legal assistance, all diplomatic representation, among others.”
In her reply, OWWA Administrator Carmelita Dimzon said “our package of programs and services has always been the result of pro-active responses to the needs of OFWs including their families.”
For this year, the OWWA chief said more programs will be implemented to focus on health, education and upgrading of skills so that the OFWs can recover economically, including seafarers.
POEA Administration Lawyer Jennifer Jardin-Manalili, on the other hand, cited the agency’s programs that will benefit OFWs. These are protection to OFWs on illegal recruitment and Trafficking in Persons, travel advisory/information dissemination, onsite-welfare assistance, repatriation of OFWs, reintegration policy and measures against illegal recruitment and clandestine migration. (PIA-LOL)