City of San Fernando, Pampanga – The Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and their dependents celebrated the Migrant Workers Day held at Heroes Hall, this city the other day.
They were joined by Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Regional Welfare Office 3 headed by Socorro Castro, officials from Pampanga Action Center for OFW Concerns (PACOC) and the city government.
The festivities commenced with a thanksgiving mass officiated by Rev.Fr. Arnie Serrano, who is also the director of the Archdiocese Commission on Family and Life of the province.
Mayor Oscar Rodriguez told the beneficiaries to spend the remittances of their OFW relatives wisely through investing in livelihood opportunities so they could also help in improving their quality of life.
Meanwhile, Maria Eliza Rey Muñoz, head of PACOC, assured the attendees of the provincial government’s commitment in providing timely and efficient assistance for the OFWs and their families.
Pampanga is the first province throughout the country to have its own action center dedicated to the needs of OFWs. PACOC was organized by Governor Lilia “Nanay” G. Pineda, upon recognizing that Pampanga has the most number of OFWs in the country.
Muñoz shared that the governor is continuously looking for investors here and abroad to generate more jobs for the Kapampangans.
The provincial government has already made arrangements with the government of South Korea and more than 2000 job seekers have been hired after passing the recent EPS-TOPIK exams facilitated by the Public Employment Service Office (PESO) of the province.
Furthermore, the Provincial Cooperative and Entrepreneurial Development Office (PCEDO) has also presented various livelihood opportunities for the OFWs and their families.
The event was supported by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), National Statistics Office (NSO), Pag-IBIG Fund, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), and Land Bank of the Philippines. They were all present during the celebration.
Booths were setup during the event where PAGIBIG and PHILHEALTH entertained membership inquiries.
DTI also conducted a business opportunity seminar while Land Bank granted business loans worth P300,000 to P2 million provided that requirements like OWWA membership certification and application forms are duly accomplished.
Former OFWs-turned businessmen were also present during the event and showcased their products. (Angelique DC. Tuazon, Pampanga PIO)
