29 June 2011 - The Office of the Executive Secretary under the Office of the President, in cooperation with the Department of Foreign Affairs-Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers' Affairs (DFA-OUMWA) and the Foreign Service Institute (FSI) conducted the training program for the members of the Rapid Response Team (RRT) under the Overseas Preparedness and Response Team (OPRT) at the FSI on June 21 to 23.
Forty participants from the DFA and from the other government offices undertook the training designed to enhance skills in responding to needs of OFWs in crisis situations overseas.
In his opening remarks on the first day of training, Vice President and Presidential Adviser on Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) Concerns Jejomar C. Binay emphasized to the members of the OPRT-RRT the need to give special attention to the plight of the OFWs who are away from their loved ones and would need help from the Philippine Government.For his part, Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa, Jr. in his closing remarks stressed that the OPRT-RRT was organized to respond to crisis situation.
Executive Secretary Ochoa said, "we cannot be half-hearted in this mission. I would like to reiterate the President's instruction that it is our responsibility to protect our OFWs and Filipino nationals in crisis at any cost." END
