DFA CO Puerto Princesa Conducts “Handa Ka Na Bang Mag-abroad?”  Seminar for OFWs and Emigrants in Celebration of Labor Day and OWWA’s 42nd Anniversary

Participants of the “Handa Ka Na Bang Mag-abroad” Education Program for OFWs and Emigrants display their Certificates of Participation as they pose for a souvenir photo with the DFA-OWWA-DMW-DTI-TESDA-CityPESO Team on 2 May 2024 at Robinsons Place Palawan

PUERTO PRINCESA 06 May 2024 – In celebration of the 122nd Philippine Labor Day  and the 42nd Anniversary of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), the Department of Foreign Affairs - Consular Office (CO) Puerto Princesa in collaboration with its partner agencies, namely, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Puerto Princesa City Public Employment Service Office (City PESO), the Technical Education Skills Development Authority (TESDA) conducted the “Handa Ka Na Bang Mag-Abroad?” Anti-Human Trafficking Education Program for OFWs and Emigrants on 02 May 2024 at the Robinsons Palawan Expansion Area.

Seventy-seven (77) participants composed of passport applicants who are aspiring OFWs, relatives of deployed OFWs, and representatives of civic organizations in Palawan were present during the event. Of the 77 participants, fifty-nine (59) were females and eighteen (18) were males. The participants were awarded certificates of attendance and those who correctly answered trivia questions fielded after the presentations received give-aways from the DFA, OWWA, and City PESO. 

They thanked the DFA-OWWA-DMW-DTI-TESDA-City PESO Team for the confidence they gained from the wealth of knowledge they learned from the seminar -  starting from properly securing the required documents for traveling abroad, finding legitimate overseas  employment, contract signing, avoiding human trafficking syndicates, financial planning and government livelihood support programs, preparing themselves and their families psychologically before leaving and while abroad, adjusting/learning about cultural differences, to safeguarding their rights and welfare while living overseas. 

The HKNBM was initiated by HCO Liza Jane V. Estalilla in CO Puerto Princesa as part of its GAD program and anti-human trafficking advocacy during her first assignment in this Office in 2013. This CO in collaboration with its partner agencies have been conducting this Whole-of-Nation Approach program the over the years.

This is the second HKNBM event of the six (6) regular sessions slated to be conducted by CO Puerto Princesa and its partner agencies for 2024 while some heads of LGUs and universities in Palawan have already expressed their interest to have the HKNBM program conducted in their respective areas for the benefit of their constituents and graduating students. END 

Standing from right : OWWA-Palawan’s Family Welfare Officer Adignita Elijan, DFA CO PPC Head Ms. Liza Jane V. Estalilla, Administrative Officer II Merwin V. Conde, City PESO Manager Demetrio A. Lopez, Jr., TESDA Supervising TESD Specialist Ms. Ma. Mayla A. Pamplona, DMW Administrative Assistant II Jayson Padin, DTI Trade-Industry Development Specialist- Provincial CARP Coordinator Mr. Francis Ian V. Uapal, and City PESO Employment Officer I Mary Glor Simon. Ms. Elijan awarded them with Certificates of Appreciation as resource speakers during the “Handa ka Na Bang Mag-abroad?” event that marked the celebration of the 122nd Philippine Labor Day and the 42nd Anniversary of OWWA