04 March 2015 – The Department of Foreign Affairs’ Regional Consular Office in Puerto Princesa City (RCO Puerto Princesa) is now conducting its “Handa Ka Na Bang Mag-abroad?” community education program for interested passport applicants every last Saturday of each month in its new office at Robinsons Place Palawan.
Inspired by many positive feedbacks obtained from the attendees of the first seminar on 21 December 2014 she jointly conducted with Ms. Adignita Elijan, Family Welfare Officer of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) in Puerto Princesa, Ms. Liza Jane Estalilla, Officer-in-Charge of RCO Puerto Princesa, invited the Public Employment Services Office of Puerto Princesa City (City PESO) under the leadership of Ms. Aileen Cynthia Amurao to join their team to further enhance the benefits that the participants could derive from this program. The Puerto Princesa City PESO has programs that provide job placements, trainings and some financial assistance to residents of Puerto Princesa City to help them obtain the documentary requirements for overseas employment.
The number of “Handa Ka Na Bang Mag-abroad?” participants which started on 21 December 2014 with 20 passport applicants intending to work overseas as domestic helpers increased to 32 attendees last January 31 and to 50 on February 28. Those who signed up for the seminars in January and February included professionals, fishermen, construction and factory workers, domestic helpers and students taking up on-the-job trainings overseas.
The participants expressed their thanks and appreciation to the DFA, OWWA and City PESO for the many important information and ideas they have learned from the seminar. In the Participant’s Feedback Forms distributed after the seminar, some have commented that they felt confident and empowered after learning about the various support mechanisms being extended to OFWs by the DFA, OWWA and the City PESO and are no longer afraid to face the challenges of working overseas. Each participant received a Certificate of Participation after the seminar.
Upon learning about RCO Puerto Princesa’s “Handa Ka Na Bang Mag-abroad?” community education program, the Palawan State University (PSU) invited Ms. Estalilla to present the program during the University’s 13th Career Day with the theme “Career Opportunities in the ASEAN Integration.” More than 1,000 graduating students attended the event held on February 18 at the Skylight Convention Center in Puerto Princesa City. END