21 September 2015 - On September 12, RCO Puerto Princesa celebrated the 1st anniversary of its opening at Robinsons Place – Palawan with 77 aspiring OFWs. The celebration was held during the “Handa Ka Na Bang Mag-abroad?” (HKNBM) Seminar that RCO Puerto Princesa conducts monthly as part of its Gender and Development (GAD) Program for passport applicants intending to work abroad for the first time. Some of them have travelled all the way from a remote island in the Municipality of Roxas, Palawan to attend the seminar.
Also present during the event were the resource speakers from RCO Puerto Princesa’s partner agencies in the HKNBM program, namely, Ms. Adignita Elijan, Family Welfare Officer of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), Mrs. Mary Glor Simon of the Public Employment Service Office of Puerto Princesa City (City PESO) and Ms. Maria Cristina “Kitten” Gomez-Remollo, Project Manager of the Skills Training and Employment Program (STEP) of the Office of Governor Jose Chavez Alvarez of Palawan. Mr. Amado Jovellanos, Mall Operations Manager of Robinsons Place - Palawan, was also invited to highlight the significance of the occasion and the Department of Foreign Affairs’ (DFA) Public-Private Partnership with the Robinsons Land Corporation (RLC).
In his remarks, Mr. Jovellanos conveyed his felicitations to Ms. Liza Jane Estalilla, Officer-in-charge, and the staff of the RCO Puerto Princesa on the occasion of their 1st anniversary at Robinsons Place -Palawan. He underscored the RLC’s thrust of bringing government agencies together to make it easier and more convenient for the people to avail themselves of various government services through the mall’s Lingkod Pinoy Center.
The agencies presently holding offices in Robinsons Place – Palawan are the DFA, Pag-IBIG Fund, PhilHealth, SSS and PhilPost. Mr. Jovellanos announced that the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), the Bureau of Immigration, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) and the Puerto Princesa Underground River Management Office will soon be joining the DFA and other agencies in the Lingkod Pinoy Center.
During the event, Mrs. Maria Donna Ocampo, Area Manager of Prosel Pharmaceuticals provided free blood pressure tests for the participants and samples of their company’s vitamins. Those found with high blood pressure were given samples of medications for hypertension. Ms. Estalilla informed the participants that this special medical service is meant to make them aware of the importance of keeping themselves healthy and fit to be able to qualify for overseas placement and face the many challenges of working overseas.
The participants received Certificates of Participation and were also provided with the addresses and contact details of the Philippine Embassies and Consulates that are located in their targeted countries of destination. Snacks were served to the guests and participants after the seminar. They expressed profound thanks and appreciation for the wealth of knowledge and guidance that they learned from the seminar and for the importance accorded to them by the RCO. END