28 September 2016—The Philippine Consulate General in Milan met with Ms. Estrella Mai Dizon-Añonuevo, Executive Director of Atikha Overseas Workers and Communities Initiative Inc. (AOWCII), on September 22 to discuss AOWCII programs and activities.

 Consul Conrado Demdem Jr., OWWA Officer and Acting Labor Attaché Ms. Jocelyn Hapal, Consular Assistant Ms. Helen Grace Tabora, and Filipino Community leaders from Milan, Torino and Genova attended the meeting.

Consul Demdem and Executive-Director Dizon-Añonuevo acknowledged the enormous contribution of OFWs to the Philippine economy, and agreed that they should utilize their savings more productively by investing them in the Philippines.  Executive-Director Dizon-Añonuevo said OFWs could invest in the areas of aqua culture, integrated organic farming, and eco-tourism.    

In implementing AOWCII’s various projects, such as leadership training and reintegration counseling, Executive-Director Dizon-Añonuevo said her organization continued to partner with government agencies, including the Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of Labor and Employment, and Department of Trade and Industry, the different LGUs, and with international bodies like the International Organization for Migration. 

AOWCII was instrumental in bringing a number of Philippine legislators to Milan in June 2015 to speak on the role of OFWs in spurring Philippine economic growth at a Global Forum on Remittances and Development side event. END