OFW Digital Literacy Drive Launches in Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, Russia
The Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in Berlin conducts “The Digital OFW”, in partnership with Digital Tayo from Facebook and BounceBack Philippines, via Zoom on 28 March 2021. (Photo courtesy of POLO-Berlin)
BERLIN 29 March 2021 – Over 120 migrant Filipinos in Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, and Russia participated in a pilot online digital literacy training program entitled, “The Digital OFW” conducted by the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in Berlin, in partnership with Digital Tayo from Facebook and BounceBack Philippines, via Zoom on 28 March 2021.
In her message to the participants, Philippine Ambassador to Germany Ma. Theresa B. Dizon-de Vega said, “Dahil sa pandemya, nagkaroon ng acceleration of digital services sa pang araw-araw nating buhay. Nakita po namin na mayroong digital divide sa ating overseas migrant community kaya minabuti naming gawin ang training na ito. Para walang maiwanan.”
With 90% of the participants being female, the training forms part of the culminating activities in celebration of the International Women’s Month. Ambassador de Vega was joined by Philippine Ambassador to Belgium Eduardo Jose de Vega, Philippine Ambassador to The Netherlands Jose Eduardo Malaya lll, and Philippine Ambassador to Russia Carlos Sorreta who also gave their remarks at the opening part of the virtual program.
The Digital OFW is designed to equip overseas Filipino workers with basic skills on navigating online services and using social media responsibly. POLO-Berlin walked the participants through the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) mobile application and the Abot-Kamay ang Pagtulong (AKAP) online application form. BounceBack Philippines and Digital Tayo from Facebook delivered respective lectures on the development of necessary skills, etiquette and discernment to become effective digital OFWs.
Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III, in his recorded message, informed OFWs that most government regulations and services are already being disseminated and delivered online, hence the need for the training program. As a way forward, Labor Attaché Delmer Cruz shared the Digital OFW´s future plan to organize a trainer and mentor´s pool that will cascade succeeding learning sessions. END
The pilot batch of “The Digital OFW” on 28 March 2021. (Photos courtesy of POLO-Berlin)
For more information, visit https://www.berlinpe.dfa.gov.ph, https://www.philippine-embassy.de or https://www.facebook.com/PHinGermany.