3 December 2014 – The Phlippine Inter-Agency Committee-Month of Overseas Filipinos (IAC-MOF) kicked off this year’s celebration of the month of Overseas Filipinos in Singapore that coincided with the observance of the International Migrants Day with the holding of an International Forum on Migration, “Promoting Migrants’ Health for Sustainable Development,” on November 29.

The inaugural event, held at the CANA Catholic Centre, 55 Waterloo Street, was co-organized by the Philippine Embassy in cooperation with the Archdiocesan Commission for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People (ACMI).

Close to 200 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) as well as representatives of the Philippine Embassy and attached agencies, headed by Philippine Ambassador to Singapore Antonio A. Morales, participated in the event.

The forum served as a platform for OFWs and Philippine government representatives to exchange views on services that are available to OFWs and their families.

Forum speakers included Ms. Carmelita Nuqui, Chairperson of IAC-MOF; Mr. Amado Isabelo Dizon,VP International Operations Group, Pag-IBIG Fund; Ms. Jane M.N. Sta. Ana, Board Member, PHILHEALTH; Ms. Rosanna Siray, Welfare Officer (OWWA), Philippine Embassy; Ms. Marites C. Marin, Singapore Representative, SSS; and Ms. Ellen Elecanal, ACMI Representative.

In his welcome remarks, Ambassador Morales underscored the support of the Philippine Embassy for the forum, describing it as a timely initiative as it is “now widely acknowledged that migration carries a development potential due to the intellectual, cultural, social and financial capital and financial contributions of migrants to the social and economic development of their communities of origin and destination.”

Ambassador Morales thanked the organizers, led by IAC-MOF, for their efforts and encouraged the participants to have a healthy exchange of ideas with the resource speakers for the purpose of improving the delivery of services, particularly those related to health, to migrant workers. END