29 January 2015 - The Philippine Embassy in Seoul gave formal recognition on January 25 to representatives of nine Korean migrant centers, six Filipino community organizations and two individuals for their efforts in helping overseas Filipino workers (OFW) prepare for eventual repatriation and reentry into Philippine society.
“Today marks an important occasion as we recognize and award your earnest and unrelenting service as partners and implementers in the OFW Reintegration Preparedness Program,” Philippine Ambassador to South Korea Raul S. Hernandez said in thanking the awardees in welcome remarks at an afternoon ceremony held at the Embassy Chancery.
“You are our intermediaries to reach the OFWs and our guide in formulating new strategies. With your help, we will find more ways to reach out to be able to assist more OFWs than what we have served so far,” the Ambassador remarked.
“With the help of our valued partners, we ably reached our target clientele and tailored fit our services to their specific needs, provided strategic interventions and monitored the effects of our services. Our partnership facilitated the mobilization of resources and harmonized our direction,” he added.
The Korean government implements support programs for the eventual return of migrants to their home country, which are administered by the accredited migrant and training centers throughout Korea. These programs are complemented by the Philippine government’s OFW Reintegration Preparedness Program (ORPP).
The ORPP is a major thrust of the Philippine government anchored on President Benigno S. Aquino’s pronouncement in his 22-point Labor and Employment Agenda to facilitate the return of OFWs into productive endeavors. It underscores that assistance be rendered to OFWs in achieving financial stability through training, investment and savings program.
The Philippine Embassy implements the reintegration program through the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), which serves as program manager in implementing education, training, skills development and business counseling projects as well as financial literacy seminars in order to help OFWs program their return to the Philippines.
For the period 2012 to 2014, 29 financial literacy seminars were conducted which benefited 1,302 OFWs, 11 entrepreneurial development training and business counseling with 539 beneficiaries were carried out, 45 Personality Development and Value Formation Training with 2,236 beneficiaries and 5 basic courses on baking and sewing with 104 graduates.
“You, our social partners, have played an integral part in preparing our OFWs for their eventual return,” said OWWA Administrator Rebecca J. Calzado in a congratulatory message read by OWWA Officer in Korea Virsie B. Tamayao. “Your selfless efforts, unwavering support and solid commitment are greatly appreciated and recognized.”
The Korean partners are Busan Foreign Workers Support Center,Cheonan MOYSE Catholic Migrants Service Center, Galilea Migrant Workers Pastoral Center in Ansan, Gimhae Support Center for Foreign Workers, Gyeongnam Migrant Center, Hyehwadong Pastoral Center for Filipino Migrants in Seoul, Kasan Migrant Workers' Center, Pyeongtaek Migrant Center and Suwon Emmaus Migrant Center.
The Filipino community partners are the Bucheon Filipino Migrants Community, Filipino Household Service Workers Association in Korea (FilHOSWAK), Filipino Migrant Workers Associationin Pusan, Legstrong Pinoy Bikers Club, Philippine Engineers Association in Korea (PEAK), and United Philippine Community in Yangguk Parish.
The two individual awardees were Arwin M. Bueno, IMG consultant-resource speaker on investment products and Gil S. Hizon, consultant-resource speaker on investing in the stock market.
From 2010 to 2013, the OWWA released Php818 million in its reintegration budget for 9,342 beneficiary members to fund the grant of small start-up livelihood projects and to finance the loan of medium and big businesses through the facility of the Land Bank of the Philippines.
It has also released Php831 million for its various scholarship and education and training programs for 187,613 members and their dependents. END