By Mary Jane R. Amarado
ZAMBOANGA CITY, May 30 - Reintegration as a way of mainstreaming
returning Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) into society implemented under the
auspices of the National Reintegration Center for OFWs (NRCO) and Overseas
Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) is the main salient point tackled during
the consultation meeting with OFWs & institutional partners held recently
at the Garden Orchid Hotel here.
The event underscored specific
guidelines and tapped line agencies to avail of the 2 Billion Reintegration
Program, a loan facility for enterprise development where a member OFW or their
legal dependents can avail of P300,000 - P2M from two lending institutions,
Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) and Development Bank of the Philippines
(DBP).
Launched in June 2011, the
reintegration program enables returning OFWs to engage in sustainable
businesses as an alternative for overseas employment. In Region IX, three OFW
returnees were granted their business proposals, namely; Nicasio Bolingkit - Chicken
business expansion, Sattal Jayari for his Fabrication of steel and aluminum glass
works, and Carlita Jalosjos for the
expansion of her restaurant in Dipolog City.
The LBP represented by its Assistant
Vice President/Regional Head Mr. Khurshid Kalabud together
with Department of Trade & Industry (DTI), Technical Education and Skills
Development Authority (TESDA), Department of Social Welfare & Development
(DSWD) and Visayan Forum offered updates and information on their respective
roles and functions for OFWs and their dependents.
Engr. Al-Zamir Lipae, Division Chief of
the DTI presented their flagship projects, the assistance rendered by their
office and the champion products of Region IX identified to have a market
potential.
Meanwhile, Elizabeth Dy of the DSWD
discussed the reintegration program for deportees and returning OFWs which
provides comprehensive services to help alleviate the situation of deportees
through package of services that will buffer the adverse effect of repatriation,
deportation, and unemployment upon return to the Philippines.
On the other hand, Ms. Gloria Patayan
of the Visayan Forum Foundation, Inc. stressed their thrust in empowering OFWs
by providing rights-based protection and justice for the victims of human
trafficking.
“When you (Institutional partners)
continue to support our programs, especially the economic opportunities for
OFWs, you inspire them through their business ventures,” OWWA Regional Director
Hassan Jumdain said. “In response, we commit to improve our services,” he
added.
Highlighting the event was the
turn-over of checks amounting to P1,138,799.18 to 24 scholars under the
Skills-for-Employment Scholarship Program, death and burial benefits to 5
dependents of deceased OFWs and to 2
displaced OFWs from Syria under the Relief Assistance Program.
The Reintegration Program is in line
with President Benigno S. Aquino III’s 22-Point Platform Agenda which is to
assist OFWs in achieving financial stability through training, investment and
saving programs & to facilitate the re-integration of returning OFWs by
favorable terms of investment and other benefits. (MJRA/OWWA9/PIA9/alt)