By Mary Jane R. Amarado
ZAMBOANGA CITY, June 11 - - The Overseas Workers Welfare
Administration (OWWA) of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), together
with its social and institutional partners joined the Overseas Filipino Workers
(OFWs) and their families in celebrating Migrant Workers Day on June 7, 2012 at
the Western Mindanao State University gymnasium.
Anchored on the theme, “OFW,
sa Sipag at Galing, Bilib kami sa Iyo,” the Migrant Workers Day celebration
was geared towards recognizing the hard work, great sacrifices for family, and
the valuable contribution of over 9 million OFWs around the globe to the
development of the country.
“Through the years,
OWWA has presented itself as an institution that never wavers in its commitment
to protect the interest and welfare of its regular members without ignoring the
needs of undocumented migrant workers,” Regional Director Hassan Jumdain
said during his message.
A One-Stop-Shop & Job Fair was set up to bring an array
of membership services, business opportunities, employment facilitation and
other services.
The One-Stop-Shop of government services was made successful
by the commendable participation of the various agencies, namely: Department of
Foreign Affairs (DFA), Department of Trade & Industry (DTI), Technical
Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Social Security System
(SSS), Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PHIC), Home Development Mutual
Fund (HDMF), National Statistics Office (NSO), Philippine Overseas Employment
Administration (POEA) & Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA).
Aside from the services clinics of these agencies, banking
institutions like Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI), Banco De Oro (BDO) and
Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) provided easier access to loans, insurance
and investment opportunities thus encouraging OFWs and
their families to manage their finances through savings and investment.
Eleven (11) licensed recruitment agencies participated on
the mini-job fair offering more than two thousand job orders from 35 employers.
The event was graced by City Mayor Celso Lobregat together
with 1st District Councilor Myra Paz Abubakar; 1st District
Councilor Melchor Rey Sadain, DOLE 9 Regional Director Sisinio B. Cano and POEA
Officer-In-Charge Renegold Macarulay.
During the raffle draw, 1 lucky winner took home a brand new
Blackberry Phone from Globe Telecom; 10 winners won the BPI cash card with a
500 pesos deposit and 3 winners won 1-year coverage of PhilHealth membership while
another 3 winners were provided by NSO a free authentication of birth
certificate. On the other hand, 3 winners won P500 pesos each, 1 winner took
home a flat iron and a rice cooker courtesy of ZC LM Enterprises & Zamboanga
Maritime Training Center, respectively. A 16” desk fan was given courtesy of
USANA Health Sciences. Products like Permex tuna, Natasha & MSE women’s
wear, Go Negosyo books, glasswares, T-shirts, mugs, bags and office gift items
were also raffled off.
The Migrant Workers Day celebration was supported by Globe
Telecom as the major sponsor and local sponsors namely: Pepsi-Cola Philippines,
Permex Producer & Exporter Corporation, Sun Gate Pawnshop, Zamboanga
Maritime Training Center, ZC LM Enterprises, Natasha, USANA Health Sciences,
Asia’s Latin City Training Institute, PhilHealth, DFA, TESDA, SSS, DTI, NSO,
Pag-IBIG Fund, STI College Zamboanga, CADDNET Computer Institute, Inc.,
Philippine National Red Cross, Bank of the Philippine Islands, Banco De Oro, PC
911, TMJ International Manpower Services, BG Investment & Development
Corporation & Paperline with the Daily Zamboanga Times, Zamboanga Today,
DXWR 96.3 i-FM, Radyo ng Bayan, RMN, ABS-CBN Zamboanga and GMA News as media
partners.
Migrant Workers’ Day is celebrated every 7th of
June nationwide and in 36-overseas posts of OWWA to commemorate the signing into
law of Republic Act 8042 or the Migrant Workers Act of 1995.
(MJRA/OWWA/PIA9/alt)
