OWWA-9 still accepting nominations for 2013 MOFYA

By Mary Jane R. Amarado

ZAMBOANGA CITY — The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) in Zampen region is still accepting nominations for 2013 Model Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) Family of the Year Award (MOFYA).

OWWA-9 Regional Director Hassan Gabra T. Jumdain, disclosed that, “This year, there will be a new feature of the search, which is the P50,000 cash prize for the nominator of the winning OFW family both for land-based and sea-based.”

“We are encouraging OFWs, non-government organizations, peoples’ organizations, religious groups, community-based socio-civic organizations and local government units to submit their nominations,” Director Jumdain added.

MOFYA which is now on its ninth year, aims to highlight the best practices of OFWs and their families in overcoming the challenges of migration.The search focuses on OFW families who have nurtured strong family relations and properly managed the financial benefits from overseas employment.

Criteria for nominations include the following: the family is headed by an OFW who is formerly or presently working abroad with a formal or informal contract of employment or work permit, and with proof of OWWA membership; the OFW, either married or single, is the breadwinner of the family and has at least four years of work experience as an OFW; the family is known as a solid/stable family in the locality; and the family is financially stable.

There will be two families to be awarded model OFW families, the sea-based and one land-based. After the regional screening and selection tentatively set on September 2013, regional winners will be named on October 2013, while the national awardees will be proclaimed on November 15, 2013.

Two more awardees will be conferred special awards: Outstanding Achievement in Community Projects and Outstanding Achievement in Entrepreneurship. Last year, Dr. Orlando P. Paber, MOFYA Region 9 awardee for land-based category was awarded with outstanding achievement in Community projects in recognition for his various community involvements.

Nomination forms and other details of the 2013 Model OFW Family search are available at OWWA-9 Office located at the 3^rd floor of Goodwill Center, Mayor Jaldon St., this city, and may be downloaded from the OWWA website www.owwa.gov.ph. (FPG/Mary Jane R. Amarado, OWWA9/PIA9/alt)