(Ime Sornito / Panay News)
May 1, 2021
https://www.panaynews.net/mocha-uson-leads-distribution-of-assistance-to-ilonggo-ofws/
Eighty-four Ilonggo beneficiaries received assistance from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) yesterday.
OWWA Regional Welfare Office 6, in partnership with the city and provincial governments of Iloilo, organized an awarding of OWWA reintegration and scholarship grants to Ilonggo overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) at the Iloilo Freedom Grandstand here and Iloilo Sports Complex in La Paz district.
Deputy OWWA administrators Esther Margaux “Mocha” Uson and Faustino Sabarez III handed over the checks to the beneficiaries.
“Napaka importante po nito dahil nag sakripisyo na sila (OFWs) sa ibang bansa tapos hindi na rin nila nakasama ang kanilang pamilya,” Uson said.
“All–out po ang ating gobyerno sa pagbigay sa kanila ng tulong para makapagsimula sila muli,” she added.
Twenty-five beneficiaries were residents of Iloilo City while 59 were from the different municipalities in the province.
Under the “Balik Pinas Balik Hanap Buhay” Program, a livelihood program for OFWs who had been victims of maltreatment and abuses abroad, 35 recipients were able to avail themselves of P20,000 cash assistance.
“Ang tinutuyo naton makahatag sang bisan gamay nga capital para sa na-distress nga mga OFWs,” said Rizza Joy Moldes, officer-in-charge of OWWA-6.
“Ang amon pangabay sa ila nga mangin seed capital ini sa pagtukod sang ila kaugalingon nga negosyo,” she added.
Meanwhile, under OWWA’s “Project Alalay para sa mga Anak-OFWs sa Panahon ng Pandemya” Program, 37 were listed beneficiaries.
The P20,000 assistance can be utilized as tuition fees or book allowance of these children, Moldes said.
Teaching kits worth P20,000 were also distributed to seven teachers displaced abroad under the “Sa Pinas Ikaw Ang Ma’am and Sir” program.
They were also given opportunity to apply for plantilla positions in government or public schools.
Meantime, under the Tertiary Education Subsidy for Dependents of Repatriated/ Displaced Overseas Filipino Workers (Tabang OFWs) program, five recipients received P30,000 educational assistance.
“Mahal na mahal ng Pangulong (Rodrigo) Duterte ang ating OFWs at kanilang pamilya,” Uson stressed.
Department of Labor and Employment regional director Cyril Ticao also assisted in the distribution of checks.
Iloilo City’s Mayor Jerry Treñas was also present at the Iloilo Freedom Grandstand. A similar activity at the Iloilo Sports Complex was attended by Provincial Administrator Atty. Suzette Mamon on behalf of Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr.
OWWA Region 6 aims to increase the level of awareness of OFWs and partner local government units (LGUs) in Western Visayas on reintegration programs and services and also helping returning OFWs and their families through giving livelihood opportunities and other income-generating means.