TUGUEGARAO CITY — Forty two former overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who are now public school teachers were each awarded with PHP20,000 worth of teaching kit by the Department of Labor and Employment in Region 2 (DOLE 2), through the National Reintegration Center for OFWs (NRCO) at the People’s Gymnasium here over the weekend.
The awarding was headed by DOLE Assistant Secretary Federico V. Abuan, Jr. together with DOLE 2 OIC Regional Director lawyer Sarah Buena S. Mirasol, OIC Assistant Regional Director Atty. Russel A. Jallorina, Director Ruben B. Diciano of Department of Trade and Industry – Region 2 (DTI 2) and Tuguegarao City Councilor Imogen Claire M. Callangan.
The teaching kit awarded to each of the beneficiaries included a laptop, mouse, external drive, flash drive, and speaker, all of which are expected to aid them in their teaching career.
The said former OFWs were granted with Teacher I permanent plantilla position after undergoing thorough evaluation by the NRCO and Department of Education (DepEd).
The granting of teaching kits is part of the “Sa Pinas, Ikaw ang Ma’am/Sir” or SPIMS program, which aims to provide opportunity to OFWs who are licensed teachers, to practice their profession in the Philippines.
One of the SPIMS beneficiaries is Rodelyn M. Sisineros, a former domestic worker in Malaysia. She thanked the DOLE–NRCO for the kit she received. “Maraming, maraming salamat po sa DOLE at NRCO sa pagbibigay ng ganitong tulong lalo na sa katulad kong dating OFW na nais nang manilbihan dito sa ating bansa (Thank you so much, DOLE and NRCO for giving this kind of assistance to former OFWs like me who now want to serve in our country),” she said.
Regional Director Mirasol said this project is just among the programs of the department and is solely offered to OFWs who have opted to stay in the Philippines.
“May this give inspiration to other OFWs abroad to realize that pursuing their dream in their own country is not impossible with the help and assistance of the government. They just need to explore and reach out,” she said. ( Simeon Dilan/PNA)
