By Brian Campued
In line with the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to intensify the whole-of-government approach to the impact of the ongoing tensions in the Middle East, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) launched the “Bayanihan Para sa Balikbayang Manggagawa National Reintegration Network” (BBM-NRN) in Quezon City on Monday.
This as the number of repatriated overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from the Middle East, including their dependents, reached 4,000 since the government commenced its repatriation efforts in February.
According to DMW Sec. Hans Leo Cacdac, the initiative is pursuant to the President’s directive that no Filipino should be left behind amid the global disruptions caused by the Middle East conflict.
“Kami sa Department of Migrant Workers, handa po kami—ang isa sa strengths namin yung tinatawag na job matching… tayo po ay meron pong at least 200,000 job orders na nakaabang for work abroad para doon sa mga nagma-match ng skillsets ng mga nanunumbalik,” Cacdac said.
Through the BBM-NRN, returning OFWs were given access to services such as livelihood assistance, job matching, skills training, and psychosocial services.
Around 8,000 local and overseas job opportunities were offered by recruitment agencies and private companies, while government agencies, including the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), the Departments of Trade and Industry (DTI), Departments of Education (DepEd), Departments of Labor and Employment (DOLE), and Departments of Health (DOH), as well as PhilHealth, Pag-IBIG Fund, and Social Security System (SSS).
Meanwhile, OWWA Administrator PY Caunan noted that BBM-NRN serves as a one-stop reintegration hub to cater to the needs of repatriated OFWs and their families.
“Ang reintegration ay hindi kaya ng isa lang [na] ahensiya; ‘yan ang bilin ng ating mahal na Pangulo—sama-sama, bayanihan para tulungan yung ating mga OFWs,” Caunan said on the sidelines of the BBM-NRN launch.
Various gov’t programs for OFWs
During the event, three OFWs received loans to support their businesses and livelihoods in the country through the OFW Negosyo Fund of the DTI and the Small Business Corporation (SB Corp.).
“Kabilang sa mga benepisyaryo si Jonahlou Bilaro na tumanggap ng P100,000.00 para sa kanyang Events Management Service, si Marie Anduyon na nabigyan ng P200,000.00 para sa Water Refilling Station, at si Dan Zeus Almarines na tumanggap ng P580,000.00 para sa pagpapalago ng kanyang pharmacy business,” the DMW said.
Launched in March, the OFW Negosyo Fund aims to help returning OFWs start over or expand their existing businesses in the country. Under the program, payment of principal and interest is waived for the first year on eligible products, while loans up to P5 million require no collateral.
The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), meanwhile, provided Certificates of Scholarship Grant Commitment for repatriated OFWs from the Middle East who want to enroll in various TESDA courses such as construction, hospitality, caregiving, IT, or entrepreneurship.
“Hindi biro ang sakripisyo ng ating OFWs para alagaan ang kani-kanilang mga pamilya. Itong free skills training at certification na ito ay isang paraan para tayo naman ang mag-alaga sa kanila, at tumulong sa kanilang makabangon at magsimula uli ngayong panahon ng krisis,” TESDA Secretary Kiko Benitez said.
DepEd, for its part, brought its “Sa Pinas, Ikaw ang Ma’am at Sir” (SPIMS) Program closer to returning educators who wished to teach in public schools across the country. Other DepEd initiatives for OFWs include on-site registration for ALS Accreditation and Equivalency (A&E) Test and the Philippine Educational Placement Test (PEPT), as well as the rollout of Senior High School Voucher Program for their children. (with report from Kenneth Paciente / PTV News)
-jpv
