BATANGAS CITY – The provincial government will launch its localized “BaLinkbayan” website following the forging of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO).
The website is designed to establish systematic and comprehensive linkages with Batangueño migrant workers and professionals overseas and their families.
Batangas public information office chief Jenelyn A. Aguilera disclosed to Philippine News Agency over the weekend that officials from the CFO had officially met with Governor Hermilando Mandanas at the provincial capitol last Aug. 2 for the signing of the MOA on “BaLinkbayan”: One-Stop Online Portal for Diaspora Engagement.”
The signatories to the agreement were Mandanas and CFO Executive Director Undersecretary Astravel Pimentel-Naik, with Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office chief Joy Montalbo and other officials as witnesses.
Aguilera said the “BaLinkbayan” is an e-governance project of the national government under the auspices of the CFO as a migration and development (M&D) initiative.
She said the localized “BaLinkbayan” website will be launched this December, citing Mandanas as saying that the CFO-led online project will provide a mechanism in effectively mainstreaming migration and development at the local level and encourage local initiatives in the province.
“Ito ay isang paraan ng pagkonekta sa mga indibidwal at mga komunidad sa ibang bansa sa Pilipinas (This will pave the way for establishing connectivity with individuals and communities abroad to their Philippine homeland,” Mandanas said.
According to Aguilera, besides the provision of access through online services of the government, the “BaLinkbayan” Bukod project also encourages overseas Filipinos to embark on educational exchanges, medical missions and volunteer programs in the country.
“It is good to establish a localized BaLinkbayan website, especially here since Batangas is one among the leading provinces with the highest number of migrant workers,” Director Marita Del Rosario-Apattad, BaLinkBayan Project Manager, said.
The partnership agreement between Batangas province and CFO would also showcase the province’s business and investment climate to attract more investors, especially from the Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), to boost the economy and alleviate poverty. (Saul Pa-a/PNA)
