Wednesday, March 12, 2008 OFW desks in Benguet towns proposed
TO FACILITATE response to the concerns of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and their families, the establishment of a migrant desk in every municipality in Benguet is being pushed.
Board Member Rogelio Leon said there is a need for every town in the province to put up OFW migrant desks, which will look into the plights of OFWs and their families.
"It is necessary for municipalities to establish OFW desks and designate a focal person who will coordinate with other government agencies on the concerns of the OFWs and their families," Leon said.
He authored a resolution asking all municipal mayors to initiate the program. This will complement the plan of putting up a migrant desk at the provincial capitol.
Leon's proposal came following the death of an OFW from Kapangan whose remains were brought home last week from Qatar. The OFW was reported to have committed suicide.
The OFW migrant desk, Leon said, will help OFWs and their families cope with the dilemmas brought by overseas employment by formulating programs and projects for those left behind.
The focal person will also be responsible in coordinating with concerned agencies like the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (Owwa) when problems like deaths of OFWs arise.
Leon said the Owwa would conduct training of the focal persons for the migrant desks.
He also proposed for the migrant desk to document those going abroad so every locality will have a profile of their OFWs. (JC)
