Tuesday, February 05, 2008 Owwa provides aid to migrant workers By Joy Romares-Sevilla
THE Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (Owwa), an attached agency of the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) tasked to provide welfare assistance to registered migrant workers and their dependents, identified several projects for the overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
These projects include the Livelihood Development Program, the OFW Groceria Project, the Owwa Education and Training Program, Workers' Repatriation, Legal Assistance, and the Family Welfare Program.
The Livelihood Development Program provides entrepreneurial development services and credit facilities to OFWs, their families, and organizations, while the OFW Groceria Project provides livelihood and self-employment opportunities to OFWs and their families through the establishment of 1,000 grocery stores nationwide.
In an interview, Owwa Southern Mindanao regional Director Ron Lionel Bartolome said a total of 28 grocery stores have been established in the region as of the second quarter of 2007.
"The project is an interest-free loan assistance package extended in the form of merchandise goods worth P50,000 per qualified OFW Family Circle beneficiary," Bartolome told Sun.Star Davao.
Bartolome added that a series of continuing skills training courses are also provided to enhance the entrepreneurial and technical skills of the family circles running and managing their stores.
The Owwa Education and Training program, on the other hand, provides educational assistance and skills development services for member OFWs and their dependents. The Workers' Repatriation includes all processes and services to affect the return of the OFW to his home and rehabilitation if required.
This program may be directly provided by Owwa or in coordination with network government agencies or private organizations.
The Legal Assistance Program includes the provision of local legal assistance that includes services that are necessary in the consideration of welfare services of the OFWs particularly those who have pending concerns with their agencies and employers.
Lastly, the Family Welfare Program includes various assistance services for the OFWs and their families such as counseling on family-related problems.
