At least 35 government agencies and partner institutions gathered at the Ilocos Norte Centennial Arena on Thursday to provide one-stop government services for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and their families.
The initiative aims to make essential government services more accessible to migrant workers while strengthening support for their welfare, livelihood, and reintegration into local communities.
Through the service caravan, participating agencies and institutions brought their respective services closer to OFWs and their families, allowing them to seek assistance and obtain information in one venue.
The activity also highlighted programs designed to support migrant workers, including those returning to the country and those exploring livelihood and business opportunities in their home communities.
Beyond service delivery, the event recognized the significant contributions of OFWs to their families and the country’s economic development, according to Director Andrea Luisa Anolin of the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW).
“We are happy for this wide-scale event of migration agencies not only for our OFWs but also for our non-resident Filipinos,” Anolin said, citing that the convergence project should not only last for a day but should become a regular fair in support of the Marcos administration’s efforts to bring government services closer to people.
Along with agriculture and tourism, foreign remittances are a top-tier primary pillar of Ilocos households’ economy.
Their remittances, skills, and entrepreneurial initiatives continue to support household incomes and contribute to economic activity nationwide.
“This event is very helpful for us who live in faraway places. Thank you very much for this one-stop shop. We are so lucky to avail of various services from the government,” Leah Cabradilla, president of the Adams Federated OFW Association, said in an interview on Thursday.
Through the Tulong Pangkabuhayan sa Pag-unlad ng Samahang OFWs (Tulong PUSO) program of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, she said her group received a PHP1 million livelihood grant to support their community-based livelihood in Adams, Ilocos Norte, including meat and fruit wine processing.
During the event, at least three distressed OFWs from the province also received PHP15,000 each under the DMW’s Enhanced Livelihood Program (ELPOR).
“I am thankful for this amount, which I can use to start a food cart business,” said Chariglo Casem, 51, from Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte, an ELPOR beneficiary.
Through an agency, Casem said, she worked as a domestic helper in Kuwait, but went home after two weeks because of hardship.
Another distressed OFW, Menchie Cabugon, 34, from Paoay, Ilocos Norte, said she looks forward to buying her home service beauty kits through the livelihood assistance she received from DMW.
Cabugon said she needed to come home after working in Lebanon as a domestic helper for nine years and four months to be with her family.
During the OFW service fair, participants were also given pointers about financial literacy and entrepreneurship to help OFWs and their families manage sustainable livelihood projects and work toward long-term financial stability.
Specifically, practical guidance on financial planning, budgeting, and basic business management was discussed, including other programs and services for OFWs and their families. (PNA)
