A center in Passi City has made it easier for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), including those from neighboring municipalities, to avail of government services.

Public Employment Services Office (PESO) Iloilo manager Cynthia Dario on Monday said while other local government units have an OFW desk, Passi City, which has the largest number of OFWs in Iloilo province, has its own building.

“Mayor Stephen Palmares built the building purposely for the programs and services intended for OFWs. That makes a difference why Passi City made it as the grand winner,” Dario said, referring to the recognition the city received in the 2024 Governor’s Award: Provincial Search for Best PESO.

Passi City Department Head I and PESO manager Rhea Palomillo said Palmares decided to build the center to address the hardships of OFWs every time they come home and process their documents.

The mayor himself has three siblings who are OFWs, she said.

Palomillo said the building houses government offices catering to OFW requirements like the National Bureau of Investigation, Social Security System, Bureau of Internal Revenue, Home Development Mutual Fund (Pag-IBIG Fund), Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, and the Public Attorney’s Office.

“They can save time and effort. Our OFWs usually stay here for around two weeks so they can spend that with their families,” she said.

In addition to OFW programs and services, the Best PESO was also judged based on the impact of performance, employment facilitation, and leadership and membership with active involvement in any organization contributing to employment. (PNA)