The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, provincial and local government units of Benguet and Mountain Pro-vince strengthened their partnership by the signing a memorandum of agreement between OWWA headed by Deputy Administrator Emma Sinclair and OWWA-Cordillera OIC Director Luzviminda Tumaliuan and the governors and mayors of Benguet and Mountain Province in Baguio City on June 8.
Under the MOA, the local chief executives (LCEs) of the two provinces will establish OFW help desks and will designate officers who will look into the concerns and needs of overseas workers and their families in their respective areas of responsibility and committed to implement programs and services for overseas workers.
For OWWA, it will provide continuing information and capacity building activities to LGU personnel regarding its programs and services, as well as to conduct regular consultation, monitoring and coordination with the designated local migrant desk officers to ensure prompt and effective delivery of the programs and services for overseas workers and their families.
In her message, Sinclair thanked the LCEs of Benguet and Mountain Province as they are a link for the OWWA to reach Filipino migrant workers even in the remote areas of the two provinces.
“It is really an honor for OWWA naka-partner namin kayo because there are places na hindi namin marating but with your participation, napaparating natin ang gobyerno sa kanila kahit saan silang tuktok ng bundok”;
Tumaliuan also expressed their gratitude to their LCE partners.
She said with the OFW help desk, more overseas workers could be accommodated for other programs and services of OWWA such as scholarships of their children, medical assistance, and livelihood.
Mountain Province Gov. Bonifacio Lacwasan, Jr. and Benguet League of Municipalities president and Tublay Mayor Armando Lauro also thanked the OWWA as they committed to deliver overseas workers welfare and protection programs and servi-ces in their localities. – Carlito Dar
