CEBU CITY, Cebu (PIA) — The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) in Region 7 recently released over P3 million in financial assistance to 80 former overseas workers who have returned home for good in Central Visayas.
The financial aid was distributed to beneficiaries of the following DMW programs: Sa Pinas Ikaw ang Maam at Sir (SPIMS) with 35 beneficiaries, Livelihood Development Assistance Program (LDAP) with 10 beneficiaries, and the Agarang Kalinga at Saklolo para sa mga OFWs na Nangangailangan (AKSYON) Fund with 35 beneficiaries.
DMW Secretary Hans Leo J. Cacdac, who led the distribution in Cebu City, said the financial aid serves as a tribute to the sacrifices of the Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs).
“This is really something that we provide to you as according to the directive of our President, sa Bagong Pilipinas, ang serbisyo sang offices sang gobyerno, maghatag kami sa amon lain-laing nga mga serbisyo ug programa para makatabang kami sa inyo,” Cacdac told the beneficiaries.
(This is really something that we provide to you based on the directive of our President, that under the Bagong Pilipinas vision, we are here to offer various services and programs that will help you.)
SPIMS is a reintegration program for the Philippine licensed teachers who were formerly working abroad, either teaching or non-teaching, to help them obtain a teaching position in a public school.
LDAP is a livelihood program for the distressed OFWs who wish to return to the country and start anew, while AKSYON Fund aims to provide legal, medical, financial, and other interventions such as repatriation, shipment of remains, evacuation, and rescue.
“All of these are opportunities for all of you, gusto namin makatabang sa inyo and makaprovide ng moving-on opportunities for you to improve your lives,” Cacdac said.
(All of these are opportunities for all of you. We want to help all of you and provide you with moving-on opportunities to improve your lives.)
‘Unexpected help’
Leah Villanueva, 35, the lone SPIMS recipient from Siquijor, shared that she was not expecting to receive any financial aid when the government has already helped her secure a teacher position in a public school.
“That was my expectation nga I thought matagaan ra ko’g permanent [teaching position] but upon knowing nga naa daw ko’y cash assistance or what they call teaching kit assistance, sobra pud mi kalipay gamit jud siya,” Villanueva said.
(That was my expectation that I thought I would only be given a permanent teaching position, but upon learning that I also have cash assistance, I am very happy because it is a big help.)
Each SPIMS beneficiary received P20,000 to help them with the necessary teaching materials needed for their classes.
Villanueva said the financial aid will help her realize her desired teaching methods or pedagogy.
“Kani nga amount makatabang gyud siya’g dako for us aron mapalit gyud ang mga teaching materials nga magamit namo sa among mga estudyante, magamit namo to have a better teacher style, or learning sa mga bata,” Villanueva said.
(This amount will really help us in buying teaching materials that we can use for our students. We can use them to have a better teaching or learning style for our children.) (JJT/PIA7)
