DAVAO CITY (PIA) – Around 1,200 Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and their families throughout the region were honored and recognized for their invaluable contributions to the nation in a recent annual OFW Family Day celebration.
Most of the participants were members of the OFW Family Circles (OFCs) organized by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Region XI.
The event, held in Bansalan town in Davao del Sur, was filled with fun and interactive activities designed to foster family bonding, including raffle draws and games with exciting giveaways.
OWWA XI raffled P89,000.00 worth of cash prizes, two livelihood packages worth P15,000, Christmas baskets worth P1,000.00 each, noche buena packs, five-kilo rice packs, appliances and loot bags for OFW children.
The Balik Manggagawa OFW Association, a group of distressed OFWs from Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur, and Jesa Rodilas from Tinongtongan, Bansalan were winners of the livelihood package, which both decided to use the financial assistance as additional capital fund for their existing sari-sari stores.
Two former OFWs from Mabini, Davao de Oro and Kiblawan, Davao del Sur won the cash prize of P10,000 each.
Gina Mae Quimora, OWWA XI Officer-in-Charge, said that the event is part of the agency’s commitment to honor OFWs and their families, and as a way of giving back to the modern-day heroes and their families.
“It is our wish that all our OFW clients including their families will be given the needed assistance in line with the OWWA’s mandate,” Quimora stated in her message.
She urged the OFWs and their families to feel free to visit the OWWA Regional Office or the nearest Public Employment Service Office (PESO) in their municipality to raise their concerns.
Bansalan municipal councilor Saripada Macarampat expressed gratitude to OWWA XI for choosing the municipality as the venue for this year’s family day celebration, as he assured the local government’s continued service to the OFWs and their families who need immediate assistance.
“It is a true privilege for our town to host this significant event, and we are incredibly honored to be part of the celebration,” he said.
This year’s theme, “Nagkakaisang Pamilyang OFWs Para sa Bagong Pilipinas” emphasized resiliency, courage and strength demonstrated by the Filipino family in overcoming the challenges, especially during migration. (CLC/PIA Davao/OWWA XI)
