Leyte signs MOA with
OFW for establishment of Help Desk
|
OWWA
administrator Carmelita Dimzon and Leyte governor Jericho sign
MOA on the establishment of OFW Help Desk between the Government
of Leyte and OWWA-RWO8 in a simple ceremony held at the
Governor’s Hall, Tacloban City on April 13. Assisting
administrator Dimzon is OWWA 8 regional director Evangeline
Filamor. (VINO R. CUAYZON) |
By
Provincial
Relations Center
April 13, 2012
TACLOBAN CITY – The
Overseas Workers Welfare Administration Regional Office-8 officially
closed an agreement with the province of Leyte for the establishment
of an Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) Help Desk including in the
various municipalities in the province.
The MOA was signed by
OWWA Administrator Carmelita Dimzon and Leyte Governor Carlos Jericho
L. Petilla where the governor emphasized that “constant
communications” between the OFWs and their families should be
maintained especially with the advantages that new technology now
provides.
According to
Administrator Dimzon, the set up of OFW Help Desk was one of the
marching order of President Benigno Aquino III in looking after the
welfare of overseas workers.
Dimzon explained that
in recognition of the importance of a multi-sectoral approach in
bringing in their programs and services closer to OFWs and their
families in various parts of the country, OWWA has been partnering
with the different LGUs for the establishment of Migrant OFW Help
Desks in every locality.
She stressed that in
directly linking with the LGUs through the OFW Help Desks, the
government could bring its program and services closer to the OFWs and
their families, down to the grass roots level.
Under the set-up, LGUs
will be designating a focal person for the said program and OWWA will
be providing capacity building training and seminars to ensure that
such focal person has the right capability and information to handle
the concerns of OFWs in the area and knows how to link such concerns
to concerned agencies such as OWWA, POEA and Department of Foreign
Affairs.
Meanwhile, Gov.
Petilla said that they can likewise forge partnerships with OWWA in
setting up communication centers where families of OFWs based locally
can regularly connect and interact with their loved ones working
abroad.
The governor said
present communication facilities make it easier, cheaper and faster to
talk with families and loved ones abroad.
“We are ready to
provide them with the equipments, if this is one way that we could
help,” Gov. Petilla said.
