Twenty-five Filipino organizations with their members attended the recent Reintegration Preparedness Program held at the Copthorne Hotel in Kuwait City. The full-day seminar was organized for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) to provide information on services and privileges available for them upon their return to the Philippines.
The one-day event which was organized by The Philippine Embassy, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) and Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in Kuwait, offered talks on the Programs and Services of OWWA delivered by Welfare Officer Eduardo Bellido, loan benefits from the Landbank of the Philippines by its representative, Francis Fellone, programs and services from the Department of Agriculture by Gil Herico, Department of Trade and Industry by Atty. Llewelyn Perez, Social Security System benefits by Jeremy Redulla and Pag Ibig Fund from Mac Khalil.
Highlights of the occasion included opening remarks from Officer in Charge Labor Attaché Teresa Olgado, brief message from Vice Consul Charleson Hermosura and closing remarks from Welfare Officer Genevieve Ardiente. Secretaries from different recruitment agencies Filcro and PhilAseak provided entertainment with songs and dances. An open forum and lunch concluded the event.
In a brief interview with OIC Labor Attache Teresa Olgado, said that the Reintegration Program is an essential program of the POLO OWWA for OFWs to better understand and gather information about services and programs the Philippine government has allocated for returning OFWs. “In recent years, programs and services from different government agencies and institutions have been included to cater to OFWs and we hope that they can have more options in coming years. These programs are for our OFWs who would like to return home for good, as well for our returning distressed workers,” added Olgado.
Herico added that the Department of Agriculture provides programs and services for OFWs who are interested in organic farming, livestock raising, aquaculture farming and other varied projects for OFWs and that even when abroad they can acquire potential opportunities to earn extra. Atty. Perez, in conclusion, said that the program has been organized in connection with the celebration of Migrant Workers day 2019.
