The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), through the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), signed on Monday, June 7 three memoranda of understanding (MOU) with three separate agencies as a "present" of sorts for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
"I am happy to announce to our dear OFWs that these memoranda of understanding are all geared toward strengthening your deployment as well as reintegration efforts," DOLE Secretary Silvestre Bello III said during the mixed live and virtual signing.
The event took place during this year's celebration of Migrant Workers’ Day.
Joining Bello at the DOLE office was National Housing Authority (NHA) General Manager Marcelino Escalada Jr., and National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) Secretary Saidamen Balt Pangarungan. Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur Tugade took part in the activity virtually.
These three agencies served as DOLE's partner agencies in the MOUs. Also on hand was Administrator Hans Leo Cacdac of OWWA, which is a subordinate office of DOLE.
"This is our government’s profound gesture of gratitude for your sacrifices and hard work not only for your family but also for our country," Bello further said of the MOUs.
"First, OWWA and the National Housing Authority have signed the socialized and low-cost housing program for overseas Filipino workers. Makakaasa ang ating OFWs ng abot-kaya at disenteng programang pabahay para sa kanilang mga pamilya (With this, OFWs can expect an affordable and decent housing program for their families)," Bello said.
He narrated that he saw the sample housing units and thought that "They looked like homes from Forbes Park."
The second MOU involves OWWA and the NCMF, which shall work together for the review and enhancement of the existing OWWA manual on Culture Familiarization and Language Training for domestic workers bound for the Middle East.
Bello said the MOU is important given the sheer number of OFWs in the Middle East. He said there are over one million Filipinos working in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) alone.
"This review, with the help of the Commission on Muslim Filipinos, is essential to provide our household service workers with the knowledge and information that will help them cope with their new work environment, especially during their first few months of working abroad," he said.
Finally, there's the third present in the form of job vacancies from the DOTr.
"DOTr has signed an agreement with OWWA to provide a list of vacant positions and skills required of its contractors that OFWs can apply for. In short, returning OFWs can look forward to seeking possible employment or productive reintegration opportunities in the transportation industry," Bello said.
Tugade was the most enthusiastic among the heads of agencies who participated in the signing as he boasted of the huge number of jobs available under the Duterte administration's "Build, Build, Build" program. He didn't give an exact figure.
"This is a prime opportunity for you to work at home ," Tugade said. He noted that while the salaries aren't as high as those offered abroad, those who will avail of local jobs "won't be at a disadvantage".
DOLE's celebration of Migrant Workers' Day ended with Bello conducting a virtual meet and greet with labor attachés and OFWs from different parts of the globe.