CALAMBA CITY, Laguna (PIA) — The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) IV-A has unveiled its new regional office in Calamba City, as a “home” for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in the Calabarzon region.
OWWA IV-A Regional Director Allan Ignacio, who led the opening ceremony said the new office space located on the Ground Floor of Parian Commerce Center II, Barangay Parian will provide a more comfortable experience for OFWs who transact with the agency.
Currently, CALABARZON has 1,260,227 registered OFWs, the largest among all the regions in the country.
Ignacio added that the new office is capable of accepting applications for various reintegration, education, and training programs available to OFWs.
Notable officials present at the event were the Former Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Secretary and OWWA Administrator Marianito Roque, Lumban Mayor Rolando Ubatay, and representatives from regional line agencies and local government units.
In his message, Roque reminded OWWA officials and employees to continue providing public service to their members and their families through the OFW Family Circles (OFCs), a program he spearheaded during his term as OWWA Administrator.
He emphasized that the Family Circle is the backbone of OWWA. When OFWs face difficulties at work or in foreign countries, the support of their families in the Philippines is their strength.
“After all, ang objective po ng OWWA ay maserbisyuhan kayong mga miyembro, kayong mga Pilipino, at kayong mga manggagawang Pilipino at lalong-lalo na po ang mga kaanak na nandito. Emphasis po sa mga anak.”
Roque also commended OWWA's direction of building more linkages with local government units to reach more of their members. He believes that expanding the organization will enable more service delivery, helping more families of Filipino workers in Calabarzon.
“It is very essential, not only for the existence but for the delivery of public service. You have to expand your wings para mas malaki, mas malayo ang marating ninyo. Upang sa ganun by expanding that wings or network, marami kayong makakasalo sa pagbibigay ng tulong sa mga kamag-anak ng mga manggagawang Pilipino dito sa Calabarzon,” Roque stressed.
During the opening ceremony, the OWWA IV-A also awarded checks to qualified members and their families for their medical, educational, livelihood, and bereavement benefits.
Apart from the regional office in Calamba, OWWA IV-A has five provincial field offices, satellite offices in selected cities and municipalities, and initiates the OWWA On Wheels program, where staff visits far-flung towns in the region to offer their services to regular members and their families. (CH/PIA-Laguna)
