OWWA-led Migrant Workers Day sizzles with fun, entertainment

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet -- Around 500 Overseas Filipino Workers, OFW Family Circles and their dependents joined this year’s celebration of Migrant Workers Day here on June 8 at the Benguet Sports Complex in Wangal.

The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration-Cordillera Administrative Region (OWWA-CAR)- led event was full of fun, entertainment and other treats for migrant workers in Cordillera.

 Highlighting the event was the singing competition – solo category joined in by provincial winners from Abra, Apayao, Baguio – Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga and Mountain Province.

 There also was Cordillera food preparation and cooking competition, OFW livelihood fair, government services booths, and cultural presentations and entertainment numbers from the participating OFW family circles.

 Information campaign on OWWA and partner government agency programs and services were also included as well as awarding certificates to participants/beneficiaries of OWWA programs and services.

The Migrant Worker’s Day is an annual celebration   to give recognition to the valuable contributions of the modern day heroes, the hardworking Filipino migrant workers, their families and OFW associations.  

 OWWA-CAR Regional Director Manuela Peña said there are around 3,500 OWWA member OFWs in Cordillera, though some have not renewed their registration and are with inactive status.

She reminded the OFWs to go the nearest Philippine embassy in their area of work or to send their parents or relatives to OWWA offices to renew their membership so they can continuously avail of OWWA programs, services and benefits.

“OWWA has many programs and services for our OFW members and their family members, from pre – deployment phase, while they are at place of work and even after they come back home here in Philippines,” Peña said.

 She added that OWWA provides pre-departure orientations and seminars, OFW welfare services which include life and disability insurance benefits, development and scholarship programs for their families, skills development for returning OFWs and even livelihood programs, if they opt to stay home and start a business.

 Migrant Workers’ Day is celebrated in the Philippines every 7th of June by virtue of Republic Act No.  8042 or the Migrant Workers Act of 1995.

For this year, the observance adopted the theme, “Salamat sa Tapang, Sipag at Pagmamahal mo, Kabayan.” (JDP/CCD-PIA CAR with Jeckryl Dulinen-UC Intern)