President Rodrigo Duterte laid out his plans and marching orders to help overseas Filipino workers as his way of thanking the country’s modern-day heroes during his penultimate State of the Nation Address.
The President has tasked several government agencies to assist all OFWs to ensure that they, as well as their families back in the Philippines, could weather the impact of the COVID-19 crisis.
Agencies such as the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), the Department of Agriculture (DoA), the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Landbank and other government-led financial institutions are some of the many government institutions he tapped to deliver his promises to the millions of OFWs across the globe.
“Sa mga kababayan ko na naghihirap sa ibang bansa, nandito ang inyong gobyerno para matulungan kayo at inyong mga pamilya, lalo na sa panahong ito,” said President Duterte.
Retool returning OFWs
TESDA will launch Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) desks at all regional and provincial offices to retool balikbayans to easily find employment opportunities in the country.
The announcement came following Duterte’s directive to TESDA during his SONA to come up with special training programs for returning OFWs.
Secretary Isidro Lapeña said, “As instructed by the President, we will make sure that we will be able to retool our OFWs, for employment or livelihood as they rebuild their lives again here in the country.”
Lapeña added that apart from OFW desks, all TESDA offices will be designated with OFW focal persons who will prioritize all the concerns of the OFWs by providing information about the TESDA’s programs and services and making sure that they will be included in TESDA scholarship programs.
He said that the agency also plans to tap skilled OFWs who are willing to assist TESDA with its training programs.
“Our local government units will continue to be our close partners in this initiative. We need their help in designing training programs for our OFWs that are suitable for the local industry,” Lapeña explained.
Currently, TESDA provides registration for returning OFWs applying for scholarships through the TESDA mobile app.
Loans for OFW businesses
The Small Business Corporation (SB Corporation), the micro financing arm of the Department of Trade and Industry for start-up businesses in the Philippines, has launched a P100-million loan facility for repatriates who were retrenched due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The program called Helping the Economy Recover thru OFW Enterprise Start-ups (HEROES) aims to provide opportunity for repatriated OFWs to rebuild their lives in the country by becoming entrepreneurs.
To qualify under the loan facility, returning OFWs must present a video pitch of his/her start-up business proposal outlining key components on the nature of business, product knowledge, management capability, market opportunity, competitive advantage, financial understanding and business continuity.
Loan proceeds should strictly be used for working capital to start and sustain the business operations. The loan may be used for the acquisition, production and sale of products and required inventory, necessary equipment and machinery for the business, payment of initial worth of operating costs incurred such as payroll, rent, utilities and fixed asset loans.
OFWs may borrow a minimum of P10,000 up to maximum of P100,000 free of interest and collateral. A service fee of 6% will be charged to loans with 24 months payment term and 8% for loans with 36 months payment terms (inclusive of 12 months grace period).
Department of OFWs
In addition, he also reiterated his call to establish the OFW Department in order to streamline the services for all Filipino migrant workers.
“I strongly urge Congress to pass a law establishing the Department of Overseas Filipinos [focused] solely on addressing the concerns of Filipinos abroad and their families. Kawawa kasi itong ating mga overseas. If it’s only an office there in the Labor department they are overworked or for whatever reason, their needs, their pleas are not really attended to with dispatch and with care. I will go for it. We will need it to help them,” the President stressed.
SONA drew cheers from OFWs
Fujairah-based OFW Max Santos said that he really listened to what President Rodrigo Duterte had done for the country.
“Pinakinggan at inintindi ko ang bawat hakbang na ginawa ng gobyerno natin para matugunan ang krisis na dahil nasaksihan ko naman kung paano bumangon ang Pilipinas sa pamamagitan ng pagtulong sa bawat Pilipino sa abot ng makakaya ng gobyerno,” said Santos.
Watching from a government quarantine facility in Pampanga, Dubai-OFW Romulo Paras II did not miss the chance to listen to the president’s speech. In a lengthy Faceboook post, Paras said, “Sabayan ko ang SONA.”
“I-appreciate ang ginagawa ng administrasyon ng Pangulong Duterte,” he added.
The social media post of the OFW, who arrived in the country last July 22, went viral after thanking the government for facilitating the return of retrenched Filipinos abroad.
Paras penned, “Para sa kaalaman ng lahat, lalo na sa mga kababayang OFW na lalapag ng Clark Airport, Pampanga. I just want to share my 5-star service experienced mula sa OWWA, Clark Airport at ng local gov’t unit ng City of San Fernando Pampanga, na aking nasaksihan sa pag-uwi from Dubai last July 22, 2020.
“No need to fill-up any online forms dahil lahat ng kailangan ay ibibigay sayo while on board. From my flight Emirates EK2572 nakalapag ako ng CRK around 3pm ng hapon ng July 22.
“Paglabas ko papunta sa pila kung saan iaasign ang hotel, sinalubong ako ng masayang pagbati ng isang staff na kahit naka mask bakas sa babae ang pag-ngiti” welcome back po Sir, ang daming dalang pasalubong ni Sir.
“Then another guy approached me and ask if OFW, I said yes, so he instructed me to take a seat and hand over me forms needed to fill-up. Sa uupuan mo may mineral water na libre. Bibigay din yung guidelines para sa quarantine.”
The OFW also gave a list of the meals being served for OFWs at their hotel.
Cooperation is key
While the whole world awaits the COVID-19 vaccine, President Duterte once again urged the nation and reminded them that the government would need the full cooperation of its citizens and residents if it is to succeed in its fight against the pandemic. This way, the spirit of Bayanihan will help the Philippines thrust forward towards a gradual but definitive recovery.
“In a crisis of national proportions that affects every aspect of human life, governments need to have the support and cooperation of the people if it is to succeed in battling the cause of that crisis,” said President Duterte.
“Let me say that the strength of a nation rests in the hands of the people acting as one with government, in the pursuit of common goals and objectives,” he added.
