BINALONAN, Pangasinan — More than 1,000 overseas Filipino workers and their families received welfare, health, membership and government services Thursday through a caravan organized by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration’s Ilocos regional office.
The OWWA-1 Welfare, Health and Membership Serbisyo Caravan is part of the agency’s Alagang OWWA Program, which seeks to make services more accessible to active, returning and transit overseas Filipino workers, as well as their dependents and families.
OWWA Central Office Director of Operations Dr. Nestor Burayag said the caravan brings together government agencies to provide assistance involving welfare, health care, membership, documentation, social protection and other services.
“The activity complements OWWA’s regular programs and services by providing timely, needs-based and client-centered assistance to OFWs and their families,” Burayag said.
OWWA has made the caravan a regular activity, he said.
The first caravan was held July 16 in San Juan, La Union. Additional stops are scheduled Sept. 15 in Alaminos City, Pangasinan; Oct. 8 in Cabugao, Ilocos Sur; and Oct. 22 in Laoag City, Ilocos Norte.
Joan Occeña of Laoac, Pangasinan, whose sister works in Saudi Arabia, said her family used the services offered during the caravan. She also said another sister benefited from an OWWA education scholarship and is now employed.
Lorgem Selga, also of Laoac, said she appreciated the services provided by participating national government agencies. She received 5,000 Philippine pesos from the provincial government as assistance for distressed or displaced overseas workers.
Selga said she plans to use the money as additional capital for her food business.
Binalonan Mayor Ramon Guico IV said the caravan is particularly helpful for the municipality, which has a large number of residents working overseas.
