ITOGON, Benguet – Six Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) from the municipality got financial assistance from the Cordillera office of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA-CAR) under the agency’s reintegration program which they will use for their livelihood activities.
The “Balik Pinas! Balik Hanapbuhay!” program of the OWWA provides livelihood assistance to returning OFWs (distressed/displaced) for immediate relief as a start-up or additional capital for their livelihood project.
Each of the recipients got P20,000 from the OWWA program to sustain their income-generating activities after their stint overseas.
Mayor Bernard S. Waclin and OWWA-CAR Officers Gina Aliman and Denver Pasigon led the distribution of checks assisted by Itogon PESO Officer Joceyln Ngail.
Mayor Waclin expressed his appreciation to OWWA under the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) for extending financial assistance to Itogon OFWs under its reintegration program to allow them to establish their livelihoods after spending several years in their overseas work.
The mayor encouraged the beneficiaries to utilize the aid to maximize the value and benefits for their families, especially when their desired livelihood and economic activities thrive in their respective communities.
According to OWWA Officer Pasigon, their office will monitor the beneficiaries to ensure the proper utilization of the limited resources for the chosen livelihood program of the recipients and for such activity to thrive and help the OFWs recover and sustain their productivity while staying with their families.
Mayor Waclin rallied other similarly situated OFWs who have not availed of such assistance from the OWWA to apply for the livelihood assistance to help in establishing their sources of income.
He advised that the recipients wisely use the livelihood assistance to expand their chosen businesses for them to be able to help in generating jobs for the people in their communities and provide sustainable sources of livelihood for them.
