The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration in Western Visayas has stepped up its reintegration programs to facilitate the establishment of a stable livelihood for Ilonggo workers and their families.

Apart from the benefits, delivery of assistance and services for overseas Filipino workers, Welfare Officer James Mendiola said they also prioritize conducting capability trainings for Ilonggos.

As of November this year, Mendiola said that there are more than 173,000 Ilonggos abroad from the region who work either as land-based or as sea-farers.

For this year, OWWA already conducted six trainings for values formation, 23 for financial literacy and 46 for entrepreneurship and development across the region.

There are also 29 OFWs in the region that have availed of loan assistance under the P2-billion reintegration program of OWWA. The said enterprise development project is a joint venture project with the Department of Labor and Employment, Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP), and the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) that aims to provide OFWs an alternative to overseas employment.

Qualified applicants for the program may avail a minimum or P300,000 loan assistance up to P2 million with an interest rate of 7.5 per annum, fixed for the term of the loan based on diminishing balance.

To qualify, applicants must complete the Entrepreneurial Development Training conducted by OWWA and must have a viable business plan that could generate a monthly income of not less than P10,000.

SOCIAL SERVICES

Mendiola further encouraged the family members of Ilonggos abroad to always maintain report to OWWA to help when untoward situation happens.

Of the 307 cases reported as of November under the Welfare Case Management, 290 were already resolved. Mendiola said that most of these cases were due to abuses from their respective employers.

He also noted that OWWA has aided and repatriated 32 OFWs mostly from Syria and Lebanon.

Mendiola also added that for the disability and dismemberment assistance, 107 clients were served and 161 clients were given death and burial assistance.*