In celebration of the Regional Development Council (RDC) Week, the Social Development Committee (SDC) through its Sub-Committee on Migration and Development (SCMD) conducted the 2nd Cagayan Valley Migration and Development Forum on September 25, 2024 at the Pamegafanan Hall, NEDA Regional Office 2, Carig Sur, Tuguegarao City.

 

The one-day forum provided insights on the situation of distressed Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs). Distressed OFWs are those exposed or victims of either sexual harassment, discrimination, medical degradation, cultural alienation and exploitation, among others. The forum also imparted to OFWs the different programs of government that support and protect their welfare.

 

NEDA2 Assistant Regional Director Ferdinand P. Tumaliuan welcomed the officials of Overseas Workers and Welfare Administration (OWWA) and Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), the Resource Persons, and participants who came from the different provinces of the region. He emphasized the big contribution of OFWs, particularly to Region 2’s economy.

 

In his opening remarks, SCMD Chair and DMW OIC-Regional Director Atty. Romelson E. Abbang thanked participants for attending the forum. He said that OFWs, tagged as the “Bagong Bayani ng Bayan”, deserve to be heard in the forum organized by the RDC Secretariat. He added that the service and skills of our OFWs is world-class, which we can brag all over the world.

 

The forum showcased the stories, struggles, and coping management of selected distressed OFWs while working abroad. One Resource Person even cried while sharing her experiences as a victim of sexual harassment. The experiences of the other Resource Persons maybe light, but still beyond their expectation as their goal in going abroad is to improve the lives of their families left behind. After sharing their sad experiences, they still managed to share their sweetest smiles to their co-distressed OFWs.

 

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD2), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA2), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI2), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE2), OWWA, and DMW presented their respective programs for distressed OFWs. The Cagayan Valley Center for Health Development (CV-CHD2) also lectured on Mental and Psychosocial Awareness, Stress Management and Self-Care, to help these distressed OFWs overcome their plight.

 

OWWA Regional Director Virsie B. Tamayao in her closing remarks expressed her gratitude to the RDC for its support in making the activity fruitful and for sustaining its second year of implementation. She also emphasized the need to sustain such activity to promote the welfare and improve the lives and working condition of OFWs, including their families.

 

A total of 83 OFWs from across the region were present. The activity ended with the distribution of financial grants from OWWA and DMW to these OFWs.