Local government units (LGUs) and partner agencies signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) on Tuesday to reinforce collaboration in promoting the welfare, protection and empowerment of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and their families.
The partner agencies are Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA).
The partnership seeks to enhance the delivery of programs and services addressing the social, economic and developmental needs of OFWs, ensuring more coordinated support across government and local institutions.
DMW-11 Labor Attaché II and Officer-in-Charge Assistant Regional Director Marie Rose Escalada said the MOA is a sacred covenant of convergence — an action plan to ensure that no migrant worker “ever has to fly alone, unprotected or unheard again.”
“We applaud the remittances they send home, but we overlook the painful sacrifice of their flight. We celebrate their economic contributions while turning a blind eye to the reality that millions cross oceans out of desperation, facing isolation, vulnerability and fear in foreign lands,” she said.
Under the agreement, LGUs will establish dedicated OFW Help Desks manned by trained Public Employment Service Office personnel.
“When a worker or a family member walks through that door, they are directly connected to DMW and OWWA for legal access, repatriation assistance and immediate crisis response,” Escalada said.
To strengthen proactive defense and education, DMW, OWWA, DOLE, TESDA and LGUs will jointly conduct Anti-Illegal Recruitment and Trafficking in Persons training and Labor Education and Gender-Sensitive orientations.
Escalada said the agencies will also align reintegration programs — including DOLE’s Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers employment assistance, OWWA social benefits and OFW Family Circles, and DMW reintegration pathways — to help returning workers rebuild livelihoods.
TESDA-11 Regional Director Tarhata Mapandi said the signing represents a “declaration of shared responsibility.”
“When they leave to seek opportunities abroad, they carry with them the hopes, dreams and investments of their families,” she said.
Through technical-vocational education and training, OFWs and their families can “not only find work but also create work, not only earn income but also build sustainable livelihoods,” Mapandi said.
Matanao, Davao del Sur Mayor Irick Agbon welcomed the partnership, noting its potential to uplift OFW families who contribute significantly to local economies.
“It’s about time we also help their families, guiding them to invest their money properly and providing scholarships and livelihood training for their children,” he said.
Within 30 days, a multi-agency technical working group will be formed to develop a joint work plan, monitor progress and report accomplishments directly to DMW leadership. (PNA)