CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and those who want to work abroad will now find it easier to get various kinds of help through the establishment of the Provincial Action Center for overseas Filipino workers’ concerns (Pacoc).
During the inauguration of the Pacoc and the provincial information office building at the capitol grounds here last week, at least five government agencies have vowed to offer various help and services for OFWs.
Governor Lilia “Nanay Baby” Pineda said that some 100,000 Kapampangan OFWs and their families will benefit from the establishment of the Pacoc.
She noted that there are already more than 2,000 Kapampangan OFWs in South Korea. “Lagi kaming nakikibalita sa kanila kung ano na ang kanilang mga kalagayan doon,” Pineda said.
She also noted that another 6,000 Filipinos are set to work in South Korea but need to get a clearance from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).
“Noong mayor pa ako, nakita ko ang ibat ibang problema ng ating mga OFWs,” Pineda said.
She also cited a case where a Kapampangan OFW died in Korea and it took the victim’s families more than four months before the remains was brought back to the Philippines.
Pineda said the Pacoc will provide direct lines to various government agencies like the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), NBI, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).
Erlinda Pineda, head of the Consumer Welfare and Business Regulation Commission of the DTI, said they offer skills training for OFW families and “those who wish to return home and want to put up their own business here.”
“They can join trade missions that we organize,” she said.
Socorro Castro, head of the regional OWWA, said they are also proposing a memorandum of agreement (MOA) signing with local government units, reiterating that LGUs play an important in addressing different concerns of OFWs.
On the other hand, the NBI has vowed to immediately act on illegal recruitment cases and provide the Pacoc a roster of legal and accredited recruitment agencies.
During the inauguration of the Pacoc and the provincial information office building at the capitol grounds here last week, at least five government agencies have vowed to offer various help and services for OFWs.
Governor Lilia “Nanay Baby” Pineda said that some 100,000 Kapampangan OFWs and their families will benefit from the establishment of the Pacoc.
She noted that there are already more than 2,000 Kapampangan OFWs in South Korea. “Lagi kaming nakikibalita sa kanila kung ano na ang kanilang mga kalagayan doon,” Pineda said.
She also noted that another 6,000 Filipinos are set to work in South Korea but need to get a clearance from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).
“Noong mayor pa ako, nakita ko ang ibat ibang problema ng ating mga OFWs,” Pineda said.
She also cited a case where a Kapampangan OFW died in Korea and it took the victim’s families more than four months before the remains was brought back to the Philippines.
Pineda said the Pacoc will provide direct lines to various government agencies like the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), NBI, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).
Erlinda Pineda, head of the Consumer Welfare and Business Regulation Commission of the DTI, said they offer skills training for OFW families and “those who wish to return home and want to put up their own business here.”
“They can join trade missions that we organize,” she said.
Socorro Castro, head of the regional OWWA, said they are also proposing a memorandum of agreement (MOA) signing with local government units, reiterating that LGUs play an important in addressing different concerns of OFWs.
On the other hand, the NBI has vowed to immediately act on illegal recruitment cases and provide the Pacoc a roster of legal and accredited recruitment agencies.
