A task group is currently being formed and it will be followed by the meeting of the Technical Working Group (TWG) to tackle the housing project for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW). In the recent interview of OWWA Deputy Administrator Faustino Zabares, he expressed his desire to help OFWs who were not lucky enough with their endeavors abroad.
Some of the goals of OFWs are to provide for the education of their family members, start a business and build their dream house. It is where the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) takes action.
According to Zabares, the said project was in line with the project of the government called ‘BENGO’. B stands for ‘Balay-OFW’, ‘E’ for ‘Edukasyon’ to elementary students because scholarship for tertiary and college are already present, ‘N’ for ‘Negosyo’ including the Tulong Puso Program and other livelihood programs, ‘G’ stands for ‘Good Health’ or insurance funds for those OFWs who will get sick.
Currently, there is a donation of 1-hectare land in Bulacan, 175 hectares of land in Indang, 5 hectares in Cavite, 25 hectares of land in Pangasinan, and 13 hectares of land in Isabela. Because of this, the housing project is a cheaper option because the land was already donated and they will only spend for the construction.
OWWA is in cooperation with OFW Advocate Ma. Fe Nicodemus and Coco Naik of Ako OFW. OWWA aims to create a township with complete facilities through the help of OWWA, Landbank, NHA, Pag-ibig Fund, and other financial institutions in the country. It is expected that there will also be cooperation and businesses for OFW beneficiaries. They will give the residence a chance to thrive on their own, according to OWWA Board of Trustee Dr. Chie Umandap.
Source CIS Media Philippines
