LAGAWE, IFUGAO– Nineteen previous overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) of Ifugao recently joined their counterparts from Abra, Apayao, Benguet, Kalinga, Mountain Province and Baguio City- – through the assistance of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA)—to take part in the Regional Migrant Workers Day Program in Baguio City.
In a way, the delegates of Ifugao were keen to socialize and interact with the others, and they were also out there to fly proudly the provincial colors. They certainly made the grade.
Lyra Kidayan of Lagawe emerged the top winner of the singing competition. She brought home a cash prize of Php5,000.
While in the dance competition, team Ifugao placed second. Kalinga was adjudged the champion.
These contests easily highlighted the fun-filled day at St. Vincent’s gymnasium.
It looks like things continue to improve at the OWWA-backed Regional Migrant Workers Day Program celebration, which drew the participation of hundreds each year.
Everyone is waiting for that opportunity to be a part of this all-important endeavor, of course, but that’s to come with some luck and lots of prayers.
By the way, the singing and dance competitions were also staged last year. Through it, OWWA plans to introduce more talent contests to make way for increased fulfilling moments among the participants.
“Our migrant workers should be acknowledged for their heroism,” OWWA-Ifugao family welfare officer FlordelizaDumangeng said.
“To work abroad one must accept a heavy burden of leaving your family just to fulfill the hopes and dreams of your children who want to obtain a college degree. It is a heavy load to carry because there is only so much you can do in the amount of money you’re sending loved ones, but it’s important to work there because the wages are higher,” she added.
Joblessness remains one of the biggest problems of the country. If there are jobs in an impoverished province like Ifugao, the wages are very low.
“We hope that we were able to help them understand and broaden their knowledge of the issues of the day facing our OFWs,” Ms. Dumangeng told the ZigZag Weekly.
All told, the program’s activities were interactive. Competing against other migrants from the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) puts one in another dimension where imagination is in overdrive. At times, it was no longer a matter of winning a contest. What really counts is for a participant’s capacity to bring along a fascinating story about the activity when he or she comes home. Many seemingly kept their wits about the others.
“We believe in the value of interaction and discipline as it would connect the migrant workers to their employers,” Ms. Dumangeng pointed out.
Ms. Dumangeng, an extremely hardworking and dedicated pillar of the OWWA in this part of the office, makes it a point to continuously bring the latest information to OFWs on what her office has been doing to ensure the promotion of the wellbeing of migrant workers wherever they are.
“We are here to provide our people with whatever they need and at the same time to ensure that all initiatives being undertaken by the OWWA are properly relayed to the public,” Dumangeng explained.
OWWA programs were carefully and properly designed to meet a number of national targets.
Reintegration and repatriation services are provided by the OWWA. According to the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), a total of 1,251,506 OFWs were deployed from January to September of 2017 alone.
Ms. Dumangeng presently holds office at the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)-Ifugao Office in Lagawe. The DOLE-Ifugao Office is headed by Samuel Lasdacan.
Ms. Dumangeng is not an OFW, but she’s just as passionate about upgrading the plight of these ex-migrant workers.
If you’re looking for a more impressive service record in such level, you won’t find it anywhere in this upland region. This is a classic proof of exemplary service.
Ms. Dumangeng’s accomplishment is immense, her caring ways for OFWs marks one of the many great contributions of the DOLE-Ifugao Office to the province. Creativity is key to remain on top of the competition. One can’t simply rest on his or her laurels, and instead look for unique ways and approaches to extend a helping hand to the migrant worker and keep up with a fast-changing world. Wheeling and dealing with the OFW is not easy. Often times, it’s hard to differentiate their needs and wants. She has been working triple time to ensure that their inquiries and worries are attended to. Of course, there are difficulties but this is just normal in the face of any significant and encompassing change. There are always good reasons for analyzing why Ms. Dumangeng headed the Ifugao delegation and on what strategic direction she is taking the delegates in the coming years.
The OWWA continues to help uplift lives through a noteworthy undertaking as this one.
Done in partnership with OWWA, the Regional Migrants Day Program applies a holistic and sustainable approach in enhancing assistance initiatives for migrant workers.
Unfortunately, the situation in Ifugao’s provincial, municipal and barangay levels is far different. Most officials are not even aware of the rights of migrant workers. Many are completely unaware in manifesting respect, care and love for OFWs at all times.
They should always be conscious of the significant role of the OFWs. Based on a data of the BangkoSentral ng Pilipinas, remittances from Filipinos abroad in February of this year registered at $2.53 billion. Remittances are the biggest source of dollar income for the Philippines, which keeps the peso strong by ensuring the steady supply of foreign exchange that local businesses and the government need for transactions overseas. Remittances are also a major driver for domestic spending. Cash sent back to the Philippines by migrant workers prop up the consumer-driven economy.
Quite logically, the only ground for the position taken by the national government is to continue its “labor export” policy. Sending nearly 6,000 Filipinos to work abroad daily because of the government’s inability to provide decent and high-paying jobs in the country cannot be accepted as a genuine and long-lasting solution to the mounting unemployment problem. It is bereft of reason, unable to assuage the fears of many on its unimaginable, huge social costs.
To be blunt about it, they also don’t know the latest developments on Mary Jane Veloso who faces a death sentence on drug trafficking charges in Indonesia neither where on earth there are other OFWs on death row. How do you then expect them to come up with proper decisions and actions geared to advance the best interest of OFWs?
Safeguarding the welfare of the OFWs and honoring them should not be limited to a one-day observance through a Regional Migrants Day, nor a one-day observance through a Provincial Migrants Day, but at all times.
Overall rankings of the competitions notwithstanding, the Ifugaoparticipants went home as big winners with new and unforgettable experience and acquaintances, said May FaithCabbigat.
“This has been a life-changing experience for us. There’s a lot to be grateful for being part of the Ifugao delegation. Salamatsa OWWA (“Thanks to the OWWA!” she added.
Ms. Cabbigat worked for four years in Hong Kong, where about 188,000 are presently employed at Chinese homes.
“I am glad to be chosen as one of the province’s participants. This is one way of bringing attention to the fact that the Regional Migrant Workers Day Program Day in Baguio City is an activity where lots of exciting things are happening,” another participant said.
Her other companions from Ifugao expressed their gratitude to Ms. Dumangeng and the DOLE-Ifugao Office for what they hoped would be the start of their quest to achieve their dreams a second time around.
Thus, this experience could be effectively used within the community by initiating self-help projects that stress teamwork and planning.
The Ifugao delegation continues to support President Duterte in his drive to protect the rights and welfare of OFWs throughout the world and rally behind the Chief Executive in improving conditions of workers in the country.
Apart from Ms.Dumangeng , former OFW May Faith Cabbigat and singing wonder Lyra Kidayan, the delegation is also composed of Vilma Andres, EdithaBarasi, Elizabeth Caclini, Irene Calingayan, Mares Castillo, JuniaDominong, Julie Fernando, Evangeline Gacula, RosemarioLomlom, Grace Macadangdang, Geraldine Pataueg, Marilyn Siddabathula, Nelda Tapyugon, Veronica Tarun and MerlyTiggangay.
Jenelpha Ogano of Alfonso Lista, JannetteKimayong of Asipulo and Imelda Cabigat of Lagawe also joined them. All of them are connected with local government units.
Free medical checkup, blood-letting and basic life support lectures as well as demonstration and livelihood exposition also highlighted the activity. These sidelights were sponsored in part by the Department of Health and the Philippine Red Cross. Baguio City Rep. Mark Go was a speaker. George Lubin, a key DOLE pillar in the region, also took part.
Expect more innovations to come to the conduct of this activity next year and beyond with the men and women of OWWA working hard to better serve the migrant workers in this part of the country. Ms. Dumangeng is already looking this way, many of the Ifugao former migrant workers surmiss. They’ll surely be back in 2019 for the rest of the day is upbeat, fun, exciting and challenging. **By Anthony A. Araos
