Sabangan, Mountain Province– In deference to the untimely demise of the late Congressman Maximo B. Dalog, the Municipal Local Government Unit of Sabangan, Mountain Province hosting the first Migrants’ Day Celebration in this province cancelled the parade portion and playing of gongs which is always a part of every celebration in the community .
Even the Overseas Worker Welfare Administration (OWWA) Regional Director Evelyn C. Laranang, the guest speaker of the celebration, before proceeding to outline all the programs of OWWA for the benefit of the Former Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) and OFW Families, conveyed first her heartfelt condolence sympathizing with the people of Mountain Province for losing such a good leader.
One of their existing program she mentioned is the “Balik Mangagawa Program” which intends to assist former OFWs put up a livelihood project or small business.
The event was attended by around 3 hundred former OFWs and OFW families. Aside from the speech of the guest speaker, one of the highlights of the celebration was the pledge of support from the MSWDO, DTI and DOLE.
Brigitte C. Mangay-at of the Muncipal Social Welfare Office pledged their support and enumerated all the available programs for them to avail of. “You can also avail of our expertise in preparing project proposals and minutes of meeting preparation and even an organization’s Constitution and by Laws”.
DTI Provincial Director Juliet P. Lucas, one of the invited speakers, relating her personal experience with the OFWs when she was then travelling abroad, she described it as very unforgetable and emotional because she saw many different situations though some were good, mostly were bad. Aside from other programs which they can always avail of, she announced their latest one which she thinks is very suitable to former OFWs and OFW families and is intending to pilot it in the Municipality of Sabangan, the “The Go Negosyo Program”. “Our Office is always for you,” she added.
For his part, the Provincial DOLE Officer, Samuel L. Lasdacan, encouraged the former OFWs and OFW families to organize themselves and register with DOLE and have it accredited by the Sangguniang Bayan so that they can easily avail of DOLE’s livelihood programs and also those of the Local Government Unit of Sabangan. He also explained the special program for the employment of studenst which their children and grand children might be interested in.
For the Sangguniang Bayan, Hon. Dario Esden said that their Office is always open to accredit their registered organizations but can not promise any funds for them.** gabriel moguet
