MANILA, 15 December 2002 — The government is formulating a six-point program, which is supposedly an “integrated system” to provide basic services to Filipino migrant workers at work sites abroad and back in the country, according to President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

The president announced the so-called Kabayanihan Program during the 2002 Presidential Awards for Filipino Individuals and Organizations Overseas, which was hosted by the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO), on Thursday night in Malacañang.

The president has also started using a shorter acronym for migrant workers. Instead of OFWs for Overseas Filipino Workers, she now calls them OFs for overseas Filipinos.

OFs was actually suggested by many Filipinos participating in various Internet forums. The reason cited was that while the term OFWs is limited to contract workers, OFs includes dependents who are with OFWs abroad, as well as those working in Philippine missions, Filipino students studying abroad, and immigrants who have not yet renounced their Philippine citizenship.

“We pay tribute to the men and women who have dedicated themselves to uplifting the human condition, those who have advocated the cause of Filipinos worldwide, and who continue to bring pride and honor to the Philippines,” she said.

Arroyo said the program was instituted because “we have an obligation to our overseas Filipinos” and because the government has a humanitarian responsibility to its people “wherever they are.”

Under the Kabayanihan program, Arroyo said, OFs can:

• avail from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) of expanded onsite welfare services;

• obtain an e-card which she said is “the ultimate ID card of overseas Filipinos” since with this card, it will no longer be necessary for an OFW to fall in line at POEA to obtain an overseas employment certificate for exemption from the travel tax and airport terminal fees;

• can make use of free medical services here and in their host countries, courtesy of OWWA-Medicare;

• can obtain housing loans on a more affordable basis through the Pag-Ibig Overseas Housing Project;

• can save for their respective retirements through the Social Security System’s (SSS) flexifund;

• and can purchase the OFW Bond at better than usual returns in denominations of $100.

She also said that starting in January 2003, the Kabayanihan will open a website which OFs can use to send their suggestions on how the government could improve services, particularly for their welfare.

CFO Executive Director Jose Molano said the awardees on Thursday were the 5th batch since the bi-annual awards system was institutionalized in 1991, through Executive Order No. 498 issued by then President Corazon C. Aquino.

“We have an overseas Filipino population that is very significant in its growing size and economic importance to both the Philippines and the countries where they live,” Molano said.

Citations were presented to 24 overseas Filipinos and 10 foreign organizations for their contribution to Philippine development and progress and for promoting the interests of Filipino communities abroad.

Top awardees included Dr. Cosme R. Ragas, a talented academician, medical researcher and a multi-awarded physician based in the United States and founding president of the Philippine Economic and Cultural Endowment (PEACE) and the International Medical Help for Children (AMIE), for its work with Filipino children in Belgium.

Individual awards were given to individuals or associations for advancing the cause of Filipino communities abroad or for supporting specific sectors/communities in the Philippines.

They are: the Babaylan-Switzerland, Estrella C. Beatty of Cyprus, Norma R. Benzon, the Center for Philippine Concerns based in Australia, Lolita B. Compas, Dr. Zenaida S. Concepcion based in Libya, William D. Dechavez based in the USA, Dr. Ruby L. de Guzman-Formoso in Canada, Sonia S. del Rosario also in Canada, the Filipino Association in Brunei Darussalam, the Filipino Communities Council of Australia, the Filipino Community Center in the US.

Dr. Marcos R. Fojas of Greece, the Kalayaan organization of United Kingdom, Bridget Lew Singapore, Maharlika-Switzerland, Benjamin T. Manglona of the Commonwealth of Northern Marianas Islands, National Organization of Professional Teachers Hong Kong in Hong Kong, the Philippine Association of Metropolitan Washington Engineers based in USA, Dr. N. Ravindranathan of Brunei Darussalam, Dr. Francis V. Talangbayan in the US, and Benjamin S. Tomelden, Jr. in the United Kingdom.

Manolo I. Abella, chief of the Migration Branch of the International Labor Organization (ILO) based in Geneva, Dr. Belinda A. Aquino in Honolulu, Arlene Joan Chai based in Australia, Lina L. Ciani in Italy, Joanne de Asis-Benitez based in the US, Cesar M. de la Cruz from Indonesia; Renato B. Garcia from the United Kingdom, Josie C. Natori based in the US, Mayor Michael Patrick L. Guingona of Daly City in California, and former Hawaii Gov. Benjamin Cayetano, the only US governor of Filipino ancestry,

Since its establishment, the awards have so far been conferred on 166 Filipinos and private organizations overseas.