DAMMAM, 17 July 2006 — The Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) said it will soon launch the Microsoft Tulay Project here to train Filipino workers in the Eastern Province who are interested in computer literacy.

Welfare Officer Danilo Flores said that the head of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), Administrator Marianito Roque, has given him the go-signal to expand the project to the Eastern Province so that more OFWs would be served.

“This is an important project. It is meant to give OFWs additional knowledge on information technology to make them more competitive and upgrade their work status in their respective companies,” Flores said.

The project is a joint undertaking of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and Microsoft Philippines.

Flores was the guest speaker during the Basic Computer Assembly training held last Friday at the Philippine School in Dammam (PSD).

The training was organized by the Computer Society of Filipinos (Comsofil), Dammam chapter.

Comsofil is also supporting the Tulay project in Riyadh by providing lecturers and instructors.

Flores encouraged other OFWs to get every opportunity to participate in trainings such as those being carried out by Comsofil and other groups. He also exhorted participants to use their IT knowledge gainfully and not to waste time on Internet gaming, browsing, and chatting.

“We do hope that the OFWs can make use of these trainings for their own personal advancement or for future business interests,” Flores said.

There were 70 participants in the fourth training seminar recently held by Comsofil Dammam.

The whole activities in the Eastern Region were initiated and supervised by Comsofil Riyadh.

The current officers of Comsofil Dammam are Edwin Cruz, president; Ronald Acosta, vice president for education; Nestor Bernardo, vice president for engineering; Arlene Agustin, secretary; Jing Bustamante, auditor; Jun de Leon, PRO; Danny Cenil, and sports chairman.

The chapter’s Board of Directors is composed of Rey Mendoza, Dan Valencia, and Fred Caancan. Comsofil stalwart Juanichi Ulanday is the trustee.