DAVAO CITY, 7 June - The Philippine Overseas Employment Adminstration (POEA) regional office has jumped the gun again in terms of recognizing Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs). Loved ones and dependents OFWs can enjoy free long distance and domestic calls to their loved ones today, Migrant Workers' Day. Every year, the POEA office in this southern city celebrate the event with free calls and fairs.
Free calls of five minutes each is one of the treats provided free by the PLDT during the annual celebration to be held at the Kapitan Tomas Monteverde Elementary School. Marie Grace Eborde, officer-in-charge of the POEA for Mindanao, said the free calls is part of PLDT's commitment to serve the country's so-called "new heroes." PLDT had consistently provided free long distance calls during for the same occasion the past years. Under the program, OFWs or members of their families are entitled to five minutes national or international calls.
Eborde said that to qualify, OFWs must present their passports or overseas employment certificates (OEC) to the POEA secretariat. For spouses, a marriage contract is required. Birth certificates are required for children. Another treat is raffle draw for 20 scholarship programs for OFWs and their dependents. Eborde further said five schools in Davao City have offered three 4-year courses and 17 short-term courses.
