RIYADH, 22 July 2003 — More than 100 Filipino community leaders in the Central and Eastern regions of the Kingdom will convene on Friday for a conference on OFW “reintegration.”
The conference seeks to tackle the gaps in the government’s reintegration program for returning OFWs and their dependents.
Labor Attaché Jainal Rasul Jr. said the conference is being organized by the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) of the Philippine Embassy in cooperation with the consultative forum secretariat of the various community organizations in the two regions.
A presentation of the Kabayanihan program will also be conducted during the conference at the Marriott Hotel.
Resource speakers for the conference include Director Marianito D. Roque of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA). He will be assisted by Welfare Officer Angel Borja Jr., head of the OWWA office in Riyadh.
The objective of the Kabayanihan program is to spread the word about the OWWA’s programs among overseas Filipinos.
The Kabayanihan Middle East road show team led by Roque is composed of representatives from Pag-IBIG Fund, the Social Security System (SSS), the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), OWWA and others.
The team will issue OFW e-cards, enroll OFWs for OWWA membership, create awareness on the Pag-IBIG Fund Overseas Housing program and SSS program and encourage OFW organizations to support the “classroom” program for public schools.
Other resource speakers include Romy Cahucom (Ofwins), Francis Maca (Madja-as Federation), Manuel Amora (Kakammpi-SA), Joey Badong and Manny Lector (OFW Congress), Aimee Silo (NARS), Mike Bolos (ICOFVR), Chris Lavi?a (Pinas), Lito Paras (Gabay Party List), Al Santos and Rollie Bermundo (PICPA), among others. Invited speakers from the eastern province are Ransam Pirote (Afscom) and Joe Avance?a (OFW Congress-TISA-EP).
Ambassador Bahnarim Guinomla is the keynote speaker for the conference.
Prior to the holding of the conference, the team will visit big companies in Riyadh which employ large numbers of Filipinos, such as Al-Babtain, Saudi Oger, Al-Marai, and Jeraisy. The team will proceed to Jeddah on Saturday.
