More than 2,700 government transactions were accommodated for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) during the Bagong Bayani ng Mundo–OFW Serbisyo Caravan and Alagang OWWA (Overseas Workers Welfare Administration) Caravan led by First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos held from Oct. 15 to 16 in Milan, Italy.
In a news release on Tuesday, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said a total of 2,726 transactions were completed over two days as government agencies brought key services directly to the Filipino community in Italy.
“Pinasinayaan ng Unang Ginang Marie Louise ‘Liza’ Araneta-Marcos and pagbubukas ng caravan sa Milan. Kasama sa caravan ang labing-isang ahensya ng pamahalaan at isang NGO sa pagbibigay ng serbisyo sa mga OFW (First Lady Marie Louise “Liza” Araneta-Marcos inaugurated the opening of the caravan in Milan. The caravan includes eleven government agencies and one NGO in providing services to OFWs),” the DMW said.
Aside from the DMW and the OWWA, other government agencies that joined and provided essential services to the OFWs include the Office of the President- Presidential Action Center (OP-PAC), Philippine Consulate General Office (Milan), DMW-MWO Milan, Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Social Security System (SSS), Pag-IBIG Fund, Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), Public Attorney’s Office (PAO), and Love Yourself Foundation.
In her speech to the Filipino community, the First Lady conveyed President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s message of gratitude to OFWs for their hard work and sacrifices to be able to provide for their families back home.
The OFWs were able to access onsite assistance ranging from documentation such as birth certificates to social welfare, legal, and even health services.
Jovy Quiamas Cruz, founder of the Goodies Filipino Community in Milan, expressed support for the OFW caravan, which brought government services closer to the OFWs far from their families in the Philippines.
“Napakalaking bagay ng pagkakaroon ng Caravan na bumibisita ang pamahalaan sa kinaroroonan ng mga Pilipino kaya hindi na nila kailangang umuwi pa ng Pilipinas upang makakuha ng mga kailangang dokumento at magpatala sa mga serbisyo (It is a great thing to have a Caravan where the government visits Filipinos where they are so they don’t have to go back to the Philippines to get the necessary documents and enroll in services),” she said.
Marlando Jose, an OFW in Italy for 34 years, expressed appreciation for the efforts of the government to reach them.
“Maganda itong caravan na ito. Proud ako kay President (Bongbong) Marcos, lahat ng tulong ibinibigay niya sa mga OFW,” said Jose. (PNA)