CITY OF SAN FERNANDO — Governor Lilia “Nanay” Pineda expressed her gratitude to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for leading the distribution of financial support to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and their families affected by recent calamities.
The event, held in San Fernando, Pampanga, saw the distribution of ₱5,000 assistance from the Department of Migrant Workers’ (DMW) AKSYON Fund to 3,000 OFWs from 22 municipalities and cities, with an additional ₱5,000 provided by the Office of the President.
“Ang pagtitipon na ito ay patunay ng pagkakaisa ng pamahalaan upang tulungan at pangalagaan ang ating mga OFW at kanilang pamilya. Sa pamamagitan ng MOA signing, ipinapakita natin na walang OFW ang mapapabayaan,” Governor Pineda emphasized.
In his remarks, President Marcos underscored the government’s solidarity with OFWs and their families, especially those severely affected by recent typhoons and floods.
“Kapag may mga problema o mga pangyayari sa inyong pamilya dito sa Pilipinas, may kalamidad kung sakali, o talagang doble or triple pa ang inyong hirap sa pag-aalala. Kaya’t narito naman kami upang maghatid ng tulong at magbigay ng suporta, lalo na para sa mga kababayan nating lubos na naapektuhan ng mga pag-ulan at pagbaha,” the President said.
He added that while immediate aid is vital, long-term solutions are equally necessary.
“Hindi po dito nagtatapos ang ating pagkikilos. Mahalaga ang maagang tulong, ngunit higit na kinakailangan ang mga pangmatagalang solusyon. Hindi lang ‘yung minsanan. Kaya gumagawa po tayo ng mga hakbang na magsisilbing tulay tungo sa mas matatag na kinabukasan,” he noted.
Earlier in the day, the DMW, together with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), the Provincial Government of Pampanga, and local government units, signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to institutionalize measures against illegal recruitment and human trafficking.
The MOA establishes mechanisms at the local government level to strengthen prevention, protection, prosecution, and reintegration strategies for OFWs. It also ensures the creation of OFW Help Desks, capacity-building for local stakeholders, expanded reintegration programs, employment and livelihood support, and the delivery of medical and outreach services through the OFW Hospital.
The President further urged government officials to institutionalize faster, more organized, and compassionate services for OFWs.
DMW confirmed that the AKSYON Fund distribution will continue in other calamity-affected provinces to ensure that no Filipino migrant worker is left behind.
