OWWA earmarks P15 million for OFW children’s program

Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma (Photo from the Facebook account of the DOLE)

MANILA, Philippines — The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) said it will spend at least P15 million to help children of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) cope with the separation from their parents.

OWWA’s policy-making board of trustees, chaired by Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma with Migrant Workers Secretary Susan Ople, approved the creation of an OFW Children’s Circle on July 15, the agency announced on Tuesday.

The program will “address the societal impact of labor migration, such as separation from an OFW parent, as well as negative effects on the well-being and mental health” of the children, Owwa said.

The OWWA board allocated P15 million for the initial implementation.

The OWWA said the OFW Children’s Circle will host activities to showcase the children’s creative skills and talents and improve their socialization skills and coping mechanisms.

The new program will also promote civic advocacies among the children, values reorientation, digital literacy and awareness against drug abuse; build camaraderie; and develop potential leaders.

The program will be piloted by OWWA regional welfare offices in five out of the 17 regions, namely Metro Manila, Ilocos, Calabarzon, Central Visayas and Southern Mindanao.

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