June 7: Filipino Migrant Workers' Day

Every year on June 7, the Philippines marks "Filipino Migrants Day" -- also known as "Araw ng Pasasalamat" -- as a way of celebrating the signing into law of Republic Act 8042 or the Migrant Workers Act of 1995. According to a news release of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Thursday, the  day is celebrated in honor of the approximately 10 million Filipinos working overseas. According to the OFW news website The Pinoy, former president Fidel Ramos then issued an executive order which declared June 7 of every year as the date for the national celebration.   This year marks the 17th annual observance of the Filipino migrants’ day.   RA 8042 establishes promotion of overseas employment as a policy while it holds the government responsible for the protection of OFWs.

In a phone interview with GMA News Online on Thursday, Louelle Calanza, 3rd level welfare officer of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), said several programs have been lined up on Filipino Migrant Workers' Day:

• a one-stop-shop and job fair at the Philippine Trade Training Center from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.;

 

• the signing of a memorandum of agreement between the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) and SM Supermalls to add more offices where overseas employment certificates may be obtained;

• livelihood projects and lectures to be conducted by different branches of the government including the Social Security System (SSS) and POEA, and

• as guest of honor, Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada will award 15 children for the Tuloy-Aral project as well as 100 recipients of the Educational Development Scholarship Program for the college level.

  Bringing people closer to services Meanwhile, at the Western Mindanao State University (WMSU) Gymnasium in Zamboanga City,  a similar event was held.   “On June 7, we will be bringing closer to the people the various services catering to the needs of OWWA clientele,” OWWA Regional Director Hassan Jumdain said in the PIA report.   The one-stop-shop was composed of officers and representatives from different government organizations like the Department of Foreign Affairs, National Statistics Office and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.   These government organizations entertained application services for passports, and requests for birth and marriage certificates, among others. The theme of this year's celebration is “Serbisyo at Oportunidad Para sa OFW at Pamilya,” a report of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) said. - VVP, GMA News