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Pinoy Abroad
SONA 2020

Duterte tasks TESDA, CHED to help OFWs, dependents amid COVID-19 pandemic


President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday tasked government agencies to assist overseas Filipino workers whose livelihoods were adversely affected by the COVID-9 pandemic.

In his 5th State of the Nation Address, Duterte directed the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) to offer special training programs which can provide new job opportunities for OFWs.

"I asked TESDA to come up with special training programs to retool our OFWs so they can find employment opportunities here and at home," Duterte said.

The President also ordered the Commission on Higher Education to provide scholarship programs for the qualified dependents of OFWs.

Duterte further asked the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Trade and Industry to provide agricultural businesses and entrepreneurial programs to "rebuild" the livelihood of the OFWs.

He also said the government's financial institutions must provide low-interest loans for OFWs.

"Mga kababayan ko na naghirap sa ibang bansa, nandito na ang inyong gobyerno para tulungan kayo at inyong pamilya lalo na sa panahong ito," Duterte said.

Tens of thousands of OFWs have already been repatriated since the start of the pandemic as lockdowns implemented in various countries have resulted in companies closing or laying off workers. —KBK, GMA News

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