OWWA conducts livelihood program for OFW families

The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) is conducting livelihood activities for spouses of overseas Filipino workers in Region 11, SunStar Davao reported Saturday. Ron Lionel Bartolome, OWWA 11 regional director, said the agency trains groups of housewives and husbands of OFWs in selling various local food products such as fish balls and dilis. "Nag-start po kami doon sa mahihirap na barangays (villages) at tinuruan namin sila sa pagtitinda ng kikiam, fish balls, dilis at iba pa," Bartolome said. He said, "the OWWA 11 has assigned trainers to different provinces in the region to help partner agencies there organize families of OFWs for the livelihood program." Region 11 is composed of Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental, Davao Province, South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Compostela Valley, Davoa City and General Santos City. Set up in August, the program aims to make wives and husbands of OFWs productive, Bartolome said, adding that livelihood activities can boost self-confidence and family income. "We encourage OFWs to save money while abroad and tell them not to send all their money to their families." Most often, OFWs coming home for vacation have no extra money. This is the reason why we launched the program last month to help augment income of their families so they can save something, Bartolome said. - GMANews.TV