A planned free upskilling initiative for Overseas Filipino Workers in Qatar is set to focus on practical healthcare-related training, following coordination talks among Philippine labor officials and Filipino professional groups in the country.
The proposed program emerged from a meeting held on 29 January 2026 involving MWO Qatar, led by Labor Attaché Eduard C. Ferrer, and the Philippine Professional Organization – Qatar, represented by chairperson Engineer Jaeger Gaorano. The discussions centered on expanding access to skills development for OFWs seeking career mobility and stronger employment prospects.
Leaders from several Filipino healthcare organizations in Qatar participated in the coordination, including former Philippine Association of Medical Technologists–Qatar president Merlito “Mel” De Torres, Dr. Rosanna Barrera of the Filipino Dentist Organization Qatar, and Mark Adrianne Agramon of the Philippine Nurses Association Qatar. Their presence highlighted the role of healthcare professionals in shaping the initial design of the training tracks.
Under the pilot phase, the program is expected to offer caregiving and dental assistant courses, with curricula aligned to international standards and tailored to meet the increasing demand for healthcare workers. Organizers said the training aims to improve employability and strengthen the global competitiveness of participating OFWs.
Support for the initiative was also conveyed by OWWA Qatar through Welfare Officer Luzviminda Tumaliuan, who noted that the program is consistent with OWWA’s priority interventions for migrant workers.
According to Labor Attaché Ferrer, the initiative supports the policy direction of the Department of Migrant Workers under Secretary Hans Leo J. Cacdac, particularly in providing OFWs in lower-income brackets with access to sustainable career pathways and improved employment options.
