Close to 1,500 residents of La Trinidad, Benguet received food assistance from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration-Cordillera Administrative Region (OWWA-CAR) through its Alagang OWWA: Serbisyong May Puso program, with elderly recipients and children also given free medicines and vitamins during the activity.
OWWA Overseas Workers Welfare Officer II Floribel Sales said the program is designed to serve both active and inactive OFW-OWWA members, as well as their families, regardless of whether they are facing calamity-related hardships or other forms of distress.
“Ang layunin o importance ng Alagang OWWA ay maabot natin ang ating mga OFWs o kanilang mga pamilya, depende kung sila ay distressed o hindi, maaaring aktibo o hindi aktibo na OFW-OWWA members ng ating ahensya. Binibigyan natin sila ng agarang relief. Ang Alagang OWWA ay hindi lang calamity-related. Halimbawa, kung may OFW families na nakararanas ng ibang distressful situations, binibigyan din natin sila ng relief assistance tulad ng bigas at food packs,” Sales said.
Among those who benefited was a recipient identified only as Aling Rose, a person with disability who expressed gratitude for the medical supplies distributed during the outreach.
“Dakami han kami makatrabaho. As PWD dakkel nga tulong dagita bassit nga agas sunga ti request mi nga agtultuloy pay kuma ta atleast ada ti makatulong ken dakami,” she said.
Sales noted that the Alagang OWWA program is just one of several services the agency extends to OFWs and their families. Those who approach their office may also access livelihood assistance, scholarship grants, medical assistance, and repatriation assistance.
“Puwede silang makakuha ng livelihood assistance, scholarship, Alagang OWWA, medical assistance, at repatriation assistance,” she said.
