PIA Press Release
Thursday, January 12, 2012

Mt. province OFW assistance program benefits 49

BONTOC, Mt. Province, Jan. 12 (PIA)-- The Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) Assistance Program of the provincial government here has benefited 49 beneficiaries on its first year of implementation last year.

This is one of the pet projects of Governor Leonard Mayaen which aims to assist residents seeking employment abroad through the provision of financial assistance.

Originally, the provincial government has allocated the amount of P3 million from its approved 2011 budget for the implementation of the program but the governor issued an administrative order realigning the amount of P1 million from the appropriations of Cooperative Development Program under the Provincial Cooperative Office to this Provincial Overseas Employment Program under the special purpose appropriations.

According to Executive Assistant Cynthia Taguiba, who is in-charge of the program, the P1 million was intended to augment the P3 million fund since there are still many who are interested to avail of the program and the fund is not enough.

The money was loaned out to applicants with a minimal interest of five percent and payable in 12 monthly installments starting a month after the OFW’s arrival at the country of destination.

Based on the record of the Office of the Provincial Governor, the OFW program has assisted 49 persons of whom 25 landed in jobs in Hongkong, 11 in Taiwan, four in Dubai, two each in Kuwait, Cyprus and Korea, and one each in Russia, Riyadh and Israel. Most of these overseas workers are domestic helpers.

Beneficiaries of the program who have availed of the program earlier have already started paying their monthly dues. These payments will also be loaned out to other interested applicants.(JDP/JBS-PIA CAR,Mt. Province)