THIS is with reference to the May 6 letter to the editor of Mario Corpus, Mover’s newest president.
The Philippine Consulate General welcomes every opportunity to make known to all OFWs and the public as well, the programs/projects and activities of our office in our endeavor to educate, inform, and altogether assist, among others, our Overseas Filipino Workers in the CNMI.
Likewise, we would like to take this occasion to express our deep appreciation to officials of the U.S. Labor (Wage & Hour Div.), EEOC, OSHA, the CNMI Department of Public Health and DOLI who willingly acted as resource persons and/or extended their full cooperation in our various programs specifically designed to accurately educate, inform and/or effectively assist the Filipino Overseas Workers in the CNMI.
As a matter of fact, aside from the regular services rendered during regular working hours, in place are the following on-going programs and activities usually done after office hours or during weekends to upgrade the skills of OFWs:
1. Bi-monthly Post-Arrival Orientation Seminar for new OFWs.
2. Barracks and job site visitations where the Philippine Consulate General as a team composed of Labor, OWWA, SSS and Pag-Ibig representatives personally visit work sites and barracks of Filipino workers to conduct information campaign. Dialogues prove to be very effective.
3. A one-hour weekly radio program hosted by Raffy Santos of KSAI. This program reaches OFWs on Rota and Tinian. However, with its closure, another program with another station is now being arranged.
4. Quarterly publication of the Mabuhay newsletter and the press releases.
5. Continuous conduct of free skills upgrading training in Nippongo, basic and advanced computer, accounting for non-accountants, sewing, beauty culture, cooking and lately, the English language course. The training is always started with information dissemination of all work-related concerns of OFWs including current CNMI labor and immigration laws, policies, rules and regulation.
6. The Filipino Workers Resource Center is open seven days a week to provide assistance to OFWs.
7. Due to the large number of OFWs on island, a leadership seminar was recently conducted for officers of Filipino organizations for them to be able to look after emotional problems in their own group since they have direct access/contact with their members. Professional organizations are also encouraged to conduct seminars for professional growth.
8. In cooperation with the CNMI Department of Public Health and Filipino organizations, a monthly health screening is being conducted interspersed with information dissemination.
9. Sports competition like bowling, basketball and games that will develop sportsmanship and maintain the physical fitness of OFWs.
10. Individually assists work-related problems in cooperation with the Office of the Ombudsman, U.S. Labor and other federal agencies, including non-government agencies.
Considering the large number of OFWs on island and the limitations imposed on foreign workers by the host government, we can certainly use the help of Filipino organizations and civic spirited Filipinos who find time for service. We do assure our kababayans that a proactive Philippine Consulate General is ready to be of service to anyone who needs assistance.JULIA C. HEIDEMANN
Philippine Consul General
