The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) is forming an OFW Children’s Circle for 200,000 children who were left behind in the Philippines by their OFW parents.
OWWA chief Hans Cacdac said the OWWA Board of Trustees, chaired by Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma, together with Migrant Workers Secretary Susan “Toots” Ople approved OWWA Resolution No. 7 last Friday for the formation of OFW Children’s Circle.
Ople said one of President Marcos’ marching orders for her was to provide programs for the welfare and protection of families, particularly OFW children, left behind.
“Several studies and reports disclosed that separation from a parent has shown to have a negative effect on the well-being of the children, particularly their mental health,” the resolution reads.
As the country transitions to a new normal, children left behind by their parents need psychological intervention. The OWWA board approved the proposal to conduct a series of activities such as arts and culture, sports and recreation, civic involvement, values reorientation, entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and health and wellness.
These programs will be initially implemented by the OWWA Regional Welfare Office in Metro Manila, Ilocos, Calabarzon, Central Visayas and Northern Mindanao regions.
The board has approved the allocation of P15 million for the initial implementation of the program, to be sourced from the existing budget of the Family Development Support Program.
OWWA is a national government agency vested with the special function of developing and implementing welfare programs and services that respond to the needs of its member-OFWs and their families. It is endowed with powers to administer a trust fund to be called the OWWA Fund.