San Fernando City, La Union—As the “Hatid Probinsya para sa mga OFWs” program continues to cater to returning Overseas Filipinos (OFs) to their provinces, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration Regional Welfare Office 1 (OWWA RWO1) has strengthened its ties with different local government units (LGUs), the Philippine National Police (PNP) and Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in various designated drop-off points in the provinces of Region 1.
OWWA RWO1 is still implementing the said program in full-force 24/7 at Urdaneta TPLEX Entrance/ Exit for Pangasinan, Rosario Checkpoint for La Union, Tagudin Checkpoint for Ilocos Sur and Sinait - Badoc Border Checkpoint for Ilocos Norte to accommodate all returning OFs including some locally stranded individuals (LSI).
OWWA RWO1 is also closely monitoring with LGUs through their designated Migrant Desk Officers (MDOs) and to the next-of-kin (NOK) of the returning OFs for the immediate arrangements of their transportation.
On the other hand, PNP and PCG has assisted the agency in the 24/7 operation of the Hatid Probinsya program since March 18, 2020; both institutions have been a great source of help and support especially in assisting the OFs upon their arrival and departure in the drop-off points.
As of 6 July 2020, OWWA RWO1 has catered to a total of 3,504 OFs in Region 1, breakdown as follows: Pangasinan is at 2,043; La Union is 595 while in the provinces of Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte is at 510 and 335, respectively. It also assisted a total of 21 OFWs from other regions. In addition to that, the agency is also actively transporting OFs who stayed from the different hotels in Pampanga back to their respective provinces in Region 1.
“In this challenging time, OWWA RWO1 will continue to be of service for the‘Hatid Probinsya para sa mga OFWs’ program in full force and hand in hand with all concerned agencies including PNP and PCG in all designated drop-off points in Region 1,” OIC-Regional Director, Gerardo C. Rimorin said in response to the rising number of returning OFs in Region 1.
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