Talibon hosts repatriated

OFW’s reintegration Fair

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol (PIA)— Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) who were displaced in the series of government repatriations for workers in the troubled areas in the Middle East and elsewhere in the world found a welcome embrace in Talibon, which hosted the Bayanihan Para sa Balikbayang Manggagawa, July 8, 2029, at the President Carlos P. Garcia Multipurpose Center in Talibon.

A venue for the National Reintegration Network (NRN) Fair, which also had a Financial Awareness Seminar, an Airtip Campaign and Kumustahan, gathered OFWs, their families, and participating OFW
organizations, the event excites Mayor Janette Aurestila-Garcia, who helped the government lay down its reintegration plan for the displaced overseas workers who would be permanently settling here.

“LGU-Talibon is very pleased with this as we commit our support for the welfare of the OFWs through the implementation of different programs that could help uplift their standard of living particularly the distressed OFWs,” Mayor Garcia said, while hosting the event.

With the legislative mandate, our LGU gives financial and emergency assistance to OFWs in distress especially those displaced from work. Hand in hand with the national and provincial government, we really have to do this all together to care for our OFWs, our modern heroes, she added.

To this, Talibon, represented by Mayor Garcia signed a Memorandum of Agreement for partnership with the National Reintegration Center for OFWs through Director Andrea
Anolin, Department of Migrant Workers Regional Office-7 Director Jhoaden Lucero, DMW-7 Welfare and Reintegration Services Division Supervising Labor and Employment Officer Luchel Senarlo-Taniza.

Governor Erico Aristotle Aumentado, who was there to keynote and witness the MOA signing shared his joy in meeting OFWs and their families and seeing the government effort to get them all the access they would need fitting their hero status.

“We are extremely honored to witness this meaningful endeavor, and we at the Provincial Government remain committed to working closely with both entities to ensure the successful implementation of this MOA, and, more importantly, to improve the lives of our OFWs and their families,” the governor said.

“As our country's modern heroes, it is only fitting that our OFWs, especially those who have been repatriated or have returned home, have access to various government services that will help them get back on their feet and become productive members of society once again,” he followed on.

He also pointed out that realizing the goal, demands a whole-of-government approach that brings these services to our beloved OFWs, making them more accessible, convenient, and responsive to their needs.

Organized by the Department of Migrant Workers, under the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., the event also featured Buy Lokal By OFWs (BLBO) Kabayan Mini-Trade Fair, and service caravans by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, Technical education and Skills Development Authority, Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Health and private sector partners like Pru-Life UK which gave the financial literacy seminar; all to showcase options and opportunities for OFWs as they make the move to settle here permanently.

While thanking the DMW, Aumentado also cited Talibon for signing the agreement of partnership signifying the sturdy commitment of partnerships and whole-of-nation approaches to develop and enhance the country’s support to its modern heroes.

Through the Bayanihan Para sa Balikbayang Manggagawa, our OFWs now have a safe harbor to run to and access programs and services as they permanently settle here, he said.

In closing, the governor assured the province’s committed support.

As we continue building a "smart, resilient, and inclusive" province, the Provincial Government will remain your steadfast partner in promoting the welfare of our OFWs and ensuring opportunities for their sustainable growth and development, he assured. (PIAbohol/CCapangpangan)

COMMITTED FOR OFWS WELFARE. Bannering Bohols commitment to genuinely care for OFWs especially those who lost their jobs abroad with the continuing crisis in the Middle East and Europe, Talibon took on the responsibilities of keeping a whole of government partnerships to advance OFWs welfare by signing the MOA of partnership as Gov Erico Aristotle Aumentado graced and witnessed the event. (PIAbohol/CCapangpangan)

Mayor Uy: few suppliers

stall rice aid distribution

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol (PIA)—As the Provincial Government kicks off its second wave of the distribution of some 10-kilo from the Bagong Pilipinas Rice Program (BPRP) to 86,000 indigent families, fourth to sixth class towns still could hardly engage suppliers for the 10 kilo rice packs.

The hurdle now for local government units procuring the 10 kilo rice packs worth P5 million, at a time when all LGUS, including provincial governments, is qualifying and bidding from limited suppliers.

Cortes Mayor Rodrigo Dennis Uy shares this concern as a chief executive of a 5th class town still has over 3,000 families to cover in its local distribution to beneficiary indigent families which could not make it to the provincial government’s distribution list.

Himself confessing that he gets text messages almost every day from constituents asking when they can finally get their share, mayor Uy added that it has been more than a month since the Provincial Government distributed its rice assistance.

The mayor, who has confirmed receiving P30 million from the government’s Local Government Support Fund, shared that the national government has provided eligible towns the LGSF, where the P5 million has been earmarked, as mandated by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., exclusively for rice assistance program.

“The rest of the P30 million would be for local government infrastructure projects,” he added.

But, when the P5 millioin would appear to be a blessing to the town, converting it to the promised goods proved easier said than done.

Bidding for the P5 million worth of 10 kilo rice packs proved to be a challenge for the LGU, as with the other LGUs.

The sheer volume of rice needed to supply the needs of all the towns simultaneously buying P5 million worth of rice in 10 kilo bags is just too much that only a few suppliers in Bohol can qualify, so we have to source out from across the islands, the mayor said.

The Provincial Government distributed 1,157 10 kilo bags in its first wave of assistance last May 20, but the first term executive said his barangays submitted not less than 4,800 recipients, who were supposed to be in the list.

Apparently, the authorities have staved off beneficiaries from the list that only a little over a thousand were included as beneficiaries.

For those who could not receive the assistance from the provincial government, the municipal government would be providing, Bohol Governor Erico Aristotle Aumentado, was quoted as assuring those delisted families from the PLGU beneficiaries.

However, with the P5M from the LGSF, Mayor Uy told those who were in the list that the town would also have its distribution, so that all would be given and no one would be left behind.

As what Governor Erico Aristotle Aumentado said those who could not receive rice packs from the province, would get it from the town, that is true, Mayor Uy announced in a video message.

“Pero, magpaabut sa lang ta kay ga bidding pa ‘ta, galisud ta’g pagpangita, dili lang kita ang naglisud og pagpangita og kapalitan sa bugas kay apil ang probinsya ug tibuok nasud. Nakakita na kita’g supplier sa Mindanao kay mingsuroy kita sa Bohol, wala may makadawat sa supply, he said.

We have the supply bid, we have ordered and we are now waiting, hopefully towards the end of the month, we can start the first wave from the locally sourced rice. Everyone (in the list) will get, he assured.

And like the provincial government which will deliver in four waves, Cortes would be having three waves of ten kilo rice and the last would be for 5 kilos, to consummate the P5M supply, he capped. (PIABohol)

APPEAL FOR PATIENCE. Cortes Mayor Rodrigo Dennis Uy appealed to beneficiaries left out in the rice assistance program from the town to be patient a little bit longer as the LGU has used P5M LGSF funds to procure 10 kilo bags of rice, like all other towns. He shared how this sudden volume has become a problem for LGUS intending to deliver the aid quickly. (PIAbohol)