22 August 2016 – The Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) in Beirut, Lebanon, with the support of the Department of Labor and Employment-National Reintegration Center for OFWs (DOLE-NRCO), intensified its efforts to assist OFWs in planning a secure future for themselves and their families through a series of activities raising awareness about the Philippine government’s reintegration programs for migrant workers.

Through these efforts, OFWs are made aware of the various forms of assistance available to migrant workers under the National Reintegration Program. Beneficiaries are also able to learn how to manage their earnings well through the financial literacy lectures conducted by POLO-Beirut.

The activities were likewise used to encourage OFWs to maintain active OWWA membership, so they may avail of the different OWWA programs and benefits. Among the activities being conducted by POLO-Beirut and OWWA-Beirut are: 1) Skills training for distressed OFWs temporarily sheltered at the Migrant Workers and other Overseas Filipinos Resource Center (MWOFRC) while awaiting their repatriation to the Philippines. To date, the MWOFRC wards have successfully completed training on Beauty Care Services (Nail Care) and Preparation/Cooking of Hot Meals; 2) Daily lectures on reintegration programs, financial literacy and OWWA programs and benefits to the Embassy’s consular and Balik Manggagawa clients, in order to make productive use of the waiting time for their documents to be processed; 3) National Reintegration Program and Financial Literacy Seminars hosted by the Embassy for members of Filipino community organizations in Lebanon.

The latest seminar was held on 21 August 2016, Sunday, at the Chancery Showroom for members of the Samahang Manggagawa sa Lebanon.

The National Reintegration Program aims to help prepare OFWs for the eventual completion of their overseas employment and ensure their productive return to the country, their families and communities. END