OWWA-10 releases 700T to displaced OFWs in Iligan City

ILIGAN CITY—Together with a Certificate, fourteen (14) Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) were awarded Livelihood Assistance on the celebration of the 111th Philippine Independence Day in city.

“We turned over the checks, each amounting PhP 50,000 at the Office of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)—Iligan City / Lanao del Norte District Office,” said Roseller D. Bartolome, Overseas Worker Welfare Officer and concurrent Program Services Division head of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Region 10 based in Cagayan de Oro City.

The OFWs who were displaced / affected by and laid off due to the global financial crisis availed the Filipino Expatriate Livelihood Support Fund (FELSF), a program which is an integral component of the comprehensive OFW reintegration program under President Gloria Macapagal- Arroyo’s Comprehensive Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program (CLEEP).

Bartolome further said the FELSF is a non-collateralized loan window which serves as an economic safety net for OFWs retrenched as a result of company shut down, downsizing, and streamlining due to economic recession.

Many had responded to OWWA’s call especially those terminated on or after October 15, 2008, Bartolome revealed. Of these 14 recipients, 11 come from Iligan City, one from Tangub City of Misamis Occidental, and two (2) from Tubod and Lala, province of Lanao del Norte.

In a day or two, a beneficiary’s application for this program can be approved as long as the following pertinent loan documentary requirements be complied and submitted such as Proof of OWWA contribution- passport, overseas employment certificate, employment contract, Proof of displacement- POLO certification, letter of termination / company certification, Business proposal, Financial statement for existing business, Promissory note, Marital consent / authorization, Proof of relationship- birth, marriage certificates, Application form with 2x2 picture, and Barangay permit.

“We have extended a maximum loan amount of PhP 50,000 for FELSF loan, with an interest rate of 5% only per annum, payable within 24 months, having three (3) months grace period,” explained Bartolome.

“For Iligan City, we financed eligible projects like swine fattening, fish vending, piggery, sari-sari store, seafood distributor, bakery, food processed products, dressed chicken distributor and, fitness and amusement center,” said the program services head.

The monthly amortization could be remitted / paid directly to Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP)-designated bank, or through postal money order.

“Since February 2009, there were already 82 beneficiaries, with a total amount granted of PhP4,100,000.00 for region 10,” Bartolome concluded. (Lorry V. Gabule)

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Iligan City dad highlights meaning of Nat’l Flag Day

Iligan City - Since an Executive Order was made several years ago on the National Flag Day celebration every 28th May and the year thereafter, it connotes everything , which started from the evolution of flags, all its symbols of national solidarity indicative of true patriotism and love of country.

This was the opening statement of City Mayor Lawrence Ll. Cruz of Iligan in his message during the program in the observance of the National Flag Day. But, are we living what the flag stands for? The mayor threw the question to hundreds of spectators at the public plaza, this city.

Also, are we internalizing the lyrics of our national anthem, just like what the flag stands for? What our flag teaches us to do, is what also our national anthem tells us to do, as Filipinos, expressed Mayor Cruz.

We will ask ourselves, what we can contribute, to be useful to the society. Problems always occur, there is no ideal world, no ideal situation, that we can say bad times are over, now comes the good times. There is just no such thing, the mayor commented. “Tough times never last, but tough people do”, he added.

Practice should be a part of our everyday life because tough situations are here to stay. So, we just have to continue searching for the answers, solutions to the problems we encounter.

What is important is we understand the theme for this year, “Kagitingan, Kagalingan, at Kasipagan, Tungo sa Tunay na Kalayaan”. Let us all march towards progress despite tremendous acts, we shall defeat the enemy that is complacency, poverty and all the problems that destroy our society, Mayor Cruz reiterated.

The mayor, along with the city local officials, led the raising of the Philippine Flag and the singing of the National Anthem, followed by the reading of the Flag Code by City Councilor Ariel P. Anghay, who is also the Council Scout Executive, Boy Scouts of the Philippines (BSP), Iligan City Council.

Involved in the celebration were heads and employees of the local government unit and the national government agencies, the barangay officials and its constituents, non-government organizations, civic clubs, BSP, and other sectors in the society.

The ceremonial burning of old/tattered flags highlighted the day’s event.

The Department of Education, headed by Schools Division Superintendent Domingo V. Samson, took the lead in the preparation of the program. (Lorry V. Gabule, PIA Lanao del Norte)

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