In its effort to bring the needed reintegration support to Overseas Filipinos (OFs) forced to return home by the COVID-19 pandemic, the BalikaBayanihan Campaign (BC) Team led by the Philippine National Volunteer Service Coordinating Agency (PNVSCA), the National Reintegration Center For OFWs (NRCO) and the Atikha Overseas Workers and Communities Initiative, Incorporated (Atikha) held a meeting with around seventy-eight (78) representatives coming from the Regional Committee on Migration and Development, National Economic and Development Authority Regional Offices (NROs), Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Regional Welfare Officers, Local Government Units, National Government Agencies, Higher Educational Institutions, the Bangsamoro Planning and Development Authority (BPDA) and Non-profit Organizations on 9 September 2020. The primary focus of the meeting is to share and concretize ideas on how BalikaBayanihan can be effectively implemented in the Regions, Provinces and down to the Municipalities.
In his Welcome Message, Director Roel B. Martin of OWWA-NRCO expressed his gratitude to the participants and his utmost appreciation to the Balikabayanihan initiative as it brings hope to returned OFs. He shared that since March 2020, there are already 192,000 OFs repatriated and/or forced to return home due to the COVID-19 pandemic and more are expected to arrive in the succeeding days and months. Director Martin also clarified that the BC would also benefit undocumented returned OFs.
During the meeting, Ms. Estrella Mai Dizon-Añonuevo, Atikha Chairperson gave a brief overview of the BalikaBayanihan. She emphasized that the BC aims to provide COVID‐19 displaced and repatriated OFs with sustainable livelihood opportunities in the country with its objectives to mobilize technical assistance from diaspora, migrants, civil society organizations, development agencies and private sector to help the returnees access capital, market, training and other consultancy services to start up business; and engage the support and participation of the National and Local Government in the BC by mapping and providing access to their services that can assist in the reintegration of affected OFs.
Ms. Anonuevo also presented the official website of the Balikabayanihan, www.balikabayanihan.org which features a One-Stop Reintegration Service for OFs and their families, such as psychosocial services, training business opportunities financial services and mentoring. The Balikabayanihan mobile application for the registration of OFs was also introduced and demonstrated during the meeting by Mr. Joseph Q. Padilla of OWWA.
Representing PNVSCA Executive Director Donald James D. Gawe, Mr. Kenneth C. Siruelo, Supervising Volunteer Service Officer, presented the process flow on how the BalikaBayanihan campaign works for OFWs, which starts with the online registration through the balikabayanihan website (which also has a mobile application under development) until the assistance needed is availed or granted. He also explained the role of PNVSCA in the call for and vetting of volunteer individuals and organizations for this campaign. The online meeting was moderated by Atikha Executive Director Ms. Aileen Constantino-Penas and Ms. Antonette C. Cañete of the OWWA-NRCO who also provided the synthesis.
For more information and inquiries on the BalikaBayanihan initiative you may contact Ms. Mai Dizon-Anonuevo at [email protected] or Mr. Kenneth C. Siruelo at [email protected] , and/or you may visit at www.balikabayanihan.org.
Visit PNVSCA website (www.pnvsca.gov.ph ) and PNVSCA Facebook (facebook.com/PNVSCA) for other stories and information on volunteering.