Press Release No. EBB - 73 - 2019
JEDDAH PCG HOSTS
A PUBLIC FORUM ON PHILIPPINE REINTEGRATION PROGRAMS FOR OFWs
Jeddah, 13 September 2019 - “Preparedness is the key to successfully reintegrating into the mainstream of Philippine society after years of living overseas as an OFW,” thus said Consul General Edgar Badajos in his opening remarks at a public forum hosted by the Philippine Consulate General in Jeddah on 13 September 2019 on Philippine reintegration programs for members of the Filipino community.
The Consulate hosted the forum in line with Philippine government efforts to prepare returning OFWs for life back home even as the economic conditions in Saudi Arabia and other overseas destinations for foreign migrant workers are no longer as lucrative as before. In his remarks, Consul General Badajos urged the participants to take stock of not just their available resources but also their skill-sets as they prepare for their journey back to the Philippines after years of working overseas. He said it is not enough that one has the capital or a business idea. “More important than these considerations is possession of the right mindset and skill-sets to ensure that one’s chosen career or business after life as an OFW will succeed,” he added. He urged the participants to carefully study the various reintegration programs of the government to see what best suits their post-OFW-life.
The public forum covered a wide range of topics including the various Philippine reintegration programs being administered by OWWA and other government agencies, savings and investment opportunities available under Pag-IBIG and SSS, exciting business opportunities and technical as well as financial assistance offered by the DTI and its various Negosyo Centers located nationwide, and the cost of borrowing money. END
Consul General Edgar B. Badajos (center), Consulate officials and the resource speakers and officials from the attached agencies.
Photo above - Members of the Filipino community in Jeddah listening intently to the speakers. Photo below - Consul General Badajos addresses one of the questions during the open forum, as Labor Attaché Nasser B. Munder (left, standing) looks on. Also in the photo facing the camera are the resource speakers, namely (from left to right, to the left of the Consul General), Ms. Laureen C. Musa, Administrative Staff, POLO-Jeddah; Mr. Michael D. Ingal, SSS representative; Mr. Jamal D. Baguan, Pag-IBIG representative; Mr. Bugshan A. Tendegaranao, DTI representative; and Mr. James Mendiola, Welfare Officer, POLO-Jeddah.
