The Davao City-based Mindanao Migrant Center for Empowering Actions, Inc. (MMCEAI) has urged the public to support the economic activities of the overseas Filipino workers and their families to survive the COVID-19 pandemic.
MMCEAI Executive Director Inorisa S. Elento said that the OFWs is one of the sectors which has been economically affected since the onset of the pandemic, with more impact on their left-behind families.
“Kung unsa ang kahimtang sa atong OFW, mao pod ni ang kahimtang sa nabilin na pamilya sa atong OFW (The situation of the OFWs is also the same with their left-behind families),” Elento stated during a recent virtual celebration of 2021 International Day of Families headed by the Department of Social Welfare and Development Region XI.
She said that many OFW households have not received government assistance because they are seen as economically stable, although she added that some of them are actually dependent on their family member working abroad.
This is why, Elento said that some OFWs and their families have resorted to undertake economic activities, particularly home-based economies such as food delicacy/meal productions, steel fabrication, ornamental plants growing and vegetable gardening.
With the restrictions on movement/travel due to the community quarantine guidelines, they utilize the social media as market outlets, she added.
“Suportahan nato ang mga paningkamot nila aron mauswag pa (Let’s support their endeavors to progress),” Elento urged.
She lauded the resiliency of the OFWs and their families in coping up with the pandemic.
“Sa panahon sa COVID-19 pandemic, nagatumaw gihapon ang katung gitawag natong pagpaningkamot ug pagka-resilient sa atong mga OFW (In this time of the COVID-19 pandemic, the OFWs still emerge to be persevering and resilient).”
Despite the challenges brought about by the pandemic, Elento is hopeful for OFWs’ progress.
“While naa ni ang sitwasyon, naa ni diri ang kalisdanan ug mga frustration, apan naa pod ta nakita na hope sa atong mga OFWs (While they are in this situation, in difficulties and frustrations, we can still see hope for our OFWs),” she stated. (PIA-XI/Antonino S. Oblianda)
