OFWs. 蜜桃工作室 FILE PHOTO
Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) coming to the Philippines for the holidays will get a red-carpet welcome and may even win a prize upon arrival at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia).
The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (Owwa) launched on Tuesday its 鈥淧amaskong Handog聽 sa OFWs (Christmas Offering for OFWs)鈥� as the government鈥檚 way of paying tribute and recognition to the so-called 鈥渕odern day heroes鈥� of the country.
Under the program, which聽 began in 1993, OFWs arriving at Naia鈥檚 terminals will be segregated and will be led to red-carpet lanes.聽 They will also be given faster access in the customs, immigration and quarantine counters.
Special gifts, donated by corporate sponsors, also await a lucky OFW whose flights will be picked in a raffle.
Owwa Administrator Carmelita Dimzon said President Aquino will go to Naia sometime before Christmas for a 鈥減residential salubong (welcome)鈥� for OFWs and give more gifts.
鈥淭his is the government鈥檚 tribute to the heroism of OFWs who come home during Christmastime to be with their families,鈥� she said.
Dimzon, Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz and Philippine Overseas Employment Administration chief Hans Leo Cacdac led the launching of the program at Naia Terminal 1.
鈥淎lthough the Owwa team [at Naia] extends various assistance to OFWs year-round, the ambiance during Christimas time is different since there is an air of festivities waiting for vacationing OFWs,鈥� Baldoz said. Jerome Aning