MikeLigalig.com

The number of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) is increasing every year, said Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) 6.

Samuel Madrid, OWWA-6 regional director, stressed that based in national data, about 1,422,586 deployed Filipinos are currently working in different countries both in land-based with 1,092,162 workers and sea-based with 330,424.

In Western Visayas, a total of 156,532 OFWs are registered to OWWA-6.

Of the number, 104,670 workers are land-based while 51,862 are sea-based.

Madrid said Iloilo has the highest OFWs with 75,468; followed by Negros Occidental, 43,678; Capiz, 13,983; Antique, 10,483; Aklan, 8,650; and Guimaras, 4,270.

Madrid added 75,932 OFWs are female while 80,600 are male.

Based from last year’s record of OWWA-6, the Top 10 countries of common destinations are Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Hongkong, Qatar, Singapore, Kuwait, Taiwan, Italy, Canada and Bahrain.

“The same countries are also the common destinations of OFWs for this year," he said during recent press conference at Max restaurant, SM City Mall here.

On the other hand, Madrid said OWWA-6 offers some reintegration programs for OFWs and their families to ensure that they maximize the gains of overseas employment.

The two components of this reintegration are economic and psycho-social.

Economic component includes social preparation programs for livelihood projects or community-based, income generating projects, skills training and credit facilitation and lending.

Presently, Madrid said OWWA-6 is offering OWWA-NLSF Livelihood Development Programs, Groceria Project and Filipino Expatriates Livelihood Support Fund (FELSF) for OFWs.

The regional director said 21 OFWs have availed the livelihood and 38 groups with 834 members also availed the groceria project while 279 members availed of the FELSF. (PNA)

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