Labor Day-OWWA anniversary celebration today

Philippine Consulate General officials and guests will be hosting a joint celebration of Philippine Labor Day and the 27th anniversary of the Overseas Workers and Welfare Administration today at the Canton Restaurant in Garapan, Saipan.

The simple ceremony, which will start at 6pm, will be marked by the reading of special messages from top government officials, including President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Consul General Wilfredo DL Maximo will read Arroyo’s message while Labor Representative Joan Lourdes D. Lavilla will read the message of Labor Secretary Marianito D. Roque.

Welfare officer Reynaldo D. Tayag will read the message of OWWA Administrator Carmelita S. Dimzon.

Members of the United Filipino Organization will provide entertainment numbers during the celebration.

This year’s theme for Labor Day is “Tayo Na, Trabaho Na” (Let’s go work together). For OWWA, it’s “27 Taong Patuloy na Serbisyo sa Expat Pinoy” (27 years of continuing service to Filipino expatriates).

In a message, Maximo said this joint celebration is to honor the large number of Filipino workers in the CNMI.

“Albeit our celebration is a simple one, it does not diminish the recognition we have for the CNMI-based workers’ contributions to our nation’s strength and well-being,” he said.

Maximo encouraged Filipino workers to value their present work, take good care of their finances and families back home, be mindful of the temporariness of overseas employment and to be ready for the life that comes after their work stint abroad.

Arroyo lauded Labor and OWWA management for actively complementing the thrusts of the government in boosting and facilitating opportunities for growth and in maintaining industrial harmony despite the temporary setbacks.

“Indeed the culture of excellence that our workers have exhibited, whether they are working at home or in more than 190 host destinations worldwide, is our best assurance that we will be able to weather this crisis,” Arroyo said.

Dimzon said the negative impact of the global crisis on the OFW sector is a huge challenge but said that OWWA faces this with great resolve, “striving to mitigate the effects on its members and their families.

She assured that OWWA does not lose sight of the need to reinvent and re-skill workers.

“Entrepreneurial investments for livelihood are tapped as alternative opportunities to employment,” Dimzon said.

She said that OWWA has put in place some safety nets, a set of benefits and social welfare programs for members and their beneficiaries. These include easy loans, scholarships, financial literacy and training support.