Gov. Espino: Showing gratitude to OFWs is best gift we can give

Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. (3rd from left) receives the certificate of appreciation from Pangasinan OFW Family Federation (POFFED) President Esmeraldo P. Agustin, Sr. (3rd from right) during the induction of POFFED, Inc. officers on June 25 at the Pangasinan Training and Development Center (PTDC) in Lingayen. With Agustin are some of the newly-inducted POFFED officers. /MVSadim

Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. (seated, center) together with (seated, from left) Pangasinan OFW Family Federation (POFFED), Inc. President Esmeraldo P. Agustin, Sr., Alaminos Senior Labor and Employment Officer Rhoda Dingle, Licensing and Regulation Office of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) Director Robert Larga, Provincial Employment Services Office (PESO) Manager Alex Ferrer, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Region 1 Head Gerardo Rimorin, National Reintegration Center for OFWs Regional Coordinator Ethel Saliendra and some of the officers  and members of POFFED flash the number one sign during the induction ceremonies of POFFED on June 25 at the Pangasinan Training and Development Center in Lingayen. The event was attended by over 400 POFFED members from all over the province. /MVSadim

LINGAYEN - Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. has urged Pangasinenses to give tribute to our Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) who have sacrificed a lot just to provide for the needs of their families back home.

Gov. Espino said that “the best gift we can give our OFWs is to show our care, respect and gratitude for all the sacrifices that they do.”

Despite all the difficulties that they go through and sacrifice being away from their loved ones, OFWs strive very hard in order to earn for their respective families.

He further urged everyone that these things must be done in deed and not just merely in words.
Gov. Espino underscored that the OFWs are among the most important resource of the province alongside with its natural resource when he addressed the more than 400 participants from all over the province during the induction of officers of the Pangasinan OFW Family Federation.
The activity coincided with the seminar on anti-illegal recruitment, human trafficking and drug abuse held at the Provincial Training and Development Center on June 25.

The governor said “Dito sa Pangasinan, ang pinakamahalaga ay ang mga tao o human resource,” as he lauded the overseas workers for being of great help to the province’s economy.

Gov. Espino also thanked the attendees for being proud as OFWs. He was proud that these workers are now being hailed as heroes, though he laments the agony and pain they have to suffer for going away from their families while working in foreign lands.

Meanwhile, Robert Larga , director for the Licensing and Regulation Office of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) commended Gov. Espino for championing the cause, the welfare and protection of the rights of migrant workers in Pangasinan.

Larga likewise commended the provincial government through the Provincial Employment Services Office (PESO) for developing programs and services that will address the needs of the OFWs in the province.
The POEA official lauded the efforts of the province for having established its Migration and Development Council that will ensure the continuity of the programs and services to OFWs in Pangasinan.
Larga said this pioneering act of setting up the council in the province and the region is worthy of emulation by all provinces across the country.
The province, in partnership with POEA, has undertaken several meaningful activities like seminars and public education campaigns to address the issue of illegal recruitment and trafficking following the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement last year for this program.
 /ADV