The Philippine Embassy in Brunei, through its attached agencies, conducted a series of outreach/briefing on OWWA, SSS and Pag-IBIG programs and services to OFWs in Kaizen Sushi Restaurant on 08 and 22 October at Waterfront, Bandar Seri Begawan and Seria, and in Norain Trading Services, Azura Travel and Aziz Latif Group of Companies on 15 and 22 October 2011.

The purpose of the briefings was to provide OFWs basic knowledge/updates on Philippine Embassy programs and services, particularly on labor and welfare services and OWWA/SSS/Pag-IBIG membership coverage.

The said activities were part of the Embassy's continuing effort to reach out to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and, in the process, promote better understanding and cooperation between and among the Philippine Embassy and OFWs in Brunei.

Mr. and Mrs. Charles and Iris Lee, owners, and Mr. Emanuel Medalla, General Manager of Kaizen Sushi Restaurant, welcomed the Philippine Embassy officers and representatives at the branch in Waterfront, Bandar Seri Begawan and Kuala Belait.

Likewise, Mrs. Mayie Ochoa, wife of Philippine Ambassador Nestor Z. Ochoa, together with the Philippine Embassy officers and representatives, welcomed Hajah Siti Nuraziah Borja Andy Latif, owner of Norain Aziz Trading Copany & Azura Travel Services, and her companies' Filipino staff at the residence of the Philippine Ambassador; meanwhile, Mr. Mars Madayag, Human Resource and Administrative Manager of Aziz Latif Company, welcomed the Philippine Embassy representatives at Aziz Latif Company, Kiarong office.

The resource speakers on these briefings were OWWA Welfare Officer Zenaida S. Ramos, SSS Representative Marivic Rutor, and Pag-IBIG Representative Arlina Feliciano.

• Welfare Officer Ramos discussed the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) programs and benefits. These consisted of:

1. life insurance benefit for the duration of employment contract, which was over and above what was stipulated in the OFW's employment contract;

2. disability, dismemberment, death, and burial benefits;

3. education and training benefits, such as Education for Development Scholarship Program (EDSP), a 4 to 5 years baccalaureate scholarships for OFWs qualified dependents; Skills for Employment Scholarship Program (SESP), a short-term or up to 2-years TESDA accredited vocational or technician courses for OFWs and their dependents; OFW Dependents Scholarship Program (OFWDSP), financial assistance to poor but deserving students who are dependents of OFWs; OWWA's "Tuloy-Aral at Tuloy Kolehiyo" scholarship project for the children of less-fortunate former overseas Filipino worker;

4. workers' assistance and on-site programs such as tracing whereabouts of OFWs, conciliation services, outreach programs, prison/hospital/company visits, repatriation assistance for distressed workers and human remains, airport assistance, coordination with families; and reintegration program through entrepreneurial skills training/livelihood, financial literacy, and IT training; and

5. livelihood loan programs for OFWs who wanted to go into business.

Welof Ramos reminded workers to renew/update their OWWA membership to avail themselves of its various programs and benefits.

• SSS Representative Rutor updated the participants on Social Security System (SSS) program and benefits such as maternity, sickness, partial or total disability, death, and funeral benefits. She also mentioned loan privileges available to SSS members such as the 1 month to 2 months' salary loan, housing loan, and home repair and improvement loan.

She emphasized the need for members to continue paying their premium contributions, preferably up to a minimum of 120 contributions, to qualify themselves for lifetime retirement pay plus year-end bonus.

She urged OFWs to continue paying their monthly contributions until the age of 60 years or 65 years old to continue enjoying these benefits and have pensions to pay for their needs during old age.

She also discussed SSS Flexi-fund, a voluntary provident fund exclusive for OFWs, as an additional service of the SSS on top of its regular OFW membership. She clarified its nature as a pension plan and savings account rolled into one.

• Pag-IBIG Representative Feliciano discussed Philippine Republic Act 9679, requiring all overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to join the Pag-IBIG and enjoy its benefits such as savings that earn tax-free dividends, low-interest housing loans, salary loans, and calamity loans for eligible members.

She also discussed the new Pag-IBIG 2 Program which was open to all existing Pag-IBIG and OFW members and featured a shorter membership term, higher dividend rate per annum, a minimum of P500 monthly contribution, and savings withdrawable at the end of 5 years at the member's option.

After the orientation/briefing, the participants from Norain Trading and Zura Travel were given a demonstration on baking muffins and empanada. The activity was in support of the reintegration program of our government to provide OFWs employability option for livelihood and income generating project upon their return to the Philippines.

The participants participated in the hands-on preparation of muffins and empanada, and enjoyed the finished products as part of their snacks.

A total of one hundred four (104) overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) attended the orientations with fifty four (54) from kaizen Sushi Restaurant and fifty (50) from Hj Aziz Group of Companies. The participants requested the Philippine Embassy to continue conducting similar training and briefing in the future.

Outreach/Briefing at Kaizen Sushi Restaurant Waterfront, Bandar Seri Begawan, Saturday, 08 October 2011