Manila: The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) vows to further enhance and expand its programs for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) following President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s renewed commitment to migrant workers during his State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday.

According to Philippines News Agency, OWWA Administrator Patricia Yvonne Caunan, in a Radyo Pilipinas interview on Wednesday, emphasized that the President's continued recognition of OFWs in his SONA affirms the government's efforts and challenges the agency, along with the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), to further improve its services for migrant workers and their families.

Caunan noted that the inclusion of OFWs in the President's annual SONA acts as a confirmation of their importance. She highlighted that OWWA, in collaboration with the DMW and other government agencies, will focus on strengthening programs ranging from repatriation and reintegration to skills training, education, and employment.

One of the upcoming initiatives by OWWA is the OFW/OWWA Academy, aimed at opening in September. This academy is intended for returning OFWs or those planning to work abroad again, providing them with the necessary skills and training.

Furthermore, OWWA plans to bolster its scholarship programs in partnership with the Commission on Higher Education and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority. Caunan stressed the importance of educational assistance for the children of OFWs, which remains a priority for the Marcos administration.

Drawing attention to the President's mention of assisting over 12,000 overseas Filipinos in returning home, Caunan emphasized that government support extends beyond their arrival in the Philippines. The DMW and OWWA, in coordination with the Department of Labor and Employment, are providing repatriated OFWs with various opportunities to find employment locally or abroad.

Caunan assured that OWWA would continue delivering government services directly to Filipino workers through service caravans, both overseas and within the Philippines. Many returning migrant workers are exploring employment opportunities or planning to start small businesses upon their return.

From the onset of President Marcos Jr.'s administration, it has been clear that OFWs and their families are of utmost importance, with the government committed to delivering services and programs tailored to their needs.