Budapest: The Philippines and Hungary have solidified their strong bilateral relations following a courtesy visit by Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Administrator Patricia Yvonne Caunan to Budapest. The visit on Wednesday was aimed at boosting cooperation in migrant worker support.

According to Philippines News Agency, Caunan's meeting with Hungarian State Secretary Ill©s Bogl¡rka focused on strengthening migrant worker support and bilateral cooperation. In a social media post Thursday, OWWA highlighted the discussions, while Bogl¡rka emphasized the significance of the Central European Regional Center, established in Budapest in 2024. She noted that the center, operational since last year, is a testament to the robust relationship between the two countries and has been pivotal in providing essential services to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) across Europe.

Caunan also met with Philippine Ambassador to Hungary Maria Elena Algabre to discuss enhanced coordination between OWWA, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA). The meeting focused on fortifying programs that protect the welfare of OFWs in Budapest and neighboring regions.

In conjunction with her visit, Caunan led the 'Alagang OWWA (OWWA Care): Wellness and Membership Caravan' in Budapest, attracting nearly 200 OFWs. The event facilitated the distribution of 155 eCards and the renewal of 113 OFWs' memberships, ensuring continuous access to OWWA's benefits and protection programs. OWWA stressed that the caravan aims to make its core services more accessible to Filipinos abroad, eliminating the need for them to return to the Philippines for membership updates or essential services.

The caravan also showcased OWWA's wellness programs, reinforcing the Philippine government's dedication to safeguarding the health and well-being of Filipinos overseas and their families.