OWWA CARAGA AWARDS EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE TO PAP BENEFICIARIES

The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) remains committed to providing assistance to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and their families amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

In addition to the eligible beneficiaries of the ‘Project Alalay sa Pag-aaral para sa mga anak-OFWs sa Panahon ng Pandemya’ (PAP), the Regional Welfare Office (RWO) – Caraga recently awarded a onetime educational assistance in a form of cheque worth PhP20,000 to the five qualified dependents of active member-OFWs who are enrolled in tertiary level.

The qualified beneficiaries of the special educational assistance were identified from those who applied for the Education for Development Scholarship Program (EDSP) and took the 2019 OWWA and Department of Science and Technology – Science and Education Institute (DOST-SEI) Pre-Qualifying Examination. The first 1,500 EDSP examinees following the rank of top 400 EDSP qualifiers can avail the onetime education assistance amounting to Php20,000.00 provided that the dependent must be currently enrolled or has the intent to enroll in a baccalaureate degree to any college, university, or learning institution.

Kay Angelie Busano, a 2nd year psychology student at Xavier University and one of the new PAP beneficiaries, expressed her gratitude during an interview.

“I am beyond grateful for the chance to be one of the recipients of this educational assistance, for it was able to help me not only in my studies, but also the financial provision for my family’s household expenses in this time of pandemic,” she said.

Busano is a daughter of a seafarer residing in Bancasi, Butuan City and was awarded last January 28 2021.

Other beneficiaries who were awarded with the same amount of educational assistance under PAP include the following students: Kaye Pariñas from Agusan del Sur; Joshua Mantilla from Surigao del Sur; Princess Airah Macapanton from Butuan City; and Rheya Mae Laurea from Butuan City.

The Regional Welfare Offices assure its clients of the continuous provision of social and welfare services in accordance with the Republic Act 10801 despite the ongoing global pandemic.

To know more about Educational Assistance of OWWA, you may dial these hotlines 09399259895 (Smart)/ 09173150590 (Globe)/ 09383163838 (Smart) or visit OWWA Caraga at Nimfa Tiu Bldg. II, J.P. Rosales Ave., Butuan City during office hours between 8:00AM - 5:00PM, from Monday to Friday. (OWWA-Caraga/PIACaraga)

Oplan ‘TESDAmayan’ launch civil works efforts in Caraga

In line with the directive of TESDA Secretary Isidro Lapeña, Oplan TESDAmayan in Caraga presses on together with the TESDA Regional buddies from National Capital Region (NCR), Region III, XI, and XII as civil works efforts continue to help calamity-affected TESDA Offices and communities in Caraga.

The respective Teams are composed of their respective regional directors and other TESDA Officials, TESDA experts in the construction sector, and TESDA trainers-volunteers deployed in Odettestricken areas in Caraga providing livelihood and skills training related to construction. The respective teams were deployed starting January 4, 2022.

This is to help the affected families devastated by Typhoon Odette that caused significant damage to infrastructure and agricultural areas in Caraga Region, mainly in Mainland Surigao City, Siargao Islands, and Dinagat Islands.

TESDA Caraga, under the leadership of Regional Director Tarhata Mapandi, sent skilled workers effective December 27, 2021, in the spirit of TESDAmayan as they conducted repairs and reconstruction to houses and structures. The TESDA Caraga Team accomplished the following as of February 2022:

In Agusan del Norte: 15 buildings/houses/ rooms repaired and/or built; 1,100 beneficiaries provided with food packs and or hot meals; 75 corrugated GI sheets and lumber released to beneficiaries; 200 corrugated 8' GI sheets and 30 kilos umbrella nails released to

beneficiaries; 3 families assisted in their house repair; and skills training (Prepare Desserts, Table Set-up, Napkin Folding, Table Skirting) conducted

In Agusan del Sur: 100 provided with food packs and or hot meals.

In Surigao City/Surigao del Norte Mainland: 49 buildings/houses/ rooms repaired and/or built; 1,295 beneficiaries provided with food packs and or hot meals; 21 Solar Lighting System/ Solar Panel installed; 200 corrugated GI sheets and lumber provided to beneficiaries in Punta Bilar, Surigao City; coordination meeting with the LGUSurigao City conducted; coordination meeting with LGU Mainit, Tubod and Alegria conducted; Training in Carpentry NC II conducted with 25 Trainees; GREEN TVET utilizing recyclable materials from wall and ceiling transforming it into a quality and elegant filing cabinet, as well as the repair of the damaged unit provided; Onsite Assessment and Profiling of the affected area conducted; Donation of the following lumber from uprooted trees (14 pcs - 2x3, 2 pcs. - 2x6, 2 pcs - 2x6x12); On-site coordination and profiling of prospective trainees for the CommunityBased Training in Basic Carpentry and House Wiring; Coordination Meeting with IOM, UNICEF, and LGU-Surigao City conducted; and Provision of training-cum production in Carpentry for the relocation program.

In Siargao Islands: 2 buildings/houses/rooms repaired and/or built; 100 beneficiaries provided with food packs and or hot meals; and 15 Solar Lighting System / Solar Panel installed; 50 individuals participated in the conduct of demonstration on Chainsaw and Table Saw Operation; 20 individuals identified for training on Chainsaw and Circular Mini-Sawmill Operation; 150 identified recipients of the Philippine National Red Cross participated in the orientation in basic carpentry training; Establishment of "mini sawmill" for the continuous repair of PTC-Siargao and other affected areas; Installation of Wall for the damaged window, repair of damaged ceiling and painting of wall of PTC Siargao; Prepared the land and planted vegetables and spices in PTC-Siargao Mini-Organic Farm; and Ground Breaking Ceremony for the 20 Houses to be used for the relocation of affected families caused by supertyphoon Odette.

In Surigao del Sur: 1 building/house/room repaired and/or built; and 370 beneficiaries provided with food packs and or hot meals.

In Dinagat Islands: 8 buildings/houses/rooms repaired and/or built; 1,890 beneficiaries provided with food packs and or hot meals; 1 Solar Lighting System/ Solar Panel installed; 150 corrugated GI sheets and lumber provided to beneficiaries; 20 galvanized iron sheets provided to beneficiaries; Assessment conducted on the health care infrastructure; Profiling of Trainees for

Carpentry NC II Training Cum Production and damage assessment done; Coordination Meeting with MDRRMO Cagdianao conducted; Coordination Meeting with TESDAMAYAN Dinagat Committee with the Augmentation Team from TESDA Region 11 conducted; Courtesy Call Meeting with Chairman Gumamera conducted; Cookies and Face Masks, Notebooks, Ballpens, and Alcohol distributed to beneficiaries; Assisted in the distribution of 1,400 Corrugated Galvanized Iron, Solar Lights, 5 kilograms of rice, and Porridge; and 100 Face Masks distributed to beneficiaries.

The accomplishments of the Regional Buddies as of February 2022 are as follows:

The Regional Buddy from TESDA NCR headed by Florencio F. Sunico, Jr. and Regional Buddy from TESDA Region III led by Balmyrson M. Valdez assigned in Siargao Islands accomplished the following: 75 buildings / houses / rooms repaired and/or built; 537 beneficiaries provided with food packs and or hot meals; 26 Solar Lighting System / Solar Panel installed; 2 Charging Station provided; 10 families provided with construction materials; 18 families conducted with Community-Based Training on Basic Solar Concept and Installation; and Electrical Wirings for Ground Floor at PTC-Siargao building installed.

The Regional Buddy from TESDA Region XI, headed by Regional Director Lorenzo G. Macapili assigned in Dinagat Islands, accomplished the following: 43 buildings/houses/ rooms repaired and/or built; 681 beneficiaries provided with food packs and or hot meals; 26 Solar Lighting System/Solar Panel installed; 107 persons provided with medical supplies; 53 houses for Electrical Repairs and Maintenance provided with assistance; 20 houses for plumbing services provided with assistance; 196 households provided with construction materials; 2 solarpowered outlets installed; 3 solarpowered charging stations installed; 40 individuals provided with used clothing; and 1 Sawmill installed.

The Regional Buddy from TESDA Region XII headed by Regional Director Rafael Y. Abrogar II assigned in Surigao City accomplished the following: 22 buildings/ houses/rooms repaired and/or built; 11 families provided with assistance for the repair of electrical appliances; 4 families provided with assistance in electrical wiring installation; 4 families provided with assistance in electrical wiring installation and check-up of meter base, circuit breaker, and lighting preparation; 11 families assisted - No. of appliances repaired: 16 (washing machine-5, electric fan7, Refrigerator-1, LED bulb-2); and Checkup and repair of electrical appliances provided. (Chiselo Joiada R. Bernaldez, TESDACaraga/PIA-Caraga)

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