Press Release No. 041-03
3 February 2003
DFA
SECRETARY BLAS F. OPLE INAUGURATES E-SERBISYO ON HIS 76th BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION
The Honorable Secretary of Foreign Affairs Blas F. Ople led the inauguration
of the Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs’ (OUMWA)
Internet literacy course that will be offered to Overseas Filipino Workers
and their families, dubbed E-Serbisyo, on the occasion of his birthday.
The hands-on training program aims to increase the computer literacy skills
of OFWs as well as their family members, particularly in using the Internet
as an effective means of communication.
This would be part of the Department of Foreign Affair’s commitment of reaching
out to Filipinos overseas as well as to OFW empowerment. OUMWA will be conducting
a one day Internet course for OFWs and their dependents for free from 03
February to 07 February 2003. Lecturers and resource speakers will be tapped
from AMA Computer University. The Foreign Service Institute will be tapped
to assist in organizing the seminar proper. The Seminar will be conducted
at OUMWA Database and Records Division at the 3rd floor of the Department
of Foreign Affairs. The program will last from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
and certificates of attendance will be given to those who complete the course.
The computers, printers and other facilities will be provided for by DFA-OUMWA
for the duration of the program. Ten computers will be utilized for this
purpose. The computers are expected to be on-line and connected to printers
for entire duration of the program. Participants in the program will be drawn
from walk-in clients of OUMWA, interested OFW contacts, invitees from NGOs
and Church based groups.
The program will enable OFWs and their respective families and relatives
to be in constant communication through on-line services. OFWs and their
respective families in distress, could now expect a quicker response time
in their requests through direct but inexpensive means of communication with
the Philippine Embassy or Consulate concerned.
Interested parties may contact Mr. Ferdinand Victoria of OUMWA at 834-3970.
Registration is already on going.