17 August 2004 – Foreign Affairs Secretary Delia Domingo Albert today intensified efforts of the Department to assist Overseas Filipino Workers with the implementation by foreign posts of programs to orient newly arrived OFWs on the culture and working environment in their respective host countries.   Such orientation programs were undertaken by the Philippine Embassy in Singapore and the Philippine Consulate General in Hong Kong SAR with their “Post-Arrival Orientation Seminars (PAOS)” for Filipino workers who have just arrived in their respective areas of jurisdiction.

“As part of our active and continuing efforts to fulfill our mandate of providing assistance to our nationals abroad, we make sure that Filipino workers who have just arrived in a country with whom we have diplomatic relations are given seminars to reorient them with their new working environments,” Secretary Albert said. “This is to ensure that they soon become familiar with the conditions and laws of the country where they will work, and thus ensure that they work optimally during their stay there.”

The Philippine Embassy in Singapore and the Philippine Consulate General in Hong Kong SAR each held their PAOS on 1 August and 8 August respectively.

In Singapore, more than a hundred OFWs whose length of stay vary from 1 month to 6 months attended the PAOS. The seminar covered an overview of Singapore, its people, government and local customs and practices. The OFWs were also given lectures on possible issues that they may confront during their stay, as well as what services and assistance they can receive from the Embassy.

In Hong Kong, the OFWs were given a seminar with the theme “Mag-impok at Magka-bahay” and were encouraged to wisely manage their earnings in Hong Kong in order to save enough for their families’ future. They were also given a lecture in housekeeping and community activities.

Lecturers during the PAOS include resource persons such as key officials of the Embassies or Consulates, as well as leaders and officials from the various organizations within the Filipino communities.

Other Embassies are scheduled to conduct their PAOS within the year whenever new OFWs arrive in their areas of jurisdiction. - END