OVERSEAS WORKERS WELFARE ADMINISTRATION
NEWS RELEASE
23 DECEMBER 2011

President Benigno S. Aquino lll yesterday welcomed arriving overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from three separate flights from Bahrain, Singapore and Etihad.

President Aquino shook hands with the surprised OFWs who took the opportunity to have their photos taken with the President. Labor Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz and OWWA Administrator Carmelita S. Dimzon, together with MIAA General Manager Angel Honrado, joined the President in welcoming the workers. He later awarded cash prizes and gift certificates to three (3) lucky OFWs picked by OWWA.

Secretary Baldoz announced that the 3 lucky OFWs were CAROL B. PANGASIAN, EDWARD TEZON and ROSANNA DIONISIO. Pangasian is a household service worker in Kuwait, while Tezon is a quality control supervisor in Abu Dhabi. Fifty-year old Dionisio, on the other hand, is an employee in Athens, Greece, for 12 years now.

President Aquino awarded to each of the 3 OFWs P200,000.00 cash; gift certificates worth $1,500.00; gift certificates worth P25,000.00; and one (1) mobile phone.

OWWA Administrator Dimzon said that yesterday’s activity was part of the DOLE-OWWA’s yearly “Pamaskong Handog for OFWs” which is now on its 18th year. Partners from the government and private sectors have continued to support the program, like LANDBANK, Globe Telecom, Bank of the Philippine Islands, Banco de Oro, SM Supermalls-Global Pinoy, Duty Free Phils., Microsoft, and Infomatics.