Valley pushes for OFW family Relationships strengthening

THE OVERSEAS Filipino Workers families are highly at risk of loneliness of either spouses that leads to estranged relationships over time while children experience years of growing up without the physical presence and discipline of parents.

During the first migrants day in La Trinidad, Doctor Hoover Agyao, vice president for external relations at Development Organization for Families and Communities in the Cordillera region said to strengthen family relationship, stakeholders are advised to take advantage of the modern technologies, not to miss out on important milestones and special occasions of the family.

Moreover to prevent all problems, he added, open communication will be a key and planning with the spouse about the consequences, to identifying the support needed by the family and not to leave some issues unsettled.

Agyao said common problems which affects OFW families include in laws making the decisions for the families, extra marital affairs caused by loneliness, children fail to finish studies due to the lack of guidance, peer pressure and early intimate relationships which lead to pregnancy.

As such, Agyao said there is a need for the proper guidance connection from parents and family members, OFWs devotion to family, open and constant communication, personal discipline from the parent and being wise and firm about the use of money.

"We cannot stop the government from deploying Overseas Filipino Workers, the increasing population of the Filipinos with 110 million, there are one million college graduates every year with only 300,000 job opportunities every year, " said Agyao adding the jobs abroad are attractive pulling more overseas workers in the country.

Myrna Garcia, president federation of OFW 's in the Cordillera region said there are more women working abroad seeking greener pastures for their family.

According to Philippine Statistics Authority, OFWs in the Cordillera have reached to 32,978 based on the 2010. Most overseas workers came from Benguet with 12,922 persons which comprise 26 percent of the total overseas workers registered in the region.

Overseas workers from CAR comprised of 25 to 29 years old made up the largest age group with 11,598 overseas workers.

Photo by Milo Brioso BETTER LAND USE. With The Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board ratifying city’s Comprehensive Land Use Plan, Baguio City hopes to enhance the natural landscape and aesthetics and protect the remaining green cover of the city.