OWWA-7 Searches for the Model OFW Family of the Year

(PIA) — The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA-7) held recently the awarding of the Search for the Model OFW Family of the Year (MOFYA) at Casino Español de Cebu, Cebu City.

OWWA-7 regional director Wilfreda Misterio in her message said, this search is an award-giving program held annually and it is designed to give recognition to outstanding OFW families in promoting best practices in managing family amidst challenges.

MOFYA aims to promote success stories about the OFW families’ endurance over the challenges on their family relations and uplift the image of the OFW families in the community.

Misterio continued, the search focuses on OFWs and their families who have maintained strong family relations, who are active in socio-civic activities in the community where they reside, properly managed the financial benefits from the OFWs’ overseas employment, have educational achievements and who have excellent performance in their respective professions.

MOFYA has two categories, the Land-Based Category and the Sea-Based Category.

During the search, three (3) finalists were nominated for each Sea-Based and Land-Based categories and one (1) from each category will be declared winner to represent Region 7 in the national search.

Elmer Kitong, a master mariner, and his family who are from Poblacion, Siquijor, was the winner in the Sea-Based Category while Daanbantayan Mayor Augusto Corro, a former drilling consultant abroad, and his family, who resides at Suba, Poblacion, Daanbantayan, won the Land-Based Category.

Both winners received plaques of recognition and will represent Central Visayas in their respective categories at the national level on the first week of December this year.

Based on the recent statistics from OWWA-7, there are 162,323 OFWs in Central Visayas and 61% of these are males while 39% are females.

The top 3 countries of destination are United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Singapore while the top 3 skills of the OFWs are household Service Worker, able seaman and nurse.

Now on its 10th year, the MOFYA has become a symbol of the unity and solidarity of the Filipino family, despite the challenges that OFW families face in modern times.

The MOFYA recognizes the determination of OFW families to balance the necessity for financial needs and for family unity, Misterio concluded. (mbcn/HFG/PIA-7)