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Four overseas Filipino workers, including a survivor of the Marawi Siege who experienced maltreatment while working abroad, received livelihood assistance from Sen. Cynthia Villar. In a meeting with Villar at the Senate, the OFWs each received a start up kit for a sari-sari store and financial assistance under the senator’s program for repatriated OFWs who were maltreated or victimized by illegal recruitment. “With this assistance, we hope to be able to help our kababayan to start anew as they recover from the physical and emotional abuse their employers inflicted on them while working abroad,” Villar said. “Despite the many cases of maltreatment abroad, nakakalungkot na marami pa rin sa ating mga kababayan ang sumusugal na pumunta sa ibang bansa para lamang magkaroon ng pagkakakitaan,” she added. Among the recipients of Villar’s livelihood assistance was a 27-year-old Marawi siege evacuee who came to Metro Manila and applied to work as a household service worker i...

Through the Villar SIPAG (Social Institute for Poverty Alleviation and Governance) where she sits as director, Sen. Cynthia A. Villar gives assistance to five distressed OFWs who have been repatriated to the country after suffering from various forms of maltreatment while working abroad.  The OFWs thanked the senator for all the help, including a sari-sari store start up package and financial assistance to start a new life.  The senator, who has been known for protecting the interests and welfare of Filipino migrant workers, vowed to continue supporting adequate funding to finance government’s repatriation and assistance programs for distressed OFWs. Susan Ople of the Blas Ople Center also joined Mrs. Villar.

Sen. Cynthia Villar has filed a bill creating a dedicated department that will look after the affairs of 12 million Filipinos overseas. Senate Bill 141 which creates the Department of Migration and Development addresses the problem of redundant and difficult procedures and unnecessary fees government agencies impose on overseas Filipino workers. Once enacted into law, the department will recommend and implement the government's policies, plans and programs for the promotion of protection, safety, development, support, of and for Filipinos overseas and their families left behind. "It is appropriate to create a government agency in the executive department, which shall have the exclusive function of protecting and enforcing the welfare and rights of Filipinos overseas. We need an empowered agency that will adequately support and give assistance to them," Villar said. The Department of Migration and Development is envisioned to develop, implement and improve coo...

An overseas Filipino worker (OFW) from Qatar won a house and lot from Camella Homes in the raffle draw during the 8th OFW and Family Summit held at the World Trade  Center in Pasay City last November  21. Sen. Cynthia A. Villar, also Director of Villar SIPAG handed to Edmundo C. Enguero of Cabuyao City Laguna, the symbolical key after winning the House and Lot from Camella Homes. Among those who witnessed the turn-over ceremony were former Senate President Manny Villar, daughter Camille Villar, Director of Vista Land, daughter-in-law Usec. Emmilene Aglipay-Villar and the latter’s daughter Emma Therese. The senator underscored the importance of financial literacy to ensure that hard-earned money and savings of OFWs are protected. Protecting the rights and welfare of OFWs is among the advocacies of the Nacionalista Party senator. QATAR OFW BAGS GRAND PRIZE. Sen. Cynthia A. Villar, also Director of Villar SIPAG hands to Edmundo C. Enguero of Cabuyao City Laguna, the...

Financial literacy, especially on investments and business start-ups, are important factors in ensuring that hard-earned incomes and savings of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) are put to good use, Sen. Cynthia Villar said at the 8th OFW and Family Summit last Nov. 21. Villar, in her capacity as director of the Villar Social Institute for Poverty Alleviation and Governance (Villar SIPAG), made the remark as she urged OFWs who attended the event to be financially-smart to ensure a better future for their families. “I hope that you will practice all the lessons, tips and suggestions that you learned today from our finance experts. Use your incomes and savings wisely,” Villar said at the end of the Summit, which had as its theme, “OFW: Perang Pinaghirapan, Palaguin.” EMPOWERING OUR OFWS. Senator Cynthia A. Villar leads the ribbon-cutting ceremony that ushers the opening of the 8th OFW and Family Summit at the World Trade Center in Pasay City. The summit, with the theme, OFW: Pe...

The yearly summit that became the go-to event for trainings and discussions designed to address the needs of the overseas Filipino workers and their dependents will be having its eighth edition this month. Sen. Cynthia Villar, in her capacity as director of the Villar Social Institute for Poverty Alleviation and Governance (Villar SIPAG), announced that the 8th OFW and Family Summit will be held at the World Trade Center in Pasay City on Nov. 21. The one-day summit with the theme “OFW: Perang Pinaghirapan, Palaguin,” will be focusing on topics that will guide OFWs and their families how to make their money grow. “We all know a story about an OFW who, after years of toiling abroad, comes home with little or no savings. We want these tragic stories to end and want happier endings for all our OFWs,” Villar said. “This summit will provide the tools that will make our OFWs financially-smart. We have lined up experts to teach financial literacy and to share pointers on investm...

Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who succeeded in their ventures in agriculture take center stage during the 7th OFW and Family Summit held at the World Trade Center in Pasay City. Senator Cynthia Villar, chairperson of the Committee on Agriculture and Food and director of the organization behind the annual holding of the summit, Villar Social Institute for Poverty Alleviation and Governance (Villar SIPAG), said summit attendees were inspired by the experiences shared by agriculture entrepreneurs or agri-preneurs. “Our ultimate dream is to see the day when our kababayans are no longer compelled by lack of local opportunities to work abroad and leave their loved ones behind. With various opportunities sprouting from agriculture, that dream could become a reality sooner than we all think,” Villar said. OFW agri-preneurs featured in the summit were Gigi Morris, president and school director of Moca Family Farm Learning Center in Padre Garcia, Batangas; Joel Frago, owner of For...