National Family Week highlights role of OFWs

CEBU, Philippines – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) 7 has joined in the nationwide celebration of National Family Week which kicked off last Monday and will run until September 26.

This year's celebration focuses on the vital role of a father or mother who works as Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW).

The theme, "Pamilya ng Migranting Pilipino, Patatagin at Paunlarin," shows the importance of the responsibility of the spouses in keeping their families intact despite the distance.

DSWD 7 Family Welfare Specialist Ben Baruc said more and more Filipinos go abroad for better income, 51 percent of whom are seafarers and 49 percent are land-based.

In Central Visayas, Cebu has sent the highest number of seafarers and land-based OFWs with 28,129. Bohol follows with 9,474 and Negros, with 3,970. Siquijor has the lowest number of OFWs with 630.

Baruc said that OFWs endure great sacrifices to earn enough income to send to their families.

"Sometimes they suffer from poor working conditions, work for low wages and even discrimination," he said.

There may be positive impacts to the families left behind, such as improvement in terms of goods and services availed, but some also suffer from psychological problems like depression among children due to their parents' absence.

He added that this had led to rebellious behavior among children, who were later exposed to high-risks of falling victims to child trafficking, child labor, violence, disobedient to law and early marriage.

As for this week's celebration, Baruc says DSWD leads the nationwide observance along with member-agencies of the Regional Inter-Agency Committee of Filipino Family.

The committee is composed of representatives from DSWD, Department of Education, Department of Health, Department of Agrarian Reform, Lihok Filipina, SK Federation Inc. and nongovernment organizations serving families.

Baruc said that the committee is calling all sectors including business and civil society to undertake family development activities like forum or conferences on family issues.

The family week is observed every last week of September as declared by former President Fidel V. Ramos through Presidential Proclamation No. 60 and Executive Order No. 241, dated September 28, 1992 and June 9, 1995, respectively.

It seeks to strengthen family unity and relationships through meaningful celebration and promotion of Filipino values. (FREEMAN)