The Department of Education (DepEd) has successfully expanded its reintegration support for overseas Filipino workers (OFW) amid an increase in educators seeking to return to local classrooms.
This week’s nationwide Bayanihan Para sa Balikbayang Manggagawa National Reintegration Network (NRN) Fairs, held in collaboration with the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), provided returning licensed teachers and their families with access to stable livelihoods and educational services.
DepEd chief Sonny Angara emphasized that the program fulfills President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s mandate to prioritize the welfare of displaced workers and their families.
“Ang direktiba ni Pangulong Bongbong Marcos ay tiyaking may naghihintay na maayos na trabaho para sa ating mga gurong nagbabalik-bayan upang hindi na nila kailangang muling mawalay sa kanilang mga pamilya (The directive of President Bongbong Marcos is to ensure that decent jobs are already waiting for our returning teachers, so they will no longer have to be separated from their families again),” Angara said.
“Sa pamamagitan ng programang ito, hindi namin kayo hahayaang mag-isang harapin ang mga hamon sa inyong pagbabalik (Through this program, we will not leave you to face the challenges of your return alone),” he added.
President Marcos and Secretary Angara officially launched the regional fairs in Tacloban City last week as part of the whole-of-government effort to support OFWs displaced by the Middle East conflicts.
Data from the events held in DepEd venues across the country showed high engagement with the Sa ‘Pinas, Ikaw ang Ma’am at Sir (SPIMS) Program help desk, as hundreds of returning educators sought pathways to reintegrate into the local public school system.
The Cagayan Valley fair engaged at least 166 educators, while Calabarzon assisted with inquiries from at least 105 teachers. The SPIMS Program drew at least 96 inquiries in the Negros Island Region fair and 94 in Central Visayas. Furthermore, 78 OFW teachers inquired about SPIMS in the Cordillera Administrative Region fair, while Mimaropa logged 48 inquiries.
During the Balik Turo: A Hero’s Journey Way Home segment of the NRN Fairs, SPIMS beneficiaries highlighted the emotional and professional impact of the program.
Teacher I Pamela Moron of Sta. Fe National High School in Leyte shared the unique fulfillment of serving Filipino learners after teaching in Cambodia for three years.
On the other hand, Teacher I Kaydee Pelayo of Candaba Elementary School in Pampanga, who returned from Abu Dhabi during the pandemic, encouraged other OFWs to trust the transition process.
“Akala ko walang babalikan sa Pilipinas, pero sa mga katulad ko na OFW na umuwi, huwag kayong mag-alinlangan dahil ang gobyerno may SPIMS Program na tutulong sa inyo (I thought there would be nothing to return to in the Philippines, but for OFWs like me who have come home, don’t hesitate because the government has the SPIMS Program to help you),” Pelayo said.
They expressed gratitude for the opportunity to be reunited with their families while practicing their profession.
Aside from employment, DepEd provided a comprehensive menu of services, including scholarships for qualified OFW family members wishing to enter the teaching profession and education subsidies through the voucher program for the children of OFWs to ensure their schooling remains uninterrupted.
Special tests for the Accreditation and Equivalency (A&E) and the Philippine Educational Placement Test (PEPT) were also offered to help families transition back into the Philippine school system. DepEd also facilitated licensure support and review incentives for those preparing to take the board exams.
In total, the regional NRN Fairs assisted around 3,100 inquiries across participating government agencies. This collaborative effort underscores the government’s commitment to providing the country’s modern-day heroes with a dignified path home.