Two families received Model OFW Family Award
Posted on November 28th, 2009
Two overseas Filipino workers (OFW) families were recognized for their efforts in helping residents in their community gain employment or livelihood through promotion of entrepreneurship. The first OFW was from Lipa, Batangas, and the second one was from Baleno, Masbate. They were named this year’s Model OFW families.
The Model OFW Family of the Year Awards (MOFYA) 2009 winners are the Lubis family of Lipa, Batangas and the Bello family of Baleno, Masbate.
Labor Secretary Marianito Roque said, “The Lubis family represent the land-based OFW sector while the Bello family represent the sea-based OFW sector. These exemplify OFWs model families in the country who have demonstrated the best practices of OFWs and their families in overcoming the challenges of migration.”
The recognition was handed to them last Thursday by Vice President Noli de Castro.
In their evaluation of this year’s winners, the DOLE report said that the Lubises, with the initiative of its patriarch, Engr. Rodolfo Pita who had worked in Saudi Arabia for more than 30 years, invested their overseas earnings in various agri-business enterprises where they were able to provide jobs to more than 200 workers.
Aside from their various agri-businesses, the Lubis family also developed their first Gawad Kalinga Reunion Village which allows them to provide more employment opportunities to residents, as well as livelihood capital, and scholarship for their children. They were also able to plant more than 45,000 Narra and mahogany trees as their contribution to the “Greening of the Environment.”
Meanwhile, Captain Bello worked as a seaman for almost 29 years. He started as an ordinary seaman in 1971. His overseas earnings were invested by his family in various agricultural and retail business ventures which also allowed them to provide employment opportunities to the residents in their community.
