News Archive

The Third National Conference of OWWA Scholars was convened last May 22-24, 2007 at the Subic Bay Free Port Zone, Olongapo City. It was participated in by more than 200 scholars of the Education for Development Scholarship Program (EDSP) and Congressional Migrant Workers Scholarship Program (CMWSP) from various regions.

June 22, 2007


In honor of the sacrifices and efforts of the overseas Filipino workers and their families, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA ) today announces the start of the search for the 2007 Model OFW Family of the Year Award (MOFYA).

OWWA Administrator Marianito D. Roque said the annual award aims to give proper recognition to the overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and their families. “It is important for us to show our gratitude to our OFWs because they work very hard to provide a better quality of life for their families.”

A total of 488 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who were repatriated from the Middle East since April 24, 2007 have been provided assistance by OWWA.

200 overseas Filipino workers arrived from Riyadh and Lebanon on May 8, 2007 following representations by the Philippine government for their release and repatriation.

Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) Sarah Jane Dematera arrived in Manila on May 9, 2007 from Riyadh, accompanied by Philippine embassy officials led by Ambassador Tony Villamor & Labor Attache Sodusta.

OFW Dematera was freed from a Saudi Arabian prison after 15 years of incarceration. She was meted the capital punishment for the death of her lady employer in the oil-rich kingdom.

Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) Sarah Dematera, who was released and spared execution after she was convicted of murder in Saudi Arabia, arrived in Manila on Wednesday, May 9, 2007. Her release was part of the repatriation efforts of the government for distressed OFWs. She was accompanied to Manila by Ambassador Tony Villamor and Labor Attache Arturo Sodusta.

The reported released of eight (8) Filipino workers and three (3) Korean executives of Daewoo Engineering and Construction Company in Nigeria was confirmed to me by Labor Attache Rodolfo M. Sabulao who had been closely monitoring developments on the hostage-taking incident.

The Philippine Labor Department is grateful to our team from the Philippine Embassy and its local counterpart in Nigeria , particularly the local government of the region where the abduction occurred, for handling the negotiation that led to the eventual release of the hostages.

Sabiniano Yncierto, another Filipino worker was spared from death penalty in Saudi Arabia for allegedly killing a co-worker from Tarlac way back in 1999, was released and arrived in Manila on May 10, 2007. He was accompanied by Ambassador Villamor and welcomed by OWWA Deputy Administrator Adam A. Musa.

Yncierto’s mother, Lourdes Chan, was joined by Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs Esteban Conejos Jr, Philippine Ambassador to Riyadh Antonio Villamor and Administrator Marianito Roque of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration in welcoming Yncierto at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.