Davao City – Dependents of deceased OFWs received livelihood starter kits from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) XI.

Sergio Tacumba Jr. of Darong, Sta Cruz, Davao del Sur is the surviving husband of the late OFW Rheanne Tacumba who worked as a domestic worker in Kuwait and succumbed to cardiac arrest on December 27, 2019. OFW Rheanne left one child with her husband. 

A qualified dependent, Sergio received eight (8) sacks of rice which he is selling now in a store installed in his residence. Their love child, Diane Tacumba a Grade VI student, is given educational assistance of P5,000.00 per school year for her elementary level, P8,000.00 for high school, and P10,000.00 for her college studies. The starter kit and the scholarship grant is under OWWA’s Education and Livelihood Assistance Program (ELAP).

“I am grateful to OWWA for the livelihood assistance granted to me. This will greatly help me in sustaining the needs of my family, especially now that we are experiencing a pandemic. The income of the rice will add to the daily income of my store.” Sergio said.

Diane Tacumba, daughter of the late OFW Rheanne Tacumba signs a scholarship agreement.
RICE. Turnover of the 8 sacks of rice to Sergio Tacumba Jr. by OWWA XI RD Ron Lionel Bartolome, Program In-charge Marjan Salazar, and LCO Maricel Sarabillo.

Real Anthony Guioguio, 22 years old is the eldest of the surviving five (5) children of the late OFW Rosanie Guioguio, a domestic worker in Kuwait who died of lymphoma on December 29, 2019. Rosanie’s husband died a few years earlier.

Anthony and his siblings who are living in Piape, Padada, Davao del Sur, have started up a PISO WIFI unit which would boost the internet capacity in the neighborhood. “Business is good. My neighbors patronize my business. I charge them with P1.00 for 5 minutes, P5.00 for 30 minutes, P15.00 for 1 hour and 30 minutes, and P20.00 for 2 hours.”, he said.

PISO WIFI BENEFICIARY. The dependents of the late OFW Guioguio pose with the OWWA XI personnel headed by RD Ron Lionel Bartolome.

Mary Gen Villamor of Brgy. Colorado, Digos City, is the 42 years old wife of the late OFW Rogelio Villamor, Jr. who passed away due to end-stage renal disease on March 14, 2019. The late Rogelio worked as a trailer truck driver in Saudi Arabia.

Mary Gen received 8 sacks of rice worth P15,000.00 which is an added commodity to her little store in her residence. “I decided to engage in rice retailing because there are no available rice retailers in our area. With this business, our neighbors will no longer go to the Poblacion to buy rice and basic needs,” she said. “OWWA’s assistance greatly helps me to survive for my family.”, she ended.

SACKS OF RICE. Mary Gen Villamor, wife of the late OFW Rogelio Villamor Jr. receives the sacks of rice from the OWWA XI personnel.

OWWA UPDATE. From January 2019 to June 2020, OWWA’s Education and Livelihood Assistance Program (ELAP) has assisted fifty-six (56) families in Region XI, which amounted to P840,000.00. The program is aimed to provide livelihood opportunities to the surviving dependents of deceased OFWs to have decent lives. (OWWA XI)