SPIMS is an OFW reintegration convergence project of DOLE, Department of Education (DepEd) and other government agencies which provide opportunities for OFW Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET) passers.

Other than the plantilla teaching position in their preferred area for the four teacher beneficiaries namely: Novelyn M. Nacion, Mary Chris M. Caballero, Ivy B. Rubilla and Josea A. Razon, DOLE XI-NRCO also gave them teaching kits composed of a voice aid lapel, tablet, USB-OTG capable flash drives, and teaching materials such class record, lesson plan notebook, chalk, white board marker, scientific calculators, and flash cards.

Nacion, who is a 36 year old single parent of two, used to work in Saudi Arabia for more than 3 years and in Hong Kong for 2 years as a domestic helper before she discovered the program and availed of the online application, refresher courses and passed the LET.

“Hindi ko in-expect ito, sabi ko nga noon hindi ako masuwerte sa draw lots or raffle. Pero ang plantilla item na nakuha ko at itong teaching kit ay sobra pa sa posibleng panalo sa draw lots. (I did not expect this, I told myself before that I am not lucky in draw lots or raffle. But the plantilla item that I got and this teaching kit were even more than my possible winning in draw lots.) Thank you DOLE-NRCO,” she said.

After enduring the strictness of her previous employers, Nacion is now currently teaching at Bansalan Central Elementary School.

Another SPIMS beneficiary, Caballero, 28, worked in China for 6 months and in Hong Kong for 10 months as a private school teacher but due to employment issues she is thankful that she was able to avail of the program just through online applications.

“After I applied online, my parents called me to inform that a DOLE representative called them and from there I knew that the program’s offering was real. From there when I had enough money, I decided to go home immediately,” Caballero said in vernacular.

“I am very thankful to DOLE XI-NRCO because of the instant assistance on the item and the teaching kits that they gave,” Caballero added.

She is now teaching in Cabantian Elementary School.

Rubilla, 30, on the other hand, was already in the Philippines after her 4-year tutoring contract in Abu Dhabi-United Arab Emirates expired when she has known the program.

“After my contract,bumalik ako dito and nagturo ako sa elementary school. While I was waiting for my ranking nakita ko ang DOLE order na may program na nag-prioritize sa mga OFWs and I tried,” she said adding that she was amazed that she was accepted as beneficiary of the program.

Rubilla is now teaching at Panabo National High School which is also her alma matter.

“I am thankful because I was not expecting this, I was only asking for an item and by God’s way we were provided with these teaching kits,” she said.

Meanwhile for Razon, 52, even though she enjoyed teaching here in the country, she decided to leave for Thailand in order to provide for her son’s growing academic needs. She worked there for 9 years as an English teacher but decided to go back in the country in 2014.

“I am happy that today we were given teaching materials, maybe the reason why every day I am thinking of buying a lapel but I cannot seem to make a decision by the end of the day maybe because I will be receiving a teaching kit for the OFW beneficiaries. Thank you very much for this teaching kits because this will be helping us a lot, a lot a very big thanks to all of you,” Razon said.

She is now teaching at Daniel R. Aguinaldo National High School.

During the turn-over ceremony, Director Suyao also encouraged them to recommend the SPIMS project to their other colleagues for them to be encouraged to come home because there are a lot of opportunities waiting for them.