- Department of Education (Philippines) launched the Balikbayang Manggagawa: National Reintegration Network Regional Fair to support returning Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs).
- The program offers a one-stop platform for jobs, education, skills training, and certification, including initiatives like SPIMS for teachers and equivalency pathways through ALS and PEPT.
- It is implemented with agencies such as Department of Migrant Workers, TESDA, Commission on Higher Education (Philippines), and Department of Labor and Employment (Philippines) to help reintegrate OFWs into the local workforce.
The Department of Education (DepEd) has rolled out a timely and people-centered initiative called the Balikbayang Manggagawa: National Reintegration Network Regional Fair, designed to help returning Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) smoothly transition back into life and work in the Philippines. Launched on April 13, the event serves as a one-stop access point where returning workers can explore employment opportunities, education programs, and skills certification pathways under one coordinated system.
The initiative aligns with the government’s broader push to strengthen OFW reintegration into the local workforce, ensuring that returning Filipinos are not left navigating opportunities alone. According to Estela Cariño, regional director of DepEd Region 1, the agency’s commitment goes beyond supporting teachers alone and extends to all returning workers seeking a fresh start.
A key highlight of the program is the Sa Pinas, Ikaw ang Ma’am at Sir (SPIMS) initiative, which fast-tracks licensed teachers who want to secure permanent teaching positions in public schools. Alongside this, DepEd is expanding access to the Alternative Learning System (ALS) and the Philippine Educational Placement Test (PEPT), giving returning OFWs who were unable to complete basic education a second chance to earn high school equivalency certification and unlock better job prospects.
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Cariño emphasized that the goal is to act as a bridge, helping workers not just return home, but return to a more stable and promising future. The fair also featured on-site registration and consultation services, allowing participants to receive immediate guidance without long processing delays.
In a strong show of collaboration, the event brought together key agencies including the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) for protection services, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) for vocational training, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) for academic advancement, and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) for job matching and workforce support.
Returning OFWs are encouraged to prepare essential documents such as Personal Data Sheets (PDS), work history records, and Transcript of Records (TOR) as they explore available programs. DepEd reaffirmed that its doors remain open beyond the fair, continuing to support Filipinos as they begin new chapters back home.
