Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) may soon be eligible to apply for the National Housing Authority’s (NHA) low-cost housing program, as part of the Department of Labor and Employment’s (DOLE) initiative.

On Monday, June 7 – also known as World Migrant’s Day – the NHA, DOLE, and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) signed a memorandum of agreement to include OFWs in the government’s housing program.

NHA General Manager Marcelino Escalada Jr. said on Monday that many OFWs have been wanting to be included in their housing program but had to be turned away because they were not eligible.

NHA’s programs were initially offered to government employees, displaced families, low-income families, informal settlers, and indigenous people.

“At anytime, they can apply at the regional level and it is affordable for everyone,” said Escalada.

Here is the initial list of the housing sites where OFWs can apply for the housing program, as shown during the MOA signing on Monday:

Metro Manila

• Creciente Uno – Santolan, Pasig City
• Premiere Residences – Quezon City

Luzon

• Santa Monica Homes – San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte
• St. Gregory Parkville – Bantay, Ilocos Sur
• Woodstowne – Rosario, La Union
• Springview Heights – Tuba, Benguet
• Mount Arayat Residences – Arayat, Pampanga
• Casa San Miguel – San Jose, Tarlac
• Mr. Samat Ville – Balanga, Bataan
• Scout Ranger Ville, San Miguel Bulacan
• Pandi Encamp One – Pandi, Bulacan
• Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Ville – Lipa, Batangas
• Palm Tree Hauz – Puerto Princesa, Palawan

Visayas

• Crown Estates – Tacloban, Leyte
• Maskara Village – Bacolod City, Negros Occidental
• Vista Alegre – Talisay City, Negros Occidental
• Southpark Residences – Cebu City, Cebu

Mindanao

• Christine Villas – Lanao del Norte
• Balais San Agustin – Panabo City, Davao del Norte
• Maresca Homes – Samal, Davao del Norte
• Ciudad de Dahican – Davao Oriental

Jobs for returning OFWs

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III also signed memoranda of agreement with the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) and the Department of Transportation (DOTr).

Under the agreement with the DOTr, the transportation department will provide OWWA with a list of vacant positions and skills required, wherein repatriated and returning OFWs can apply.

Transportation Secretary Athur Tugade said OFWs can apply for vacancies that would help rollout the Duterte administration’s flagship infrastructure program Build, Build, Build.

Meanwhile, OWWA and NCMF will work together to review and enhance the existing manual on culture familiarization and language training for domestic workers bound for the Middle East.

On Monday, some 12,000 OFW-beneficiaries also received livelihood, medical, and scholarship benefits from the national government. – Rappler.com