LINGAYEN, Pangasinan January 19 (PIA) – The provincial government of Pangasinan in partnership with the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) will soon implement the e-governance project called “BaLinkBayan” to effectively mainstream migration and development initiatives of Pangasinan and link Filipinos abroad to their families
On Monday, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan here approved a resolution authorizing Governor Amado Espino III, to sign pacts with CFO Interim Officer-In-Charge Maria Regina Galias for the implementation of the Overseas Filipinos’ one-stop online portal for diaspora engagement.
A quip on the Filipino word balikbayan (a returning overseas Filipino), BaLinkBayan is a means to connect Filipino individuals and communities to the Philippines through the Diaspora to Development (D2D) program of the CFO.
Alex Ferrer, manager of the Provincial Employment Service Office (PESO) and chairperson of the Pangasinan Migration and Development Council, said the “adoption of the project is part of the provincial government’s migration and development program to encourage Pangasinenses outside the country to engage more effectively in the development processes of the province and the country.”
Ferrer said the online portal, which is seen to fully develop the link of overseas Filipinos to their families and their community, will be maintained by a PESO unit dedicated for migration and development.
“The CFO has identified the province of Pangasinan as a good partner for the implementation of the project because of its aggressiveness in addressing the needs of overseas Filipinos and overseas Filipino workers (OFWs),” said Andrea Louisa Anolid, migration and development officer of CFO.
Anolid said through the project, the government can harness the contributions, resources, and sacrifices of overseas Filipinos and OFWs, so they can contribute to local development and promote their socio-economic development. (JNPD/EMBS/PIA-1, Pangasinan)
Source:
Elsha Marie B. Soriano
Philippine Information Agency
http://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/2821484787613