The Philippine Embassy, the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO), and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) worked with a social networking giant to help Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) develop digital skills.
According to a recent press release, more than 200 OFWs have acquired knowledge about the digital world after participating in the training workshop held in Singapore recently.
Equipping OFWs with digital skills
As shared by the company’s Director of Public Policy-Southeast Asia, Filipinos working in the host country will not only develop their digital skills but will also become better informed digital citizens.
OFWs are among the most engaged and active communities online.
The goal is to help them develop digital skills, including the ability to think critically about what they see online, in order for them to become better informed digital citizens.
Moreover, this will help them continue to have a positive and authentic experience online.
Several topics were covered by the learning modules. These are:
- Safeguarding online privacy, safety, and security
- How to engage in respectful digital discourse
- Being aware and responsible of digital footprint
The event is a part of Digital Tayo, which is a digital literacy and citizenship program that aims to reach a million Filipinos by the end of 2020.
Digital literacy is an invaluable asset to the modern day Filipino heroes.
The Philippine Ambassador to Singapore Joseph Del Mar Yap shared that they are glad to be working with the social media giant in empowering the OFWs with knowledge and tools that will help them connect with their families back home as well as contribute to their communities.
He added that they are looking forward to supporting OFW organisations that will be conducting these trainings in the coming months in Singapore.
The Digital Tayo’s training modules will be incorporated in the regular trainings and community events of partner OFW organisations in Singapore.
There are several ways to join for those interested to participate. They may get in touch with the Philippine Embassy and the POLO or partner OFW organisations.
Background of the project
More than 140,000 departing OFWs have already participated in digital literacy workshops in Manila since last year.
As reported, the program trained over 140,000 OFWs on digital skills for discerning credible content online, and respectful digital discourse.
Over 600 returning OFWs were also provided online business skills training, to help them find alternative sources of income.
The organisers are looking to bring these workshops to other OFWs employed in the Middle East and Hong Kong later this year.
Government estimates indicate that there were 2.3 million OFWs deployed from April to September 2018.
The top destination for OFWs is the Middle East – including Saudi Arabia, where one of four OFWs worked (24.3%); United Arab Emirates (15.7%); Kuwait (5.7%), and Qatar (5.2%).
Other top destinations for OFWs include Hong Kong (6.3%), Taiwan (5.5%) and Singapore (4.9%).
