CEBU CITY, June 28 (PIA) -- Immigrants and fiancees or spouses of foreigners are encouraged to avail of the free orientation seminars conducted by the Commission on Filipino Overseas (CFO) prior to their departure.
Aileen Macapili, CFO Extension Office information officer, said Cebuanos who are planning to or about to leave the country either as immigrant or as fiancee or spouse of a foreign national should avail of CFO's free services to help them adjust to their new lives abroad.
This after Macapili revealed in a recently held awareness campaign in Cebu that Philippines is the third top country sending migrants abroad.
Macapili said there are schedules for Guidance and Counseling Program and Registration for those leaving as spouse of a foreign national at CFO Cebu and Manila offices.
"The objective of this program is mainly to assist the integration of the Filipinos in their host countries by educating them on the realities of international immigration," Macapili said.
At the same time, CFO will prepare them to meet the practical, cultural, and psychological challenges attendant to cross cultural and marriage and migration.
"This will give them a glimpse of the life they will have soon and to get to know the culture of their partner better," Macapili said.
A similar Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar (PDOS) is also offered for those migrating abroad.
According to CFO statistics, there are over 71,000 immigrants from Cebu.
Macapili said those interested to attend the seminars should call CFO Cebu office at 2555253 for the schedule since for PDOS there are only 40 slots for immigrants and 12 slots for spouses or partners of foreign nationals.
CFO, along with Philippine Overseas Employment Agency (POEA), Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), Department of Justice, and some non-government organizations, mounted a national awareness campaign on the realities of international migration, intermarriages and human trafficking. (rmn/FCC/PIA Cebu)
Source: http://www.pia.gov.ph/news/index.php?article=2441372497814
