PHILCOMDEV

Bannuar ti La Union (BTLU), provincial federation of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in La Union, celebrated its 10th anniversary and 11th General Assembly last April 29, 2010 at the Burgos Municipal gymnasium in Burgos, La Union with the theme: OFW, Hope of the nation, uphold rights, combat violence.

The morning program highlighted the federation’s accomplishments and action plan.

As reported by its provincial officers, Bannuar presently counts eight municipal chapters with varying reach and scope of work:

• The Aringay municipal chapter was formally organized in April 21, 2209 and registered with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).  The chapter has a total of thirty-one (31) members coming from thirteen (13) barangays of Aringay.  Recently, the organization held a training on making vegetable noodles to encourage members to develop this into a community enterprise.
• Bauang municipal chapter has a total membership of 176 based in six barangays.  The barangay chapters held seminars on preventing and combating illegal recruitment.
• Burgos municipal chapter counts 173 members and three barangay chapters: in Caoayan, Lower Tomapoc and Bilis.  The first two chapters are registered with the DOLE.  Among Burgos’ livelihood projects are meat vending and meat processing (making embutido, sausages and tocino).  The chapter operates an OFW Action Center (OFWAC) in cooperation with the municipal government.  Bannuar volunteer officers man the OFWAC three days a week.
• The Naguilian chapter is the biggest among the municipal chapters.  It presently counts thirty- seven (37) barangay chapters a total of 1,230 members.  The chapter operates a microfinance project called Urnong Mo, Tulong Mo or UMTM which now has 270 individual members, 15 organizations and 10 honorary members. As of March 2010, UMTM has accumulated capital of 1.1 million pesos (Php 1,000,000).  Through UMTM, members are able to access capital and start their own enterprises.  The Naguilian chapter launched educational campaign to combat illegal recruitment.  It operates the OFWAC in cooperation with the local government of Naguilian.
• The Pugo municipal chapter has organized 227 members in seven barangay chapters, five of which are registered with the DOLE.  The barangay chapters have their own livelihood projects.
• One of the first to organize, the San Gabriel municipal chapter has five barangay chapters in Balbalayang, Daking, Taklin-Lon-oy, Lacong and Lipay Star.
• Two barangay chapters have been organized by the Santol municipal chapter in barangay Ramut and Puguil, with a total membership of thirty (30).  The Santol chapter is into ube processing.
• The Sudipen municipal chapter has a total of 208 members in the six barangay chapters.  The Duplas, Immayos and Old Central chapters engage in hog-raising while the barangay chapter of Up-uplas is into basket-weaving.

Edna Valdez, president of the federation stressed that the officials and members have to pool in their hard work to realize the plan of action for the next three years.  The three year plan focuses on the operation of the OFWACs and continuing education and organizing.  This also requires the federation to exert itself in resource mobilization, she added.

In her solidarity message, Rose Bayan, regional coordinator of Kanlungan, expressed confidence in the capacity of Bannuar to realize its three year plan.  She encouraged Bannuar leaders and members to treasure the new level of autonomy that the federation has attained.

Maya Bans-Cortina, coordinator of PHILCOMDEV, underlined the need to be updated on RA10022, the new amendments to the Migrant Workers Act of 1995, both the law’s positive and negative features. She cited that the specific section of the new law that mandates local governments to put up migrants help desks should be used to compel local governments to improve existing OFWACs or put up new ones.

A few local government officials and candidates visited the Bannuar GA to express their support for Bannuar and to take the opportunity to campaign.  The afternoon was devoted to Bingo socials.