By Justin Paul D. Marbella
OWWA RWOI
Migrant Desk Officers (MDOs) from different local government
units (LGUs) in Region I gathered for a training on psychosocial support
processing on January 25-27, 2016 in Binalonan, Pangasinan.
This is in view of the aim to
capacitate them as vital partners of the Overseas Workers Welfare
Administration (OWWA) in serving the Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and their
families in the local government level.
Facilitated by the OWWA
Regional Welfare Office I, the training titled “Basic Facilitator’s Training on
Mental Health and Psychosocial Support During Crises, Emergencies and
Disasters” was participated in by 94 MDOs from across Region I.
There were 44 MDOs from
Pangasinan, 21 from La Union, 15 from Ilocos Sur, and 14 from Ilocos Norte.
Other participants were officers of the Department of Labor and Employment
(DOLE) Regional Office I. DOLE Regional Director Grace Y. Ursua also extended
her regards to the participants during the opening program.
Discussions and activities
during the training centered on the psychosocial support processing, which is a
psychological intervention given to victims of both natural and man-made
calamities.
The three-day training
started with an activity on self-awareness, where MDOs where made to illustrate
their own “body maps.” Ms. Clarivel C. Banzuela, Social Welfare Officer IV of
the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Regional Office I,
facilitated the activity.
The MDOs also learned more
comprehensively on psychosocial support processing as they sat on the day-long
lecture by Dr. Ricardo S. Guanzon, a revered counselor, psychologist and
professor from Pangasinan. Dr. Guanzon tackled three modules namely Well-Being,
Resilience, and Coping; Mental Health and Psychosocial Assessment; and Mental
Health and Psychosocial Intervention.
The MDOs were able to put
their newly-acquired knowledge to practice, through a role-playing activity
which was facilitated by Maricel S. Caleja, DSWD ROI Social Worker Officer III.
The MDOs acted as the counselors and facilitators of the psychosocial support
processing during emergencies, while others role-played as the calamity
victims, specifically as an OFW, Person-with-Disability, Pregnant Woman, and
Senior Citizen.
The participants expressed
their sincere gratitude to the OWWA RWOI for holding the training. Now
armed with skills on counseling during crises, the MDOs are optimistic they can
now deliver enhanced service in their respective LGUs.
OWWA RWOI OIC Director Sergio
B. Borgueta Jr. and OIC PSD Gerardo Rimorin in return solicited the continued
support of the MDOs in all the endeavors of OWWA to ensure the sustained
commitment in the protection and promotion of the welfares of the OFWs and
families in the region.
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