Noy welcomes OFWs at NAIA

MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino yesterday welcomed overseas Filipino workers from Qatar at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

The President also gave raffle prizes to three lucky OFWs, namely Evangeline Escano, a nurse from Pangasinan; Myrna Pagkaliwagan Tiemsin, a teacher in a Philippine school in Qatar and Gilbert Acebedo, a salesman.

In welcoming the OFWs, the President was assisted by Labor Undersecretary Danilo Cruz, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) chief Carmelita Dimzon and ranking officials from sponsors like Globe, Land Bank of the Philippines, BDO, BPI, SM Supermall, Duty Free Philippines and Department of Labor and Employment.

Dimzon said the winners were chosen through lucky pick after they presenting their boarding pass at the Qatar airport.

She said the winners will each receive cash and gift checks amounting to P450,000.

All three winners said they will use their prizes to start a business.

The first OFW passenger who disembarked from the plane was Normalita Abujeras who initially did not notice the President.

Meantime, it’s Vice President Jejomar Binay’s turn to play Santa Claus to OFWs today.

Binay will be joined by Dimzon from 3 to 4:30 p.m. today at the NAIA to again hand out raffle prizes to lucky OFWs.

 “The Vice President, together with OWWA administrator Carmelita Dimzon will hand out raffle prizes to lucky OFWs from 3 to 4:30 p.m. to usher in the holidays,” Binay’s media relations officer Joey Salgado said. – With Jose Rodel Clapano, Aurea Calica