ILOILO PROVINCE LAUNCHED ITS BALINKBAYAN LOCALIZED WEBSITE
A simple ceremony was held in Casa Real, Iloilo City to celebrate the official launching of Iloilo Province’s localized BaLinkBayan website on 25 October 2017, Wednesday.
The event was attended by officials and employees of the Provincial Government of Iloilo, as well as representatives from the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO), National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Region 6, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Region 6, other partners and the media.
Dr. Raul N. Banias, Provincial Administrator of the Iloilo Province, said that “of all the services that have been offered to OFWs, I think this tops the list due to its innovation, timeliness, scope and significance”. He added that he was impressed with how BaLinkBayan has essentially put together all the basic, intricate, urgent and crucial services for OFWs into a one-stop-shop that can be accessed with, literally, just a click of a finger.
Division Head Ma. Lourdes Miado of the Policy Formulation and Plan Division of NEDA Region 6 is grateful that CFO, one of its partners in the Joint Migration and Development Initiative (JMDI) that was implemented in Western Visayas in 2015, is still continuing to mainstream migration and development through the BaLinkBayan Project.
Assistant Regional Director James Mendiola of OWWA Region 6 thanked the CFO in recognizing Iloilo Province as one of its partners for the BaLinkBayan Project and emphasized that this is the first to be implemented in Western Visayas.
Project Management Division Chief Marita del Rosario – Apattad of CFO congratulates the Iloilo Province for launching the localized website and Mr. Jayrel Encontro of the Public Employment Services Office (PESO) for his fruitful efforts as the BaLinkBayan project focal person.
Department Head Mario Nillos of the Policy, Planning and Development Office of the Iloilo Province gave the closing remarks. He thanked the CFO for guiding the province in implementing the project and he committed to maintaining the localized website to cater to the needs of the overseas Filipinos.
A computer set was also turned over by the CFO to the province as assistance to the implementation of the BaLinkBayan project and maintenance of the localized website.
Overseas Filipinos, specifically Ilonggos, who want to be engaged with the Philippine Development and wants to contribute to their hometowns may now browse the localized BaLinkBayan website at www.iloiloprovince.balinkbayan.gov.ph to know more about the province’s investment opportunities, philanthropic activities and government services.