Ambassador Jose C. Laurel V Delivers Message during the CFO Online Ugnayan sa Japan 2020
24 August 2020 – The Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) conducted the first “Online Ugnayan sa Japan 2020” on 22 August 2020. The event was led by CFO Secretary Francisco P. Acosta and hosted by Undersecretary Astravel Pimentel-Naik.
(Left Photo: CFO Sec. Francisco P. Acosta; Middle Photo: Poster of CFO’s Online Ugnayan sa Japan 2020;Right Photo: Undersecretary Astravel Pimentel-Naik)
The online “Ugnayan” is a free webinar, online meeting and consultation with the Filipino community in Japan to discuss issues and challenges of overseas Filipinos and the government response during this COVID-19 pandemic.
(Photos of Amb. Jose C. Laurel V during the CFO’s Online Ugnayan sa Japan 2020)
Philippine Ambassador Jose C. Laurel V was one CFO’s guest speakers during the event. In his message, Ambassador Laurel stated that,
“Mahalaga ang patuloy na dayalogo at pagkakamustahan upang malaman ang kalagayan ng ating mga kababayan. Higit itong nabibigyan ng importansiya ngayong taong 2020 habang ating patuloy na hinaharap ang mga pagsubok na dulot ng Covid-19 pandemic……..
Nagpapasalamat din ako sa CFO sa inyong patuloy na pagbibigay ng kaalaman tungkol sa mga programa para sa mga overseas Filipinos.
Makakaasa po kayo na kami sa Philippine Embassy sa Tokyo, kasama ang ating mga Konsulado sa Osaka at Nagoya, ay patuloy na maglilingkod sa inyo.”
The CFO invited several resource persons to contribute to this year’s Online Ugnayan sa Japan. The program was divided into three parts.
(Photos of the various speakers during the Online Ugnayan sa Japan 2020)
The first part, entitled “Kamusta Kabayan: Effects of the Global Pandemic to Overseas Filipinos in Japan”, provided an opportunity for Filipino community leaders and former CFO Presidential Awardees from different areas in Japan to give their testimonials based on their experiences with the COVID-19 situation.
The second part of the webinar, “Bayanihan in the Time of Pandemic: Government Assistance to Overseas Filipinos”, featured CFO resource persons discussing various subjects of interest to the overseas Filipinos. This included reintegration opportunities for returning and repatriated overseas Filipinos affected by the pandemic. Attendees were also encouraged by CFO to submit entries for the Presidential Awards since the deadline for submission is extended up to 31 December 2020.
A guest from PhilHealth, Mr. Ringo Danao, also explained the Philippine Universal Health Care (UHC) Law and its implementation.
The last portion of the program gave tips on how to protect mental health in the time of pandemic. The participants were also provided time to raise their questions to the panelists before the program was formally closed by CFO.
Sec. Acosta, in his message, mentioned that CFO, in cooperation with the Philippine Foreign Service Posts, will continue this program of Ugnayan even if it would have to be done online for the meantime. It helps to further strengthen the CFO’s links to Filipinos overseas.
