Lisbon, 29 September 2025 - The Philippine Embassy in Lisbon spearheaded the joint outreach mission of the Migrant Workers Office (MWO) and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) based in Madrid, on 28 September 2025 at the Chancery.
Over 100 Filipinos residing in Portugal participated in the outreach to access essential services provided by MWO and OWWA, including contract verification and registration or renewal of OWWA membership.
In his welcome remarks, Chargé d'Affaires Lou Bryan R. Macabodbod highlighted the timeliness of the outreach as September is Civil Service Month and Maritime and Archipelagic Nation Awareness Month (MANAMo). He thanked the MWO team from Madrid for their commitment to safeguarding the welfare of Filipinos in Portugal. He encouraged all attendees to voice any concerns or challenges they may be facing, assuring them that the Embassy remains committed to providing guidance and support to the fullest extent possible.
Before the services, OWWA Madrid OIC Veruschka Ardel Maling outlined OWWA’s programs and benefits, while Labor Attaché Atty. Angela Librado-Trinidad raised awareness on illegal recruitment, trafficking, and safe migration. She underscored the gendered dimensions of migration, noting that women are often vulnerable to violence. With 86% of the outreach attendees being women, many shared their migration stories, often shaped by the multiple roles they carry within their families and communities.
The participants also viewed videos featuring Filipinos in Portugal whose personal narratives highlight a profound and intrinsic connection to the sea, as part of the Embassy’s projects to commemorate MANAMo. These stories reflect the archipelagic nature of the Philippines and underscore the vital role of the oceans in shaping Filipino identities, livelihoods, and way of life.
The outreach concluded with the Embassy assuring the Filipino community that they may bring their concerns directly to the Embassy, which will coordinate closely with the MWO to ensure their needs are appropriately addressed. END
