CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga – Governor Dennis “Delta” Pineda is set to implement the ‘Balik Pinas, Balik Pampanga Program’ to fast-track the processing of the repatriated Kapampangan Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW), including non-working individuals, to their families after months of being stranded across the globe.
This is in relation to the Executive Order No. 114 signed by President Rodrigo Duterte, “institutionalizing the ‘Balik Probinsya, Balik Pag-asa Program’ as a pillar of balanced regional development, creating a council therefor, and for other purposes.”
According to Governor Delta, this is his way of helping the national government in its goal of decongesting Metro Manila at the height of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
“Since we also have our own PCR machine here in Pampanga, I am asking the national government if they can allow us to handle the Kapampangan Overseas Filipinos (OF) and OFWs arriving in Metro Manila. Once they give us the go-signal, we will take, swab, and isolate our Kapampangan OFs and OFWs here in Pampanga,” he said.
JP Miranda, founder and chief executive officer of the Information Technology Business Solutions Corporation (ITBS Corp.), said that they are currently working on a mobile app called ‘Balik Pinas App’ designed to easily track the OFs and OFWs landing in Manila.
“With the initiative of Governor Delta, nagprepare kami ng mobile application para sa mga Kapampangan, or para sa mga Filipino actually, but for now, ang target muna namin ay ang mga Kapampangan na nakatira rito sa Pampanga. Layon nitong mas mapabilis ang proseso. Nando’n pa lang sila sa abroad, malalaman na natin kung ilan ang darating na kababayan nating taga-Pampanga para maprepare ‘yung mga kakailanganing transportasyon at accommodation para sa quarantine facility,” said Miranda.
Governor Delta also asked for the patience and understanding of the OFs and OFWs in the midst of the pandemic.
“Habaan niyo pa po ang pasensya ninyo para sa national government. Sa big volume po natin, hindi natin masasabing magiging perfect kaagad ito, pero ginagawa po nila ang makakaya nila para mas mapadali ang proseso,” he said.
The governor already met on Wednesday with some officials from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), ITBS Corp., PhilHealth, Provincial Health Office (PHO), Public Employment Service Office (PESO), Management Information Systems (MIS), and Provincial Tourism Office (PTO) to iron out the details and plan for the Balik Pinas, Balik Pampanga Program.
Also present during the meeting were Sangguniang Panlalawigan Board Member Ananias Canlas, Jr., Provincial Administrator Atty. Charlie Chua, and Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer Angelina Blanco.