ROME-The much-awaited, updated Handbook Guide for OFWs in Italy was finally launched, presented and distributed in two ceremonies held this June. The first launching and presentation was held June 4 just in time and as an essential, significant part of the month-long 113th Philippine Independence Day celebration here in Rome, Italy. The Handbook was again presented last June 23, 2011, this time at the Roma Capitale Municipio XVI, in SalaConsiliare “Caduti di Forte Bravetta” Session Hall of said municipality in Rome.
For the June 4 OFWs Handbook Guide first presentation, about 250 OFWs and Filipino migrants in Italy at-tended the launching at Ergife Hotel together with guests and officials from the Italian community. The OFWs Handbook Guide launching was marked as one of the initial activities for the Independence Day celebration.
The second OFWs Guidebook presentation held last June 23 was especially significant as it was done with notable local government officials, partners and active Filipino leaders and communities.
Hon. Fabio Bellini, Presidente del Municipio XVI, led the group of Italian local government officials, together with other community partners and officials including Hon. TizianaCapriotti, Delegata del Presidente del Municipio XVI per le Politiche delle multietnicità e dell’Intercultura; Dott. VladimiroBarberio and Maria GraziaOrlandi, Rappresentanza della Regione Toscana; Dott. Claudio Rossi from the Academe and one of responsible officers for integration of immigrants in Rome; Dott. Giuseppe Caggiati, head writer for the Italian version of the OFWs Handbook-Guide; and other officials from partner migrant communities.
For the Philippine representatives and Filcom, in attendance were H.E. Ambassador Romeo L. Manalo, Labor Attaché Chona M. Mantilla, Welfare Officer Ruth Roselynn Vibar, PIDA (Philippine Independence Day Association) President and Cultural Attaché Charisma Pineda, all from the Philippine Embassy; A.S.L.I. (Associazione Stranieri Lavoratori in Italia) officers and members led by ASLI President and Cul-tural Mediator Analiza Magsino-Bueno, Consiglieres Romulo Salvador, Pia Gonzalez, Demetrio Rafanan and Joselito Ramirez.
Both handbook-guide launching events were successful in that they evoked a sense of direction and unity not only among the migrants in general but more so for the Filipinos who are most needful and wanting of specific, useful information on working and living in Italy. The information guide serves as a concrete instrument to promote integration of Filipino migrants in Italy, inspiring other migrant communities to do the same and challenging other supporters, even the Regione Lazio or the National Capital Region of Rome, Italy to sponsor and support the next publication of the same handbook-guide for OFWs.
Among those which contributed to publish the said handbook-guide were: POLO-OWWA, the Philippine Embassy, Sentro Pilipino Chaplaincy, ASLI, Moneygram, Confederation Internazional Italia-Filippina, Diritti Societa Toscana ONLUS, Comune di Roma Municipio Roma XVI, Regione Toscana Consiglio Re-gionale Gruppo Consiliare Federazione della Sinistra- Verdi, Roma Capitale Gruppo Assembleare Capi-tolino Aggiunto, and Associazione Nazionale Italo-Filippina Giustizia e Diritto . ASLI played a significant lead role in the project and coordinated with the POLO-OWWA, the Philippine Embassy in answer to the much needed information for the OFWs.
Information include list of communities, benefits and incentives for migrants, how-to’s re: entry in Italy, permesso di soggiorno, finding work, the labor market, citizenship requirements, family reunification, education, places to visit, Consular and POLO-OWWA procedures guide, abridged Italian-Filipino vo-cabulary guide, maps, etc. The 305-pages OFW Handbook Guide is written both in Filipino (138pages) and Italian (167pages). (by: POLO OWWA Rome)
