The Provincial Government of Batangas forged a partnership with the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) on 02 August 2018 to implement the BaLinkBayan Project and establish a localized webpage catering to overseas Filipinos.The province, represented by Governor Hermilando Mandanas, and the CFO, represented by Undersecretary Astravel Pimentel-Naik, signed a memorandum of agreement on the said project at the Batangas Provincial Capitol, witnessed by officials and staff from CFO and the provincial government.
From left to right: Dir. Maria Regina Angela Galias, Dir. Marita del Rosario – Apattad, CFO Undersecretary Astravel Pimentel-Naik, Batangas Governor Hermilano Mandanas and PSWDO Chief Joy Montalbo
According to Gov. Mandanas, the BaLinkBayan Project will pave the way for establishing connectivity with individuals and communities abroad to their homeland. It also encourages overseas Filipinos to embark on educational exchanges, medical missions and volunteer programs in the country.
After the signing ceremony, the BaLinkBayan team conducted an orientation and data gathering workshop for the officials of the Batangas Province to introduce them to the project and determine the information and data that will be uploaded in their localized webpage.
The workshop was attended by officials from the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO), Public Employment Services Office (PESO), and Public Information Office