ZAMBOANGA CITY-The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) in Region 9 has convened in a final screening and selection for this year's Search for Model OFW Family of the Year Award(MOFYA) held last September 04, 2013 at the OWWA-9 conference room, this city.

Regional Director Hassan Gabra T. Jumdain said that for this year, Region 9 has five nominees; three (3) for the land-based and two (2) for the sea-based category.

The nominees were thoroughly screened and selected by this year's Regional Screening and Selection Committee (RSSC) composed of the following, namely, Hassan Jumdain, Regional Director of OWWA-9&Chairman of the RSSC; Virginia Bonbon, Assistant Regional Director of DOLE-9 & vice-chairperson of the RSSC; Shirley Macaso, Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) Representative; Teresita Sebastian, Philippine National Bank (PNB) Representative & Dr. Orlando Paber, MOFYA Regional Awardee for 2012 & National Awardee for Outstanding Achievement in Community Service.

"Nominees for Land-based category are the families of Sathari Edding from Sibuco, Zamboanga Del Norte; Rosemelda Iturralde from Zamboanga City; Orlando Jarales of Pagadian City, Zamboanga Del Sur, meanwhile, nominees for sea-based category are Rodrigo Sarande from Dipolog City, Zamboanga Del Norte and Tomas Gelvoleo from Zamboanga City," Director Jumdain said.

The regional awardees for both category will be receiving a trophy, Globe phone kit and P20,000 each courtesy of Globe Telecom.

One the other hand, the two national winners who will be chosen from among the 17 regional winners will also be receiving a trophy and P400,000 each from GLOBE Telecom, Inc. and P200,000 courtesy of the Bank of the Philippine Islands.

The nominees for each category will be awarded on October 18 and will represent the region during the national awarding to be held in Manila on November 28, 2013.

Two more awardees shall be conferred Special Awards, namely: Outstanding Achievement in Community Projects and Outstanding Achievement in Entrepreneurship will be receiving a plaque and I-phone kit each.

(Mary Jane R. Amarado, Labor Communications Officer)