5 August 2019 – The Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in Singapore in collaboration with Facebook successfully launched the Digital Tayo for OFWs in Singapore on 04 August 2019 at the chancery, with more than 200 Filipinos attending.
Digital Tayo, a digital literacy and citizenship program, is a collaboration between the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration and Facebook Philippines that aims to reach a million Filipinos by the end of 2020. Digital Tayo’s learning modules cover topics such as safeguarding online privacy, safety, and security, engaging in respectful digital discourse, and being aware and responsible of digital footprint.
From Singapore, OWWA and Facebook Philippines hope to expand the program later this year to other areas hosting a huge population of OFWs, including Hong Kong and the Middle East.
“OFWs are among the most engaged and active communities online. Together with OWWA and our partners, we want to help OFWs develop digital skills, including the ability to think critically about what they see online, so they can become better informed digital citizens and continue to have a positive and authentic experience online,” said Rahimah Abdulrahim, Facebook Director of Public Policy, Southeast Asia.
“We are glad to be working with Facebook in empowering OFWs with knowledge and tools to help them connect with their families back home, and contribute to their communities. Digital literacy is an invaluable asset to our modern-day Filipino heroes. We look forward to supporting OFW organizations who will be conducting these trainings in the coming months in Singapore,” said Philippine Ambassador to Singapore Joseph Del Mar Yap.
After the remarks from officials and brief introduction of the program, participants were immediately given a sample of the Digital Tayo’s modules by volunteer trainers Messrs. Rex Holgado, Jack Corpus, and Christopher John Sandro. These volunteer trainers were culled from a pool of successful participants to the Trainer’s Training for Digital Tayo held on 14 July 2019 at the Facebook Headquarters in Singapore.
Digital Tayo’s training modules will be incorporated in partner OFW organizations’ regular trainings and community events in Singapore. Those interested in participating in the trainings may get in touch with the Philippine Embassy and POLO or partner OFW organizations, including the Filipino Overseas Workers in Singapore (FOWS), Pinoy Worldwide Initiative for Investment Savings and Entrepreneurship (Pinoy WISE), Financially Literate Philippines (FLPH), Center for Domestic Employees (CDE), Filipino Community (FilCom), Leadership and Social Entrepreneurship (LSE), and Aidha.
Over 140,000 departing OFWs have already participated in digital literacy workshops in Manila since last year.
To take an interactive digital literacy course visit: www.digitaltayo.fb.com or find out more about Facebook’s partnership with OWWA: www.owwa.gov.ph.
