A native of Siquijor who now works as a Labor Attache in the Sultanate of Oman is making a big impact among Overseas Filipino Workers there.
Ponciano Ligutom, who heads the Philippine Overseas Labor Office in Muscat, Oman, has been recognized by Labor Sec. Silvestre Bello with the Most Innovative Office Award, with distinct recognition of its volunteer programs and community organizing initiatives.
Ligutom, an alumnus of Silliman University, was the lone awardee from the Middle East and African region, and was one of only two awardees out of the 36 overseas Labor offices across the world.
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Describing his tour of duty, Ligutom has three bywords: innovations, milestones, and controversies.
“I got a number of notes verbale from the government of Oman for my organizing efforts, fighting to assert the rights of Filipino workers for minimum wage, health insurance, number of days off, and passport safe-keeping,” Ligutom told the MetroPost.
As head of the Philippine Overseas Labor Office in Oman, Ligutom also ensures the suitability of lodging facilities, by inspecting the OFWs’ housing accommodations.
Another highlight is engaging the services of Filipino expertise to support legal, medical, training/educational programs for free.
This year, Ligutom was also recognized by the Filipino community in the middle eastern Sultanate for his exemplary service to improve the quality of life of domestic and skilled workers, and for his dedication, competence, and concern for the welfare of OFWs based on the highest standards of excellence, and for being an inspiration to the Filipino community.
Prior to his assignment abroad, Ligutom was an award-winning regional director of the Zamboanga Peninsula in 2011, and was also the Most Outstanding Employee of the Department of Labor & Employment in 2004. (AP)
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